Question 1

A person,agency,or interest group not directly a party to a case but with an interest in its outcome may file a(n)______ brief.

Accepted Answer

A)  certiorari 
B)  per curiam 
C)  amicus curiae 
D)  standing 
E)  accompaniment 
A)  certiorari 
B)  per curiam 
C)  amicus curiae 
D)  standing 
E)  accompaniment

Question 2

When justices agree with the ruling of a court majority but not all of its reasoning,they may often write a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  dissent. 
B)  concurrence. 
C)  ex parte. 
D)  per curiam. 
E)  writ of certiorari. 
A)  dissent. 
B)  concurrence. 
C)  ex parte. 
D)  per curiam. 
E)  writ of certiorari.

Question 3

The doctrine of ______ requires courts to follow authoritative prior decisions when ruling on a case.

Accepted Answer

A)  stare decisis 
B)  habeas corpus 
C)  lex talions 
D)  ex post facto 
E)  a priori 
A)  stare decisis 
B)  habeas corpus 
C)  lex talions 
D)  ex post facto 
E)  a priori

Question 4

In most circumstances,a supreme court is best described as a(n)______ court.

Accepted Answer

A)  uniform 
B)  trial 
C)  advisory 
D)  appellate 
E)  elected 
A)  uniform 
B)  trial 
C)  advisory 
D)  appellate 
E)  elected

Question 5

Fifty percent of lower federal court cases are accepted for review by the courts of appeals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

When interest groups involved in litigation pursue a pattern-of-cases strategy,they are

Accepted Answer

A)  using legal arguments that have won in the past. 
B)  bringing the same type of suit into multiple circuits,hoping that a contradiction in rulings will bring about a Supreme Court review. 
C)  shopping around for the district where the likelihood of a favorable decision is highest. 
D)  filing multiple friend-of-the-court briefs,in the hope of influencing the legal arguments of the Supreme Court. 
E)  filing cases in different courts on the same subject. 
A)  using legal arguments that have won in the past. 
B)  bringing the same type of suit into multiple circuits,hoping that a contradiction in rulings will bring about a Supreme Court review. 
C)  shopping around for the district where the likelihood of a favorable decision is highest. 
D)  filing multiple friend-of-the-court briefs,in the hope of influencing the legal arguments of the Supreme Court. 
E)  filing cases in different courts on the same subject.

Question 7

Original jurisdiction refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. 
B)  the court with the authority to hear a case first. 
C)  the highest court with the power to overrule other courts. 
D)  Congress's power to determine what cases the federal courts will hear. 
E)  the president's power to appoint federal judges. 
A)  the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. 
B)  the court with the authority to hear a case first. 
C)  the highest court with the power to overrule other courts. 
D)  Congress's power to determine what cases the federal courts will hear. 
E)  the president's power to appoint federal judges.

Question 8

In which type of case does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?

Accepted Answer

A)  any case involving the Constitution 
B)  any case involving an ambassador 
C)  any case involving the president 
D)  any case it wants to take up 
E)  any case involving a member of Congress 
A)  any case involving the Constitution 
B)  any case involving an ambassador 
C)  any case involving the president 
D)  any case it wants to take up 
E)  any case involving a member of Congress

Question 9

Which of the following is not a traditional limitation on the power of the federal courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  strict rules of standing 
B)  the ability of Congress to reduce federal judges' salaries 
C)  the inability of the courts to offer relief to whole classes of people 
D)  the inability of the courts to enforce their own decisions 
E)  the inability of the courts to act on their own initiative 
A)  strict rules of standing 
B)  the ability of Congress to reduce federal judges' salaries 
C)  the inability of the courts to offer relief to whole classes of people 
D)  the inability of the courts to enforce their own decisions 
E)  the inability of the courts to act on their own initiative

Question 10

What is the main function of the chief justice of the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  The chief justice decides what cases will be heard by the full Court each term. 
B)  The chief justice always writes the Court's majority opinions. 
C)  The chief justice presides over the Court's public sessions and private conferences. 
D)  The chief justice is also the constitutional adviser to the president. 
E)  The chief justice is the constitutional adviser to Congress. 
A)  The chief justice decides what cases will be heard by the full Court each term. 
B)  The chief justice always writes the Court's majority opinions. 
C)  The chief justice presides over the Court's public sessions and private conferences. 
D)  The chief justice is also the constitutional adviser to the president. 
E)  The chief justice is the constitutional adviser to Congress.

