Question 1

Which of the following does NOT explain why the Supreme Court rejected its earlier link with laissez-faire economic doctrine?

Accepted Answer

A)  Roosevelt's landslide election in 1936 
B)  the beginning of public hostility toward the Court 
C)  Roosevelt's plan to "pack the Court" 
D)  the impeachment of Justice Brennan 
E)  none of the above 
A)  Roosevelt's landslide election in 1936 
B)  the beginning of public hostility toward the Court 
C)  Roosevelt's plan to "pack the Court" 
D)  the impeachment of Justice Brennan 
E)  none of the above

Question 2

Precedents landmark rulings, that have been reaffirmed by the Court over the course of many years and whose reasoning has become part of the fabric of American law.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Who, or what, determines how many judges sit on the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  The number is specified in Article III of the Constitution. 
B)  The number is based on population in the U.S. 
C)  Congress decides. 
D)  The president decides. 
E)  The judges decide, based on workload. 
A)  The number is specified in Article III of the Constitution. 
B)  The number is based on population in the U.S. 
C)  Congress decides. 
D)  The president decides. 
E)  The judges decide, based on workload.

Question 4

Alexander Hamilton's belief that the power of judicial review was inherent in the notion of the separation of powers and was essential to balanced government was

Accepted Answer

A)  the prevailing view among the framers of the Constitution. 
B)  widely denounced by the founders of the Constitution. 
C)  undoubtedly opposed because of local attitudes. 
D)  supported by Jefferson and Madison. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  the prevailing view among the framers of the Constitution. 
B)  widely denounced by the founders of the Constitution. 
C)  undoubtedly opposed because of local attitudes. 
D)  supported by Jefferson and Madison. 
E)  All of the above.

Question 5

There are 24 federal circuit courts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The U.S. Supreme Court is one of three courts mentioned in Article III of the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Who of the following was successfully appointed to the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  Priscilla Owen 
B)  Janice Rogers Brown 
C)  Samuel Alito 
D)  Harriet Miers 
E)  Clarence Haynsworth 
A)  Priscilla Owen 
B)  Janice Rogers Brown 
C)  Samuel Alito 
D)  Harriet Miers 
E)  Clarence Haynsworth

Question 8

The Rehnquist Court ________ the definition of standing, making it ________ for people to sue in the name of a large group of affected people.

Accepted Answer

A)  expanded; easier 
B)  tightened; harder 
C)  tightened; easier 
D)  expanded; harder 
E)  ignored; easier 
A)  expanded; easier 
B)  tightened; harder 
C)  tightened; easier 
D)  expanded; harder 
E)  ignored; easier

Question 9

The U.S. Supreme Court has enormous agenda-setting powers because it has discretion over which cases it will hear.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

When did the business-oriented Supreme Court of the second period of constitutional legal history end?

Accepted Answer

A)  the beginning of the Great Depression 
B)  near the beginning of the Industrial Revolution 
C)  near the beginning of the civil rights movement 
D)  near the end of the Civil War 
E)  near the end of the Korean War 
A)  the beginning of the Great Depression 
B)  near the beginning of the Industrial Revolution 
C)  near the beginning of the civil rights movement 
D)  near the end of the Civil War 
E)  near the end of the Korean War

Question 11

Under senatorial courtesy, who has the right to approve or deny a president's nomination for district court?

Accepted Answer

A)  the senior senator of the president's party from the state where the district court is located 
B)  the Senate majority leader 
C)  the Senate whip 
D)  either senator from the state where the district court is located 
E)  the senior senator from the president's party in the Senate 
A)  the senior senator of the president's party from the state where the district court is located 
B)  the Senate majority leader 
C)  the Senate whip 
D)  either senator from the state where the district court is located 
E)  the senior senator from the president's party in the Senate

Question 12

Of the 60,000 cases filed annually in the federal appeals courts, about how many reach the formal hearing stage?

Accepted Answer

A)  1,500 
B)  8,000 
C)  10,500 
D)  15,000 
E)  25,000 
A)  1,500 
B)  8,000 
C)  10,500 
D)  15,000 
E)  25,000

Question 13

Federal judges tend to

Accepted Answer

A)  come from privileged backgrounds. 
B)  resemble the diversity of the United States as a group. 
C)  be balanced in terms of gender but not in terms of racial make-up. 
D)  be balanced in terms of racial makeup but not in terms of gender. 
E)  be balanced in all ways except their religious backgrounds. 
A)  come from privileged backgrounds. 
B)  resemble the diversity of the United States as a group. 
C)  be balanced in terms of gender but not in terms of racial make-up. 
D)  be balanced in terms of racial makeup but not in terms of gender. 
E)  be balanced in all ways except their religious backgrounds.

Question 14

Lacking the obvious democratic institution-being elected-the courts are often criticized for being an undemocratic institution. What are some ways in which the courts are undemocratic? What are some ways in which the courts are democratic? Assess the evidence: on balance do you think the court is more democratic or undemocratic? Justify your answer.

Accepted Answer

There are several ways in which the cour

Question 15

A test case is an action that is designed to challenge the constitutionality of a law or an action by government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Judicial activism is an interesting concept, one that has been applied to the many liberal decisions of the Warren Court. Are there instances in which conservative decisions could also be activist? Why do you think so? Please provide specific cases as examples.

Accepted Answer

Judicial activism can be seen in both li

Question 17

The most important factor in predicting how a Supreme Court justice will vote is

Accepted Answer

A)  the justice's ideological predilections. 
B)  the justice's social background. 
C)  the justice's previous judicial experience. 
D)  the justice's belief that a decision will enhance the Court's influence in American government and society. 
E)  unknown. 
A)  the justice's ideological predilections. 
B)  the justice's social background. 
C)  the justice's previous judicial experience. 
D)  the justice's belief that a decision will enhance the Court's influence in American government and society. 
E)  unknown.

Question 18

The main protection for the corporation against regulation by both the state and federal governments came from the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

In Marbury v. Madison, Marshall's decision expanded the powers of the Supreme Court to

Accepted Answer

A)  veto presidential appointments. 
B)  declare acts of state and federal governments unconstitutional. 
C)  write the rules of presidential succession. 
D)  enforce the law. 
E)  fund laws. 
A)  veto presidential appointments. 
B)  declare acts of state and federal governments unconstitutional. 
C)  write the rules of presidential succession. 
D)  enforce the law. 
E)  fund laws.

Question 20

________ has the power to change the size, organization, and appellate jurisdiction of the federal courts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ has the power to change the...

Which of the following does NOT explain why the Supreme Court rejected its earlier link with laissez-faire economic doctrine?

Precedents landmark rulings, that have been reaffirmed by the Court over the course of many years and whose reasoning has become part of the fabric of American law.

Who, or what, determines how many judges sit on the Supreme Court?

Alexander Hamilton's belief that the power of judicial review was inherent in the notion of the separation of powers and was essential to balanced government was

There are 24 federal circuit courts.

The U.S. Supreme Court is one of three courts mentioned in Article III of the Constitution.

Who of the following was successfully appointed to the Supreme Court?

The Rehnquist Court the definition of standing, making it for people to sue in the name of a large group of affected people.

The U.S. Supreme Court has enormous agenda-setting powers because it has discretion over which cases it will hear.

When did the business-oriented Supreme Court of the second period of constitutional legal history end?

Under senatorial courtesy, who has the right to approve or deny a president's nomination for district court?

Of the 60,000 cases filed annually in the federal appeals courts, about how many reach the formal hearing stage?

Federal judges tend to

A test case is an action that is designed to challenge the constitutionality of a law or an action by government.

Judicial activism is an interesting concept, one that has been applied to the many liberal decisions of the Warren Court. Are there instances in which conservative decisions could also be activist? Why do you think so? Please provide specific cases as examples.

The most important factor in predicting how a Supreme Court justice will vote is

The main protection for the corporation against regulation by both the state and federal governments came from the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause.

In Marbury v. Madison, Marshall's decision expanded the powers of the Supreme Court to

________ has the power to change the size, organization, and appellate jurisdiction of the federal courts.

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Participation Voting, and Elections

Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters

Exam 14: The Courts

Which of the following does NOT explain why the Supreme Court rejected its earlier link with laissez-faire economic doctrine?

Precedents landmark rulings, that have been reaffirmed by the Court over the course of many years and whose reasoning has become part of the fabric of American law.

Who, or what, determines how many judges sit on the Supreme Court?

Alexander Hamilton's belief that the power of judicial review was inherent in the notion of the separation of powers and was essential to balanced government was

There are 24 federal circuit courts.

The U.S. Supreme Court is one of three courts mentioned in Article III of the Constitution.

Who of the following was successfully appointed to the Supreme Court?

The Rehnquist Court ________ the definition of standing, making it ________ for people to sue in the name of a large group of affected people.

The U.S. Supreme Court has enormous agenda-setting powers because it has discretion over which cases it will hear.

When did the business-oriented Supreme Court of the second period of constitutional legal history end?

Under senatorial courtesy, who has the right to approve or deny a president's nomination for district court?

Of the 60,000 cases filed annually in the federal appeals courts, about how many reach the formal hearing stage?

Federal judges tend to

A test case is an action that is designed to challenge the constitutionality of a law or an action by government.

Judicial activism is an interesting concept, one that has been applied to the many liberal decisions of the Warren Court. Are there instances in which conservative decisions could also be activist? Why do you think so? Please provide specific cases as examples.

The most important factor in predicting how a Supreme Court justice will vote is

The main protection for the corporation against regulation by both the state and federal governments came from the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause.

In Marbury v. Madison, Marshall's decision expanded the powers of the Supreme Court to

________ has the power to change the size, organization, and appellate jurisdiction of the federal courts.

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Participation Voting, and Elections

Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters

The Rehnquist Court the definition of standing, making it for people to sue in the name of a large group of affected people.