Exam 14: The Judiciary

The opinion that receives the support of the largest number of justices, but does not command a majority of the Court, is referred to as a(n) _____.

Which of the following best describes the writ of certiorari ?

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

_________ is mandated by various established judicial traditions and doctrines, including the doctrine of stare decisis , which theoretically obligates the Supreme Court to follow its own precedents. A) Judicial activism B) Self-restraint C) Original intent D) Strict construction

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

Differentiate between the political ideologies of judicial activism and judicial restraint.

An activist judge or justice believes that the courts should actively use their powers to check the legislative and executive branches to ensure that they do not exceed their authority.

Due to the activism of the Warren Court, the term judicial activism has often been linked with _____.

The _________ refrains from reporting the legal interpretations under which it issues its rulings. A) Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court B) National Security Agency C) Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit D) Sixth Circuit Court

As a result of a practice known as _____, home-state senators of the president's political party can influence the choice of the nominee to a district court.

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) _____.

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

Differentiate between the lowest and the middle tier of the federal court system.

Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, who were appointed by President Obama, joined the conservative bloc.

In the context of federal court nominations for judicial positions, the _____ holds hearings and makes its recommendation to the Senate, where it takes a majority vote to confirm the presidential nomination.

_________ often serve as grounds for a mistrial or for appealing a court's decision to a higher tribunal. A) Writs of certiorari B) Oral arguments C) Procedural errors D) Federal questions

Melissa Salters is taken into custody by a court bailiff in the middle of court proceedings for using obscene language while answering the opposition attorney's questions. Melissa has been formally:

Which of the following statements is true of case law?

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

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