Introductory Business Law CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What describes the authority of a court to overrule a lower court's decision?

1. Summary judgement

2. Limited jurisdiction

3. Strict liability

4. Appellate jurisdiction

The correct answer is: Appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to overrule a lower court's decision is known as appellate jurisdiction. This means that a higher court has the power to review and possibly revise a lower court's decision. This option is the best choice because the other options do not directly relate to the concept of court hierarchy. Summary judgement refers to a decision made by a judge without a full trial, limited jurisdiction refers to the type of cases a court can hear, and strict liability refers to a legal doctrine related to liability for damages. Neither of these options relate to the authority of a court to overrule a lower court's decision. Therefore, D is the most accurate and relevant answer.