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| An approach to judicial review which holds that judges should discover the general principles underlying the Constitution and its often vague language, amplify those principles on the basis of some moral or economic philosophy, and apply them to cases |
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| A Latin term meaning "Friend of the Court." Referrs to interested groups or individuals, not directly involved ina suit, who many file legal briefs or oral arguments in support of one side |
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| A legal document submitted my lawyers to courts. It sets forth the facts of a case, summarizes any lower court decisions on the case, gives the arguments for the side represented by the lawyer filing the brief, and discusses decisions in other cases that bear on the issue |
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| Rules defining relationships amongprivate citizens |
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| A case brought to court by a person on behalf of not only himself or herself but all other persons in similar circumstances. The Supreme Court in 1974 tightend rules on these suits to only those authorized by congress and those in which each ascertainable member of the class is individually notified if money damages are sought |
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| and opinion by on e or more justices who agree with the majority's conclusion but for different reasons that they wish to express |
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| Conservative/strict constructionist bloc |
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| one of three groups of justices in the 1970s and 1980s, including Chief justice Warren Burger, who took a consistently conservative position on issues |
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| Lower federal courts created by Congress which exercise the judicial powers delineated in Article III of the Constitution. Its judges, therefore, enjoy tow constitutional protections-they serve "during good behavior" and their salaries may not be reduced while in office |
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| the federal courts that have the authority to review decisions by federal district courts, regulatory commissions, and certain other federal courts. Such courts have no original jurisdiction; they can hear only apeals |
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| a Body of rules defining offenses that are considered to be offensis against society as a whole and for which conviction could result ina prison term |
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| The opinion of the justices on the losing side |
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| the lowest federal courts where federal cases begin. They are the only federal courts where tirals are held |
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| Jurisdiction conferred by he Constitution on federal courts to hear cases involving citizens of different states. The matter, however, must involve more than $50,000, and even then the parties have the option of commencing the suit in a state court |
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| a doctrine holding that state and federal authorities can prosecute the same person for the same conduct, each authority porsecution under its own law |
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| Jurisdiciton conferred by the Constitution on federal courts to hear all cases "arrising under the Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties" |
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