The Judicial Branch

1. The Judicial Branch Ch. 10

2. The Judicial Branch • Article III – Constitution • Authority to establish other courts • Sets up checks on the Judiciary • Judiciary Act of 1789 • Judicial Review • Marbury vs. Madison • Chief Justice John Marshall

3. The American Legal System • A dual judicial system • Federal & state courts • Jurisdiction • Original • Appellate • Concurrent

4. The American Legal System • Criminal vs. Civil Law • Terms: • Writ of habeas corpus • Ex post facto • Bill of attainder • Probable cause • Search warrant • Exclusionary rule • Stare decisis • Precedent • injunction

5. The American Legal System • Federal Courts • Constitutional Courts • Legislative Courts • District Courts • Grand jury vs. Petit jury • Court of Appeals

6. The American Legal System • The Supreme Court • Jurisdiction • Court of last resort • Final interpreter of the Constitution • 9 justices • 1 Chief Justice (John G. Roberts) • 8 Associate Justices

7. The Supreme Court • Selection of federal judges • Nominations to the Supreme Court • Criteria • Competence, ideology, rewards, political support, religion, race & gender • Confirmations • Senate Judiciary Committee

8. The Supreme Court • Jurisdiction • Original (5%) – disputes between states • Appellate (95%) • Judiciary Act of 1925 • Hearing a case • Constitutionality • Rule of 4

9. The Supreme Court • Survival of a Supreme Court case • Kinds of cases • Federal government • Solicitor General • Conflicts among circuits • Interest groups

10. The Supreme Court • Starting the case • Accepted for review • Amicus Curiae briefs • Oral arguments • Conference • Vote – different factors involved • Writing opinions • Majority, Concurrent, Dissenting

11. The Supreme Court • Policy making and implementation • Policy • Can declare laws • Can overrule self • Implementing • Rely on other government units to carry out decisions