Question 1

In reorganizing the federal court system, Congress has essentially created which of the following judicial systems

Accepted Answer

A)   A three-tiered hierarchical system.
B)   A dual system that is divided between the federal government and the states.
C)   A dual system that is divided along criminal and civil cases.
D)   A multilayered system with continually shifting hierarchies.
E)   A top down system, in which the Supreme Court directs lowers courts as to which cases to hear and why

Question 2

The most powerful tool that the Court has for controlling its own agenda is the power to grant or not to grant a ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The most powerful tool that the Court...

Question 3

A ________ opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court presents the reasoning of the minority who have differences with the majority opinion.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A ________ opinion of the U.S. Supreme...

Question 4

John Marshall, the principal architect of American jurisprudence,

Accepted Answer

A)   generally believed in the inherent demise of free market capitalism.
B)   generally believed, like Jefferson, in the important role of small, local governments.
C)   emphasized the state's right to infringe on individual property rights.
D)   generally believed, like Hamilton, that American greatness depended on a strong national government.
E)   prioritized limiting state infringement on individual liberties.

Question 5

The power of judicial review

Accepted Answer

A)   had no support among the Founders.
B)   has been used only three times since the Founding.
C)   was boldly claimed by Taney in Plessy v. Ferguson.
D)   is sometimes invoked in the context of higher laws that govern the behavior of governments.
E)   does not extend to state courts.

Question 6

Federal district courts are courts of

Accepted Answer

A)   appellate jurisdiction, which means they hear appeals from other courts.
B)   original jurisdiction, which means they do not hear appeals from other courts.
C)   appellate, which means they do not have juries.
D)   appellate jurisdiction heard on appeal from state supreme courts.
E)   last resort.

Question 7

Judicial review raises questions about democracy because

Accepted Answer

A)   it gives unelected members of a government body power over elected members of other government bodies.
B)   presidents have used it often and recklessly.
C)   judges are directly accountable to the people.
D)   it merely takes a majority of Congress to override constitutional decisions of the Supreme Court.
E)   it rarely supports the majority of public opinion.

Question 8

Chief Justice John Marshall claimed the power of judicial review for the Supreme Court in the case of ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Chief Justice John Marshall claimed the power...

Question 9

Which of these is NOT true concerning Article III and the Constitution's creation of the court system?

Accepted Answer

A)   It outlines the powers of the courts in relationship to the other two federal branches.
B)   It creates the office of "chief justice of the United States."
C)   It states that judges should serve life terms.
D)   It specifies the categories of cases the Supreme Court may or may not hear.
E)   It grants Congress the power to create addition federal courts as needed.

Question 10

One area in which critics think the Supreme Court has taken upon itself the task of deciding "political" rather than legal questions is the area of

Accepted Answer

A)   First Amendment rights.
B)   the drawing of electoral districts.
C)   the rights of criminals.
D)   equal protection cases.
E)   election law.

Question 11

What was the "nuclear option" threatened during the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Alito?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Republicans would disallow the use of the filibuster so that there would be no means for the minority party to protest a nomination.
B)   The Democrats would tie up the business of the Senate by not acting on anything requiring unanimous consent.
C)   The Democrats would not approve any more justices nominated by President Bush.
D)   The Republicans would change the rules so that Supreme Court nominations would no longer be subject to approval by the Senate.
E)   The Supreme Court would grow to have two more members so that the president could "pack" the court with conservative judges.

Question 12

What is the function of federal district courts?

Accepted Answer

Most cases in the federal court system a...

Question 13

The US Supreme Court

Accepted Answer

A)   is only an appellate court.
B)   is only a court of original jurisdiction.
C)   is both a court of original jurisdiction and an appellate court.
D)   acts as neither a court of original jurisdiction nor an appellate court.
E)   hears more original cases than cases appealed.

Question 14

What was the importance of the court case Marbury v. Madison?

Accepted Answer

In the case, Chief Justice Joh...

Question 15

Federal courts in the United States

Accepted Answer

A)   must follow precedent in all decisions.
B)   are grounded in the Roman law tradition.
C)   are more like French courts than like British courts.
D)   tend to follow precedent, and move away from it only slowly.
E)   must remand cases when they do not follow precedent.

Question 16

The Constitution

Accepted Answer

A)   does not mention the Supreme Court.
B)   gives specific and detailed instructions about the role of the Supreme Court in government.
C)   mentions only the Supreme Court and the courts of appeals.
D)   establishes the Supreme Court and its jurisdiction, but does not outline the judicial branch.
E)   is silent on who or what may create a court system.

Question 17

The Constitution specifies that federal judges serve

Accepted Answer

A)   for 10 years and then must run for election.
B)   during the tenure of the President who appointed them.
C)   different terms, as established by Congress.
D)   "during good behavior," which usually means for life.
E)   for appointed terms of less than 20 years.

Question 18

Proponents of strict construction believe that the intentions of the Founders are impossible to determine and are unduly constricting.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

For a Supreme Court case to be "ripe,"

Accepted Answer

A)   there must be a majority of justices who have made up their minds on how they intend to vote.
B)   the case must be real and adverse.
C)   all other avenues of appeal must have been exhausted.
D)   it must be a case of original jurisdiction.
E)   none of the above

Question 20

The most certain thing that can be said about the voting practices of members of the Supreme Court is

Accepted Answer

A)   the voting blocks are relatively stable.
B)   they almost always vote according to ideology.
C)   their social backgrounds almost always determine how they will vote.
D)   their prior judicial experience can almost always be used to predict how they will vote.
E)   none of the above

Exam 14: The Courts

The most certain thing that can be said about the voting practices of members of the Supreme Court is

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Chief Justice John Marshall claimed the power of judicial review for the Supreme Court in the case of ________.

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What was the importance of the court case Marbury v. Madison?

Correct AnswerverifiedIn the case, Chief Justice Joh...View AnswerShow Answer

The Constitution specifies that federal judges serve

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Judicial review raises questions about democracy because

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What is the function of federal district courts?

Correct AnswerverifiedMost cases in the federal court system a...View AnswerShow Answer

Federal courts in the United States

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Federal district courts are courts of

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John Marshall, the principal architect of American jurisprudence,

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The Constitution

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In reorganizing the federal court system, Congress has essentially created which of the following judicial systems

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The most powerful tool that the Court has for controlling its own agenda is the power to grant or not to grant a ________.

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Proponents of strict construction believe that the intentions of the Founders are impossible to determine and are unduly constricting.

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One area in which critics think the Supreme Court has taken upon itself the task of deciding "political" rather than legal questions is the area of

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What was the "nuclear option" threatened during the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Alito?

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The US Supreme Court

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A ________ opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court presents the reasoning of the minority who have differences with the majority opinion.

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For a Supreme Court case to be "ripe,"

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Which of these is NOT true concerning Article III and the Constitution's creation of the court system?

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The power of judicial review

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In the case, Chief Justice Joh...
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Most cases in the federal court system a...
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