Question 1

Judges and justices in the federal court system are

Accepted Answer

A)  appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. 
B)  appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives. 
C)  appointed by the president with the advice and consent of both houses of Congress. 
D)  part of a seniority system that gradually moves them toward the Supreme Court. 
E)  elected by the people every ten years. 
A)  appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. 
B)  appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives. 
C)  appointed by the president with the advice and consent of both houses of Congress. 
D)  part of a seniority system that gradually moves them toward the Supreme Court. 
E)  elected by the people every ten years.

Question 2

A question that has to do with the U.S. Constitution, acts of Congress, or treaties is known as a __________ question.

Accepted Answer

A)  justiciable 
B)  political 
C)  federal 
D)  national 
E)  legal 
A)  justiciable 
B)  political 
C)  federal 
D)  national 
E)  legal

Question 3

All of the following are true about presidential appointments to the Supreme Court except

Accepted Answer

A)  presidents usually appoint people who belong to the president's political party. 
B)  presidents see their appointments as a way to institutionalize their political views long after they have left office. 
C)  Republican presidents have usually appointed liberal justices. 
D)  President Bush appointed two justices to the Court. 
E)  President Clinton appointed many judges to the district and appeals courts. 
A)  presidents usually appoint people who belong to the president's political party. 
B)  presidents see their appointments as a way to institutionalize their political views long after they have left office. 
C)  Republican presidents have usually appointed liberal justices. 
D)  President Bush appointed two justices to the Court. 
E)  President Clinton appointed many judges to the district and appeals courts.

Question 4

The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act that created an alien removal court was passed

Accepted Answer

A)  in 1996 as a response to the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City. 
B)  in 2001 as a response to the 911 attacks in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. 
C)  in 2010 as a solution to dealing with prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention center. 
D)  in 2000 as a response to the attack of the naval ship, the USS Cole. 
E)  in 1993 as a response to the first attack on the World Trade Center in New York. 
A)  in 1996 as a response to the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City. 
B)  in 2001 as a response to the 911 attacks in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. 
C)  in 2010 as a solution to dealing with prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention center. 
D)  in 2000 as a response to the attack of the naval ship, the USS Cole. 
E)  in 1993 as a response to the first attack on the World Trade Center in New York.

Question 5

President Obama appointed

Accepted Answer

A)  Justices Sotomayor and Kagan, to replace Justices Souter and Stevens. 
B)  the first Hispanic member of the Supreme Court. 
C)  the first African American member of the Supreme Court. 
D)  Both A and B. 
E)  Both A and C. 
A)  Justices Sotomayor and Kagan, to replace Justices Souter and Stevens. 
B)  the first Hispanic member of the Supreme Court. 
C)  the first African American member of the Supreme Court. 
D)  Both A and B. 
E)  Both A and C.

Question 6

The concept of senatorial courtesy refers to the

Accepted Answer

A)  Senate approving judges only if they belong to the same party that is in control of the Senate. 
B)  practice of allowing senators to have the exclusive right to nominate candidates for the federal district courts in their state. 
C)  practice of allowing members of the House to participate in the nomination process. 
D)  practice of allowing senators to veto candidates for federal district courts in their state. 
E)  Senate's deferring to the president and routinely approving his or her nominees. 
A)  Senate approving judges only if they belong to the same party that is in control of the Senate. 
B)  practice of allowing senators to have the exclusive right to nominate candidates for the federal district courts in their state. 
C)  practice of allowing members of the House to participate in the nomination process. 
D)  practice of allowing senators to veto candidates for federal district courts in their state. 
E)  Senate's deferring to the president and routinely approving his or her nominees.

Question 7

The number of justices on the Supreme Court

Accepted Answer

A)  is set by the Constitution. 
B)  is set by the president. 
C)  used to be six, but is currently nine. 
D)  used to be fifteen, but is currently nine. 
E)  Both A and C. 
A)  is set by the Constitution. 
B)  is set by the president. 
C)  used to be six, but is currently nine. 
D)  used to be fifteen, but is currently nine. 
E)  Both A and C.

Question 8

The right to appeal one's case to the U.S. Supreme Court

Accepted Answer

A)  only exists to criminal cases. 
B)  only exists in federal cases. 
C)  only exists in cases where someone has been sentenced to death. 
D)  exists in all cases. 
E)  is almost entirely at the court's discretion. 
A)  only exists to criminal cases. 
B)  only exists in federal cases. 
C)  only exists in cases where someone has been sentenced to death. 
D)  exists in all cases. 
E)  is almost entirely at the court's discretion.

Question 9

The last step in the decision-making process of the Supreme Court is

Accepted Answer

A)  announcing its decision to the public and the reasons for it. 
B)  assigning a justice to write an opinion. 
C)  deciding if the Court will hear the case. 
D)  hearing oral arguments in the case. 
E)  asking the lower court to send the records of the case for review. 
A)  announcing its decision to the public and the reasons for it. 
B)  assigning a justice to write an opinion. 
C)  deciding if the Court will hear the case. 
D)  hearing oral arguments in the case. 
E)  asking the lower court to send the records of the case for review.

Question 10

Explain the process by which the U.S. Supreme Court decides to hear cases.

Accepted Answer

The process by which the U.S. Supreme Co

Question 11

Describe the sources of American law.

Accepted Answer

The sources of American law can be categ

Question 12

Federal judges

Accepted Answer

A)  serve lifetime terms. 
B)  are appointed by the president. 
C)  may be impeached and removed from office. 
D)  are approved by the Senate. 
E)  All of the above are true. 
A)  serve lifetime terms. 
B)  are appointed by the president. 
C)  may be impeached and removed from office. 
D)  are approved by the Senate. 
E)  All of the above are true.

Question 13

The power of judicial review

Accepted Answer

A)  is not specifically listed in the Constitution. 
B)  is the judicial power to review the constitutionality of laws or actions by other branches of government. 
C)  was claimed by the Supreme Court in Marbury v. Madison. 
D)  All of the above. 
E)  None of the above. 
A)  is not specifically listed in the Constitution. 
B)  is the judicial power to review the constitutionality of laws or actions by other branches of government. 
C)  was claimed by the Supreme Court in Marbury v. Madison. 
D)  All of the above. 
E)  None of the above.

Question 14

In order to insulate the courts from ____________, the founders ensured that federal judges are _____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  popular passions; chosen in a secret process 
B)  popular passions; appointed for life 
C)  Congress; elected by the people 
D)  the President; chosen by Congress 
E)  corruption; accountable for their decisions through re-appointment 
A)  popular passions; chosen in a secret process 
B)  popular passions; appointed for life 
C)  Congress; elected by the people 
D)  the President; chosen by Congress 
E)  corruption; accountable for their decisions through re-appointment

Question 15

Explain how the U.S. Supreme Court decides cases and explains its decisions.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court decides cases thr

Question 16

A dissenting opinion can be important because it

Accepted Answer

A)  represents the position of the chief justice of the Supreme Court. 
B)  is the statement of the defendant's attorney to the Court. 
C)  must be carried out by local police in criminal law. 
D)  often forms the basis of the arguments used later to reverse the previous decision and establish a new precedent. 
E)  means that the case cannot be used as a precedent. 
A)  represents the position of the chief justice of the Supreme Court. 
B)  is the statement of the defendant's attorney to the Court. 
C)  must be carried out by local police in criminal law. 
D)  often forms the basis of the arguments used later to reverse the previous decision and establish a new precedent. 
E)  means that the case cannot be used as a precedent.

Question 17

A court that overturns as unconstitutional a law that is clearly in violation of the Constitution

Accepted Answer

A)  may still be exercising judicial restraint. 
B)  is exercising judicial activism. 
C)  is exercising stare decisis. 
D)  may have its decision overturned by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress. 
E)  Both B and C. 
A)  may still be exercising judicial restraint. 
B)  is exercising judicial activism. 
C)  is exercising stare decisis. 
D)  may have its decision overturned by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress. 
E)  Both B and C.

Question 18

The U.S. Constitution

Accepted Answer

A)  is the supreme law of the land. 
B)  is subordinate to state constitutions in many matters. 
C)  does not specify the details of state and federal powers, instead leaving that up to Congress. 
D)  outlines the details of various state criminal codes. 
E)  outlines the details of court case law. 
A)  is the supreme law of the land. 
B)  is subordinate to state constitutions in many matters. 
C)  does not specify the details of state and federal powers, instead leaving that up to Congress. 
D)  outlines the details of various state criminal codes. 
E)  outlines the details of court case law.

Question 19

Appointments to the federal courts of appeal are

Accepted Answer

A)  far less numerous than federal district court appointments. 
B)  usually selected because of their important position in state government. 
C)  less important than federal district court appointments. 
D)  often "stepping-stones" to the Supreme Court. 
E)  Options A and D are true. 
A)  far less numerous than federal district court appointments. 
B)  usually selected because of their important position in state government. 
C)  less important than federal district court appointments. 
D)  often "stepping-stones" to the Supreme Court. 
E)  Options A and D are true.

Question 20

The implementation of judicial decisions is dependent upon ___________ because ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the other branches of government; the courts have no enforcement powers 
B)  the police; they are the enforcement arm of the judiciary 
C)  Congress; presidents often resist court decisions 
D)  presidents; all decisions affect the executive branch, via the bureaucracy 
E)  None of the above. 
A)  the other branches of government; the courts have no enforcement powers 
B)  the police; they are the enforcement arm of the judiciary 
C)  Congress; presidents often resist court decisions 
D)  presidents; all decisions affect the executive branch, via the bureaucracy 
E)  None of the above.

Judges and justices in the federal court system are

A question that has to do with the U.S. Constitution, acts of Congress, or treaties is known as a __________ question.

All of the following are true about presidential appointments to the Supreme Court except

The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act that created an alien removal court was passed

President Obama appointed

The concept of senatorial courtesy refers to the

The number of justices on the Supreme Court

The right to appeal one's case to the U.S. Supreme Court

The last step in the decision-making process of the Supreme Court is

Explain the process by which the U.S. Supreme Court decides to hear cases.

Describe the sources of American law.

Federal judges

The power of judicial review

In order to insulate the courts from , the founders ensured that federal judges are _.

Explain how the U.S. Supreme Court decides cases and explains its decisions.

A dissenting opinion can be important because it

A court that overturns as unconstitutional a law that is clearly in violation of the Constitution

The U.S. Constitution

Appointments to the federal courts of appeal are

The implementation of judicial decisions is dependent upon _ because _.

The Democratic Republic

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media

The Congress

The President

The Bureaucracy

Domestic and Economic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 14: The Courts

Judges and justices in the federal court system are

A question that has to do with the U.S. Constitution, acts of Congress, or treaties is known as a __________ question.

All of the following are true about presidential appointments to the Supreme Court except

The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act that created an alien removal court was passed

President Obama appointed

The concept of senatorial courtesy refers to the

The number of justices on the Supreme Court

The right to appeal one's case to the U.S. Supreme Court

The last step in the decision-making process of the Supreme Court is

Explain the process by which the U.S. Supreme Court decides to hear cases.

Describe the sources of American law.

Federal judges

The power of judicial review

In order to insulate the courts from ____________, the founders ensured that federal judges are _____________.

Explain how the U.S. Supreme Court decides cases and explains its decisions.

A dissenting opinion can be important because it

A court that overturns as unconstitutional a law that is clearly in violation of the Constitution

The U.S. Constitution

Appointments to the federal courts of appeal are

The implementation of judicial decisions is dependent upon ___________ because ___________.

The Democratic Republic

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media

The Congress

The President

The Bureaucracy

Domestic and Economic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

In order to insulate the courts from , the founders ensured that federal judges are _.

The implementation of judicial decisions is dependent upon _ because _.