Chapter 6: The Judicial Branch Essential Question How do the nation s courts compete and cooperate with the other branches to settle legal controversies and to shape public policy? p. 189 U.S. District Courts CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY OF THE FEDERAL COURTS p. 189 U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals p. 189 U.S. Supreme Court Article III p. 190 Judge s Terms p. 190 Original Jurisdiction p. 190 Appellate Jurisdiction p. 190 Treason p. 190 Right to Jury Trial p. 191 Federalist No. 78 p. 192 Judiciary Act of 1789 A THREE-LEVEL SYSTEM p. 192 Circuits p. 192 Riding Circuit
Federal Court System U.S. District Courts p. 193 A Trial Court p. 193 Plaintiff p. 193 Defendant p. 193 Federal Crimes p. 194 United States v. Timothy McVeigh (1998) p. 194 Plea Bargain p. 194 U.S. Attorneys p. 194 Attorney General p. 194 Civil Cases
p. 194 Diversity Citizenship p. 194 Class Action Suit p. 194 Injunction p. 194 Suing the Government p. 195 Special Legislative Courts U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals p. 195 Appellate Courts p. 195 Certiorari p. 195 Petitioner p. 195 Respondent p. 196 p. 196 The Circuit Court for the Federal Circuit The Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia The United States Supreme Court p. 196 En Banc Common Law and Precedence p. 196 Common Law p. 196 Precedent p. 197 Stare Decisis p. 197 Binding Precedent p. 197 Persuasive Precedent Policy Matters: Supreme Court Precedents Establish Policy
p. 197 Judicial Review p. 197 Defining Federalism p. 197 John Marshall p. 198 Shaping a Strong Nation p. 199 Marbury v. Madison (1803) AN EVOLVING COURT Early Courts to the New Deal p. 201 Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) p. 201 Corporations and the State p. 201 Lochner v. New York (1905) p. 201 Strict Constructionist p. 202 Liberal Constructionist p. 202 Pack the Court p. 203 West Coast Hotel v. Parrish (1937) A Court Dedicated to Individual Liberties p. 203 The Warren Court p. 203 Civil Rights and Civil Liberties p. 204 The Burger Court p. 204 The Rehnquist Court The Supreme Court Today p. 205 John Roberts (2005)
p. 205 Sonia Sotomayor (2009) p. 205 Elena Kagan (2010) p. 205 Neil Gorsuch (2017) p. 205 Thurgood Marshall (1967) p. 205 Sandra Day O Connor (1981) p. 205 Swing Votes Stare Decisis and Constitutional Application CONTINUITY AND CHANGE OVER TIME p. 208 Burnet v. Coronado Oil & Gas Co. (1932) p. 208 Grovey v. Townsend (1935) p. 208 Smith v. Allwright (1944) Judicial Activism vs. Judicial Restraint p. 209 Judicial Activism p. 209 Judicial Self-Restraint p. 210 Legislating From the Bench p. 210 Petition for Certiorari HOW CASES REACH THE SUPREME COURT p. 210 Rule of Four p. 211 Writ of Certiorari Opinions and Caseload p. 211 Majority Opinion
p. 212 Concurring Opinion p. 212 Dissenting Opinion p. 212 Per Curium Opinion p. 212 Law Clerks INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT Presidential Appointments and Senate Confirmation p. 213 Senate s Advice and Consent p. 213 Litmus Test p. 214 Senatorial Courtesy p. 214 Confirmation p. 214 Interest Groups p. 215 Getting Borked p. 215 Clarence Thomas p. 216 The Nuclear Option p. 216 Denying Garland p. 218 Reforming Judicial Confirmation Executive and Legislative Influence on the Courts Power p. 218 The Justice Department p. 218 Solicitor General p. 218 Amicus Curiae Brief
p. 218 Impeachment p. 219 Congressional Oversight and Influence p. 219 Defining Jurisdiction p. 219 Standing p. 220 Legislating After Unfavorable Decisions p. 220 Chisolm v. Georgia (1794) p. 220 Minor v. Happerset (1875) p. 221 Implementation How do the nation s courts compete and cooperate with the other branches to settle legal controversies and to shape public policy? Interactions with Executive Branch Interactions with Legislative Branch