Question 1

Which of the following is an example of a justiciable controversy that gives a person or persons a standing to sue?

Accepted Answer

A) A lawsuit filed by a hospital against its official sewage cleaners as the latter failed to remove toxic garbage from the hospital's vicinity 
B) A lawsuit filed by a shop owner against an innocent customer because of previous personal grudges 
C) A lawsuit filed by a school district against a television channel for broadcasting violent advertisements 
D) A lawsuit filed by an environmental group against the U.S. government for the latter's purchase of oil 
E) A lawsuit filed by a not-for-profit organization against an entrepreneur for opening another not-for-profit organization 
A) A lawsuit filed by a hospital against its official sewage cleaners as the latter failed to remove toxic garbage from the hospital's vicinity 
B) A lawsuit filed by a shop owner against an innocent customer because of previous personal grudges 
C) A lawsuit filed by a school district against a television channel for broadcasting violent advertisements 
D) A lawsuit filed by an environmental group against the U.S. government for the latter's purchase of oil 
E) A lawsuit filed by a not-for-profit organization against an entrepreneur for opening another not-for-profit organization

Question 2

Justice Antonin Scalia calls himself a textualist. What Scalia means by textualism is that:

Accepted Answer

A) when determining the meaning of legislation, he looks at the Constitution in the context of today's society. 
B) he actively uses his powers to check the legislative and executive branches to ensure that they do not exceed their authority. 
C) he defers to the decisions of the legislative and executive branches of the United States government. 
D) when determining the meaning of legislation, he refuses to consider anything other than the actual transcript of the law. 
E) when determining the meaning of legislation, he considers the nature of the problem the legislation was meant to address. 
A) when determining the meaning of legislation, he looks at the Constitution in the context of today's society. 
B) he actively uses his powers to check the legislative and executive branches to ensure that they do not exceed their authority. 
C) he defers to the decisions of the legislative and executive branches of the United States government. 
D) when determining the meaning of legislation, he refuses to consider anything other than the actual transcript of the law. 
E) when determining the meaning of legislation, he considers the nature of the problem the legislation was meant to address.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true of the federal court system in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A) On the lowest tier of the federal court system are the U.S. district courts. 
B) The number of judicial districts in the United States has been fixed at forty. 
C) The federal court system is a two-tiered model. 
D) The District of Columbia does not have its own federal court system. 
E) There are a total of fifty five court systems in the United States. 
A) On the lowest tier of the federal court system are the U.S. district courts. 
B) The number of judicial districts in the United States has been fixed at forty. 
C) The federal court system is a two-tiered model. 
D) The District of Columbia does not have its own federal court system. 
E) There are a total of fifty five court systems in the United States.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true of case laws?

Accepted Answer

A) They are valid only when enacted by legislative bodies of the government. 
B) They are specific for each state, independent of the nature of a lawsuit. 
C) They are considered the supreme law of the land. 
D) They include interpretations of constitutional provisions. 
E) They include the ordinances passed by cities and counties. 
A) They are valid only when enacted by legislative bodies of the government. 
B) They are specific for each state, independent of the nature of a lawsuit. 
C) They are considered the supreme law of the land. 
D) They include interpretations of constitutional provisions. 
E) They include the ordinances passed by cities and counties.

Question 5

The doctrine of stare decisis is based on _____.

Accepted Answer

A) precedents 
B) caucuses 
C) writs 
D) objections 
E) mistrials 
A) precedents 
B) caucuses 
C) writs 
D) objections 
E) mistrials

Question 6

Which of the following is true of the checks and balances on the American judiciary?

Accepted Answer

A) The Supreme Court hears meritless appeals so it can rule on such issues. 
B) Congress has the authority to limit or otherwise alter the jurisdiction of the lower federal courts. 
C) Justices make decisions based on their personal values and policy preferences. 
D) The Supreme Court cannot re-open a case that has been heard in the lower courts. 
E) Federal and state legislatures are obligated to appropriate the funds necessary to carry out rulings. 
A) The Supreme Court hears meritless appeals so it can rule on such issues. 
B) Congress has the authority to limit or otherwise alter the jurisdiction of the lower federal courts. 
C) Justices make decisions based on their personal values and policy preferences. 
D) The Supreme Court cannot re-open a case that has been heard in the lower courts. 
E) Federal and state legislatures are obligated to appropriate the funds necessary to carry out rulings.

Question 7

The common law evolved from the _____, established by William the Conqueror in England.

