judicial branch
The court system
The judicial branch is the part of government responsible for interpreting laws and administering justice through a system of courts.
In the United States, it is one of three branches established by the Constitution, alongside the legislative and executive branches.
The judicial branch resolves disputes, determines whether laws are constitutional, and applies legal principles to specific cases.
The judicial branch struck down the law as unconstitutional.
One who decides
- justiceFair treatment under law
- magistrateCivil judicial officer
- juristLegal expert or scholar
- chief justicePresiding judge, highest court
federal judge · clerk · bailiff · public defender · prosecutor · solicitor general · attorney general · appointee
Nation's top tribunal
- federal courtsJudiciary handling nationwide cases
- circuit courtsCourts serving multiple locations
- district courtsLower federal tribunals
- appellate courtsTribunals reviewing lower rulings
state courts · court system · bench · tribunal · chambers · courtroom · courthouse · separation of powers
Judicial examination of claims
- hearingPerceiving sound waves
- appealFormal review request
- oral argumentSpoken case presentation
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
opinion · ruling · verdict · docket · case · litigation · brief · remand
Legal authority's scope
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- rulingFormal legal determination
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
- precedentPrior authoritative example
oversight · enforcement · mandate · constitutionality · lifetime appointment · confirmation
Governing principles document
- Bill of RightsInitial constitutional amendments guaranteeing freedoms
- amendmentChange to official text
- framersThose who construct frames
- federalismDivided governmental authority system
enumerated powers · due process · equal protection · originalism · constitutional law · founding fathers · ratification
judge
One who decides
- justiceFair treatment under law
- magistrateCivil judicial officer
- juristLegal expert or scholar
chief justice · federal judge · clerk · bailiff · public defender · prosecutor · solicitor general · attorney general · appointee · circuit judge
Supreme Court
Nation's top tribunal
- federal courtsJudiciary handling nationwide cases
- circuit courtsCourts serving multiple locations
- district courtsLower federal tribunals
appellate courts · state courts · court system · bench · tribunal · chambers · courtroom · courthouse · separation of powers · checks and balances
trial
Judicial examination of claims
- hearingPerceiving sound waves
- appealFormal review request
- oral argumentSpoken case presentation
deliberation · opinion · ruling · verdict · docket · case · litigation · brief · remand · certiorari
jurisdiction
Legal authority's scope
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- rulingFormal legal determination
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
precedent · oversight · enforcement · mandate · constitutionality · lifetime appointment · confirmation
Constitution
Governing principles document
- Bill of RightsInitial constitutional amendments guaranteeing freedoms
- amendmentChange to official text
- framersThose who construct frames
federalism · enumerated powers · due process · equal protection · originalism · constitutional law · founding fathers · ratification
- civicsballot, election, ballots, Bill of Rights, branches of government
- governmentgovernment, ministries, legislature, executive branch, ministry
- lawlaw, lawyer, lawyers, attorney, attorneys
- U.S. PoliticsCongress, senator, representative, president, vice president
- US Governmentexecutive branch, legislative branch, Congress, House, Senate
- federal governmentexecutive branch, legislative branch, agencies, bureaus, departments
judicial branchlegislative branch
Government's lawmaking arm
executive branch · legislature · Congress · law enforcement · lawmakers
judicial branchrepresentative government
Rule by elected officials
elected officials · electoral politics · popular sovereignty · partisan politics
judicial branchautocracy
Rule by one
tyranny · absolute monarchy · dictatorship · despotism · authoritarian rule
judgment, judged, judges, judging, judicial, judiciary, adjudicate, adjudication, adjudicator