Question 1

Each year,the Supreme Court receives about ______ appeals and hears about ______ of them in full court.

Accepted Answer

A)  1,000;500 
B)  200;10 
C)  9,500;80 
D)  12,000;300 
E)  5,000;100 
A)  1,000;500 
B)  200;10 
C)  9,500;80 
D)  12,000;300 
E)  5,000;100

Question 2

Andrew Jackson reputedly said,"John Marshall has made his decision,now let him enforce it." What did he mean by this statement?

Accepted Answer

A)  The federal courts depend on Congress to fund the judicial police force. 
B)  The Supreme Court is unable to enforce its decisions without the aid of the executive branch. 
C)  It was time for Marshall to become an attorney general. 
D)  Jackson wasn't going to let Marshall serve him a subpoena. 
E)  The federal courts depend on Congress to pass laws to enforce their decisions. 
A)  The federal courts depend on Congress to fund the judicial police force. 
B)  The Supreme Court is unable to enforce its decisions without the aid of the executive branch. 
C)  It was time for Marshall to become an attorney general. 
D)  Jackson wasn't going to let Marshall serve him a subpoena. 
E)  The federal courts depend on Congress to pass laws to enforce their decisions.

Question 3

Dissenting opinions can be signed by only the chief justice or the most senior dissenting justice.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The assignment of the opinion in a Supreme Court case is

Accepted Answer

A)  unimportant because the final vote of the justices is the only statement that carries any weight in future cases. 
B)  important because differences in wording and emphasis can have important implications for how the decision is interpreted in future litigation. 
C)  unimportant because all justices usually describe their decisions in exactly the same way. 
D)  important because every word of a decision is legally binding. 
E)  unimportant because they are rarely,if ever,read by anyone involved in the legal process. 
A)  unimportant because the final vote of the justices is the only statement that carries any weight in future cases. 
B)  important because differences in wording and emphasis can have important implications for how the decision is interpreted in future litigation. 
C)  unimportant because all justices usually describe their decisions in exactly the same way. 
D)  important because every word of a decision is legally binding. 
E)  unimportant because they are rarely,if ever,read by anyone involved in the legal process.

Question 5

Why was the Supreme Court's decision in Ricci v.DeStefano important?

Accepted Answer

A)  It overturned a prior decision by Elena Kagan,who,a few months later,joined the Supreme Court. 
B)  It held that employment tests for promotion could not discriminate based on gender or race. 
C)  It held that,in order to seek damages,employees must show that employment tests for promotion are clearly defective,rather than that they produce unequal outcomes based on race or gender. 
D)  It held that,in order to seek damages,employees must show that employment tests for promotion clearly create unequal outcomes based on race or gender. 
E)  It held that employment tests for promotion were allowed to discriminate based on gender or race if the employer could show that the position would be better performed by a person with a particular race or gender. 
A)  It overturned a prior decision by Elena Kagan,who,a few months later,joined the Supreme Court. 
B)  It held that employment tests for promotion could not discriminate based on gender or race. 
C)  It held that,in order to seek damages,employees must show that employment tests for promotion are clearly defective,rather than that they produce unequal outcomes based on race or gender. 
D)  It held that,in order to seek damages,employees must show that employment tests for promotion clearly create unequal outcomes based on race or gender. 
E)  It held that employment tests for promotion were allowed to discriminate based on gender or race if the employer could show that the position would be better performed by a person with a particular race or gender.

Question 6

In what year was Marbury v.Madison decided?

Accepted Answer

A)  1789 
B)  1803 
C)  1861 
D)  1929 
E)  1967 
A)  1789 
B)  1803 
C)  1861 
D)  1929 
E)  1967

Question 7

Why has partisan conflict surrounded federal judicial appointments in recent years?

Accepted Answer

A)  Members of Congress do not want the president to have so much power that he can place anyone he wants on the federal bench. 
B)  The people recent presidents have chosen to nominate are often unqualified to be federal judges. 
C)  Public opinion has not been favorable to most of the people recent presidents have chosen to nominate. 
D)  There have not been enough minority nominees,including women. 
E)  The federal courts play an important role in shaping American law and politics. 
A)  Members of Congress do not want the president to have so much power that he can place anyone he wants on the federal bench. 
B)  The people recent presidents have chosen to nominate are often unqualified to be federal judges. 
C)  Public opinion has not been favorable to most of the people recent presidents have chosen to nominate. 
D)  There have not been enough minority nominees,including women. 
E)  The federal courts play an important role in shaping American law and politics.

