judicial branches
Interpreters of law
The judicial branch is the part of government responsible for interpreting laws and administering justice through the court system.
In the United States, the judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, serving as a check on legislative and executive power: The judicial branch ruled the law unconstitutional.
Apex of judicial hierarchy
- appellate courtTribunal reviewing lower decisions
- circuit courtRegional appellate tribunal
- district courtLower federal judicial body
- federal courtTribunal for national matters
tribunal · magistrate · chancery · probate court · bankruptcy court · family court · juvenile court · superior court
Constitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- executiveSenior organizational leader
- legislativeConcerning the creation of laws
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- impartialityFreedom from prejudice
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
- equal protectionUniform legal treatment
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
legal precedent · constitutional rights · recusal · integrity
Assigned meaning
- precedentPrior authoritative example
- case lawJudge-made legal doctrine
- rulingFormal legal determination
- opinionSubjective personal belief
dissent · concurrence · injunction · mandate · enforcement · oversight · sentencing
Legal domain of central government
- state jurisdictionA government's legal reach
- original jurisdictionCourt's power to hear cases first
- venuePlace of occurrence
- subject matterContent under discussion
territorial · concurrent · exclusive · circuit · forum · justiciable · standing · ripeness
supreme court
Apex of judicial hierarchy
- appellate courtTribunal reviewing lower decisions
- circuit courtRegional appellate tribunal
- district courtLower federal judicial body
federal court · tribunal · magistrate · chancery · probate court · bankruptcy court · family court · juvenile court · superior court · constitutional court
separation of powers
Constitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- executiveSenior organizational leader
due process
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- impartialityFreedom from prejudice
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
- equal protectionUniform legal treatment
fairness · legal precedent · constitutional rights · recusal · integrity
interpretation
Assigned meaning
- precedentPrior authoritative example
- case lawJudge-made legal doctrine
- rulingFormal legal determination
opinion · dissent · concurrence · injunction · mandate · enforcement · oversight · sentencing
federal jurisdiction
Legal domain of central government
- state jurisdictionA government's legal reach
- original jurisdictionCourt's power to hear cases first
- venuePlace of occurrence
subject matter · territorial · concurrent · exclusive · circuit · forum · justiciable · standing · ripeness
judicial brancheslegislative branches
Law-creating governmental bodies
executive branches · legislatures · executives · parliaments · congresses
judicial branchesmob rule
Dominance by unruly crowds
vigilante justice · martial law · lynch mobs · executive orders · kangaroo courts
judicial branchesdemocratic institutions
Bodies enabling collective self-governance
judicial, branch, judged, judges, judging, judgment, judgments, judgmental, judicially