Question 1

The federal courts are always superior to the state courts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

There are 94 district courts in the United States.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

There are five characteristics that distinguish the federal judiciary from Congress, the presidency, and the administrative system.Please indicate which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the federal judiciary.

Accepted Answer

A) The federal judiciary is an adversary system. 
B) The federal judiciary is passive and reactive. 
C) Every person who stands before the court must have standing to sue. 
D) The federal judiciary decides whether a person will be prosecuted for a crime. 
E) All of the above are characteristics of the federal judiciary 
A) The federal judiciary is an adversary system. 
B) The federal judiciary is passive and reactive. 
C) Every person who stands before the court must have standing to sue. 
D) The federal judiciary decides whether a person will be prosecuted for a crime. 
E) All of the above are characteristics of the federal judiciary

Question 5

A philosophy proposing that judges should strike down laws that are inconsistent with norms and values stated or implied in the Constitution is called judicial activism.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The second step to a Supreme Court judgment is

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

Judicial activism proposes that the Supreme Court should

Accepted Answer

A) disregard judicial precedent. 
B) protect people from governmental interference in their private lives. 
C) interpret the law to achieve social justice. 
D) All of the above, except A 
E) All of the above, except B 
A) disregard judicial precedent. 
B) protect people from governmental interference in their private lives. 
C) interpret the law to achieve social justice. 
D) All of the above, except A 
E) All of the above, except B

Question 8

An explanation of a decision of the Supreme Court or any other appellate court is 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 9

The United States Courts of Appeals review trial court decisions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

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 a plea bargain.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Within the Supreme Court, the chief justice

Accepted Answer

A) is constitutionally required to be a man. 
B) is first among equals. 
C) is in charge of the other justices. 
D) is elected by the Senate. 
E) can remove another justice from office. 
A) is constitutionally required to be a man. 
B) is first among equals. 
C) is in charge of the other justices. 
D) is elected by the Senate. 
E) can remove another justice from office.

Question 12

Law clerks are drawn from

Accepted Answer

A) district courts. 
B) courts of appeal. 
C) state congresses. 
D) recent law school graduates. 
E) state supreme courts. 
A) district courts. 
B) courts of appeal. 
C) state congresses. 
D) recent law school graduates. 
E) state supreme courts.

Question 13

A formal petition seeking to bring a case before the Supreme Court is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) petition of decisis. 
B) in forma pauperis. 
C) writ of habeas corpus. 
D) writ of certiorari. 
E) writ of mandamus. 
A) petition of decisis. 
B) in forma pauperis. 
C) writ of habeas corpus. 
D) writ of certiorari. 
E) writ of mandamus.

Question 14

A court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts is called

Accepted Answer

A) the solicitor general. 
B) the public defender system. 
C) a court of appeals. 
D) a precedent. 
E) a writ of habeas corpus. 
A) the solicitor general. 
B) the public defender system. 
C) a court of appeals. 
D) a precedent. 
E) a writ of habeas corpus.

Question 15

"Judicial review" is used to describe the power of the court to refuse to enforce a law or governmental regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S.Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Stare decisis refers to

Accepted Answer

A) the rule of precedent, whereby a rule or law contained in a judicial decision is commonly viewed as binding on judges whenever the same question is presented. 
B) 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. 
C) a petition that allows a party to file "as a pauper" and avoid paying Court fees. 
D) a formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court. 
E) a court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody. 
A) the rule of precedent, whereby a rule or law contained in a judicial decision is commonly viewed as binding on judges whenever the same question is presented. 
B) 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. 
C) a petition that allows a party to file "as a pauper" and avoid paying Court fees. 
D) a formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court. 
E) a court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody.

Question 17

A court of appeals is

Accepted Answer

A) the third-ranking official in the Department of Justice who is responsible for representing the United States in cases before the U.S.Supreme Court. 
B) an arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys. 
C) a court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts. 
D) a decision made by a higher court such as a circuit court of appeals or the Supreme Court that is binding on all other federal courts. 
E) a court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody. 
A) the third-ranking official in the Department of Justice who is responsible for representing the United States in cases before the U.S.Supreme Court. 
B) an arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys. 
C) a court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts. 
D) a decision made by a higher court such as a circuit court of appeals or the Supreme Court that is binding on all other federal courts. 
E) a court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody.

Question 18

A decision made by a higher court, such as a circuit court of appeals or the Supreme Court, that is binding on all other federal courts is called

Accepted Answer

A) the solicitor general. 
B) the public defender system. 
C) a court of appeals. 
D) a precedent. 
E) a writ of habeas corpus. 
A) the solicitor general. 
B) the public defender system. 
C) a court of appeals. 
D) a precedent. 
E) a writ of habeas corpus.

Question 19

Key people or organizations in the selection of judges include

Accepted Answer

A) the president. 
B) interest groups. 
C) party leaders in Congress. 
D) the Justice Department. 
E) All of the above 
A) the president. 
B) interest groups. 
C) party leaders in Congress. 
D) the Justice Department. 
E) All of the above

Question 20

Presidents are likely to nominate judges that agree with them on key issues before the courts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 14: The Judiciary

The federal courts are always superior to the state courts.

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

There are 94 district courts in the United States.

There are five characteristics that distinguish the federal judiciary from Congress, the presidency, and the administrative system.Please indicate which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the federal judiciary.

A philosophy proposing that judges should strike down laws that are inconsistent with norms and values stated or implied in the Constitution is called judicial activism.

The second step to a Supreme Court judgment is

Judicial activism proposes that the Supreme Court should

An explanation of a decision of the Supreme Court or any other appellate court is a(n)

The United States Courts of Appeals review trial court decisions.

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 a plea bargain.

Within the Supreme Court, the chief justice

Law clerks are drawn from

A formal petition seeking to bring a case before the Supreme Court is called a(n)

A court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts is called

"Judicial review" is used to describe the power of the court to refuse to enforce a law or governmental regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S.Constitution.

Stare decisis refers to

A court of appeals is

A decision made by a higher court, such as a circuit court of appeals or the Supreme Court, that is binding on all other federal courts is called

Key people or organizations in the selection of judges include

Presidents are likely to nominate judges that agree with them on key issues before the courts.

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

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