Accepted Answer

A) courts of registry 
B) commonwealth courts 
C) criminal houses 
D) king's courts 
E) appellate courts 
A) courts of registry 
B) commonwealth courts 
C) criminal houses 
D) king's courts 
E) appellate courts

Question 8

Which of the following is true of policymaking in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A) Policymaking is the primary function of the trial courts. 
B) Federal courts cannot influence policy when they apply the law. 
C) Policymaking is an unavoidable function of the federal court. 
D) District courts cannot establish policy when they interpret the law. 
E) The doctrine of stare decisis allows the Supreme Court to make policies. 
A) Policymaking is the primary function of the trial courts. 
B) Federal courts cannot influence policy when they apply the law. 
C) Policymaking is an unavoidable function of the federal court. 
D) District courts cannot establish policy when they interpret the law. 
E) The doctrine of stare decisis allows the Supreme Court to make policies.

Question 9

A denial of a writ of certiorari:

Accepted Answer

A) indicates that the Supreme Court agrees with a lower court's opinion. 
B) means that the decision of the lower court remains the law within that court's jurisdiction. 
C) occurs when lower courts are unable to send the record of the case in question to the Supreme Court. 
D) is a decision on the merits of a case. 
E) is purely based on the discretion of federal appellate courts. 
A) indicates that the Supreme Court agrees with a lower court's opinion. 
B) means that the decision of the lower court remains the law within that court's jurisdiction. 
C) occurs when lower courts are unable to send the record of the case in question to the Supreme Court. 
D) is a decision on the merits of a case. 
E) is purely based on the discretion of federal appellate courts.

Question 10

Discuss areas in which the U.S. Supreme Court conservatives have parted from the conservative movement in the recent past.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary. In recent years, the

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true of the term "jurisdiction"?

Accepted Answer

A) It refers to the reasons given by a Supreme Court judge for a particular ruling. 
B) It applies to the power of courts to decide matters about certain persons, types of property, or subjects. 
C) It describes the absolute power possessed by higher courts to overrule rulings of lower courts. 
D) It refers to the obligation of state courts to decide cases based on the documented history of precedents. 
E) It describes the power of legislature to veto bills. 
A) It refers to the reasons given by a Supreme Court judge for a particular ruling. 
B) It applies to the power of courts to decide matters about certain persons, types of property, or subjects. 
C) It describes the absolute power possessed by higher courts to overrule rulings of lower courts. 
D) It refers to the obligation of state courts to decide cases based on the documented history of precedents. 
E) It describes the power of legislature to veto bills.

Question 12

In a robbery case, the accused was found guilty and was sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The majority opinion of the Supreme Court justices was based on a witness's statement. Justice Harvey, though in agreement with the Court's decision, agreed to the ruling for different reasons. He based his opinion on the DNA fingerprinting reports. Justice Harvey wrote a(n)_____.

Accepted Answer

A) anteceding opinion 
B) certiorari opinion 
C) contradicting opinion 
D) dissenting opinion 
E) concurring opinion 
A) anteceding opinion 
B) certiorari opinion 
C) contradicting opinion 
D) dissenting opinion 
E) concurring opinion

Question 13

Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the _____.

Accepted Answer

A) Senate 
B) vice president 
C) state supreme courts 
D) Kitchen Cabinet 
E) cabinet 
A) Senate 
B) vice president 
C) state supreme courts 
D) Kitchen Cabinet 
E) cabinet

Question 14

Susan crashes her bike into a car. While checking for damages, the car's driver notices a dent and a few scratches on the car. There is no other damage to the car or the driver. However, the driver wants to file a lawsuit against Susan for her reckless riding and the damage it has caused to his car. In this scenario, Susan will most likely be subjected to _____.

Accepted Answer

A) charges of fraud 
B) civil law 
C) administrative law 
D) criminal law 
E) felony charges 
A) charges of fraud 
B) civil law 
C) administrative law 
D) criminal law 
E) felony charges

Question 15

Justice Anthony Kennedy is generally less conservative in his views than Sandra Day O'Connor was.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

_____ is the body of written laws enacted by legislative bodies at any level of government.

Accepted Answer

A) Administrative law 
B) Case law 
C) Constitutional law 
D) Statutory law 
E) Precedent law 
A) Administrative law 
B) Case law 
C) Constitutional law 
D) Statutory law 
E) Precedent law

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the term "contempt of court"?

Accepted Answer

A) It is a requirement that a controversy being brought to court be real and substantial, as opposed to academic or hypothetical. 
B) It is a basis for federal court jurisdiction over a lawsuit that arises when the parties in the lawsuit live in different states. 
C) It is a ruling that a person has disobeyed a court order or has shown disrespect to the court or to a judicial proceeding. 
D) It is a basis for federal court jurisdiction over a lawsuit that arises when one of the parties is a foreign citizen. 
E) It is a requirement that an individual must have a sufficient stake in a controversy before he or she can bring a lawsuit. 
A) It is a requirement that a controversy being brought to court be real and substantial, as opposed to academic or hypothetical. 
B) It is a basis for federal court jurisdiction over a lawsuit that arises when the parties in the lawsuit live in different states. 
C) It is a ruling that a person has disobeyed a court order or has shown disrespect to the court or to a judicial proceeding. 
D) It is a basis for federal court jurisdiction over a lawsuit that arises when one of the parties is a foreign citizen. 
E) It is a requirement that an individual must have a sufficient stake in a controversy before he or she can bring a lawsuit.

