Question 1

What is the definition of a fundamental value?

Accepted Answer

A) Any essential moral principle embraced by the majority of citizens 
B) Equal economic opportunity for all citizens of a state 
C) Any right that is vital for liberty to exist in a state 
D) A dedication to social justice and equality 
E) Any aspect of Judeo-Christian morality that aided social and political justice 
A) Any essential moral principle embraced by the majority of citizens 
B) Equal economic opportunity for all citizens of a state 
C) Any right that is vital for liberty to exist in a state 
D) A dedication to social justice and equality 
E) Any aspect of Judeo-Christian morality that aided social and political justice

Question 2

What did the Supreme Court's decision in Gitlow v. New York (1925)establish?

Accepted Answer

A) That separate but equal accommodations for white and black citizens was unlawful 
B) That the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of the press and speech applied to the states as well as the federal government 
C) That local governments could not exclude racial minorities from juries 
D) That the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of religion applied to the states as well as the federal government 
E) That the Second Amendment's guarantee of the right to bear arms could not be violated by state or local government 
A) That separate but equal accommodations for white and black citizens was unlawful 
B) That the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of the press and speech applied to the states as well as the federal government 
C) That local governments could not exclude racial minorities from juries 
D) That the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of religion applied to the states as well as the federal government 
E) That the Second Amendment's guarantee of the right to bear arms could not be violated by state or local government

Question 3

Why did Alexander Hamilton consider the judicial branch the least dangerous of the three branches of the federal government?

Accepted Answer

A) The legislative branch could set the courts' authority and withdraw it at will. 
B) As they were riding the circuit from court to court, Supreme Court justices were too busy to be dangerous. 
C) Its members seldom met and could not set policy. 
D) It did not have the power to declare war or appoint government officials. 
E) It lacked the sword of the executive and the power of the purse of the legislative branches. 
A) The legislative branch could set the courts' authority and withdraw it at will. 
B) As they were riding the circuit from court to court, Supreme Court justices were too busy to be dangerous. 
C) Its members seldom met and could not set policy. 
D) It did not have the power to declare war or appoint government officials. 
E) It lacked the sword of the executive and the power of the purse of the legislative branches.

Question 4

What is the most frequent number of judges on a panel hearing cases for the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit?

Accepted Answer

A) 1 
B) 2 
C) 3 
D) 4 
E) 5 
A) 1 
B) 2 
C) 3 
D) 4 
E) 5

Question 5

Which statement is most reflective of the outlook of a judicial activist?

Accepted Answer

A) Life changes, but the basic principles of the U.S. Constitution remain as valid as ever. 
B) The U.S. Constitution is an old and completely outdated document and thus should be abandoned entirely. 
C) Jurists should always follow the literal meaning and original intent of the U.S. Constitution. 
D) Life has changed too much over the years to strictly follow the literal words of a centuries-old U.S. Constitution. 
E) It is sheer arrogant folly to consider the larger social economic conditions of today's America in deciding cases. 
A) Life changes, but the basic principles of the U.S. Constitution remain as valid as ever. 
B) The U.S. Constitution is an old and completely outdated document and thus should be abandoned entirely. 
C) Jurists should always follow the literal meaning and original intent of the U.S. Constitution. 
D) Life has changed too much over the years to strictly follow the literal words of a centuries-old U.S. Constitution. 
E) It is sheer arrogant folly to consider the larger social economic conditions of today's America in deciding cases.

Question 6

Which part of the U.S. Constitution did the Supreme Court cite to uphold the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Accepted Answer

A) Takings clause 
B) Establishment clause 
C) Contract clause 
D) Interstate Commerce clause 
E) Equal Protection clause 
A) Takings clause 
B) Establishment clause 
C) Contract clause 
D) Interstate Commerce clause 
E) Equal Protection clause

Question 7

How did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention compromise on the composition of the federal judicial branch?

Accepted Answer

A) By establishing a Supreme Court and allowing state governments to decide what lower courts might also be established 
B) By establishing a Supreme Court and lower federal courts and letting the states decide what authority they would have 
C) By establishing a Supreme Court and then letting Congress decide whether to establish lower courts 
D) By establishing a Supreme Court and lower federal courts, but limiting the power of the lower courts 
E) By letting Congress decide whether to establish any federal courts at all 
A) By establishing a Supreme Court and allowing state governments to decide what lower courts might also be established 
B) By establishing a Supreme Court and lower federal courts and letting the states decide what authority they would have 
C) By establishing a Supreme Court and then letting Congress decide whether to establish lower courts 
D) By establishing a Supreme Court and lower federal courts, but limiting the power of the lower courts 
E) By letting Congress decide whether to establish any federal courts at all

Question 8

Which chief justice wrote the Brown v. Board (1954)decision outlawing racial segregation in public schools?

Accepted Answer

A) Robert Jackson 
B) Fred Vinson 
C) Thomas Dewey 
D) Earl Warren 
E) Warren Burger 
A) Robert Jackson 
B) Fred Vinson 
C) Thomas Dewey 
D) Earl Warren 
E) Warren Burger

Question 9

What was a key theme of the first three amendments to follow the Civil War?

Accepted Answer

A) They mandated how states were to treat their citizens. 
B) They attempted to appease the defeated South. 
C) They restricted the actions of the federal government toward its citizens. 
D) They aimed to restore the prewar status quo. 
E) They accepted a separate but equal treatment of racial groups. 
A) They mandated how states were to treat their citizens. 
B) They attempted to appease the defeated South. 
C) They restricted the actions of the federal government toward its citizens. 
D) They aimed to restore the prewar status quo. 
E) They accepted a separate but equal treatment of racial groups.

Question 10

How can the American and British judicial systems best be described?

Accepted Answer

A) Inquisitorial and based on case law 
B) Adversarial and based on canon law 
A) Inquisitorial and based on case law 
B) Adversarial and based on canon law

Question 11

Consider the Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803). What is the role of this case in establishing the Supreme Court as a coequal branch to the others?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court's decision in Marbury

Question 12

Which terms best apply to the Federal Constitutional Court in Germany?

Accepted Answer

A) Activist, independent, and secret in much of its decision making 
B) Activist, independent, and somewhat open in its decision making 
C) Passive, dependent on the legislature, and highly secretive 
D) Passive, dependent on the executive, and open in its decision making 
E) Activist, independent, and completely open in all of its proceedings 
A) Activist, independent, and secret in much of its decision making 
B) Activist, independent, and somewhat open in its decision making 
C) Passive, dependent on the legislature, and highly secretive 
D) Passive, dependent on the executive, and open in its decision making 
E) Activist, independent, and completely open in all of its proceedings

Question 13

What is the definition of a court of original jurisdiction?

Accepted Answer

A) The Supreme Court 
B) One where cases are first heard 
C) One expected to deliver decisions with binding precedent 
D) A state court 
E) A court that decides civil cases only 
A) The Supreme Court 
B) One where cases are first heard 
C) One expected to deliver decisions with binding precedent 
D) A state court 
E) A court that decides civil cases only

Question 14

How has the burden of Germany's experiences in the twentieth century influenced the character of the Federal Constitutional Court and determined its role in German politics?

Accepted Answer

The burden of Germany's experiences in t

Question 15

Which federal court case led to the passage of the Eleventh Amendment, prohibiting American citizens and foreigners from suing a state?

Accepted Answer

A) Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) 
B) Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge (1837) 
C) Chisholm v. Georgia (1793) 
D) Fletcher v. Peck (1810) 
E) Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819) 
A) Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) 
B) Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge (1837) 
C) Chisholm v. Georgia (1793) 
D) Fletcher v. Peck (1810) 
E) Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819)

Question 16

Who was the first chief justice of the United States?

Accepted Answer

A) John Jay 
B) James Madison 
C) Benjamin Rush 
D) John Adams 
E) Alexander Hamilton 
A) John Jay 
B) James Madison 
C) Benjamin Rush 
D) John Adams 
E) Alexander Hamilton

What is the definition of a fundamental value?

What did the Supreme Court's decision in Gitlow v. New York (1925)establish?

Why did Alexander Hamilton consider the judicial branch the least dangerous of the three branches of the federal government?

What is the most frequent number of judges on a panel hearing cases for the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit?

Which statement is most reflective of the outlook of a judicial activist?

Which part of the U.S. Constitution did the Supreme Court cite to uphold the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

How did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention compromise on the composition of the federal judicial branch?

Which chief justice wrote the Brown v. Board (1954)decision outlawing racial segregation in public schools?

What was a key theme of the first three amendments to follow the Civil War?

How can the American and British judicial systems best be described?

Consider the Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803). What is the role of this case in establishing the Supreme Court as a coequal branch to the others?

Which terms best apply to the Federal Constitutional Court in Germany?

What is the definition of a court of original jurisdiction?

How has the burden of Germany's experiences in the twentieth century influenced the character of the Federal Constitutional Court and determined its role in German politics?

Which federal court case led to the passage of the Eleventh Amendment, prohibiting American citizens and foreigners from suing a state?

Who was the first chief justice of the United States?

Why Politics Matters

Ancient Political Theory

Modern Political Theory

The American Government

Nationalism and Populism in the United States and Abroad

Authoritarian Systems of Government

Democratic Systems of Government

Comparing Executives

Comparing Judiciaries

Understanding International Relations: Terms and Theories

War, Diplomacy, and the Beginning of International Relations

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Exam 8: Comparing Legislatures

What is the definition of a fundamental value?

What did the Supreme Court's decision in Gitlow v. New York (1925)establish?

Why did Alexander Hamilton consider the judicial branch the least dangerous of the three branches of the federal government?

What is the most frequent number of judges on a panel hearing cases for the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit?

Which statement is most reflective of the outlook of a judicial activist?

Which part of the U.S. Constitution did the Supreme Court cite to uphold the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

How did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention compromise on the composition of the federal judicial branch?

Which chief justice wrote the Brown v. Board (1954)decision outlawing racial segregation in public schools?

What was a key theme of the first three amendments to follow the Civil War?

How can the American and British judicial systems best be described?

Consider the Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803). What is the role of this case in establishing the Supreme Court as a coequal branch to the others?

Which terms best apply to the Federal Constitutional Court in Germany?

What is the definition of a court of original jurisdiction?

How has the burden of Germany's experiences in the twentieth century influenced the character of the Federal Constitutional Court and determined its role in German politics?

Which federal court case led to the passage of the Eleventh Amendment, prohibiting American citizens and foreigners from suing a state?

Who was the first chief justice of the United States?

Why Politics Matters

Ancient Political Theory

Modern Political Theory

The American Government

Nationalism and Populism in the United States and Abroad

Authoritarian Systems of Government

Democratic Systems of Government

Comparing Executives

Comparing Judiciaries

Understanding International Relations: Terms and Theories

War, Diplomacy, and the Beginning of International Relations

Filters