Question 1

Earl Warren is known as a judicial activist.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Original jurisdiction refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. 
B)  the court with the authority to hear a case first. 
C)  the highest court with the power to overrule other courts. 
D)  Congress's power to determine what cases the federal courts will hear. 
E)  the president's power to appoint federal judges. 
A)  the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. 
B)  the court with the authority to hear a case first. 
C)  the highest court with the power to overrule other courts. 
D)  Congress's power to determine what cases the federal courts will hear. 
E)  the president's power to appoint federal judges.

Question 3

What are some of the different types of judicial philosophy in how to interpret the law? Outline the theories of judicial restraint and judicial activism. What are some of the benefits of each theory? What are some problems?

Accepted Answer

There are several different types of jud

Question 4

Most cases reach the Supreme Court through the

Accepted Answer

A)  writ of appeal. 
B)  writ of certiorari. 
C)  writ of habeas corpus. 
D)  writ of amicus curiae. 
E)  state courts. 
A)  writ of appeal. 
B)  writ of certiorari. 
C)  writ of habeas corpus. 
D)  writ of amicus curiae. 
E)  state courts.

Question 5

Which of the following is the essence of the rule of law?

Accepted Answer

A)  Every state needs to have a written constitution. 
B)  Every state must have an established system of common law. 
C)  Every state needs to make its laws public. 
D)  Every state must judge government officials by the same laws as its citizens are judged. 
E)  Every state must follow federal law. 
A)  Every state needs to have a written constitution. 
B)  Every state must have an established system of common law. 
C)  Every state needs to make its laws public. 
D)  Every state must judge government officials by the same laws as its citizens are judged. 
E)  Every state must follow federal law.

Question 6

Cases between two or more states are originally heard by

Accepted Answer

A)  both state supreme courts simultaneously. 
B)  the federal district court in the state that initiates the lawsuit. 
C)  the federal circuit court of appeals. 
D)  the Supreme Court. 
E)  the federal district court in the state that serves as the defendant in the lawsuit. 
A)  both state supreme courts simultaneously. 
B)  the federal district court in the state that initiates the lawsuit. 
C)  the federal circuit court of appeals. 
D)  the Supreme Court. 
E)  the federal district court in the state that serves as the defendant in the lawsuit.

Question 7

The Supreme Court does not offer advisory opinions to any government agency concerning the probable constitutionality of a law or action.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following kinds of cases are not likely to be accepted by the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cases in which the federal government is an appellant. 
B)  Cases that address state laws but that do not raise constitutional issues. 
C)  Cases that raise important questions about civil rights. 
D)  Cases that involve conflicting decisions by federal circuit courts. 
E)  Cases that raise important questions about civil liberties. 
A)  Cases in which the federal government is an appellant. 
B)  Cases that address state laws but that do not raise constitutional issues. 
C)  Cases that raise important questions about civil rights. 
D)  Cases that involve conflicting decisions by federal circuit courts. 
E)  Cases that raise important questions about civil liberties.

Question 9

In 2000, the Supreme Court ignored stare decisis by overturning its own Miranda rule.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Prisoners who are challenging their conviction are most likely to file a writ of

Accepted Answer

A)  habeas corpus. 
B)  certiorari. 
C)  jurisdiction. 
D)  stare decisis. 
E)  challenge. 
A)  habeas corpus. 
B)  certiorari. 
C)  jurisdiction. 
D)  stare decisis. 
E)  challenge.

Question 11

The process of confirming federal court appointments has recently become contentious. Describe the steps to becoming a federal judge. Why has this process become so controversial in recent years? Describe some examples of this conflict in the confirmation process.

Accepted Answer

The process of becoming a federal judge

Question 12

The written document in which attorneys explain why the court should rule in favor of their client is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  intervention. 
B)  writ of certiorari. 
C)  brief. 
D)  writ of habeas corpus. 
E)  argument. 
A)  intervention. 
B)  writ of certiorari. 
C)  brief. 
D)  writ of habeas corpus. 
E)  argument.

Question 13

A "certiorari pool" describes the

Accepted Answer

A)  computerized lottery system by which the Supreme Court selects its cases each year. 
B)  practice by which Supreme Court law clerks work together to evaluate each petition. 
C)  method used to appoint the chief justice. 
D)  nickname for the water fountain in the courtyard of the Supreme Court building. 
E)  pool of applicants seeking appointment to the federal judiciary. 
A)  computerized lottery system by which the Supreme Court selects its cases each year. 
B)  practice by which Supreme Court law clerks work together to evaluate each petition. 
C)  method used to appoint the chief justice. 
D)  nickname for the water fountain in the courtyard of the Supreme Court building. 
E)  pool of applicants seeking appointment to the federal judiciary.

Question 14

In most circumstances, a supreme court is best described as a(n) ______ court.

Accepted Answer

A)  uniform 
B)  trial 
C)  advisory 
D)  appellate 
E)  elected 
A)  uniform 
B)  trial 
C)  advisory 
D)  appellate 
E)  elected

Question 15

Aside from the justices themselves, who or what has the greatest power in shaping the flow of cases to the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  the attorney general 
B)  the solicitor general 
C)  the Senate Judiciary Committee 
D)  the state supreme courts 
E)  Congress 
A)  the attorney general 
B)  the solicitor general 
C)  the Senate Judiciary Committee 
D)  the state supreme courts 
E)  Congress

Question 16

The requirement of standing means that parties in a case must

Accepted Answer

A)  be alive. 
B)  have a concrete injury or interest at stake. 
C)  be present in court during the trial. 
D)  know the law they are using to defend themselves. 
E)  have an attorney present with them in court. 
A)  be alive. 
B)  have a concrete injury or interest at stake. 
C)  be present in court during the trial. 
D)  know the law they are using to defend themselves. 
E)  have an attorney present with them in court.

Question 17

In which type of case does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?

Accepted Answer

A)  any case involving the Constitution 
B)  any case involving an ambassador 
C)  any case involving the president 
D)  any case it wants to take up 
E)  any case involving a member of Congress 
A)  any case involving the Constitution 
B)  any case involving an ambassador 
C)  any case involving the president 
D)  any case it wants to take up 
E)  any case involving a member of Congress

Question 18

When justices agree with the ruling of a court majority but not all of its reasoning, they may often write a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  dissent. 
B)  concurrence. 
C)  ex parte. 
D)  per curiam. 
E)  writ of certiorari. 
A)  dissent. 
B)  concurrence. 
C)  ex parte. 
D)  per curiam. 
E)  writ of certiorari.

Question 19

Judicial review over acts of Congress was established by Marbury v. Madison.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

How many justices currently serve on the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  seven 
B)  nine 
C)  ten 
D)  eleven 
E)  fifteen 
A)  seven 
B)  nine 
C)  ten 
D)  eleven 
E)  fifteen

Exam 15: The Federal Courts

Earl Warren is known as a judicial activist.

Original jurisdiction refers to

What are some of the different types of judicial philosophy in how to interpret the law? Outline the theories of judicial restraint and judicial activism. What are some of the benefits of each theory? What are some problems?

Most cases reach the Supreme Court through the

Which of the following is the essence of the rule of law?

Cases between two or more states are originally heard by

The Supreme Court does not offer advisory opinions to any government agency concerning the probable constitutionality of a law or action.

Which of the following kinds of cases are not likely to be accepted by the Supreme Court?

In 2000, the Supreme Court ignored stare decisis by overturning its own Miranda rule.

Prisoners who are challenging their conviction are most likely to file a writ of

The process of confirming federal court appointments has recently become contentious. Describe the steps to becoming a federal judge. Why has this process become so controversial in recent years? Describe some examples of this conflict in the confirmation process.

The written document in which attorneys explain why the court should rule in favor of their client is called a(n)

A "certiorari pool" describes the

In most circumstances, a supreme court is best described as a(n) ______ court.

Aside from the justices themselves, who or what has the greatest power in shaping the flow of cases to the Supreme Court?

The requirement of standing means that parties in a case must

In which type of case does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?

When justices agree with the ruling of a court majority but not all of its reasoning, they may often write a(n)

Judicial review over acts of Congress was established by Marbury v. Madison.

How many justices currently serve on the Supreme Court?

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