Question 1

Article III of the US Constitution provides specific details about the federal court system, including the responsibilities of the US Supreme Court.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

What was the "nuclear option" threatened during the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Alito?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Republicans would disallow the use of the filibuster so that there would be no means for the minority party to protest a nomination. 
B)  The Democrats would tie up the business of the Senate by not acting on anything requiring unanimous consent. 
C)  The Democrats would not approve any more justices nominated by President Bush. 
D)  The Republicans would change the rules so that Supreme Court nominations would no longer be subject to approval by the Senate. 
E)  The Supreme Court would grow to have two more members so that the president could "pack" the court with conservative judges. 
A)  The Republicans would disallow the use of the filibuster so that there would be no means for the minority party to protest a nomination. 
B)  The Democrats would tie up the business of the Senate by not acting on anything requiring unanimous consent. 
C)  The Democrats would not approve any more justices nominated by President Bush. 
D)  The Republicans would change the rules so that Supreme Court nominations would no longer be subject to approval by the Senate. 
E)  The Supreme Court would grow to have two more members so that the president could "pack" the court with conservative judges.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT an argument in favor of strict construction?

Accepted Answer

A)  All amendments to the Constitution, except for the Bill of Rights, have altered the original meaning of the document making the original intent unclear. 
B)  The Supreme Court's decisions must be guided by the original intent of the framers of the Constitution. 
C)  The meaning of the Constitution cannot be altered to fit changing modern conditions. 
D)  The best way to interpret the Constitution is to adhere to its exact wording. 
E)  The rights accorded to American citizens under the Constitution are absolute; nothing can be taken away from or added to them. 
A)  All amendments to the Constitution, except for the Bill of Rights, have altered the original meaning of the document making the original intent unclear. 
B)  The Supreme Court's decisions must be guided by the original intent of the framers of the Constitution. 
C)  The meaning of the Constitution cannot be altered to fit changing modern conditions. 
D)  The best way to interpret the Constitution is to adhere to its exact wording. 
E)  The rights accorded to American citizens under the Constitution are absolute; nothing can be taken away from or added to them.

Question 4

Supreme Court justices are fiercely independent and rarely form alliances with other justices.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Oral argument in front of the Supreme Court is not so much a presentation of arguments but a give and take between lawyers and the justices, as well as among the justices themselves.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The Warren Court is known for having

Accepted Answer

A)  expanded the protections of individual actions. 
B)  restricted the rights of individuals in the area of free expression. 
C)  restricted individual rights in the area of religious expression. 
D)  expanded the power of the states. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  expanded the protections of individual actions. 
B)  restricted the rights of individuals in the area of free expression. 
C)  restricted individual rights in the area of religious expression. 
D)  expanded the power of the states. 
E)  none of the above

Question 7

The Supreme Court

Accepted Answer

A)  declared hundreds of federal laws unconstitutional in the nineteenth century. 
B)  has declared thousands of federal laws unconstitutional in the twentieth century. 
C)  has declared over a thousand state and local laws unconstitutional. 
D)  has declared only about 25 laws unconstitutional in its entire history. 
E)  immediately used judicial review to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. 
A)  declared hundreds of federal laws unconstitutional in the nineteenth century. 
B)  has declared thousands of federal laws unconstitutional in the twentieth century. 
C)  has declared over a thousand state and local laws unconstitutional. 
D)  has declared only about 25 laws unconstitutional in its entire history. 
E)  immediately used judicial review to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.

Question 8

Oral argument in front of the Supreme Court is not so much a presentation of arguments but a give and take between lawyers and the justices, as well as among the justices themselves.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

US circuit courts of appeals hear cases on appeal from federal district courts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Judicial review grants the Supreme Court the power to declare state and federal laws and actions null and void when they conflict with the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Standing means that the Court will not provide advisory opinions to guide the other branches.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

How many Supreme Court justices does it most often take to grant a writ of certiorari?

Accepted Answer

A)  a majority 
B)  one 
C)  four 
D)  Only the Chief Justice can issue such a writ. 
E)  none 
A)  a majority 
B)  one 
C)  four 
D)  Only the Chief Justice can issue such a writ. 
E)  none

Question 13

As it relates to judicial nominations, what is the "nuclear option"?

Accepted Answer

A proposal supported by some Republicans

Question 14

Federal judges tend to come from modest backgrounds.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Where are the great percentage of laws, legal disputes, and court decisions located?

Accepted Answer

A)  in the states 
B)  in Congress 
C)  in the Supreme Court 
D)  in the executive branch 
E)  in the cities and townships 
A)  in the states 
B)  in Congress 
C)  in the Supreme Court 
D)  in the executive branch 
E)  in the cities and townships

Question 16

What did the reading of laissez-faire economic theory into constitutional law do in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?

Accepted Answer

A)  It made the Supreme Court the principal ally of business during that period. 
B)  It ensured that all nominees would come from a business background. 
C)  It created an era of regulation by involving the courts in business practices. 
D)  The presidents were unable to have the courts do what they wanted during this period. 
E)  It kept the government and the courts involved in the economy. 
A)  It made the Supreme Court the principal ally of business during that period. 
B)  It ensured that all nominees would come from a business background. 
C)  It created an era of regulation by involving the courts in business practices. 
D)  The presidents were unable to have the courts do what they wanted during this period. 
E)  It kept the government and the courts involved in the economy.

Question 17

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 18

Advocates of original intention and its twin, strict ________, believe that the court must be guided by the original intentions of the framers and the words literally found in the constitution.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Advocates of original intention and its twin,...

Question 19

The authority of a court to be the first to hear a particular kind of case is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  original jurisdiction. 
B)  the appellate process. 
C)  dual jurisdiction. 
D)  a mandate of jurisdiction. 
E)  local jurisdiction. 
A)  original jurisdiction. 
B)  the appellate process. 
C)  dual jurisdiction. 
D)  a mandate of jurisdiction. 
E)  local jurisdiction.

Question 20

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Supreme Court

Accepted Answer

A)  tended to move away from previous decisions of the Warren Court. 
B)  continued the legacy of Warren by granting many new liberties and rights. 
C)  seemed to work against the Reagan and Bush administrations. 
D)  vigorously sought to expand the role of the government in the economy. 
E)  incorporated to the states an additional seven protections under the bill of rights. 
A)  tended to move away from previous decisions of the Warren Court. 
B)  continued the legacy of Warren by granting many new liberties and rights. 
C)  seemed to work against the Reagan and Bush administrations. 
D)  vigorously sought to expand the role of the government in the economy. 
E)  incorporated to the states an additional seven protections under the bill of rights.

Article III of the US Constitution provides specific details about the federal court system, including the responsibilities of the US Supreme Court.

What was the "nuclear option" threatened during the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Alito?

Which of the following is NOT an argument in favor of strict construction?

Supreme Court justices are fiercely independent and rarely form alliances with other justices.

Oral argument in front of the Supreme Court is not so much a presentation of arguments but a give and take between lawyers and the justices, as well as among the justices themselves.

The Warren Court is known for having

The Supreme Court

Oral argument in front of the Supreme Court is not so much a presentation of arguments but a give and take between lawyers and the justices, as well as among the justices themselves.

US circuit courts of appeals hear cases on appeal from federal district courts.

Judicial review grants the Supreme Court the power to declare state and federal laws and actions null and void when they conflict with the Constitution.

Standing means that the Court will not provide advisory opinions to guide the other branches.

How many Supreme Court justices does it most often take to grant a writ of certiorari?

As it relates to judicial nominations, what is the "nuclear option"?

Federal judges tend to come from modest backgrounds.

Where are the great percentage of laws, legal disputes, and court decisions located?

What did the reading of laissez-faire economic theory into constitutional law do in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?

Federal judges tend to

Advocates of original intention and its twin, strict ________, believe that the court must be guided by the original intentions of the framers and the words literally found in the constitution.

The authority of a court to be the first to hear a particular kind of case is known as

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Supreme Court

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

Article III of the US Constitution provides specific details about the federal court system, including the responsibilities of the US Supreme Court.

What was the "nuclear option" threatened during the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Alito?

Which of the following is NOT an argument in favor of strict construction?

Supreme Court justices are fiercely independent and rarely form alliances with other justices.

Oral argument in front of the Supreme Court is not so much a presentation of arguments but a give and take between lawyers and the justices, as well as among the justices themselves.

The Warren Court is known for having

The Supreme Court

Oral argument in front of the Supreme Court is not so much a presentation of arguments but a give and take between lawyers and the justices, as well as among the justices themselves.

US circuit courts of appeals hear cases on appeal from federal district courts.

Judicial review grants the Supreme Court the power to declare state and federal laws and actions null and void when they conflict with the Constitution.

Standing means that the Court will not provide advisory opinions to guide the other branches.

How many Supreme Court justices does it most often take to grant a writ of certiorari?

As it relates to judicial nominations, what is the "nuclear option"?

Federal judges tend to come from modest backgrounds.

Where are the great percentage of laws, legal disputes, and court decisions located?

What did the reading of laissez-faire economic theory into constitutional law do in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?

Federal judges tend to

Advocates of original intention and its twin, strict ________, believe that the court must be guided by the original intentions of the framers and the words literally found in the constitution.

The authority of a court to be the first to hear a particular kind of case is known as

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Supreme Court

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