Question 1

How long do federal judges serve?

Accepted Answer

A) two years 
B) four years 
C) eight years 
D) ten years 
E) until they retire,die,or are removed through the impeachment and conviction process 
A) two years 
B) four years 
C) eight years 
D) ten years 
E) until they retire,die,or are removed through the impeachment and conviction process

Question 2

The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in legal disputes involving

Accepted Answer

A) foreign diplomats. 
B) the president. 
C) Congress. 
D) private parties. 
E) free speech and equal protection issues. 
A) foreign diplomats. 
B) the president. 
C) Congress. 
D) private parties. 
E) free speech and equal protection issues.

Question 3

According to the doctrine of judicial restraint,the judiciary should

Accepted Answer

A) defer to decisions made by the legislature. 
B) deny most appeals for retrials. 
C) deny individual rights when they conflict with the majority's desires. 
D) decline to make any decision that requires judges to give added meaning to the words of the Constitution. 
E) conform to the will of the people as measured by public opinion polls. 
A) defer to decisions made by the legislature. 
B) deny most appeals for retrials. 
C) deny individual rights when they conflict with the majority's desires. 
D) decline to make any decision that requires judges to give added meaning to the words of the Constitution. 
E) conform to the will of the people as measured by public opinion polls.

Question 4

Of the following Supreme Court justices,which has been or was the most conservative?

Accepted Answer

A) Anthony Kennedy 
B) Earl Warren 
C) Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
D) Clarence Thomas 
E) Thurgood Marshall 
A) Anthony Kennedy 
B) Earl Warren 
C) Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
D) Clarence Thomas 
E) Thurgood Marshall

Question 5

A judicial decision that establishes a rule for settling subsequent cases of a similar nature is a

Accepted Answer

A) writ of certiorari. 
B) landmark decision. 
C) writ of mandamus. 
D) precedent. 
E) writ of error. 
A) writ of certiorari. 
B) landmark decision. 
C) writ of mandamus. 
D) precedent. 
E) writ of error.

Question 6

The constitutional provision that federal judges and justices hold office "during good behavior" has

Accepted Answer

A) meant,in effect,that they will serve until they die or choose to retire. 
B) eliminated any legal ability by Congress to remove a judge from office. 
C) removed all presidential influence over judicial policy. 
D) was intended to give voters control over the conduct of federal judges. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) meant,in effect,that they will serve until they die or choose to retire. 
B) eliminated any legal ability by Congress to remove a judge from office. 
C) removed all presidential influence over judicial policy. 
D) was intended to give voters control over the conduct of federal judges. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 7

The merit plan applies to

Accepted Answer

A) selection of judges in the federal system. 
B) selection of judges in some states' systems. 
C) jurisdiction in the federal system. 
D) jurisdiction in the state systems. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) selection of judges in the federal system. 
B) selection of judges in some states' systems. 
C) jurisdiction in the federal system. 
D) jurisdiction in the state systems. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 8

Regarding Supreme Court procedures,which one of the following statements is NOT accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) When part of the majority,the chief justice decides which justice will write the majority opinion. 
B) A concurring opinion is a view written by a justice who votes with the majority and agrees with its reasoning. 
C) A dissenting opinion is an opinion of a judge who votes against the majority. 
D) Attorneys who argue a case before the Supreme Court operate under strict time limits. 
E) The Court's opinion,not the decision,is used as the primary legal basis for lower court actions based on the decision. 
A) When part of the majority,the chief justice decides which justice will write the majority opinion. 
B) A concurring opinion is a view written by a justice who votes with the majority and agrees with its reasoning. 
C) A dissenting opinion is an opinion of a judge who votes against the majority. 
D) Attorneys who argue a case before the Supreme Court operate under strict time limits. 
E) The Court's opinion,not the decision,is used as the primary legal basis for lower court actions based on the decision.

Question 9

The laws applicable to a case

Accepted Answer

A) reveal the relevant circumstances of the case and are determined solely by trial courts. 
B) are more important than the facts of a case and supersede the facts when the two conflict. 
C) constrain the judiciary,because court decisions must be based on applicable laws. 
D) apply only in the area of criminal cases and not in the area of civil disputes. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) reveal the relevant circumstances of the case and are determined solely by trial courts. 
B) are more important than the facts of a case and supersede the facts when the two conflict. 
C) constrain the judiciary,because court decisions must be based on applicable laws. 
D) apply only in the area of criminal cases and not in the area of civil disputes. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 10

What is meant by the term jurisdiction? What is the difference between original and appellate jurisdiction as it applies to the U.S.Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A court's jurisdiction is its authority

Question 11

There are ________ federal courts of appeal.

Accepted Answer

A) 2 
B) 13 
C) 50 
D) 94 
E) 435 
A) 2 
B) 13 
C) 50 
D) 94 
E) 435

Question 12

Less than ________ of the cases heard by federal appeals courts are later reviewed by the Supreme Court.

Accepted Answer

A) 1 percent 
B) 10 percent 
C) 25 percent 
D) 33 percent 
E) 50 percent 
A) 1 percent 
B) 10 percent 
C) 25 percent 
D) 33 percent 
E) 50 percent

Question 13

The lowest level of the federal court system is the

Accepted Answer

A) circuit court of appeal. 
B) highest level of the state courts. 
C) district court. 
D) justice of the peace. 
E) supreme judicial tribunal. 
A) circuit court of appeal. 
B) highest level of the state courts. 
C) district court. 
D) justice of the peace. 
E) supreme judicial tribunal.

Question 14

In its ruling in Citizens United v.Federal Election Commission,the Supreme Court

Accepted Answer

A) invalidated the use of union money in federal election campaigns. 
B) lifted restrictions in corporate and union spending in federal election campaigns. 
C) placed restrictions on the amounts that individuals can donate to federal election campaigns. 
D) placed limits on the amounts that corporations can donate to federal election campaigns. 
E) eliminated the provision for matching federal campaign funds in presidential elections. 
A) invalidated the use of union money in federal election campaigns. 
B) lifted restrictions in corporate and union spending in federal election campaigns. 
C) placed restrictions on the amounts that individuals can donate to federal election campaigns. 
D) placed limits on the amounts that corporations can donate to federal election campaigns. 
E) eliminated the provision for matching federal campaign funds in presidential elections.

Question 15

What role does partisanship play in federal court appointments?

Accepted Answer

Federal judges are political officials w

Question 16

In selecting judges,the states rely on what method?

Accepted Answer

A) political appointment 
B) competitive elections of a partisan nature 
C) competitive elections of a nonpartisan nature 
D) merit selection 
E) All of these answers are correct. 
A) political appointment 
B) competitive elections of a partisan nature 
C) competitive elections of a nonpartisan nature 
D) merit selection 
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 17

A concurring opinion

Accepted Answer

A) explains the chief justice's position on a case. 
B) is a separate view written by a justice who votes with the majority but disagrees with its reasoning. 
C) is delivered when the Court interprets a constitutional issue. 
D) is delivered when at least two justices,but less than a majority,hold the same opinion in a case. 
E) explains why the Court accepted the case in the first place. 
A) explains the chief justice's position on a case. 
B) is a separate view written by a justice who votes with the majority but disagrees with its reasoning. 
C) is delivered when the Court interprets a constitutional issue. 
D) is delivered when at least two justices,but less than a majority,hold the same opinion in a case. 
E) explains why the Court accepted the case in the first place.

Question 18

In which of the following situations is the Supreme Court most likely to grant certiorari?

Accepted Answer

A) A state government has a legal conflict with a city government. 
B) A lower court ruling conflicts with a previous Supreme Court ruling. 
C) The justices believe a lower court made a mistake in a routine ruling. 
D) A key issue in state law must be settled. 
E) Lower courts have made the same consistent but incorrect ruling on a single issue. 
A) A state government has a legal conflict with a city government. 
B) A lower court ruling conflicts with a previous Supreme Court ruling. 
C) The justices believe a lower court made a mistake in a routine ruling. 
D) A key issue in state law must be settled. 
E) Lower courts have made the same consistent but incorrect ruling on a single issue.

Question 19

The Supreme Court grants certiorari to fewer than ________ cases each year.

Accepted Answer

A) 10 
B) 30 
C) 50 
D) 75 
E) 100 
A) 10 
B) 30 
C) 50 
D) 75 
E) 100

Question 20

Federal judges are

Accepted Answer

A) nominated by the president. 
B) confirmed by the U.S.Senate. 
C) appointed for an indefinite period,providing they maintain "good behavior." 
D) all of these: nominated by the president,confirmed by the U.S.Senate,and appointed for an indefinite period providing they maintain "good behavior." 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) nominated by the president. 
B) confirmed by the U.S.Senate. 
C) appointed for an indefinite period,providing they maintain "good behavior." 
D) all of these: nominated by the president,confirmed by the U.S.Senate,and appointed for an indefinite period providing they maintain "good behavior." 
E) None of these answers is correct.

How long do federal judges serve?

The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in legal disputes involving

According to the doctrine of judicial restraint,the judiciary should

Of the following Supreme Court justices,which has been or was the most conservative?

A judicial decision that establishes a rule for settling subsequent cases of a similar nature is a

The constitutional provision that federal judges and justices hold office "during good behavior" has

The merit plan applies to

Regarding Supreme Court procedures,which one of the following statements is NOT accurate?

The laws applicable to a case

What is meant by the term jurisdiction? What is the difference between original and appellate jurisdiction as it applies to the U.S.Supreme Court?

There are ________ federal courts of appeal.

Less than ________ of the cases heard by federal appeals courts are later reviewed by the Supreme Court.

The lowest level of the federal court system is the

In its ruling in Citizens United v.Federal Election Commission,the Supreme Court

What role does partisanship play in federal court appointments?

In selecting judges,the states rely on what method?

A concurring opinion

In which of the following situations is the Supreme Court most likely to grant certiorari?

The Supreme Court grants certiorari to fewer than ________ cases each year.

Federal judges are

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties,candidates,and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Income,welfare,and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters

Exam 14: The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

How long do federal judges serve?

The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in legal disputes involving

According to the doctrine of judicial restraint,the judiciary should

Of the following Supreme Court justices,which has been or was the most conservative?

A judicial decision that establishes a rule for settling subsequent cases of a similar nature is a

The constitutional provision that federal judges and justices hold office "during good behavior" has

The merit plan applies to

Regarding Supreme Court procedures,which one of the following statements is NOT accurate?

The laws applicable to a case

What is meant by the term jurisdiction? What is the difference between original and appellate jurisdiction as it applies to the U.S.Supreme Court?

There are ________ federal courts of appeal.

Less than ________ of the cases heard by federal appeals courts are later reviewed by the Supreme Court.

The lowest level of the federal court system is the

In its ruling in Citizens United v.Federal Election Commission,the Supreme Court

What role does partisanship play in federal court appointments?

In selecting judges,the states rely on what method?

A concurring opinion

In which of the following situations is the Supreme Court most likely to grant certiorari?

The Supreme Court grants certiorari to fewer than ________ cases each year.

Federal judges are

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties,candidates,and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Income,welfare,and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters