Question 1

In 2009, President Obama's first appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court was

Accepted Answer

A)  David Souter. 
B)  Samuel Alito. 
C)  John Roberts. 
D)  Sonia Sotomayor. 
E)  Anthony Kennedy. 
A)  David Souter. 
B)  Samuel Alito. 
C)  John Roberts. 
D)  Sonia Sotomayor. 
E)  Anthony Kennedy. D

Question 2

If someone is an advocate 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 Court should beware of overturning the judgments of popularly elected legislatures. 
C)  that judges should limit their interpretations to the intention of the law's framers. 
D)  the Court should go beyond the words of the Constitution or a statute to consider the broader societal implications of its decisions. 
E)  that judges should consider legal questions rather than deciding political matters. 
A)  in looking only at the words of the Constitution in order to understand its meaning. 
B)  that the Court should beware of overturning the judgments of popularly elected legislatures. 
C)  that judges should limit their interpretations to the intention of the law's framers. 
D)  the Court should go beyond the words of the Constitution or a statute to consider the broader societal implications of its decisions. 
E)  that judges should consider legal questions rather than deciding political matters. A

Question 3

Which of the following is not a specialized "legislative court" created by Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Court of International Trade 
B)  the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 
C)  the Court of Federal Claims 
D)  the Court of Federal Territories 
E)  the Court of Military Appeals 
A)  the Court of International Trade 
B)  the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 
C)  the Court of Federal Claims 
D)  the Court of Federal Territories 
E)  the Court of Military Appeals D

Question 4

Through the exercise of ______, the Supreme Court has held actions or laws of the executive and legislative branches unconstitutional.

Accepted Answer

A)  stare decisis 
B)  writs of certiorari 
C)  judicial review 
D)  clemency 
E)  writs of habeas corpus 
A)  stare decisis 
B)  writs of certiorari 
C)  judicial review 
D)  clemency 
E)  writs of habeas corpus

Question 5

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 6

The written opinions of appellate courts have been described as halfway between ______ and ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  common law; statutory law 
B)  stare decisis; administrative rule making 
C)  civil law; constitutional law 
D)  public law; private law 
E)  common law; public law 
A)  common law; statutory law 
B)  stare decisis; administrative rule making 
C)  civil law; constitutional law 
D)  public law; private law 
E)  common law; public law

Question 7

Only the solicitor general is permitted to file amicus curiae briefs in a case involving the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Why did many Republicans oppose President Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  She supported affirmative action. 
B)  She supported upholding Roe v. Wade. 
C)  She was the first Hispanic nominee to the Supreme Court. 
D)  She had never served as a judge in any capacity prior to nomination. 
E)  She supported overturning Roe v. Wade. 
A)  She supported affirmative action. 
B)  She supported upholding Roe v. Wade. 
C)  She was the first Hispanic nominee to the Supreme Court. 
D)  She had never served as a judge in any capacity prior to nomination. 
E)  She supported overturning Roe v. Wade.

Question 9

Write an essay explaining some of the limits on the federal courts. What are some of the rules of access that the Supreme Court has adopted? Describe some external constraints and dependencies from the other two branches. What are some strategies by which the federal courts have overcome some of these restraints?

Accepted Answer

The federal courts, including the Suprem

Question 10

In what year was Marbury v. Madison decided?

Accepted Answer

A)  1789 
B)  1803 
C)  1861 
D)  1929 
E)  1967 
A)  1789 
B)  1803 
C)  1861 
D)  1929 
E)  1967

Question 11

When a case is resolved through a negotiated agreement before a full trial is completed, it is called

Accepted Answer

A)  a misdemeanor. 
B)  a plea bargain. 
C)  taking the Fifth. 
D)  a writ of certiorari. 
E)  mediation. 
A)  a misdemeanor. 
B)  a plea bargain. 
C)  taking the Fifth. 
D)  a writ of certiorari. 
E)  mediation.

Question 12

All of the following are part of the official jurisdiction of the federal courts except

Accepted Answer

A)  treaties with other nations. 
B)  federal statutes. 
C)  cases involving the U.S. Constitution. 
D)  cases involving citizens from the same state. 
E)  any case in which the U.S. government is party. 
A)  treaties with other nations. 
B)  federal statutes. 
C)  cases involving the U.S. Constitution. 
D)  cases involving citizens from the same state. 
E)  any case in which the U.S. government is party.

