Question 1

How many circuit courts of appeal are there in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A) 11 
B) 12 
C) 13 
D) 94 
E) 114 
A) 11 
B) 12 
C) 13 
D) 94 
E) 114

Question 2

A dispute growing out of an actual case or controversy that is capable of settlement by legal methods is

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 3

The term docket refers to

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 4

Appellate jurisdiction refers to a court that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Robert Bork was confirmed by the Senate by an overwhelming majority.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

A civil 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) the offense of which a person is accused. 
D) a law that is not justiciable in court. 
E) a law that states that a prosecutor and a defendant may come to an agreement 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) the offense of which a person is accused. 
D) a law that is not justiciable in court. 
E) a law that states that a prosecutor and a defendant may come to an agreement that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to stand trial for a more serious offense.

Question 7

Civil law governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Decisions of the circuit court of appeals are

Accepted Answer

A) frequently overturned by the Supreme Court. 
B) seldom appealed to the Supreme Court. 
C) never overturned by the Supreme Court. 
D) not subject to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. 
E) indistinguishable from those of the Supreme Court. 
A) frequently overturned by the Supreme Court. 
B) seldom appealed to the Supreme Court. 
C) never overturned by the Supreme Court. 
D) not subject to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. 
E) indistinguishable from those of the Supreme Court.

Question 9

The party instigating a civil lawsuit is called the defendant.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The eighth step to a Supreme Court judgment is

Accepted Answer

A) meeting in conference. 
B) holding oral argument. 
C) explaining the decision. 
D) writing the opinion. 
E) releasing the opinion. 
A) meeting in conference. 
B) holding oral argument. 
C) explaining the decision. 
D) writing the opinion. 
E) releasing the opinion.

Question 11

The Constitution of the United States does NOT require federal judges to have legal training.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

A writ of habeas corpus 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 13

Your text defines an original jurisdiction as

Accepted Answer

A) the view that a court of law is a neutral arena in which two parties argue their differences and present their points of view before an impartial arbiter. 
B) the power of a court to refuse to enforce a law. 
C) the authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts. 
D) a dispute growing out of an actual case or controversy that is capable of settlement by legal methods. 
E) the authority of a court to hear a case "in the first instance." 
A) the view that a court of law is a neutral arena in which two parties argue their differences and present their points of view before an impartial arbiter. 
B) the power of a court to refuse to enforce a law. 
C) the authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts. 
D) a dispute growing out of an actual case or controversy that is capable of settlement by legal methods. 
E) the authority of a court to hear a case "in the first instance."

Question 14

Court of appeals refers to the authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Precedent is NOT needed to maintain legal consistency over time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Major changes in the position of the Supreme Court are usually due to

Accepted Answer

A) turnover in the membership of the Court. 
B) public opinion. 
C) a need to immediately address a new event or development. 
D) threats from Congress. 
E) threats from the president. 
A) turnover in the membership of the Court. 
B) public opinion. 
C) a need to immediately address a new event or development. 
D) threats from Congress. 
E) threats from the president.

Question 17

The power of the judiciary is limited by

Accepted Answer

A) precedent. 
B) changes in the number of federal judgeships. 
C) changes in jurisdiction. 
D) public opinion. 
E) All of the above 
A) precedent. 
B) changes in the number of federal judgeships. 
C) changes in jurisdiction. 
D) public opinion. 
E) All of the above

Question 18

A court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody 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 19

George Washington established two precedents about judicial appointments that continue to this day: (1) appointees were political and ideological allies of the president, and (2) every state was represented on a court somewhere, assuring at least some representation across the nation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

An opinion disagreeing with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling is called an opinion of the court.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 14: The Judiciary

How many circuit courts of appeal are there in the United States?

A dispute growing out of an actual case or controversy that is capable of settlement by legal methods is

The term docket refers to

Appellate jurisdiction refers to a court that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts.

Robert Bork was confirmed by the Senate by an overwhelming majority.

A civil law is

Civil law governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.

Decisions of the circuit court of appeals are

The party instigating a civil lawsuit is called the defendant.

The eighth step to a Supreme Court judgment is

The Constitution of the United States does NOT require federal judges to have legal training.

A writ of habeas corpus is

Your text defines an original jurisdiction as

Court of appeals refers to the authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.

Precedent is NOT needed to maintain legal consistency over time.

Major changes in the position of the Supreme Court are usually due to

The power of the judiciary is limited by

A court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody is called

George Washington established two precedents about judicial appointments that continue to this day: (1) appointees were political and ideological allies of the president, and (2) every state was represented on a court somewhere, assuring at least some representation across the nation.

An opinion disagreeing with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling is called an opinion of the court.

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