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Government
Unit four through seven
25 cards·by bdirmann
writ of certiorari
an order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review
litmus test
examining the political ideology of a judge
stare decisis
allowing prior rulings to control current case
sovereign immunity
a citizen can't sue the government without its permission
reverse discrimination
using race or sex to give preferential treatment
public opinion
how people think or feel about particular things
plantiff
the party that initiates a lawsuit
per curiam opinion
a brief, unsigned court opinion
opinion of the courts
a signed opinion of a majority of the supreme court
malapportionment
drawing boundaries of legislative districts so they are unequal in population
legislative courts
courts that are created by congress for special purposes
judicial restraint approach
judges can decide cases based on the laws and constitution
interest group
organization of people that share common interest or goal and seek to influence policy
in forma pauperis
a method where a poor person can have their case heard in court at no charge
human rights
we should try to improve the lives of people in other countries
federal question cases
cases concerning the constitution, federal laws or treaties
diversity cases
cases involving citizens of different states
district courts
the lowest federal courts
dissenting opinion
a signed opinion where one or more justices disagree with the majority view
courts of appeals
federal courts that hear appeals from district courts with no trial
constitutonal court
a federal court that keeps judges in office and prevents their salaries from being reduced
concurring opinion
signed opinion where one or more members agree with the majority view
class action suit
a case brought by someone to help themselves and anyone similarly situated
civil liberties
rights given by the constitution that the government cannot interfere with: free speech,
free press etc.
brief
a written statement by an attorney that summarizes a case and the laws and rulings that support
it