POS 2041 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Original Intent, Appellate Jurisdiction, Oral Argument In The United States
Document Summary
Judiciary: the courts: one of the branches of government in the united states. Common law tradition: common law: body of law developed from judicial decisions in english and u. s. courts, not attributable to a legislature, rule of precedent. Precedent: court decision that furnishes an example or authority for deciding subsequent cases involving identical or similar facts and legal issues. Stare decisis: law doctrine under which judges are obligated to follow the precedents established by prior court decisions: departures from precedent. Civil law and criminal law: civil law: spells out the duties that individuals in society owe to other persons or to their governments, criminal law: defines and governs actions that constitute crimes. Basic judicial requirements: jurisdiction: authority of a court to hear and decide a particular case. Trial court: trials are held and testimony is taken. Federal question: pertains to the u. s. constitution, acts of. Diversity of citizenship: basis for federal court.