Objectives  Judiciary
•	Clarify the reasoning behind calling the American judicial system an adversarial system.
•	Identify the major actors in the judicial system and explain their functions and responsibilities.
•	Differentiate between original and appellate jurisdiction, and between civil and criminal law.
•	Describe the functions of federal district courts, courts of appeals, and the US Supreme Court
•	Summarize judicial selection procedures for federal judges and justices
•	Discuss the backgrounds of judges and justices
•	Describe the role of the courts as policymakers
•	Distinguish between judicial review and statutory interpretation
•	Summarize procedure in the US Supreme Court, including the discuss list, oral argument, the
conference, and opinion writing
•	Explain the importance of opinion writing at the Supreme Court level and describe the different
types of opinions
•	Identify factors used by the Supreme Court in deciding which cases to accept for review
•	Analyze the contrasting positions of judicial restraint and judicial activism
•	Trace the historical evolution of the policy agenda of the Supreme Court
•	Examine the ways in which American courts are both democratic and undemocratic institutions
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UNIT VII Terms - THE JUDICIARY
Article III
Federal court structure
judicial activism
judicial selection process
Oral argument
Judicial decision making (factors)
Judicial tenure
Trial v. Appellate courts
Circuit Court
Political questions
justiciable dispute
Criminal law
Litigants
Class action suit
Percuriam decision
Store decisis
Writ of mandamus
Court-Packing plan

Federalist #78
Federal court jurisdiction (types)
judicial restraint
WritofcertJorari
judicial conference
Checks on decision making
daily operations of the Supreme Court
District Court
Senatorial courtesy
Solicitor general
Plaintiff
Civil law
Standing
Precedents
Opinion (types)
Original intent theory
Strict v. Loose Constructionism

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