Media Law Exam 1 Study Guide – Key Concepts, Cases & Practice Questions
Sources of Law - correct answer ✔✔
Common Law - correct answer ✔✔A system of law based on precedent and customs.
Ex: stare decisis, precedent, due process of law, judicial restraint vs judicial activism
Statutory Law - correct answer ✔✔Law enacted by Congress, or by state legislatures or local
legislative bodies.
Ex: Federal: copyright, advertising, broadcasting
State: libel, shield laws
Local: ordinances/open container law
Constitutional Law - correct answer ✔✔Law that involves the interpretation and application of
the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions.
Ex: First Amendment- freedom of speech, freedom of petition, freedom of expression, freedom
of press, freedom to assemble
Judicial Review: SCOTUS can say an act is unconstitutional. Marbury v Madison
Administrative Law - correct answer ✔✔Law made by regulatory agencies to deal with complex,
technical issues
Ex: FCC, FTC, Copyright Office
Court Systems - correct answer ✔✔
SCOTUS Justices and How They Become Justices - correct answer ✔✔Left: Kagan, Ginsberg,
Sotomayor, Breyer
Right: Scalia, Roberts, Thomas, Alito
, Swing: Kennedy
Nominated by the President. From circuit or supreme courts.
Approved by the Senate. Senate Judiciary Committee vets the supreme court nominees.
Serve for Life
Two Types of Court Systems - correct answer ✔✔Trial Courts
find facts and apply the law (juries and witnesses)
Appellate Courts
only REVIEW the law (no juries or witnesses)
Federal Court System - correct answer ✔✔Supreme Court System
- 1 Chief Justice (John Roberts), 8 Associate Judges
- Petition for Writ of Certiorari
U.S. Court of Appeals
- 13 Circuits
- NC in 4th Circuit, US Court of Appeals in 4th Circuit
- District Court hears appeals of all FCC Cases
- Many media law cases are heard in the 9th Circuit (LA) and 2nd Circuit (NY)
U.S. District Courts
- About 100
Sources of Law - correct answer ✔✔
Common Law - correct answer ✔✔A system of law based on precedent and customs.
Ex: stare decisis, precedent, due process of law, judicial restraint vs judicial activism
Statutory Law - correct answer ✔✔Law enacted by Congress, or by state legislatures or local
legislative bodies.
Ex: Federal: copyright, advertising, broadcasting
State: libel, shield laws
Local: ordinances/open container law
Constitutional Law - correct answer ✔✔Law that involves the interpretation and application of
the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions.
Ex: First Amendment- freedom of speech, freedom of petition, freedom of expression, freedom
of press, freedom to assemble
Judicial Review: SCOTUS can say an act is unconstitutional. Marbury v Madison
Administrative Law - correct answer ✔✔Law made by regulatory agencies to deal with complex,
technical issues
Ex: FCC, FTC, Copyright Office
Court Systems - correct answer ✔✔
SCOTUS Justices and How They Become Justices - correct answer ✔✔Left: Kagan, Ginsberg,
Sotomayor, Breyer
Right: Scalia, Roberts, Thomas, Alito
, Swing: Kennedy
Nominated by the President. From circuit or supreme courts.
Approved by the Senate. Senate Judiciary Committee vets the supreme court nominees.
Serve for Life
Two Types of Court Systems - correct answer ✔✔Trial Courts
find facts and apply the law (juries and witnesses)
Appellate Courts
only REVIEW the law (no juries or witnesses)
Federal Court System - correct answer ✔✔Supreme Court System
- 1 Chief Justice (John Roberts), 8 Associate Judges
- Petition for Writ of Certiorari
U.S. Court of Appeals
- 13 Circuits
- NC in 4th Circuit, US Court of Appeals in 4th Circuit
- District Court hears appeals of all FCC Cases
- Many media law cases are heard in the 9th Circuit (LA) and 2nd Circuit (NY)
U.S. District Courts
- About 100
