Question 1

Which of the following statements regarding U.S. district courts is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are intermediate appellate courts. 
B)  They have final appellate jurisdiction to review cases. 
C)  They are state courts. 
D)  They are the trial courts of the federal system. 
E)  They are courts of limited jurisdiction. 
A)  They are intermediate appellate courts. 
B)  They have final appellate jurisdiction to review cases. 
C)  They are state courts. 
D)  They are the trial courts of the federal system. 
E)  They are courts of limited jurisdiction.

Question 2

If a judge rules a certain way on a case because prior cases of similar nature were subject to the same rule, that judge could be said to be relying on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Precedent 
B)  Judicial review 
C)  Strict construction 
D)  Broad construction 
E)  Judicial activism 
A)  Precedent 
B)  Judicial review 
C)  Strict construction 
D)  Broad construction 
E)  Judicial activism

Question 3

Explain how the U.S. Supreme Court decides cases and explains its decisions.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court decides cases thr

Question 4

Spoken presentations by an attorney to the appellate court laying out the reasons why the court should rule in his or her client's favor are known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Affirmation action 
B)  Briefs 
C)  Criminal defenses 
D)  Dissenting opinions 
E)  Oral arguments 
A)  Affirmation action 
B)  Briefs 
C)  Criminal defenses 
D)  Dissenting opinions 
E)  Oral arguments

Question 5

Which of the following presidents was the first to nominate a Latina to the U.S. Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jimmy Carter 
B)  Donald Trump 
C)  Barack Obama 
D)  Ronald Reagan 
E)  George W. Bush 
A)  Jimmy Carter 
B)  Donald Trump 
C)  Barack Obama 
D)  Ronald Reagan 
E)  George W. Bush

Question 6

Jurisdiction refers to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  The rules and principles announced in court decisions 
B)  The authority of a court to hear a particular class of cases 
C)  The constitutionality of a law 
D)  Statutory law 
E)  Common law 
A)  The rules and principles announced in court decisions 
B)  The authority of a court to hear a particular class of cases 
C)  The constitutionality of a law 
D)  Statutory law 
E)  Common law

Question 7

A lawsuit filed by one person on behalf of that person and all similarly situated individuals is known as which of the following kinds of suit?

Accepted Answer

A)  Amicus curiae 
B)  Appeal 
C)  Plurality action 
D)  Class action 
E)  Writ of habeas corpus 
A)  Amicus curiae 
B)  Appeal 
C)  Plurality action 
D)  Class action 
E)  Writ of habeas corpus

Question 8

When can the U.S. Supreme Court review a state supreme court decision?

Accepted Answer

A)  If there are damages in excess of $50,000 
B)  If the solicitor general asks it to do so 
C)  In all cases 
D)  In cases in which the state is a party 
E)  Only if a federal question is involved 
A)  If there are damages in excess of $50,000 
B)  If the solicitor general asks it to do so 
C)  In all cases 
D)  In cases in which the state is a party 
E)  Only if a federal question is involved

Question 9

Who made the following observation in the 1800s: "scarcely any political question arises in the United States that is not resolved, sooner or later, into a judicial question"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Thomas Jefferson 
B)  Benjamin Franklin 
C)  John Locke 
D)  Alexis de Tocqueville 
E)  James Madison 
A)  Thomas Jefferson 
B)  Benjamin Franklin 
C)  John Locke 
D)  Alexis de Tocqueville 
E)  James Madison

Question 10

The opinion of a court laying out the official position of the court in the case is known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Majority opinion 
B)  Dissenting opinion 
C)  Minority opinion 
D)  Primary jurisdiction 
E)  Prevailing jurisdiction 
A)  Majority opinion 
B)  Dissenting opinion 
C)  Minority opinion 
D)  Primary jurisdiction 
E)  Prevailing jurisdiction

Question 11

Compare and contrast the concepts of judicial restraint and judicial activism.

Accepted Answer

Judicial restraint and judicial activism

Question 12

Compare and contrast the legal and extralegal approaches to judicial decision making. Be specific.

Accepted Answer

The legal approach to judicial decision

Question 13

The concept of senatorial courtesy refers to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Senate approving judges only if they belong to the same party that controls the Senate 
B)  The practice of allowing senators to have the exclusive right to nominate candidates for the federal district courts in the state 
C)  The practice of allowing members of the House to participate in the nomination process 
D)  The practice of allowing senators to veto candidates for federal district courts in their state 
E)  The Senate's deferring to the president and routinely approving his or her nominee 
A)  The Senate approving judges only if they belong to the same party that controls the Senate 
B)  The practice of allowing senators to have the exclusive right to nominate candidates for the federal district courts in the state 
C)  The practice of allowing members of the House to participate in the nomination process 
D)  The practice of allowing senators to veto candidates for federal district courts in their state 
E)  The Senate's deferring to the president and routinely approving his or her nominee

Question 14

The Supreme Court will often hear a case if asked to by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  An interest group 
B)  The solicitor general 
C)  A federal prosecutor 
D)  A defendant 
E)  Congress 
A)  An interest group 
B)  The solicitor general 
C)  A federal prosecutor 
D)  A defendant 
E)  Congress

Question 15

Which of the following statements is true of a majority opinion?

Accepted Answer

A)  It means all justices unanimously agree on the decision. 
B)  It is sent back to the court that originally heard the case. 
C)  It means the decision of the District Court must stand. 
D)  It will result in a new trial for the defendant. 
E)  It is the decision of most of the justices and is the decision of the Court. 
A)  It means all justices unanimously agree on the decision. 
B)  It is sent back to the court that originally heard the case. 
C)  It means the decision of the District Court must stand. 
D)  It will result in a new trial for the defendant. 
E)  It is the decision of most of the justices and is the decision of the Court.

