PRECEDENT: "A COURT DECISION ON A QUESTION OF LAW THAT GIVES AUTHORITY OR DIRECTION ON HOW TO DECIDE A SIMILAR QUESTION OF LAW IN A LATER CASE WITH SIMILAR FACTS." STARE DECISIS: "LET THE DECISION STAND" "WHEN A COURT HAS DECIDED A CASE BY APPLYING A LEGAL PRINCIPLE TO A SET OF FACTS, THAT COURT SHOULD STICK BY THAT PRINCIPLE AND APPLY IT TO ALL LATER CASES, ABSENT A GOOD, STRONG REASON. LOWER COURT MUST APPLY THE PRINCIPLE IN SIMILAR CASES. USE OF PRECEDENT: ACCEPT MODIFY DISTINGUISH OVERRULE APPELLATE COURT DECISIONS New York Times v. United States TYPES OF OPINIONS: THE COURT'S OPINION: MAJORITY OR PLURALITY CONCURRING OPINION: AGREE IN RESULT, BUT NOT REASON. DISSENTING: DISAGREE IN BOTH RESULT AND REASON