Question 18

A state court decides to pass a law to ban abortion based on religious beliefs. The U.S. Supreme Court invalidates this law as a violation of constitutional rights, including the right to privacy. In this case, the Supreme Court's decision is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A) judicial restriction. 
B) judicial activism. 
C) judicial negligence. 
D) judicial oversight. 
E) judicial restraint. 
A) judicial restriction. 
B) judicial activism. 
C) judicial negligence. 
D) judicial oversight. 
E) judicial restraint.

Question 19

In the context of Supreme Court conferences, which of the following statements is true of a dissenting opinion?

Accepted Answer

A) It can be written by one or more justices. 
B) It refers to the opinion of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. 
C) It occurs when a justice is in agreement with the Court's decision, but for reasons different from the majority opinion. 
D) It is expressed by a judge or justice who is in agreement with the majority opinion. 
E) It refers to a consensual disagreement of all the nine justices to the Court's decision. 
A) It can be written by one or more justices. 
B) It refers to the opinion of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. 
C) It occurs when a justice is in agreement with the Court's decision, but for reasons different from the majority opinion. 
D) It is expressed by a judge or justice who is in agreement with the majority opinion. 
E) It refers to a consensual disagreement of all the nine justices to the Court's decision.

Question 20

The judicial philosophy known as__________holds that the government should do nothing that is not specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) textual conservatism 
B) broad constructionism 
C) discourse analysis 
D) strict constructionism 
E) deconstructionism 
A) textual conservatism 
B) broad constructionism 
C) discourse analysis 
D) strict constructionism 
E) deconstructionism

Which of the following is an example of a justiciable controversy that gives a person or persons a standing to sue?

Justice Antonin Scalia calls himself a textualist. What Scalia means by textualism is that:

Which of the following statements is true of the federal court system in the United States?

Which of the following statements is true of case laws?

The doctrine of stare decisis is based on _____.

Which of the following is true of the checks and balances on the American judiciary?

The common law evolved from the _____, established by William the Conqueror in England.

Which of the following is true of policymaking in the United States?

A denial of a writ of certiorari:

Discuss areas in which the U.S. Supreme Court conservatives have parted from the conservative movement in the recent past.

Which of the following statements is true of the term "jurisdiction"?

Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the _____.

Justice Anthony Kennedy is generally less conservative in his views than Sandra Day O'Connor was.

_____ is the body of written laws enacted by legislative bodies at any level of government.

Which of the following best describes the term "contempt of court"?

A state court decides to pass a law to ban abortion based on religious beliefs. The U.S. Supreme Court invalidates this law as a violation of constitutional rights, including the right to privacy. In this case, the Supreme Court's decision is an example of:

In the context of Supreme Court conferences, which of the following statements is true of a dissenting opinion?

The judicial philosophy known as__________holds that the government should do nothing that is not specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.

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Exam 14: The Judiaciary

Which of the following is an example of a justiciable controversy that gives a person or persons a standing to sue?

Justice Antonin Scalia calls himself a textualist. What Scalia means by textualism is that:

Which of the following statements is true of the federal court system in the United States?

Which of the following statements is true of case laws?

The doctrine of stare decisis is based on _____.

Which of the following is true of the checks and balances on the American judiciary?

The common law evolved from the _____, established by William the Conqueror in England.

Which of the following is true of policymaking in the United States?

A denial of a writ of certiorari:

Discuss areas in which the U.S. Supreme Court conservatives have parted from the conservative movement in the recent past.

Which of the following statements is true of the term "jurisdiction"?

Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the _____.

Justice Anthony Kennedy is generally less conservative in his views than Sandra Day O'Connor was.

_____ is the body of written laws enacted by legislative bodies at any level of government.

Which of the following best describes the term "contempt of court"?

A state court decides to pass a law to ban abortion based on religious beliefs. The U.S. Supreme Court invalidates this law as a violation of constitutional rights, including the right to privacy. In this case, the Supreme Court's decision is an example of:

In the context of Supreme Court conferences, which of the following statements is true of a dissenting opinion?

The judicial philosophy known as__________holds that the government should do nothing that is not specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.

America in the Twenty-First Century

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Public Opinion and Voting

Campaigns and Elections

Politics and the Media

The Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters