Question 1

In all of American history,the Supreme Court has concluded that fewer than ________
Acts of Congress have directly violated the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) 18 
B) 50 
C) 100 
D) 160 
A) 18 
B) 50 
C) 100 
D) 160

Question 2

Civil cases involving the citizens of more than one state and in which more than $75,000 is at stake

Accepted Answer

A) must always be heard in federal district court. 
B) must always be heard in a state court. 
C) must always be heard in the U.S.Supreme Court. 
D) may be heard in either the federal or the state courts,usually depending on the preference of the plaintiff. 
A) must always be heard in federal district court. 
B) must always be heard in a state court. 
C) must always be heard in the U.S.Supreme Court. 
D) may be heard in either the federal or the state courts,usually depending on the preference of the plaintiff.

Question 3

There are ________ U.S.district courts.

Accepted Answer

A) 50 
B) 94 
C) 200 
D) 434 
A) 50 
B) 94 
C) 200 
D) 434

Question 4

The Supreme Court struck down state laws in the cases of Brown v.Board of Education and
Pavan v.Smith because the statutes in question

Accepted Answer

A) denied citizens equal protection of the law. 
B) violated the separation of powers. 
C) were too vague to be appropriately interpreted. 
D) ceded too much power to the federal government. 
A) denied citizens equal protection of the law. 
B) violated the separation of powers. 
C) were too vague to be appropriately interpreted. 
D) ceded too much power to the federal government.

Question 5

Most cases reach the Supreme Court through

Accepted Answer

A) a writ of appeal. 
B) a writ of certiorari. 
C) a writ of amicus curiae. 
D) state courts. 
A) a writ of appeal. 
B) a writ of certiorari. 
C) a writ of amicus curiae. 
D) state courts.

Question 6

Cases in which the U.S.government is a party are

Accepted Answer

A) always heard in a state court. 
B) heard in a state court only if a state government is the other party. 
C) heard in a state court if the other party files a special request to have the case heard
In a state court. 
D) always heard in a federal court. 
A) always heard in a state court. 
B) heard in a state court only if a state government is the other party. 
C) heard in a state court if the other party files a special request to have the case heard
In a state court. 
D) always heard in a federal court.

Question 7

In recent years,federal court appointments have

Accepted Answer

A) been characterized by strict neutrality on the part of Congress. 
B) attracted very little attention from the media and special interest groups. 
C) been characterized by intense partisan and ideological efforts to support or
Defeat the candidate. 
D) been unaffected by ideological concerns. 
A) been characterized by strict neutrality on the part of Congress. 
B) attracted very little attention from the media and special interest groups. 
C) been characterized by intense partisan and ideological efforts to support or
Defeat the candidate. 
D) been unaffected by ideological concerns.

Question 8

When interest groups use a "pattern of cases" strategy,they

Accepted Answer

A) submit amicus curiae briefs in every case that addresses their organization's primary issues in the hopes that their framing of the legal questions raised in each case will persuade the justices. 
B) bring the same type of suit in more than one circuit in the hopes that inconsistent treatment by two different courts will improve the chance of a Supreme Court review. 
C) avoid filing any lawsuits until the composition of the court changes in a way that makes their preferred ruling more likely. 
D) attempt to prevent federal court nominees who are likely to oppose their agenda from being confirmed by the Senate. 
A) submit amicus curiae briefs in every case that addresses their organization's primary issues in the hopes that their framing of the legal questions raised in each case will persuade the justices. 
B) bring the same type of suit in more than one circuit in the hopes that inconsistent treatment by two different courts will improve the chance of a Supreme Court review. 
C) avoid filing any lawsuits until the composition of the court changes in a way that makes their preferred ruling more likely. 
D) attempt to prevent federal court nominees who are likely to oppose their agenda from being confirmed by the Senate.

Question 9

Activist judges believe that federal judges should

Accepted Answer

A) always overrule state legislatures and governors when making decisions. 
B) interpret the U.S.Constitution according to the intentions of its framers and defer
To the views of Congress when interpreting federal statutes. 
C) be more aggressive and ideological than the president when vacancies occur
On the courts. 
D) go beyond the words of a constitution or statute to consider the broader societal implications of their decisions. 
A) always overrule state legislatures and governors when making decisions. 
B) interpret the U.S.Constitution according to the intentions of its framers and defer
To the views of Congress when interpreting federal statutes. 
C) be more aggressive and ideological than the president when vacancies occur
On the courts. 
D) go beyond the words of a constitution or statute to consider the broader societal implications of their decisions.

Question 10

What is the main function of the chief justice of the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A) The chief justice decides what cases will be heard by the full Court each term. 
B) The chief justice always writes the Court's majority opinions. 
C) The chief justice presides over the Court's public sessions and private conferences. 
D) The chief justice is also the constitutional adviser to the president. 
A) The chief justice decides what cases will be heard by the full Court each term. 
B) The chief justice always writes the Court's majority opinions. 
C) The chief justice presides over the Court's public sessions and private conferences. 
D) The chief justice is also the constitutional adviser to the president.

Question 11

Normally,________ judge(s)hear(s)a specific case on a federal circuit court of appeals.

Accepted Answer

A) 1 
B) 3 
C) 15 
D) all of the 
A) 1 
B) 3 
C) 15 
D) all of the

Question 12

Which Supreme Court nominee was accused of sexual harassment during his confirmation
Hearing?

Accepted Answer

A) Samuel Alito 
B) Antonin Scalia 
C) Clarence Thomas 
D) Anthony Kennedy 
A) Samuel Alito 
B) Antonin Scalia 
C) Clarence Thomas 
D) Anthony Kennedy

Question 13

The assignment of the opinion in a Supreme Court case is

Accepted Answer

A) unimportant because the final vote of the justices is the only statement that carries any weight in future cases. 
B) important because differences in wording and emphasis can have important implications for how the decision is interpreted in future litigation. 
C) unimportant because all justices usually describe their decisions in exactly the same way. 
D) important because every word of a decision is legally binding. 
A) unimportant because the final vote of the justices is the only statement that carries any weight in future cases. 
B) important because differences in wording and emphasis can have important implications for how the decision is interpreted in future litigation. 
C) unimportant because all justices usually describe their decisions in exactly the same way. 
D) important because every word of a decision is legally binding.

Question 14

The power of the Supreme Court to review state actions and legislation is implied by

Accepted Answer

A) the judicial review clause of Article III. 
B) the supremacy clause of Article VI. 
C) the Declaration of Independence. 
D) the Seventh Amendment. 
A) the judicial review clause of Article III. 
B) the supremacy clause of Article VI. 
C) the Declaration of Independence. 
D) the Seventh Amendment.

Question 15

Under normal rules of oral argument,each lawyer has ________ to present his or her case
Before the Supreme Court.

Accepted Answer

A) 30 minutes 
B) one hour 
C) two hours 
D) unlimited time 
A) 30 minutes 
B) one hour 
C) two hours 
D) unlimited time

Question 16

In the 2014 case of Riley v.California,the Supreme Court held that

Accepted Answer

A) corporations have free speech rights under the First Amendment. 
B) state courts must provide legal counsel to defendants who could not afford their own attorneys. 
C) the police cannot undertake a warrantless search of the digital contents of a cell phone. 
D) the police can undertake a warrantless search of the digital contents of a cell phone if they believe there is probable cause. 
A) corporations have free speech rights under the First Amendment. 
B) state courts must provide legal counsel to defendants who could not afford their own attorneys. 
C) the police cannot undertake a warrantless search of the digital contents of a cell phone. 
D) the police can undertake a warrantless search of the digital contents of a cell phone if they believe there is probable cause.

Question 17

The process of confirming federal court appointments has recently become very contentious.Describe the steps to becoming a federal judge and the considerations involved in who is nominated.Why has this process become so controversial in recent years? Provide some examples of this conflict in the confirmation process.

Accepted Answer

There are three components to this quest

Question 18

What is the most frequent and best-known action of Supreme Court justices in their role as
Circuit justices?

Accepted Answer

A) vetting cases for the Supreme Court 
B) hearing challenges to state laws 
C) reviewing requests for stays of execution 
D) overturning laws passed by Congress 
A) vetting cases for the Supreme Court 
B) hearing challenges to state laws 
C) reviewing requests for stays of execution 
D) overturning laws passed by Congress

Question 19

There are approximately ________ federal district court judges in the United States.

Accepted Answer

A) 9 
B) 79 
C) 678 
D) 1,002 
A) 9 
B) 79 
C) 678 
D) 1,002

Question 20

If someone is an advocate of the philosophy of judicial restraint,he or she believes

Accepted Answer

A) in looking only at the words of the Constitution in order to understand its meaning. 
B) that the meaning of the law tends to evolve over time. 
C) the Court should go beyond the words of the Constitution or a statute to consider the broader societal implications of its decisions. 
D) that judges should openly consider both legal and political questions when adjudicating cases. 
A) in looking only at the words of the Constitution in order to understand its meaning. 
B) that the meaning of the law tends to evolve over time. 
C) the Court should go beyond the words of the Constitution or a statute to consider the broader societal implications of its decisions. 
D) that judges should openly consider both legal and political questions when adjudicating cases.

In all of American history,the Supreme Court has concluded that fewer than ________ Acts of Congress have directly violated the Constitution.

Civil cases involving the citizens of more than one state and in which more than $75,000 is at stake

There are ________ U.S.district courts.

The Supreme Court struck down state laws in the cases of Brown v.Board of Education and Pavan v.Smith because the statutes in question

Most cases reach the Supreme Court through

Cases in which the U.S.government is a party are

In recent years,federal court appointments have

When interest groups use a "pattern of cases" strategy,they

Activist judges believe that federal judges should

What is the main function of the chief justice of the Supreme Court?

Normally,________ judge(s)hear(s)a specific case on a federal circuit court of appeals.

Which Supreme Court nominee was accused of sexual harassment during his confirmation Hearing?

The assignment of the opinion in a Supreme Court case is

The power of the Supreme Court to review state actions and legislation is implied by

Under normal rules of oral argument,each lawyer has ________ to present his or her case Before the Supreme Court.

In the 2014 case of Riley v.California,the Supreme Court held that

What is the most frequent and best-known action of Supreme Court justices in their role as Circuit justices?

There are approximately ________ federal district court judges in the United States.

If someone is an advocate of the philosophy of judicial restraint,he or she believes

Introduction: The Citizen and Government

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Parties,Participation,and Elections

Interest Groups

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 12: The Federal Courts

In all of American history,the Supreme Court has concluded that fewer than ________ Acts of Congress have directly violated the Constitution.

Civil cases involving the citizens of more than one state and in which more than $75,000 is at stake

There are ________ U.S.district courts.

The Supreme Court struck down state laws in the cases of Brown v.Board of Education and Pavan v.Smith because the statutes in question

Most cases reach the Supreme Court through

Cases in which the U.S.government is a party are

In recent years,federal court appointments have

When interest groups use a "pattern of cases" strategy,they

Activist judges believe that federal judges should

What is the main function of the chief justice of the Supreme Court?

Normally,________ judge(s)hear(s)a specific case on a federal circuit court of appeals.

Which Supreme Court nominee was accused of sexual harassment during his confirmation Hearing?

The assignment of the opinion in a Supreme Court case is

The power of the Supreme Court to review state actions and legislation is implied by

Under normal rules of oral argument,each lawyer has ________ to present his or her case Before the Supreme Court.

In the 2014 case of Riley v.California,the Supreme Court held that

What is the most frequent and best-known action of Supreme Court justices in their role as Circuit justices?

There are approximately ________ federal district court judges in the United States.

If someone is an advocate of the philosophy of judicial restraint,he or she believes

Introduction: The Citizen and Government

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Parties,Participation,and Elections

Interest Groups

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters