Chapter 8
Big Questions and Ideas:
1. What is the purpose of the Judicial Branch in the federal government?
2. What is the dual system? What is the structure of the federal and state court systems?
3. What are the different types of jurisdiction? Which courts have which jurisdiction?
4. What are the roles of district courts, appeals courts, and the Supreme Court?
5. What are the four reasons for appointing specific jusdges?
6. What is judicial review, and how did Marbury v. Madison act as a precedent for
judicial review?
7. What is the process for the Supreme Court to hear a case? What do the different
opinions mean?
8. What are the reasons (driving forces) behind court decisions?
9. What are the different types of jurisdiction?
10.What are the qualifications to be on the Supreme Court? Can you name three justices
on the Supreme Court?
11.What are the ways in which federal judges are no longer members of the court?
Documents and events:
Marbury v. Madison
McCulloch v. Maryland (supremacy clause)
D.C. v. Heller
Federalist No. 78
Vocabulary:
jurisdiction
appellate jurisdiction
stare decisis
judicial restraint
petitions for certiorari
docket
precedent
dissenting opinion
judicial review
grand jury
exclusive jurisdiction
remand
original jurisdiction
judicial activism
Rule of Four
briefs
majority opinion
concurring opinion
bankruptcy
Amicus brief