Chapter 16
AP US Government
Definitions
1. Activist approach
2. Amicus curiae
3. Brief
4. Class-action suit
5. Concurring opinion
6. Courts of Appeal
7. Dissenting opinion
8. District courts
9. Diversity cases
10. Dual sovereignty
11. Federal question cases
12. Fee shifting
13. In forma pauperis
14. Judicial restraint approach
15. Judicial review
16. Legislative courts
17. Litmus test
18. Opinion of the Court
19. Per curiam opinion
20. Plaintiff
21. Political question
22. Remedy
23. Sovereign immunity
24. Standing
25. Stare decisis
26. Writ of certiorari
Questions
1. Explain the concept of judicial review. How often has it been used? In what other
countries is judicial review available?
2. What are the sides of the debate over how the Constitution should be interpreted?
Explain the position of each side.
3. Explain the development of the federal court system from our founding to modern day.
4. What are the two kinds of federal courts created by Congress to handle the cases that the
Supreme Court does not? What does each do? How are these courts made up? What are
the similarities and differences between the two?
5. How are judges selected? What are three main considerations? Why are these
important?
6. Explain the dual court system. How does it function? What is a diversity case? What is
a federal question case? How do you determine which system will hear a case?
7. What is the route to the Supreme Court? Be specific.
8. What are the deterrents to courts acting as democratic institutions?
9. What is fee shifting? What effect does this have on getting to court?
10. What is standing? What effect does this have on getting to court?
11. What are class action suits? How do they work?
12. Once at the Supreme Court, what is the procedure for a case?
13. What is an amicus curiae brief? What bearing does it have on a case at the Supreme
Court?
14. What are the conference procedures?
15. How does the court system make policy?
16. What are the measures of power of the federal court system?
17. What are the differing views of judicial activism?
18. Why does activism exist?
19. What are the checks on judicial power?
20. Discuss the following court cases. Explain the year, the players, the situation, the
outcome, and why it is significant to study today. Marbury v Madison, McCulloch v
Maryland, and Dred Scott v Sanford.
21. Who are the current Supreme Court justices? Who is the chief justice?