Question 13

What was known as the "court-packing" plan?

Accepted Answer

A)  the decision in the early nineteenth century that all federal courts should be guarded by members of the armed forces 
B)  the attempt by the Republican-dominated Senate of the 1990s to confirm as many conservative judges as possible 
C)  the attempt by Franklin Roosevelt to add sympathetic justices to the Supreme Court in order to get New Deal laws upheld as constitutional 
D)  the desire in Congress during the 1890s to expand the number of federal courts to ease the workload of the Supreme Court 
E)  the attempt by the Democratic-dominated Senate of the 1980s to confirm as many liberal judges as possible 
A)  the decision in the early nineteenth century that all federal courts should be guarded by members of the armed forces 
B)  the attempt by the Republican-dominated Senate of the 1990s to confirm as many conservative judges as possible 
C)  the attempt by Franklin Roosevelt to add sympathetic justices to the Supreme Court in order to get New Deal laws upheld as constitutional 
D)  the desire in Congress during the 1890s to expand the number of federal courts to ease the workload of the Supreme Court 
E)  the attempt by the Democratic-dominated Senate of the 1980s to confirm as many liberal judges as possible

Question 14

The case Baker v. Carr concerns

Accepted Answer

A)  desegregation of schools. 
B)  apportionment of legislative seats. 
C)  unwarranted searches and seizures. 
D)  the separation of church and state. 
E)  state restrictions on carrying handguns in public. 
A)  desegregation of schools. 
B)  apportionment of legislative seats. 
C)  unwarranted searches and seizures. 
D)  the separation of church and state. 
E)  state restrictions on carrying handguns in public.

Question 15

Approximately what percentage of all court cases in the United States are heard in federal courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 percent 
B)  5 percent 
C)  10 percent 
D)  30 percent 
E)  55 percent 
A)  1 percent 
B)  5 percent 
C)  10 percent 
D)  30 percent 
E)  55 percent

Question 16

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 17

The process of judicial confirmations is a low-key and uncontroversial affair.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

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 19

What is common law?

Accepted Answer

A)  another name for federal law 
B)  law made by judges through their decisions, not through specific statutes 
C)  law made by an administrative body 
D)  law that is guided by the Constitution 
E)  law passed by the U.S. Congress 
A)  another name for federal law 
B)  law made by judges through their decisions, not through specific statutes 
C)  law made by an administrative body 
D)  law that is guided by the Constitution 
E)  law passed by the U.S. Congress

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

In 2009, President Obama's first appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court was

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

Which of the following is not a specialized "legislative court" created by Congress?

Through the exercise of ______, the Supreme Court has held actions or laws of the executive and legislative branches unconstitutional.

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

The written opinions of appellate courts have been described as halfway between and .

Only the solicitor general is permitted to file amicus curiae briefs in a case involving the Constitution.

Why did many Republicans oppose President Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court?

In what year was Marbury v. Madison decided?

When a case is resolved through a negotiated agreement before a full trial is completed, it is called

All of the following are part of the official jurisdiction of the federal courts except

What was known as the "court-packing" plan?

The case Baker v. Carr concerns

Approximately what percentage of all court cases in the United States are heard in federal courts?

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

The process of judicial confirmations is a low-key and uncontroversial affair.

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.

What is common law?

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

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

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Exam 15: The Federal Courts

In 2009, President Obama's first appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court was

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

Which of the following is not a specialized "legislative court" created by Congress?

Through the exercise of ______, the Supreme Court has held actions or laws of the executive and legislative branches unconstitutional.

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

The written opinions of appellate courts have been described as halfway between ______ and ______.

Only the solicitor general is permitted to file amicus curiae briefs in a case involving the Constitution.

Why did many Republicans oppose President Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court?

In what year was Marbury v. Madison decided?

When a case is resolved through a negotiated agreement before a full trial is completed, it is called

All of the following are part of the official jurisdiction of the federal courts except

What was known as the "court-packing" plan?

The case Baker v. Carr concerns

Approximately what percentage of all court cases in the United States are heard in federal courts?

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

The process of judicial confirmations is a low-key and uncontroversial affair.

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.

What is common law?

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

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

Filters

The written opinions of appellate courts have been described as halfway between and .