Social Sciences and History / Unit 8 SSH 0724 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Briefs, Argument, Conference, Opinions
Captions available
The idea
Parties file briefs; an amicus curiae brief comes from a friend of the court, not a party. At oral argument lawyers make their case. In conference the justices vote initially. A majority opinion needs over half of nine; a concurrence agrees on other grounds; a dissent disagrees.
In practice
Argument, conference, opinion.
Where people slip
Precedent from the opinion steers the system.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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