Exam 14: The Federal Courts

The requirement that plaintiffs have a serious interest in a case,depending on whether they have sustained or are likely to sustain a direct and substantial injury from another party or from an action of government,is called

The United States Supreme Court's jurisdiction includes

When the Court frequently overturns its own past decisions,it decreases the likelihood that its future decisions will be considered legitimate.

Principal reasons for the Court's choosing to hear a case would include each of the following EXCEPT

A ________ is a Supreme Court ruling without explanation that resolves an immediate case but has no value as precedent because the Court does not offer reasoning that would guide lower courts in future decisions.

A written opinion in a Supreme Court case is a

Which of the following statements is TRUE about participants in the judicial system?

In order for the Supreme Court to hear oral arguments or decide a case on the written record,

The Supreme Court's unwillingness to settle disputes about the constitutionality of the War Powers Act is an example of the doctrine of _____,used as a means to decide cases involving conflict between the president and Congress.

In civil law cases,the government charges an individual with violating specific laws,such as those prohibiting robbery.

What do presidents look for in selecting a Supreme Court justice? How often are they successful in appointing judges who reflect their judicial philosophy? Provide a few examples from the twentieth century of presidents succeeding and failing to have a direct influence on the Court.

Explain the difference between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction.

Of the _______cases that reach the Supreme Court in requests for review,______ are eventually placed on the docket.

The Constitution sets the number of Supreme Court justices at nine.

As of January 2011,there were three female Supreme Court justices.

What is a political question? Give an example of an issue that the Court has deemed a political question and,therefore,left to Congress and the presidency to decide.

The vast majority of civil cases that commence in the federal courts are settled out of court.

The concept of original intent holds that

The justification used by federal courts primarily to avoid deciding cases regarding conflicts between the president and Congress is known as the doctrine of

Appeals regarding patents would be heard by