Question 1

What is the significance of dissenting opinions?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are made to appeal to a justice's constituency groups. 
B)  They have as much weight of law as the majority's opinion does. 
C)  Dissents are signs that the Court is in disagreement on an issue and could change its ruling. 
D)  Dissents are meant to confuse lawyers and government officials as to the true meaning of a decided case. 
E)  They are meant to appease the losing side in a case. 
A)  They are made to appeal to a justice's constituency groups. 
B)  They have as much weight of law as the majority's opinion does. 
C)  Dissents are signs that the Court is in disagreement on an issue and could change its ruling. 
D)  Dissents are meant to confuse lawyers and government officials as to the true meaning of a decided case. 
E)  They are meant to appease the losing side in a case.

Question 2

The phrase stare decisis means

Accepted Answer

A)  "let the decision stand." 
B)  "the state will decide." 
C)  "the decision is void." 
D)  "the state must be decisive." 
E)  "the decision is made." 
A)  "let the decision stand." 
B)  "the state will decide." 
C)  "the decision is void." 
D)  "the state must be decisive." 
E)  "the decision is made."

Question 3

In Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), the justices declared that

Accepted Answer

A)  voluntary school prayer in the public schools was unconstitutional. 
B)  segregation was unconstitutional. 
C)  the "one man, one vote" standard was unconstitutional. 
D)  corporations have free speech rights under the First Amendment. 
E)  state courts had to provide legal counsel to defendants who could not afford their own attorneys. 
A)  voluntary school prayer in the public schools was unconstitutional. 
B)  segregation was unconstitutional. 
C)  the "one man, one vote" standard was unconstitutional. 
D)  corporations have free speech rights under the First Amendment. 
E)  state courts had to provide legal counsel to defendants who could not afford their own attorneys.

Question 4

About ________ percent of all cases in the United States are heard in federal courts.

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  5 
C)  10 
D)  30 
E)  55 
A)  1 
B)  5 
C)  10 
D)  30 
E)  55

Question 5

The Supreme Court's power to review acts of Congress has not been seriously questioned because

Accepted Answer

A)  the Court only overturns laws that are unpopular with a majority of voters. 
B)  Congress granted the power of judicial review to the Court in the Federal Judicial Review Act of 1798. 
C)  Congress and the president always agree with the decisions made by the Court. 
D)  the Constitution explicitly grants this power to the Court in the judicial review clause of Article III. 
E)  the Court has been reluctant to strike down congressional laws and has overturned only a small number over the last 200 years. 
A)  the Court only overturns laws that are unpopular with a majority of voters. 
B)  Congress granted the power of judicial review to the Court in the Federal Judicial Review Act of 1798. 
C)  Congress and the president always agree with the decisions made by the Court. 
D)  the Constitution explicitly grants this power to the Court in the judicial review clause of Article III. 
E)  the Court has been reluctant to strike down congressional laws and has overturned only a small number over the last 200 years.

Question 6

There are approximately ________ federal district court judges in the United States.

Accepted Answer

A)  9 
B)  50 
C)  145 
D)  679 
E)  2,500 
A)  9 
B)  50 
C)  145 
D)  679 
E)  2,500

Question 7

When President Andrew Jackson reputedly said, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it," what did he mean?

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 Chief Justice John Marshall to become an attorney general. 
D)  President Jackson was not going to allow Chief Justice Marshall to 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 Chief Justice John Marshall to become an attorney general. 
D)  President Jackson was not going to allow Chief Justice Marshall to serve him a subpoena. 
E)  The federal courts depend on Congress to pass laws to enforce their decisions.

