Question 1

An adversary system of justice is one in which

Accepted Answer

A) the police bring charges. 
B) judges are political appointees. 
C) the court is a neutral referee. 
D) justice is based on majority vote. 
E) None of the above 
A) the police bring charges. 
B) judges are political appointees. 
C) the court is a neutral referee. 
D) justice is based on majority vote. 
E) None of the above

Question 2

Federal district courts are NOT

Accepted Answer

A) courts of last resort. 
B) the only federal courts to regularly use juries. 
C) the courts that most often render the final decision for federal cases. 
D) courts of original jurisdiction. 
E) Federal district courts are all of the above 
A) courts of last resort. 
B) the only federal courts to regularly use juries. 
C) the courts that most often render the final decision for federal cases. 
D) courts of original jurisdiction. 
E) Federal district courts are all of the above

Question 3

The party initiating a civil lawsuit is called

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

A precedent 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 5

There are five levels of the federal court system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

If a Supreme Court justice agrees with the majority decision but differs on the reasoning, he or she files a minority opinion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Judicial activism by the Supreme Court pits the power of the courts against the power of other branches of government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

A dissenting opinion is

Accepted Answer

A) an opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning 
B) an opinion disagreeing with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling. 
C) the list of potential cases that reach the Supreme Court. 
D) the presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work. 
E) an explanation of a decision of the Supreme Court or any other appellate court. 
A) an opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning 
B) an opinion disagreeing with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling. 
C) the list of potential cases that reach the Supreme Court. 
D) the presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work. 
E) an explanation of a decision of the Supreme Court or any other appellate court.

Question 9

The judiciary is not only a legal institution; it is a political institution as well.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

There are no cases where the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

In the adversarial system of justice, judges are expected to be active participants.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

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

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 13

Senatorial courtesy refers to the

Accepted Answer

A) scheduling of the Senate vote on nominees. 
B) deference senators show toward the president's Supreme Court nominee. 
C) consultation of senators on the nomination of federal judges in their states. 
D) treatment of nominees during Senate confirmation hearings. 
E) None of the above 
A) scheduling of the Senate vote on nominees. 
B) deference senators show toward the president's Supreme Court nominee. 
C) consultation of senators on the nomination of federal judges in their states. 
D) treatment of nominees during Senate confirmation hearings. 
E) None of the above

Question 14

A plea bargain is

Accepted Answer

A) a law that defines a crime against the public order. 
B) a law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights. 
C) in a criminal action, the person or party accused of an offense. 
D) the party initiating a civil lawsuit. 
E) 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. 
A) a law that defines a crime against the public order. 
B) a law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights. 
C) in a criminal action, the person or party accused of an offense. 
D) the party initiating a civil lawsuit. 
E) 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.

Question 15

The public defender system 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 16

The fourth 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 17

The third 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 18

A petition that allows a party to file "as a pauper" and avoid paying court fees 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 19

Who is 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?

Accepted Answer

A) Attorney General 
B) Commissioner 
C) Solicitor General 
D) Public Defender 
E) Surveyor General 
A) Attorney General 
B) Commissioner 
C) Solicitor General 
D) Public Defender 
E) Surveyor General

Question 20

A criminal law is

Accepted Answer

A) a law that defines a crime against the public order. 
B) a law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights. 
C) in a criminal action, the person or party accused of an offense. 
D) the party instigating a civil lawsuit. 
E) 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. 
A) a law that defines a crime against the public order. 
B) a law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights. 
C) in a criminal action, the person or party accused of an offense. 
D) the party instigating a civil lawsuit. 
E) 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.

Exam 14: The Judiciary

An adversary system of justice is one in which

Federal district courts are NOT

The party initiating a civil lawsuit is called

A precedent is

There are five levels of the federal court system.

If a Supreme Court justice agrees with the majority decision but differs on the reasoning, he or she files a minority opinion.

Judicial activism by the Supreme Court pits the power of the courts against the power of other branches of government.

A dissenting opinion is

The judiciary is not only a legal institution; it is a political institution as well.

There are no cases where the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction.

In the adversarial system of justice, judges are expected to be active participants.

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

Senatorial courtesy refers to the

A plea bargain is

The public defender system is

The fourth step to a Supreme Court judgment is

The third step to a Supreme Court judgment is

A petition that allows a party to file "as a pauper" and avoid paying court fees is a(n)

Who is 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?

A criminal law is

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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