Question 1

The great majority of in forma pauperis petitions come from prisoners.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Which of the following are filed by outside groups to make arguments specific to their members and of interest to the justices?

Accepted Answer

A) Writs of certiorari 
B) Writs of habeas corpus 
C) Amicus curiae briefs 
D) In forma pauperis 
E) Writs of mandamus 
A) Writs of certiorari 
B) Writs of habeas corpus 
C) Amicus curiae briefs 
D) In forma pauperis 
E) Writs of mandamus

Question 3

Justices of the Supreme Court are directly elected by the public in the state in which they are from.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The fifth step to a Supreme Court judgment is

Accepted Answer

A) reviewing appeals. 
B) granting the appeal. 
C) briefing the case. 
D) holding oral arguments. 
E) meeting in conference. 
A) reviewing appeals. 
B) granting the appeal. 
C) briefing the case. 
D) holding oral arguments. 
E) meeting in conference.

Question 5

A law that defines crimes against the public order is called a criminal law.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

An agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to stand trial for a more serious offense is called

Accepted Answer

A) criminal law. 
B) civil law. 
C) defendant. 
D) plaintiff. 
E) plea bargain. 
A) criminal law. 
B) civil law. 
C) defendant. 
D) plaintiff. 
E) plea bargain.

Question 7

Literally, a "friend of the court" brief, filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case, is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) writ of habeas corpus. 
B) stare decisis. 
C) amicus curiae brief. 
D) in forma pauperis. 
E) writ of certiorari. 
A) writ of habeas corpus. 
B) stare decisis. 
C) amicus curiae brief. 
D) in forma pauperis. 
E) writ of certiorari.

Question 8

The Senate may choose NOT to confirm a nominee to the federal court system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The judicial doctrine of stare decisis provides that the courts decide cases largely on the basis of

Accepted Answer

A) present economic and social conditions. 
B) earlier court decisions. 
C) interpreting the will of Congress. 
D) equity. 
E) the public's opinion. 
A) present economic and social conditions. 
B) earlier court decisions. 
C) interpreting the will of Congress. 
D) equity. 
E) the public's opinion.

Question 10

A formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court is called

Accepted Answer

A) a writ of habeas corpus. 
B) stare decisis. 
C) an amicus curiae brief. 
D) in forma pauperis. 
E) a writ of certiorari. 
A) a writ of habeas corpus. 
B) stare decisis. 
C) an amicus curiae brief. 
D) in forma pauperis. 
E) a writ of certiorari.

Question 11

The "rule of four" in Supreme Court procedure provides that four judges

Accepted Answer

A) may adjourn the Court. 
B) grant a writ of certiorari. 
C) give priority to the order of hearing a case. 
D) are a quorum. 
E) may sit to hear a case if the others do not want to. 
A) may adjourn the Court. 
B) grant a writ of certiorari. 
C) give priority to the order of hearing a case. 
D) are a quorum. 
E) may sit to hear a case if the others do not want to.

Question 12

The presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work is referred to as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) concurring statement. 
B) amicus curiae 
C) dissenting opinion. 
D) docket. 
E) senatorial courtesy. 
A) concurring statement. 
B) amicus curiae 
C) dissenting opinion. 
D) docket. 
E) senatorial courtesy.

Question 13

A philosophy proposing that judges should strike down the actions of the elected branches only if they clearly violate the literal meaning of the Constitution is called judicial restraint.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

An arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys is known as a court of appeals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The list of potential cases that reach the Supreme Court is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) concurring opinion. 
B) opinion of the Court. 
C) dissenting opinion. 
D) docket. 
E) senatorial courtesy. 
A) concurring opinion. 
B) opinion of the Court. 
C) dissenting opinion. 
D) docket. 
E) senatorial courtesy.

Question 16

The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts is called

Accepted Answer

A) an adversary system. 
B) judicial review. 
C) an appellate jurisdiction. 
D) a justiciable dispute. 
E) an original jurisdiction. 
A) an adversary system. 
B) judicial review. 
C) an appellate jurisdiction. 
D) a justiciable dispute. 
E) an original jurisdiction.

Question 17

In a criminal action, the person or party accused of an offense is called the plaintiff.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Law clerks are influential figures in the Supreme Court decision-making process because

Accepted Answer

A) justices rely upon them to make initial decisions after oral argument. 
B) justices rely upon them in the decision to grant certiorari. 
C) justices allow them to hear cases. 
D) they write final concurring opinions. 
E) they screen justices from the press. 
A) justices rely upon them to make initial decisions after oral argument. 
B) justices rely upon them in the decision to grant certiorari. 
C) justices allow them to hear cases. 
D) they write final concurring opinions. 
E) they screen justices from the press.

Question 19

The custom of senatorial courtesy is NOT observed in the selection of

Accepted Answer

A) Supreme Court justices. 
B) Circuit Court of Appeals justices. 
C) district justices. 
D) Senior Circuit Court of Appeals justices. 
E) the chief justice of the Supreme Court. 
A) Supreme Court justices. 
B) Circuit Court of Appeals justices. 
C) district justices. 
D) Senior Circuit Court of Appeals justices. 
E) the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Question 20

Who was NOT confirmed by the Senate as a Supreme Court justice?

Accepted Answer

A) Robert Bork 
B) David Souter 
C) Clarence Thomas 
D) Stephen Breyer 
E) John Roberts 
A) Robert Bork 
B) David Souter 
C) Clarence Thomas 
D) Stephen Breyer 
E) John Roberts

Exam 14: The Judiciary

The great majority of in forma pauperis petitions come from prisoners.

Which of the following are filed by outside groups to make arguments specific to their members and of interest to the justices?

Justices of the Supreme Court are directly elected by the public in the state in which they are from.

The fifth step to a Supreme Court judgment is

A law that defines crimes against the public order is called a criminal law.

An agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to stand trial for a more serious offense is called

Literally, a "friend of the court" brief, filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case, is a(n)

The Senate may choose NOT to confirm a nominee to the federal court system.

The judicial doctrine of stare decisis provides that the courts decide cases largely on the basis of

A formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court is called

The "rule of four" in Supreme Court procedure provides that four judges

The presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work is referred to as a(n)

A philosophy proposing that judges should strike down the actions of the elected branches only if they clearly violate the literal meaning of the Constitution is called judicial restraint.

An arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys is known as a court of appeals.

The list of potential cases that reach the Supreme Court is known as a(n)

The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts is called

In a criminal action, the person or party accused of an offense is called the plaintiff.

Law clerks are influential figures in the Supreme Court decision-making process because

The custom of senatorial courtesy is NOT observed in the selection of

Who was NOT confirmed by the Senate as a Supreme Court justice?

Constitutional Democracy

Constitutional Foundations

American Federalism

Political Culture and Ideology

The US political Landscape

Political Parties

Public Opinion, Participation, and Voting

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and US politics

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Bureaucracy

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Policy

Making Economic Policy

Making Social Policy

Making Foreign Defense Policy

State and Local Politics

State Constitutions

Parties and Elections in the States

State Legislatures

State Governors

Judges and Justice in the States

Local Governments and Metropolitics

Making State and Local Policy

Staffing and Financing State and Local Governments

Filters