Question 8

What is common law?

Accepted Answer

A)  another name for federal law 
B)  law made by judges through their decisions,not through specific statutes 
C)  law made by an administrative body 
D)  law that is guided by the Constitution 
E)  law passed by the U.S.Congress 
A)  another name for federal law 
B)  law made by judges through their decisions,not through specific statutes 
C)  law made by an administrative body 
D)  law that is guided by the Constitution 
E)  law passed by the U.S.Congress

Question 9

Prior cases whose principles are used by judges to decide current cases are called

Accepted Answer

A)  public law. 
B)  en blanc decisions. 
C)  precedents. 
D)  common law. 
E)  ex post facto cases. 
A)  public law. 
B)  en blanc decisions. 
C)  precedents. 
D)  common law. 
E)  ex post facto cases.

Question 10

Judicial review over acts of Congress was established by Marbury v.Madison.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

What was the Supreme Court's ruling in 1948 regarding restrictive covenants?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was illegal for homeowners to discriminate in sales contracts. 
B)  It was acceptable for private contracts to have discriminatory provisions. 
C)  Individuals had the right to discriminate in private contracts,but courts could not enforce these contracts. 
D)  Only state supreme courts had the authority to rule on the legality of restrictive covenants. 
E)  Only the U.S.Supreme Court had the authority to rule on the legality of restrictive covenants. 
A)  It was illegal for homeowners to discriminate in sales contracts. 
B)  It was acceptable for private contracts to have discriminatory provisions. 
C)  Individuals had the right to discriminate in private contracts,but courts could not enforce these contracts. 
D)  Only state supreme courts had the authority to rule on the legality of restrictive covenants. 
E)  Only the U.S.Supreme Court had the authority to rule on the legality of restrictive covenants.

Question 12

The role of the judiciary has gotten narrower and weaker since World War II.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The number of cases filed in the Supreme Court has

Accepted Answer

A)  increased dramatically since 1940. 
B)  decreased dramatically since 1940. 
C)  remained the same since 1940. 
D)  increased between 1940 and 1965 but decreased since 1965. 
E)  decreased between 1940 and 1965 but increased since 1965. 
A)  increased dramatically since 1940. 
B)  decreased dramatically since 1940. 
C)  remained the same since 1940. 
D)  increased between 1940 and 1965 but decreased since 1965. 
E)  decreased between 1940 and 1965 but increased since 1965.

Question 14

______ is an example of a justice who advocated judicial restraint.

Accepted Answer

A)  Harry Blackmun 
B)  Earl Warren 
C)  John Marshall 
D)  Felix Frankfurter 
E)  Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
A)  Harry Blackmun 
B)  Earl Warren 
C)  John Marshall 
D)  Felix Frankfurter 
E)  Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Question 15

Activist judges believe that the courts should

Accepted Answer

A)  always overrule state legislatures and governors when making decisions. 
B)  interpret the U.S.Constitution according to the intentions of its framers and defer to the views of Congress when interpreting federal statutes. 
C)  be more aggressive and ideological than the president when vacancies occur on the court. 
D)  go beyond the words of a constitution or statute to consider the broader societal implications of its decisions. 
E)  always defer judgment to precedents set by previous courts. 
A)  always overrule state legislatures and governors when making decisions. 
B)  interpret the U.S.Constitution according to the intentions of its framers and defer to the views of Congress when interpreting federal statutes. 
C)  be more aggressive and ideological than the president when vacancies occur on the court. 
D)  go beyond the words of a constitution or statute to consider the broader societal implications of its decisions. 
E)  always defer judgment to precedents set by previous courts.

Question 16

What is the most frequent and best-known action of Supreme Court justices in their role as circuit justices?

