Question 1

Which of the following statements is not true about the chief justice?

Accepted Answer

A)  The chief justice discusses cases first in conference. 
B)  The chief justice votes last at the conference. 
C)  The chief justice is the formal head of the entire federal court system. 
D)  The chief justice, when in the majority, assigns the opinion. 
A)  The chief justice discusses cases first in conference. 
B)  The chief justice votes last at the conference. 
C)  The chief justice is the formal head of the entire federal court system. 
D)  The chief justice, when in the majority, assigns the opinion. B

Question 2

Is the Supreme Court a political or legal institution? Explain your answer by making reference to the textbook, our class discussions and the recent Supreme Court decisions.

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court is both a political and legal institution. It is a legal institution in the sense that its primary function is to interpret and apply the law, as outlined in the Constitution. As stated in our textbook, the Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and has the final say on legal matters, making it a crucial component of the legal system.

However, the Supreme Court is also undeniably a political institution. Justices are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, making the selection process inherently political. Additionally, the Court's decisions often have significant political implications, as they can shape public policy and have a lasting impact on society. Our class discussions have highlighted the political nature of the Court, particularly in terms of the ideological leanings of the justices and the potential for their decisions to reflect their personal beliefs.

Recent Supreme Court decisions further illustrate the political nature of the institution. For example, the Court's rulings on controversial issues such as abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigration have sparked intense political debates and have been seen as reflecting the ideological divisions within the Court.

In conclusion, the Supreme Court is both a legal and political institution. While its primary role is to uphold the law, the political nature of its appointments and decisions cannot be ignored. This duality underscores the complex and influential role of the Supreme Court in American society.

Question 3

If the chief justice is not in the majority when a case is decided, the responsibility for opinion assignment rests with:

Accepted Answer

A)  the most junior justice on the court 
B)  the most senior associate justice in the minority 
C)  the chief justice's law clerks 
D)  the most senior associate justice in the majority 
A)  the most junior justice on the court 
B)  the most senior associate justice in the minority 
C)  the chief justice's law clerks 
D)  the most senior associate justice in the majority D

Question 4

Which of the following justices is considered a member of the conservative bloc on the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  Breyer 
B)  Sotomayor 
C)  Ginsburg 
D)  Kennedy 
E)  Scalia 
A)  Breyer 
B)  Sotomayor 
C)  Ginsburg 
D)  Kennedy 
E)  Scalia

Question 5

The chief justice:

Accepted Answer

A)  presides at the conferences 
B)  writes all the dissenting opinions 
C)  assigns all opinions of the court 
D)  decides which cases the court will review 
A)  presides at the conferences 
B)  writes all the dissenting opinions 
C)  assigns all opinions of the court 
D)  decides which cases the court will review

Question 6

Majority opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court are assigned by:

Accepted Answer

A)  random lottery 
B)  automatic rotation 
C)  the chief justice, if he voted in the majority 
D)  the justice who volunteers to write the case 
E)  the Supreme Court clerk 
A)  random lottery 
B)  automatic rotation 
C)  the chief justice, if he voted in the majority 
D)  the justice who volunteers to write the case 
E)  the Supreme Court clerk

Question 7

Cases before the Supreme Court are decided:

Accepted Answer

A)  unanimously 
B)  by two?thirds vote 
C)  by majority vote 
D)  by plurality vote 
A)  unanimously 
B)  by two?thirds vote 
C)  by majority vote 
D)  by plurality vote

Question 8

Dissenting opinions agree with the result but not the reasons.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Why is Senate confirmation of Supreme Court nominees nearly always a sure bet?

Accepted Answer

Senate confirmation of Supreme Court nom

Question 10

Religious preference has never been a factor in Supreme Court appointments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which statement best describes Congressional reaction to Supreme Court decisions?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is easier to alter statutory interpretations than constitutional interpretations. 
B)  It is easier to alter constitutional interpretations than statutory interpretations. 
C)  In earlier years, passing constitutional amendments occurred relatively frequently. 
D)  Congress rarely reacts to Supreme Court decisions. 
A)  It is easier to alter statutory interpretations than constitutional interpretations. 
B)  It is easier to alter constitutional interpretations than statutory interpretations. 
C)  In earlier years, passing constitutional amendments occurred relatively frequently. 
D)  Congress rarely reacts to Supreme Court decisions.

Question 12

On the Roberts court, the justice who most often votes in the middle is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Sotomayor 
B)  Scalia 
C)  Kennedy 
D)  Thomas 
E)  Rehnquist 
A)  Sotomayor 
B)  Scalia 
C)  Kennedy 
D)  Thomas 
E)  Rehnquist

Question 13

Why are Supreme Court opinions rarely unanimous?

Accepted Answer

Supreme Court opinions are rarely unanim

Question 14

Among the sitting justices on the Supreme Court, all (9 out of 9):

Accepted Answer

A)  were once legislators 
B)  have sat on the U.S. Courts of Appeals 
C)  were active law professors 
D)  had few political ties 
A)  were once legislators 
B)  have sat on the U.S. Courts of Appeals 
C)  were active law professors 
D)  had few political ties

Question 15

Supreme Court justices are selected by:

Accepted Answer

A)  appointment by the president with the approval of the Senate and the American Bar Association 
B)  appointment by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate 
C)  nomination by the House of Representatives with the approval of the Senate and the president 
D)  appointment by the president subject to the approval of two?thirds of the sitting justices 
A)  appointment by the president with the approval of the Senate and the American Bar Association 
B)  appointment by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate 
C)  nomination by the House of Representatives with the approval of the Senate and the president 
D)  appointment by the president subject to the approval of two?thirds of the sitting justices

Question 16

The Burger court can best be characterized as:

Accepted Answer

A)  very conservative and unified 
B)  pragmatism marked by compromise 
C)  liberal on most matters 
D)  unified with no distinct ideological flavor 
A)  very conservative and unified 
B)  pragmatism marked by compromise 
C)  liberal on most matters 
D)  unified with no distinct ideological flavor

Question 17

The decision as to the results in the case is called the:

Accepted Answer

A)  opinion 
B)  judgment 
C)  brief 
D)  tort 
A)  opinion 
B)  judgment 
C)  brief 
D)  tort

Question 18

In analyzing voting patterns of Supreme Court justices, political scientists use the following technique:

Accepted Answer

A)  factor analysis 
B)  multiple regression 
C)  interviews 
D)  scalogram 
A)  factor analysis 
B)  multiple regression 
C)  interviews 
D)  scalogram

Question 19

Why does the Supreme Court allow so little time for oral argument?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court of the United States a

Question 20

Who is the current chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earl Warren 
B)  Byron White 
C)  William Rehnquist 
D)  John Roberts 
E)  William Marshall 
A)  Earl Warren 
B)  Byron White 
C)  William Rehnquist 
D)  John Roberts 
E)  William Marshall

Which of the following statements is not true about the chief justice?

Is the Supreme Court a political or legal institution? Explain your answer by making reference to the textbook, our class discussions and the recent Supreme Court decisions.

If the chief justice is not in the majority when a case is decided, the responsibility for opinion assignment rests with:

Which of the following justices is considered a member of the conservative bloc on the Supreme Court?

The chief justice:

Majority opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court are assigned by:

Cases before the Supreme Court are decided:

Dissenting opinions agree with the result but not the reasons.

Why is Senate confirmation of Supreme Court nominees nearly always a sure bet?

Religious preference has never been a factor in Supreme Court appointments.

Which statement best describes Congressional reaction to Supreme Court decisions?

On the Roberts court, the justice who most often votes in the middle is:

Why are Supreme Court opinions rarely unanimous?

Among the sitting justices on the Supreme Court, all (9 out of 9):

Supreme Court justices are selected by:

The Burger court can best be characterized as:

The decision as to the results in the case is called the:

In analyzing voting patterns of Supreme Court justices, political scientists use the following technique:

Why does the Supreme Court allow so little time for oral argument?

Who is the current chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court?

Law, Courts, and Politics

Law and Legal Systems

Federal Courts

State Courts

Lawyers and Legal Representation

Judges

Mobilizing the Law: Litigants, Interest Groups, Court Cases, and the Media

Trial Courts: the Preliminary Stages of Criminal Cases

Trial Courts: How Criminal Cases End: Bargaining and Sentencing

Trial Courts: How Civil Cases Begin

Trial Courts: How Civil Cases End

Trials and Juries

The Appellate Process

The Supreme Court: Deciding What to Decide

Filters

Exam 15: The Supreme Court: the Justices and Their Decisions

Which of the following statements is not true about the chief justice?

Is the Supreme Court a political or legal institution? Explain your answer by making reference to the textbook, our class discussions and the recent Supreme Court decisions.

If the chief justice is not in the majority when a case is decided, the responsibility for opinion assignment rests with:

Which of the following justices is considered a member of the conservative bloc on the Supreme Court?

The chief justice:

Majority opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court are assigned by:

Cases before the Supreme Court are decided:

Dissenting opinions agree with the result but not the reasons.

Why is Senate confirmation of Supreme Court nominees nearly always a sure bet?

Religious preference has never been a factor in Supreme Court appointments.

Which statement best describes Congressional reaction to Supreme Court decisions?

On the Roberts court, the justice who most often votes in the middle is:

Why are Supreme Court opinions rarely unanimous?

Among the sitting justices on the Supreme Court, all (9 out of 9):

Supreme Court justices are selected by:

The Burger court can best be characterized as:

The decision as to the results in the case is called the:

In analyzing voting patterns of Supreme Court justices, political scientists use the following technique:

Why does the Supreme Court allow so little time for oral argument?

Who is the current chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court?

Law, Courts, and Politics

Law and Legal Systems

Federal Courts

State Courts

Lawyers and Legal Representation

Judges

Mobilizing the Law: Litigants, Interest Groups, Court Cases, and the Media

Trial Courts: the Preliminary Stages of Criminal Cases

Trial Courts: How Criminal Cases End: Bargaining and Sentencing

Trial Courts: How Civil Cases Begin

Trial Courts: How Civil Cases End

Trials and Juries

The Appellate Process

The Supreme Court: Deciding What to Decide

Filters