Question 16

Which of the following procedures does an appellate court use when it reviews a case?

Accepted Answer

A)  It uses a panel of judges to review the records of a case. 
B)  It conducts another trial. 
C)  It relies on a jury to hear a new case. 
D)  It assesses only questions of fact associated with the case. 
E)  It presents the records of a case to the local government. 
A)  It uses a panel of judges to review the records of a case. 
B)  It conducts another trial. 
C)  It relies on a jury to hear a new case. 
D)  It assesses only questions of fact associated with the case. 
E)  It presents the records of a case to the local government.

Question 17

Explain the concept of precedents and how they are used within the federal court system.

Accepted Answer

Precedents refer to previous court decis

Question 18

An opinion prepared by a judge who supports the court's decision, but wishes to in some way clarify, emphasize, or offer different reasons is known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Majority opinion 
B)  Dissenting opinion 
C)  A plurality opinion 
D)  A concurring opinion 
E)  A unanimous opinion 
A)  Majority opinion 
B)  Dissenting opinion 
C)  A plurality opinion 
D)  A concurring opinion 
E)  A unanimous opinion

Question 19

The opportunity for the president to appoint members to the federal judiciary is valuable for which of the following reasons?

Accepted Answer

A)  New justices help move long-term justices closer to mandatory retirement. 
B)  A majority of presidents have been able to make more than five appointments to the bench while in office. 
C)  Rulings related to redistricting and election laws will be altered to favor the president's political party. 
D)  The Court is able to move swiftly to begin ruling in favor of the president's ideology. 
E)  The political views of the president will continue to be institutionalized long after they have left the White House. 
A)  New justices help move long-term justices closer to mandatory retirement. 
B)  A majority of presidents have been able to make more than five appointments to the bench while in office. 
C)  Rulings related to redistricting and election laws will be altered to favor the president's political party. 
D)  The Court is able to move swiftly to begin ruling in favor of the president's ideology. 
E)  The political views of the president will continue to be institutionalized long after they have left the White House.

Question 20

Detail the levels of the federal court system, being sure to note the types of cases they hear and the forms of jurisdiction they possess.

Accepted Answer

The federal court system in the United S

Which of the following statements regarding U.S. district courts is true?

If a judge rules a certain way on a case because prior cases of similar nature were subject to the same rule, that judge could be said to be relying on which of the following?

Explain how the U.S. Supreme Court decides cases and explains its decisions.

Spoken presentations by an attorney to the appellate court laying out the reasons why the court should rule in his or her client's favor are known as which of the following?

Which of the following presidents was the first to nominate a Latina to the U.S. Supreme Court?

Jurisdiction refers to which of the following?

A lawsuit filed by one person on behalf of that person and all similarly situated individuals is known as which of the following kinds of suit?

When can the U.S. Supreme Court review a state supreme court decision?

Who made the following observation in the 1800s: "scarcely any political question arises in the United States that is not resolved, sooner or later, into a judicial question"?

The opinion of a court laying out the official position of the court in the case is known as which of the following?

Compare and contrast the concepts of judicial restraint and judicial activism.

Compare and contrast the legal and extralegal approaches to judicial decision making. Be specific.

The concept of senatorial courtesy refers to which of the following?

The Supreme Court will often hear a case if asked to by which of the following?

Which of the following statements is true of a majority opinion?

Which of the following procedures does an appellate court use when it reviews a case?

Explain the concept of precedents and how they are used within the federal court system.

An opinion prepared by a judge who supports the court's decision, but wishes to in some way clarify, emphasize, or offer different reasons is known as which of the following?

The opportunity for the president to appoint members to the federal judiciary is valuable for which of the following reasons?

Detail the levels of the federal court system, being sure to note the types of cases they hear and the forms of jurisdiction they possess.

The Democratic Republic

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media

The Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

Domestic and Economic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 14: The Courts

Which of the following statements regarding U.S. district courts is true?

If a judge rules a certain way on a case because prior cases of similar nature were subject to the same rule, that judge could be said to be relying on which of the following?

Explain how the U.S. Supreme Court decides cases and explains its decisions.

Spoken presentations by an attorney to the appellate court laying out the reasons why the court should rule in his or her client's favor are known as which of the following?

Which of the following presidents was the first to nominate a Latina to the U.S. Supreme Court?

Jurisdiction refers to which of the following?

A lawsuit filed by one person on behalf of that person and all similarly situated individuals is known as which of the following kinds of suit?

When can the U.S. Supreme Court review a state supreme court decision?

Who made the following observation in the 1800s: "scarcely any political question arises in the United States that is not resolved, sooner or later, into a judicial question"?

The opinion of a court laying out the official position of the court in the case is known as which of the following?

Compare and contrast the concepts of judicial restraint and judicial activism.

Compare and contrast the legal and extralegal approaches to judicial decision making. Be specific.

The concept of senatorial courtesy refers to which of the following?

The Supreme Court will often hear a case if asked to by which of the following?

Which of the following statements is true of a majority opinion?

Which of the following procedures does an appellate court use when it reviews a case?

Explain the concept of precedents and how they are used within the federal court system.

An opinion prepared by a judge who supports the court's decision, but wishes to in some way clarify, emphasize, or offer different reasons is known as which of the following?

The opportunity for the president to appoint members to the federal judiciary is valuable for which of the following reasons?

Detail the levels of the federal court system, being sure to note the types of cases they hear and the forms of jurisdiction they possess.

The Democratic Republic

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media

The Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

Domestic and Economic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters