American Legal System Concepts

This video tutorial covers the basic concepts of American jurisprudence, including the principle of stare decisis, court hierarchy, jurisdiction, and the distinction between mandatory and persuasive authority. It also explains the differences between primary and secondary legal sources, the dual court systems in the U.S., and the interrelationship among various legal sources. The video suggests further reading and provides a comprehensive overview of the American legal system.

What is the primary focus of the video tutorial?

• Principles of international law

• Legal systems of Latin America

• Basic concepts of American jurisprudence

• Advanced legal principles in the UK

What is the principle of stare decisis?

• Courts must follow decisions of higher courts within the same jurisdiction

• Courts can ignore previous decisions

• Courts must follow decisions of courts in other countries

• Courts must follow decisions of lower courts

Which court is the final arbiter of law in the United States?

• United States District Court

• United States Supreme Court

• United States Court of Appeals

• State Supreme Court

What does the term 'jurisdiction' primarily refer to in American law?

• The type of cases a court can hear

• The number of judges in a court

• The geographic location of a court

• The power of a court to exercise judicial authority over a matter

How many circuits is the United States Court of Appeals divided into?

• 13

• 15

• 10

• 12

What distinguishes mandatory authority from persuasive authority?

• Neither needs to be followed

• Mandatory authority must be followed, while persuasive authority can be considered but not followed

• Persuasive authority must be followed, while mandatory authority can be ignored

• Both must be followed equally

What is the difference between primary and secondary authority?

• Primary authority is always binding, secondary is not

• Secondary authority is always binding, primary is not

• Both are always binding

• Primary authority can be binding or persuasive, secondary is never binding

What is the principle of dualism in the American legal system?

• The distinction between common law and statutory law

• The separation of criminal and civil law

• The division of power between the executive and legislative branches

• The existence of two separate legal systems: federal and state

How does the concept of federalism affect the American legal system?

• It allows states to retain powers not specifically given to the federal government

• It centralizes all legal power at the federal level

• It requires all states to follow the same legal procedures

• It eliminates state court systems

What is a challenge for foreign lawyers regarding the interrelationship among various sources of law?

• Understanding the uniformity of laws across states

• Grasping the complex rules defining the priority among sources of law

• Learning the language of American law

• Adapting to the lack of federal laws