Question 8

A single lawsuit involving thousands of smokers suing a tobacco company would be a good example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  a class-action suit 
B)  a plea bargain 
C)  a public law 
D)  amicus curiae 
E)  standing 
A)  a class-action suit 
B)  a plea bargain 
C)  a public law 
D)  amicus curiae 
E)  standing

Question 9

The written document in which attorneys explain why the court should rule in favor of their clients is called a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  intervention 
B)  writ of certiorari 
C)  brief 
D)  writ of habeas corpus 
E)  argument 
A)  intervention 
B)  writ of certiorari 
C)  brief 
D)  writ of habeas corpus 
E)  argument

Question 10

The doctrine of ________ requires courts to follow authoritative prior decisions when ruling on a case.

Accepted Answer

A)  stare decisis 
B)  habeas corpus 
C)  lex talions 
D)  ex post facto 
E)  a priori 
A)  stare decisis 
B)  habeas corpus 
C)  lex talions 
D)  ex post facto 
E)  a priori

Question 11

Most cases reach the Supreme Court through ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  a writ of appeal 
B)  a writ of certiorari 
C)  a writ of habeas corpus 
D)  a writ of amicus curiae 
E)  state courts 
A)  a writ of appeal 
B)  a writ of certiorari 
C)  a writ of habeas corpus 
D)  a writ of amicus curiae 
E)  state courts

Question 12

Under normal rules of oral argument, each lawyer has ________ to present his or her case before the Supreme Court.

Accepted Answer

A)  30 minutes 
B)  1 hour 
C)  90 minutes 
D)  2 hours 
E)  unlimited time 
A)  30 minutes 
B)  1 hour 
C)  90 minutes 
D)  2 hours 
E)  unlimited time

Question 13

When interest groups involved in litigation pursue a pattern-of-cases strategy, they are

Accepted Answer

A)  using legal arguments that have won in the past. 
B)  bringing the same type of suit into multiple circuits, hoping that a contradiction in rulings will bring about a Supreme Court review. 
C)  shopping around for the district where the likelihood of a favorable decision is highest. 
D)  filing multiple friend-of-the-court briefs, in the hope of influencing the legal arguments of the Supreme Court. 
E)  filing cases in different courts on the same subject. 
A)  using legal arguments that have won in the past. 
B)  bringing the same type of suit into multiple circuits, hoping that a contradiction in rulings will bring about a Supreme Court review. 
C)  shopping around for the district where the likelihood of a favorable decision is highest. 
D)  filing multiple friend-of-the-court briefs, in the hope of influencing the legal arguments of the Supreme Court. 
E)  filing cases in different courts on the same subject.

Question 14

What did the justices rule in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld (2004)?

Accepted Answer

A)  The actions of a president are not subject to judicial review. 
B)  The president does not have the authority to declare individuals to be "enemy combatants." 
C)  Hamdi was entitled to a lawyer and an opportunity to rebut the government's charges against him. 
D)  During the war, the president's power as commander-in-chief is unlimited. 
E)  The president has the power to suspend writs of habeas corpus under any circumstances. 
A)  The actions of a president are not subject to judicial review. 
B)  The president does not have the authority to declare individuals to be "enemy combatants." 
C)  Hamdi was entitled to a lawyer and an opportunity to rebut the government's charges against him. 
D)  During the war, the president's power as commander-in-chief is unlimited. 
E)  The president has the power to suspend writs of habeas corpus under any circumstances.

Question 15

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 it is 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 it is rarely, if ever, read by anyone involved in the legal process.

Question 16

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)  Recent presidents have chosen to nominate people who are often unqualified to be federal judges. 
C)  Public opinion has not been favorable to most of the recent presidents' nominees. 
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)  Recent presidents have chosen to nominate people who are often unqualified to be federal judges. 
C)  Public opinion has not been favorable to most of the recent presidents' nominees. 
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 17

Senatorial courtesy describes the practice of

Accepted Answer

A)  senators from a president's party approving of a judicial nominee from their home state. 
B)  including home-state senators in the formal vetting of district and circuit court judges. 
C)  allowing any senator to place a hold on the consideration of a judicial nominee. 
D)  permitting senators to officially swear in home-state district court judges. 
E)  allowing senators to nominate members to the federal judiciary. 
A)  senators from a president's party approving of a judicial nominee from their home state. 
B)  including home-state senators in the formal vetting of district and circuit court judges. 
C)  allowing any senator to place a hold on the consideration of a judicial nominee. 
D)  permitting senators to officially swear in home-state district court judges. 
E)  allowing senators to nominate members to the federal judiciary.

Question 18

Aside from the justices themselves, who or what has the greatest power in shaping the flow of cases to the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  the attorney general 
B)  the solicitor general 
C)  the Senate Judiciary Committee 
D)  the state supreme courts 
E)  Congress 
A)  the attorney general 
B)  the solicitor general 
C)  the Senate Judiciary Committee 
D)  the state supreme courts 
E)  Congress

Question 19

Which of the following was NOT a case involving the Supreme Court overturning a state law?

Accepted Answer

A)  Marbury v. Madison (1803) 
B)  Brown v. Board of Education (1954) 
C)  Lawrence v. Texas (2003) 
D)  American Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Bullock (2012) 
E)  Miller v. Alabama (2012) 
A)  Marbury v. Madison (1803) 
B)  Brown v. Board of Education (1954) 
C)  Lawrence v. Texas (2003) 
D)  American Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Bullock (2012) 
E)  Miller v. Alabama (2012)

Question 20

Explain some of the limits on the federal courts. What are some of the rules of access that the Supreme Court has adopted? Describe some external constraints and dependencies from the other two branches. What are some strategies by which the federal courts have overcome some of these restraints? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The federal courts are subject to severa

What is the significance of dissenting opinions?

The phrase stare decisis means

In Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), the justices declared that

About ________ percent of all cases in the United States are heard in federal courts.

The Supreme Court's power to review acts of Congress has not been seriously questioned because

There are approximately ________ federal district court judges in the United States.

When President Andrew Jackson reputedly said, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it," what did he mean?

A single lawsuit involving thousands of smokers suing a tobacco company would be a good example of ________.

The written document in which attorneys explain why the court should rule in favor of their clients is called a(n) ________.

The doctrine of ________ requires courts to follow authoritative prior decisions when ruling on a case.

Most cases reach the Supreme Court through ________.

Under normal rules of oral argument, each lawyer has ________ to present his or her case before the Supreme Court.

When interest groups involved in litigation pursue a pattern-of-cases strategy, they are

What did the justices rule in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld (2004)?

The assignment of the opinion in a Supreme Court case is

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

Senatorial courtesy describes the practice of

Aside from the justices themselves, who or what has the greatest power in shaping the flow of cases to the Supreme Court?

Which of the following was NOT a case involving the Supreme Court overturning a state law?

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

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Foreign Policy and Democracy

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Exam 15: The Federal Courts

What is the significance of dissenting opinions?

The phrase stare decisis means

In Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), the justices declared that

About ________ percent of all cases in the United States are heard in federal courts.

The Supreme Court's power to review acts of Congress has not been seriously questioned because

There are approximately ________ federal district court judges in the United States.

When President Andrew Jackson reputedly said, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it," what did he mean?

A single lawsuit involving thousands of smokers suing a tobacco company would be a good example of ________.

The written document in which attorneys explain why the court should rule in favor of their clients is called a(n) ________.

The doctrine of ________ requires courts to follow authoritative prior decisions when ruling on a case.

Most cases reach the Supreme Court through ________.

Under normal rules of oral argument, each lawyer has ________ to present his or her case before the Supreme Court.

When interest groups involved in litigation pursue a pattern-of-cases strategy, they are

What did the justices rule in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld (2004)?

The assignment of the opinion in a Supreme Court case is

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

Senatorial courtesy describes the practice of

Aside from the justices themselves, who or what has the greatest power in shaping the flow of cases to the Supreme Court?

Which of the following was NOT a case involving the Supreme Court overturning a state law?

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