Question 11

Write an essay analyzing the exercise of judicial review.What is judicial review,what are its origins,and why is it often so controversial? What is the significance of Marbury v.Madison? Give some examples of notable uses of judicial review in Supreme Court history.

Accepted Answer

Judicial review is the power of the cour

Question 12

A "certiorari pool" describes the

Accepted Answer

A)  computerized lottery system by which the Supreme Court selects its cases each year. 
B)  practice by which Supreme Court law clerks work together to evaluate each petition. 
C)  method used to appoint the chief justice. 
D)  nickname for the water fountain in the courtyard of the Supreme Court building. 
E)  pool of applicants seeking appointment to the federal judiciary. 
A)  computerized lottery system by which the Supreme Court selects its cases each year. 
B)  practice by which Supreme Court law clerks work together to evaluate each petition. 
C)  method used to appoint the chief justice. 
D)  nickname for the water fountain in the courtyard of the Supreme Court building. 
E)  pool of applicants seeking appointment to the federal judiciary.

Question 13

Each Supreme Court justice is assigned ______ clerk(s).

Accepted Answer

A)  one 
B)  four 
C)  eight 
D)  ten 
E)  fifteen 
A)  one 
B)  four 
C)  eight 
D)  ten 
E)  fifteen

Question 14

Which of the following was not a case involving the Supreme Court overturning a state law?

Accepted Answer

A)  Marbury v.Madison 
B)  Brown v.Board of Education 
C)  Griswold v.Connecticut 
D)  Loving v.Virginia 
E)  Brandenburg v.Ohio 
A)  Marbury v.Madison 
B)  Brown v.Board of Education 
C)  Griswold v.Connecticut 
D)  Loving v.Virginia 
E)  Brandenburg v.Ohio

Question 15

The process of confirming federal court appointments has recently become contentious.Describe the steps to becoming a federal judge.Why has this process become so controversial in recent years? Describe some examples of this conflict in the confirmation process.

Accepted Answer

The process of becoming a federal judge

Question 16

Which of the following statements about federal courts is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The federal government does not operate a court system. 
B)  Federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States,and their decisions are rarely important because they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
C)  Although federal courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States,their decisions are rarely important because they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
D)  Federal courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States,and their decisions are extremely important because they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
E)  Although the federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States,their decisions are extremely important because they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
A)  The federal government does not operate a court system. 
B)  Federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States,and their decisions are rarely important because they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
C)  Although federal courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States,their decisions are rarely important because they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
D)  Federal courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States,and their decisions are extremely important because they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
E)  Although the federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States,their decisions are extremely important because they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans.

Question 17

Most cases reach the Supreme Court through the

Accepted Answer

A)  writ of appeal. 
B)  writ of certiorari. 
C)  writ of habeas corpus. 
D)  writ of amicus curiae. 
E)  state courts. 
A)  writ of appeal. 
B)  writ of certiorari. 
C)  writ of habeas corpus. 
D)  writ of amicus curiae. 
E)  state courts.

Question 18

The issue of employer liability for employee injuries sustained at work illustrates that

Accepted Answer

A)  there are certain areas of law that courts are not allowed to rule on. 
B)  civil laws can only be passed through state legislatures and cannot be constructed through judicial decisions. 
C)  many areas of civil law have been constructed by judicial messages to other judges rather than by laws passed by legislatures. 
D)  individuals need not have standing to sue in federal court. 
E)  mootness is not an important consideration in civil law cases. 
A)  there are certain areas of law that courts are not allowed to rule on. 
B)  civil laws can only be passed through state legislatures and cannot be constructed through judicial decisions. 
C)  many areas of civil law have been constructed by judicial messages to other judges rather than by laws passed by legislatures. 
D)  individuals need not have standing to sue in federal court. 
E)  mootness is not an important consideration in civil law cases.

Question 19

Approximately what percentage of all court cases in the United States are heard in federal courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 percent 
B)  5 percent 
C)  10 percent 
D)  30 percent 
E)  55 percent 
A)  1 percent 
B)  5 percent 
C)  10 percent 
D)  30 percent 
E)  55 percent

Question 20

The size of the U.S.Supreme Court is set by

Accepted Answer

A)  the U.S.Constitution. 
B)  Congress. 
C)  a national convention. 
D)  the American Bar Association. 
E)  the president. 
A)  the U.S.Constitution. 
B)  Congress. 
C)  a national convention. 
D)  the American Bar Association. 
E)  the president.

A person,agency,or interest group not directly a party to a case but with an interest in its outcome may file a(n)______ brief.

When justices agree with the ruling of a court majority but not all of its reasoning,they may often write a(n)

The doctrine of ______ requires courts to follow authoritative prior decisions when ruling on a case.

In most circumstances,a supreme court is best described as a(n)______ court.

Fifty percent of lower federal court cases are accepted for review by the courts of appeals.

When interest groups involved in litigation pursue a pattern-of-cases strategy,they are

Original jurisdiction refers to

In which type of case does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?

Which of the following is not a traditional limitation on the power of the federal courts?

What is the main function of the chief justice of the Supreme Court?

Write an essay analyzing the exercise of judicial review.What is judicial review,what are its origins,and why is it often so controversial? What is the significance of Marbury v.Madison? Give some examples of notable uses of judicial review in Supreme Court history.

A "certiorari pool" describes the

Each Supreme Court justice is assigned ______ clerk(s).

Which of the following was not a case involving the Supreme Court overturning a state law?

The process of confirming federal court appointments has recently become contentious.Describe the steps to becoming a federal judge.Why has this process become so controversial in recent years? Describe some examples of this conflict in the confirmation process.

Which of the following statements about federal courts is most accurate?

Most cases reach the Supreme Court through the

The issue of employer liability for employee injuries sustained at work illustrates that

Approximately what percentage of all court cases in the United States are heard in federal courts?

The size of the U.S.Supreme Court is set by

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

Exam 15: The Federal Courts

A person,agency,or interest group not directly a party to a case but with an interest in its outcome may file a(n)______ brief.

When justices agree with the ruling of a court majority but not all of its reasoning,they may often write a(n)

The doctrine of ______ requires courts to follow authoritative prior decisions when ruling on a case.

In most circumstances,a supreme court is best described as a(n)______ court.

Fifty percent of lower federal court cases are accepted for review by the courts of appeals.

When interest groups involved in litigation pursue a pattern-of-cases strategy,they are

Original jurisdiction refers to

In which type of case does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?

Which of the following is not a traditional limitation on the power of the federal courts?

What is the main function of the chief justice of the Supreme Court?

Write an essay analyzing the exercise of judicial review.What is judicial review,what are its origins,and why is it often so controversial? What is the significance of Marbury v.Madison? Give some examples of notable uses of judicial review in Supreme Court history.

A "certiorari pool" describes the

Each Supreme Court justice is assigned ______ clerk(s).

Which of the following was not a case involving the Supreme Court overturning a state law?

The process of confirming federal court appointments has recently become contentious.Describe the steps to becoming a federal judge.Why has this process become so controversial in recent years? Describe some examples of this conflict in the confirmation process.

Which of the following statements about federal courts is most accurate?

Most cases reach the Supreme Court through the

The issue of employer liability for employee injuries sustained at work illustrates that

Approximately what percentage of all court cases in the United States are heard in federal courts?

The size of the U.S.Supreme Court is set by

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