Accepted Answer

A)  vetting cases for the Supreme Court 
B)  hearing challenges to state laws 
C)  writing writs of habeas corpus 
D)  reviewing requests for stays of execution 
E)  overturning laws passed by Congress 
A)  vetting cases for the Supreme Court 
B)  hearing challenges to state laws 
C)  writing writs of habeas corpus 
D)  reviewing requests for stays of execution 
E)  overturning laws passed by Congress

Question 17

If an individual is arrested because his home was searched by police without a legal warrant,he could argue in court that he had been denied

Accepted Answer

A)  a writ of habeas corpus. 
B)  his Miranda rights. 
C)  a writ of certiorari. 
D)  judicial review. 
E)  the due process of law. 
A)  a writ of habeas corpus. 
B)  his Miranda rights. 
C)  a writ of certiorari. 
D)  judicial review. 
E)  the due process of law.

Question 18

When a case is resolved through a negotiated agreement before a full trial is completed,it is called

Accepted Answer

A)  a misdemeanor. 
B)  a plea bargain. 
C)  taking the Fifth. 
D)  a writ of certiorari. 
E)  mediation. 
A)  a misdemeanor. 
B)  a plea bargain. 
C)  taking the Fifth. 
D)  a writ of certiorari. 
E)  mediation.

Question 19

Through the exercise of ______,the Supreme Court has held actions or laws of the executive and legislative branches unconstitutional.

Accepted Answer

A)  stare decisis 
B)  writs of certiorari 
C)  judicial review 
D)  clemency 
E)  writs of habeas corpus 
A)  stare decisis 
B)  writs of certiorari 
C)  judicial review 
D)  clemency 
E)  writs of habeas corpus

Question 20

Earl Warren is known as a judicial activist.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Each year,the Supreme Court receives about appeals and hears about of them in full court.

Andrew Jackson reputedly said,"John Marshall has made his decision,now let him enforce it." What did he mean by this statement?

Dissenting opinions can be signed by only the chief justice or the most senior dissenting justice.

The assignment of the opinion in a Supreme Court case is

Why was the Supreme Court's decision in Ricci v.DeStefano important?

In what year was Marbury v.Madison decided?

Why has partisan conflict surrounded federal judicial appointments in recent years?

What is common law?

Prior cases whose principles are used by judges to decide current cases are called

Judicial review over acts of Congress was established by Marbury v.Madison.

What was the Supreme Court's ruling in 1948 regarding restrictive covenants?

The role of the judiciary has gotten narrower and weaker since World War II.

The number of cases filed in the Supreme Court has

______ is an example of a justice who advocated judicial restraint.

Activist judges believe that the courts should

What is the most frequent and best-known action of Supreme Court justices in their role as circuit justices?

If an individual is arrested because his home was searched by police without a legal warrant,he could argue in court that he had been denied

When a case is resolved through a negotiated agreement before a full trial is completed,it is called

Through the exercise of ______,the Supreme Court has held actions or laws of the executive and legislative branches unconstitutional.

Earl Warren is known as a judicial activist.

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

Each year,the Supreme Court receives about ______ appeals and hears about ______ of them in full court.

Andrew Jackson reputedly said,"John Marshall has made his decision,now let him enforce it." What did he mean by this statement?

Dissenting opinions can be signed by only the chief justice or the most senior dissenting justice.

The assignment of the opinion in a Supreme Court case is

Why was the Supreme Court's decision in Ricci v.DeStefano important?

In what year was Marbury v.Madison decided?

Why has partisan conflict surrounded federal judicial appointments in recent years?

What is common law?

Prior cases whose principles are used by judges to decide current cases are called

Judicial review over acts of Congress was established by Marbury v.Madison.

What was the Supreme Court's ruling in 1948 regarding restrictive covenants?

The role of the judiciary has gotten narrower and weaker since World War II.

The number of cases filed in the Supreme Court has

______ is an example of a justice who advocated judicial restraint.

Activist judges believe that the courts should

What is the most frequent and best-known action of Supreme Court justices in their role as circuit justices?

If an individual is arrested because his home was searched by police without a legal warrant,he could argue in court that he had been denied

When a case is resolved through a negotiated agreement before a full trial is completed,it is called

Through the exercise of ______,the Supreme Court has held actions or laws of the executive and legislative branches unconstitutional.

Earl Warren is known as a judicial activist.

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

Each year,the Supreme Court receives about appeals and hears about of them in full court.