Question 1

Which of the following was not part of the Supreme Court's ruling in Hamdi v.Rumsfeld?

Accepted Answer

A)  A U.S.citizen could be declared an enemy combatant. 
B)  All persons accused of being terrorists had the right to a lawyer. 
C)  Persons the president designates as enemy combatants do not have to be granted an opportunity to rebut those charges. 
D)  The president could order that an enemy combatant be held in federal detention. 
E)  Presidential actions were subject to judicial scrutiny. 
A)  A U.S.citizen could be declared an enemy combatant. 
B)  All persons accused of being terrorists had the right to a lawyer. 
C)  Persons the president designates as enemy combatants do not have to be granted an opportunity to rebut those charges. 
D)  The president could order that an enemy combatant be held in federal detention. 
E)  Presidential actions were subject to judicial scrutiny. C

Question 2

Approximately how many judges currently sit on the federal district courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  9 
B)  50 
C)  75 
D)  700 
E)  2,500 
A)  9 
B)  50 
C)  75 
D)  700 
E)  2,500 D

Question 3

Why is the Supreme Court case of Marbury v.Madison important?

Accepted Answer

A)  In this case,the Court declared the authority of Congress to regulate the economy of the United States. 
B)  In this case,the Court nationalized the Bill of Rights. 
C)  In this case,the Court authorized itself to exercise judicial review over laws passed by Congress. 
D)  In this case,the Court declared the secession of the Confederate states to be in violation of the Constitution. 
E)  In this case,the Court declared the segregation of schools based on race illegal. 
A)  In this case,the Court declared the authority of Congress to regulate the economy of the United States. 
B)  In this case,the Court nationalized the Bill of Rights. 
C)  In this case,the Court authorized itself to exercise judicial review over laws passed by Congress. 
D)  In this case,the Court declared the secession of the Confederate states to be in violation of the Constitution. 
E)  In this case,the Court declared the segregation of schools based on race illegal. C

Question 4

All of the following are part of the official jurisdiction of the federal courts except

Accepted Answer

A)  treaties with other nations. 
B)  federal statutes. 
C)  cases involving the U.S.Constitution. 
D)  cases involving citizens from the same state. 
E)  any case in which the U.S.government is party. 
A)  treaties with other nations. 
B)  federal statutes. 
C)  cases involving the U.S.Constitution. 
D)  cases involving citizens from the same state. 
E)  any case in which the U.S.government is party.

Question 5

The case Baker v.Carr concerns

Accepted Answer

A)  desegregation of schools. 
B)  apportionment of legislative seats. 
C)  unwarranted searches and seizures. 
D)  the separation of church and state. 
E)  state restrictions on carrying handguns in public. 
A)  desegregation of schools. 
B)  apportionment of legislative seats. 
C)  unwarranted searches and seizures. 
D)  the separation of church and state. 
E)  state restrictions on carrying handguns in public.

Question 6

Which of the following statements concerning legislative courts is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  These courts are created by Congress,based in their Article I powers,not their Article III powers. 
B)  Judges on legislative courts do not have lifetime tenure. 
C)  Legislative court judges cannot have their salary reduced by Congress. 
D)  Legislative courts specialize in certain types of cases. 
E)  Legislative courts are less independent than the courts established under Article III. 
A)  These courts are created by Congress,based in their Article I powers,not their Article III powers. 
B)  Judges on legislative courts do not have lifetime tenure. 
C)  Legislative court judges cannot have their salary reduced by Congress. 
D)  Legislative courts specialize in certain types of cases. 
E)  Legislative courts are less independent than the courts established under Article III.

Question 7

What was the basis of Justice John Marshall's assertion that the federal courts have the power of judicial review?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Constitution grants the courts that power. 
B)  It is the duty of the courts to say what the law is;therefore it is necessary for the courts to interpret and expound upon the law. 
C)  Congress would have to ask the courts for permission to pass laws. 
D)  The president should not be able to "get around" Congress by issuing executive orders on any issue he or she would like. 
E)  The federal courts,since they are the least political branch of government,should have the power to review the actions of the political branches. 
A)  The Constitution grants the courts that power. 
B)  It is the duty of the courts to say what the law is;therefore it is necessary for the courts to interpret and expound upon the law. 
C)  Congress would have to ask the courts for permission to pass laws. 
D)  The president should not be able to "get around" Congress by issuing executive orders on any issue he or she would like. 
E)  The federal courts,since they are the least political branch of government,should have the power to review the actions of the political branches.

Question 8

What is the significance of dissenting opinions?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are made to appeal to a justice's constituency groups. 
B)  They have as much weight of law as the majority's opinion does. 
C)  Dissents are signs that the Court is in disagreement on an issue and could change its ruling. 
D)  Dissents are meant to confuse lawyers and government officials as to the true meaning of a decided case. 
E)  They are meant to appease the losing side in a case. 
A)  They are made to appeal to a justice's constituency groups. 
B)  They have as much weight of law as the majority's opinion does. 
C)  Dissents are signs that the Court is in disagreement on an issue and could change its ruling. 
D)  Dissents are meant to confuse lawyers and government officials as to the true meaning of a decided case. 
E)  They are meant to appease the losing side in a case.

Question 9

How many justices currently serve on the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  seven 
B)  nine 
C)  ten 
D)  eleven 
E)  fifteen 
A)  seven 
B)  nine 
C)  ten 
D)  eleven 
E)  fifteen

Question 10

In what type of law is the government always the plaintiff?

Accepted Answer

A)  public law 
B)  criminal law 
C)  civil law 
D)  common law 
E)  tort law 
A)  public law 
B)  criminal law 
C)  civil law 
D)  common law 
E)  tort law

Question 11

Each of the following has been a method by which the federal courts have expanded their power except

Accepted Answer

A)  liberalizing the concept of standing. 
B)  broadening the scope of relief from individuals to entire groups. 
C)  narrowing the discretionary authority of the president over foreign affairs and diplomacy. 
D)  holding onto jurisdiction over a case until the court's decision has been carried out. 
E)  taking a more active role in hearing cases that would generally be considered legislative matters. 
A)  liberalizing the concept of standing. 
B)  broadening the scope of relief from individuals to entire groups. 
C)  narrowing the discretionary authority of the president over foreign affairs and diplomacy. 
D)  holding onto jurisdiction over a case until the court's decision has been carried out. 
E)  taking a more active role in hearing cases that would generally be considered legislative matters.

Question 12

When the Supreme Court refuses to review a lower-court decision,announcing this decision through a brief unsigned opinion,it is called a(n)______ opinion.

Accepted Answer

A)  per curiam 
B)  ex parte 
C)  concurrence 
D)  amicus curiae 
E)  ex post facto 
A)  per curiam 
B)  ex parte 
C)  concurrence 
D)  amicus curiae 
E)  ex post facto

Question 13

What is the Uniform Commercial Code?

Accepted Answer

A)  a federal law establishing common practices in each state regarding commercial affairs 
B)  a set of codes states may voluntarily adopt in order to reduce interstate differences in judicial opinions in contract law cases 
C)  judicial guidelines established by the Supreme Court explaining the meaning of federal economic regulations 
D)  a federal law regulating all forms of advertisements throughout the United States 
E)  a set of federal codes establishing common practices in each state regarding international commercial affairs 
A)  a federal law establishing common practices in each state regarding commercial affairs 
B)  a set of codes states may voluntarily adopt in order to reduce interstate differences in judicial opinions in contract law cases 
C)  judicial guidelines established by the Supreme Court explaining the meaning of federal economic regulations 
D)  a federal law regulating all forms of advertisements throughout the United States 
E)  a set of federal codes establishing common practices in each state regarding international commercial affairs

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the role of the solicitor general?

Accepted Answer

A)  the chief legal counsel for the White House 
B)  the lawyer who represents the United States before the Supreme Court in cases where the federal government is a party 
C)  the chief lawyer for Congress who makes advisory opinions on the constitutionality of legislative proposals 
D)  the head of the Department of Justice 
E)  the chief legal counsel to the U.S.military 
A)  the chief legal counsel for the White House 
B)  the lawyer who represents the United States before the Supreme Court in cases where the federal government is a party 
C)  the chief lawyer for Congress who makes advisory opinions on the constitutionality of legislative proposals 
D)  the head of the Department of Justice 
E)  the chief legal counsel to the U.S.military

Question 15

Prisoners who are challenging their conviction are most likely to file a writ of

Accepted Answer

A)  habeas corpus. 
B)  certiorari. 
C)  jurisdiction. 
D)  stare decisis. 
E)  challenge. 
A)  habeas corpus. 
B)  certiorari. 
C)  jurisdiction. 
D)  stare decisis. 
E)  challenge.

Question 16

Aside from the justices themselves,who or what has the greatest power in shaping the flow of cases to the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  the attorney general 
B)  the solicitor general 
C)  the Senate Judiciary Committee 
D)  the state supreme courts 
E)  Congress 
A)  the attorney general 
B)  the solicitor general 
C)  the Senate Judiciary Committee 
D)  the state supreme courts 
E)  Congress

Question 17

The requirement of standing means that parties in a case must

Accepted Answer

A)  be alive. 
B)  have a concrete injury or interest at stake. 
C)  be present in court during the trial. 
D)  know the law they are using to defend themselves. 
E)  have an attorney present with them in court. 
A)  be alive. 
B)  have a concrete injury or interest at stake. 
C)  be present in court during the trial. 
D)  know the law they are using to defend themselves. 
E)  have an attorney present with them in court.

Question 18

The area of authority possessed by a court,in terms of either subject area or geography,is called its

Accepted Answer

A)  appellate scope. 
B)  judicial review. 
C)  precedents. 
D)  jurisdiction. 
E)  mandate. 
A)  appellate scope. 
B)  judicial review. 
C)  precedents. 
D)  jurisdiction. 
E)  mandate.

Question 19

The process of judicial confirmations is a low-key and uncontroversial affair.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The doctrine of stare decisis compels judges to use precedents to decide current cases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Which of the following was not part of the Supreme Court's ruling in Hamdi v.Rumsfeld?

Approximately how many judges currently sit on the federal district courts?

Why is the Supreme Court case of Marbury v.Madison important?

All of the following are part of the official jurisdiction of the federal courts except

The case Baker v.Carr concerns

Which of the following statements concerning legislative courts is false?

What was the basis of Justice John Marshall's assertion that the federal courts have the power of judicial review?

What is the significance of dissenting opinions?

How many justices currently serve on the Supreme Court?

In what type of law is the government always the plaintiff?

Each of the following has been a method by which the federal courts have expanded their power except

When the Supreme Court refuses to review a lower-court decision,announcing this decision through a brief unsigned opinion,it is called a(n)______ opinion.

What is the Uniform Commercial Code?

Which of the following best describes the role of the solicitor general?

Prisoners who are challenging their conviction are most likely to file a writ of

Aside from the justices themselves,who or what has the greatest power in shaping the flow of cases to the Supreme Court?

The requirement of standing means that parties in a case must

The area of authority possessed by a court,in terms of either subject area or geography,is called its

The process of judicial confirmations is a low-key and uncontroversial affair.

The doctrine of stare decisis compels judges to use precedents to decide current cases.

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

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Exam 15: The Federal Courts

Which of the following was not part of the Supreme Court's ruling in Hamdi v.Rumsfeld?

Approximately how many judges currently sit on the federal district courts?

Why is the Supreme Court case of Marbury v.Madison important?

All of the following are part of the official jurisdiction of the federal courts except

The case Baker v.Carr concerns

Which of the following statements concerning legislative courts is false?

What was the basis of Justice John Marshall's assertion that the federal courts have the power of judicial review?

What is the significance of dissenting opinions?

How many justices currently serve on the Supreme Court?

In what type of law is the government always the plaintiff?

Each of the following has been a method by which the federal courts have expanded their power except

When the Supreme Court refuses to review a lower-court decision,announcing this decision through a brief unsigned opinion,it is called a(n)______ opinion.

What is the Uniform Commercial Code?

Which of the following best describes the role of the solicitor general?

Prisoners who are challenging their conviction are most likely to file a writ of

Aside from the justices themselves,who or what has the greatest power in shaping the flow of cases to the Supreme Court?

The requirement of standing means that parties in a case must

The area of authority possessed by a court,in terms of either subject area or geography,is called its

The process of judicial confirmations is a low-key and uncontroversial affair.

The doctrine of stare decisis compels judges to use precedents to decide current cases.

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters