Question 1

Each Supreme Court justice is assigned ______ clerk(s).

Accepted Answer

A)  one 
B)  four 
C)  eight 
D)  ten 
E)  fifteen 
A)  one 
B)  four 
C)  eight 
D)  ten 
E)  fifteen

Question 2

The role of the judiciary has gotten narrower and weaker since World War II.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

What was the Supreme Court's ruling in 1948 regarding restrictive covenants?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was illegal for homeowners to discriminate in sales contracts. 
B)  It was acceptable for private contracts to have discriminatory provisions. 
C)  Individuals had the right to discriminate in private contracts, but courts could not enforce these contracts. 
D)  Only state supreme courts had the authority to rule on the legality of restrictive covenants. 
E)  Only the U.S. Supreme Court had the authority to rule on the legality of restrictive covenants. 
A)  It was illegal for homeowners to discriminate in sales contracts. 
B)  It was acceptable for private contracts to have discriminatory provisions. 
C)  Individuals had the right to discriminate in private contracts, but courts could not enforce these contracts. 
D)  Only state supreme courts had the authority to rule on the legality of restrictive covenants. 
E)  Only the U.S. Supreme Court had the authority to rule on the legality of restrictive covenants.

Question 4

The number of cases filed in the Supreme Court has

Accepted Answer

A)  increased dramatically since 1940. 
B)  decreased dramatically since 1940. 
C)  remained the same since 1940. 
D)  increased between 1940 and 1965 but decreased since 1965. 
E)  decreased between 1940 and 1965 but increased since 1965. 
A)  increased dramatically since 1940. 
B)  decreased dramatically since 1940. 
C)  remained the same since 1940. 
D)  increased between 1940 and 1965 but decreased since 1965. 
E)  decreased between 1940 and 1965 but increased since 1965.

Question 5

Many interest groups have used the federal courts to pursue their policy goals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Prior cases whose principles are used by judges to decide current cases are called

Accepted Answer

A)  public law. 
B)  en blanc decisions. 
C)  precedents. 
D)  common law. 
E)  ex post facto cases. 
A)  public law. 
B)  en blanc decisions. 
C)  precedents. 
D)  common law. 
E)  ex post facto cases.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about Congress's delegation of power to the executive is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Constitution prevents Congress from delegating any power to the executive branch. 
B)  The courts have refused to hear any cases regarding congressional delegation of power to the executive branch since the start of the New Deal. 
C)  Since the New Deal, the courts have not struck down any congressional delegation of power to the executive branch as impermissibly broad. 
D)  Since the New Deal, the courts have frequently struck down congressional attempts to delegate powers to the executive branch as impermissibly broad. 
E)  The courts do not have the jurisdiction to rule on congressional delegation of power to the executive branch. 
A)  The Constitution prevents Congress from delegating any power to the executive branch. 
B)  The courts have refused to hear any cases regarding congressional delegation of power to the executive branch since the start of the New Deal. 
C)  Since the New Deal, the courts have not struck down any congressional delegation of power to the executive branch as impermissibly broad. 
D)  Since the New Deal, the courts have frequently struck down congressional attempts to delegate powers to the executive branch as impermissibly broad. 
E)  The courts do not have the jurisdiction to rule on congressional delegation of power to the executive branch.

Question 8

Which of the following was not a case involving the Supreme Court overturning a state law?

Accepted Answer

A)  Marbury v. Madison 
B)  Brown v. Board of Education 
C)  Griswold v. Connecticut 
D)  Loving v. Virginia 
E)  Brandenburg v. Ohio 
A)  Marbury v. Madison 
B)  Brown v. Board of Education 
C)  Griswold v. Connecticut 
D)  Loving v. Virginia 
E)  Brandenburg v. Ohio

Question 9

The doctrine of ______ requires courts to follow authoritative prior decisions when ruling on a case.

Accepted Answer

A)  stare decisis 
B)  habeas corpus 
C)  lex talions 
D)  ex post facto 
E)  a priori 
A)  stare decisis 
B)  habeas corpus 
C)  lex talions 
D)  ex post facto 
E)  a priori

Question 10

What was the basis of Justice John Marshall's assertion that the federal courts have the power of judicial review?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Constitution grants the courts that power. 
B)  It is the duty of the courts to say what the law is; therefore it is necessary for the courts to interpret and expound upon the law. 
C)  Congress would have to ask the courts for permission to pass laws. 
D)  The president should not be able to "get around" Congress by issuing executive orders on any issue he or she would like. 
E)  The federal courts, since they are the least political branch of government, should have the power to review the actions of the political branches. 
A)  The Constitution grants the courts that power. 
B)  It is the duty of the courts to say what the law is; therefore it is necessary for the courts to interpret and expound upon the law. 
C)  Congress would have to ask the courts for permission to pass laws. 
D)  The president should not be able to "get around" Congress by issuing executive orders on any issue he or she would like. 
E)  The federal courts, since they are the least political branch of government, should have the power to review the actions of the political branches.

Question 11

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. 
E)  been confirmed very quickly. 
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. 
E)  been confirmed very quickly.

Question 12

A person, agency, or interest group not directly a party to a case but with an interest in its outcome may file a(n) ______ brief.

Accepted Answer

A)  certiorari 
B)  per curiam 
C)  amicus curiae 
D)  standing 
E)  accompaniment 
A)  certiorari 
B)  per curiam 
C)  amicus curiae 
D)  standing 
E)  accompaniment

Question 13

The right of due process is best described as the right of

Accepted Answer

A)  everyone to appeal his trial. 
B)  every citizen to vote. 
C)  every person not to be treated arbitrarily by a government official or agency. 
D)  every person to be a lawyer. 
E)  every person to sue when he or she feels harmed in some way. 
A)  everyone to appeal his trial. 
B)  every citizen to vote. 
C)  every person not to be treated arbitrarily by a government official or agency. 
D)  every person to be a lawyer. 
E)  every person to sue when he or she feels harmed in some way.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about federal courts is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The federal government does not operate a court system. 
B)  Federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, and their decisions are rarely important because they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
C)  Although federal courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, their decisions are rarely important because they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
D)  Federal courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, and their decisions are extremely important because they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
E)  Although the federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, their decisions are extremely important because they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
A)  The federal government does not operate a court system. 
B)  Federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, and their decisions are rarely important because they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
C)  Although federal courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, their decisions are rarely important because they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
D)  Federal courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, and their decisions are extremely important because they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans. 
E)  Although the federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, their decisions are extremely important because they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans.

Question 15

The size of the U.S. Supreme Court is set by

Accepted Answer

A)  the U.S. Constitution. 
B)  Congress. 
C)  a national convention. 
D)  the American Bar Association. 
E)  the president. 
A)  the U.S. Constitution. 
B)  Congress. 
C)  a national convention. 
D)  the American Bar Association. 
E)  the president.

Question 16

Approximately how many judges currently sit on the federal district courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  9 
B)  50 
C)  75 
D)  700 
E)  2,500 
A)  9 
B)  50 
C)  75 
D)  700 
E)  2,500

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

A)  thirty minutes 
B)  an hour 
C)  ninety minutes 
D)  two hours 
E)  unlimited time 
A)  thirty minutes 
B)  an hour 
C)  ninety minutes 
D)  two hours 
E)  unlimited time

Question 18

Fifty percent of lower federal court cases are accepted for review by the courts of appeals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

The power of the Supreme Court to review state actions and legislation comes from

Accepted Answer

A)  the judicial review clause of Article III. 
B)  the supremacy clause of Article VI. 
C)  the Tenth Amendment. 
D)  Marbury v. Madison. 
E)  Congress. 
A)  the judicial review clause of Article III. 
B)  the supremacy clause of Article VI. 
C)  the Tenth Amendment. 
D)  Marbury v. Madison. 
E)  Congress.

Question 20

Explain the basic structure of the federal judicial system. Describe the three different levels of federal courts. How are the lower courts created? What is the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

The federal judicial system in the Unite

Exam 15: The Federal Courts

Each Supreme Court justice is assigned ______ clerk(s).

The role of the judiciary has gotten narrower and weaker since World War II.

What was the Supreme Court's ruling in 1948 regarding restrictive covenants?

The number of cases filed in the Supreme Court has

Many interest groups have used the federal courts to pursue their policy goals.

Prior cases whose principles are used by judges to decide current cases are called

Which of the following statements about Congress's delegation of power to the executive is most accurate?

Which of the following was not a case involving the Supreme Court overturning a state law?

The doctrine of ______ requires courts to follow authoritative prior decisions when ruling on a case.

What was the basis of Justice John Marshall's assertion that the federal courts have the power of judicial review?

In recent years, federal court appointments have

A person, agency, or interest group not directly a party to a case but with an interest in its outcome may file a(n) ______ brief.

The right of due process is best described as the right of

Which of the following statements about federal courts is most accurate?

The size of the U.S. Supreme Court is set by

Approximately how many judges currently sit on the federal district courts?

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

Fifty percent of lower federal court cases are accepted for review by the courts of appeals.

The power of the Supreme Court to review state actions and legislation comes from

Explain the basic structure of the federal judicial system. Describe the three different levels of federal courts. How are the lower courts created? What is the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?

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