Question 1

Activist judges believe that the courts 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 court. 
D)  go beyond the words of a constitution or statute to consider the broader societal implications of its decisions. 
E)  always defer judgment to precedents set by previous courts. 
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 court. 
D)  go beyond the words of a constitution or statute to consider the broader societal implications of its decisions. 
E)  always defer judgment to precedents set by previous courts.

Question 2

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

Question 3

Which of the following statements best describes the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Court has no discretion whatsoever to decide which cases it will hear because its jurisdiction is defined entirely by the Constitution. 
B)  The Court has limited discretion to decide which cases it will hear and it is forced to hear many cases that address only narrow, technical issues of federal law. 
C)  The Court has limited discretion to decide which cases it will hear, and it is forced to hear only those cases that raise the most important issues of federal law. 
D)  The Court has broad latitude to decide which cases it will hear and generally hears only those cases it deems to raise the most important issues. 
E)  The Court has broad latitude to decide which cases it will hear and generally avoids those cases that it deems to raise the most important issues. 
A)  The Court has no discretion whatsoever to decide which cases it will hear because its jurisdiction is defined entirely by the Constitution. 
B)  The Court has limited discretion to decide which cases it will hear and it is forced to hear many cases that address only narrow, technical issues of federal law. 
C)  The Court has limited discretion to decide which cases it will hear, and it is forced to hear only those cases that raise the most important issues of federal law. 
D)  The Court has broad latitude to decide which cases it will hear and generally hears only those cases it deems to raise the most important issues. 
E)  The Court has broad latitude to decide which cases it will hear and generally avoids those cases that it deems to raise the most important issues.

Question 4

In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court was required to rule on the issue of ______, due to the fact that the pregnancy had already come to term.

Accepted Answer

A)  jurisdiction 
B)  standing 
C)  ripeness 
D)  mootness 
E)  stare decisis 
A)  jurisdiction 
B)  standing 
C)  ripeness 
D)  mootness 
E)  stare decisis

Question 5

What is the Uniform Commercial Code?

Accepted Answer

A)  a federal law establishing common practices in each state regarding commercial affairs 
B)  a set of codes states may voluntarily adopt in order to reduce interstate differences in judicial opinions in contract law cases 
C)  judicial guidelines established by the Supreme Court explaining the meaning of federal economic regulations 
D)  a federal law regulating all forms of advertisements throughout the United States 
E)  a set of federal codes establishing common practices in each state regarding international commercial affairs 
A)  a federal law establishing common practices in each state regarding commercial affairs 
B)  a set of codes states may voluntarily adopt in order to reduce interstate differences in judicial opinions in contract law cases 
C)  judicial guidelines established by the Supreme Court explaining the meaning of federal economic regulations 
D)  a federal law regulating all forms of advertisements throughout the United States 
E)  a set of federal codes establishing common practices in each state regarding international commercial affairs

Question 6

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 7

Which of the following statements best describes the composition of the federal judiciary?

Accepted Answer

A)  There are an equal number of men and women and far fewer Hispanics than African Americans. 
B)  There are far fewer women than men and far fewer African Americans than Hispanics. 
C)  There are far fewer women than men and far fewer Hispanics than African Americans. 
D)  There are far fewer men than women and far fewer Hispanics than African Americans. 
E)  There are far fewer men than women and far fewer African Americans than Hispanics. 
A)  There are an equal number of men and women and far fewer Hispanics than African Americans. 
B)  There are far fewer women than men and far fewer African Americans than Hispanics. 
C)  There are far fewer women than men and far fewer Hispanics than African Americans. 
D)  There are far fewer men than women and far fewer Hispanics than African Americans. 
E)  There are far fewer men than women and far fewer African Americans than Hispanics.

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

______ is an example of a justice who advocated judicial restraint.

Accepted Answer

A)  Harry Blackmun 
B)  Earl Warren 
C)  John Marshall 
D)  Felix Frankfurter 
E)  Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
A)  Harry Blackmun 
B)  Earl Warren 
C)  John Marshall 
D)  Felix Frankfurter 
E)  Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Question 10

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 11

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 12

Why was the Supreme Court's decision in Ricci v. DeStefano important?

Accepted Answer

A)  It overturned a prior decision by Elena Kagan, who, a few months later, joined the Supreme Court. 
B)  It held that employment tests for promotion could not discriminate based on gender or race. 
C)  It held that, in order to seek damages, employees must show that employment tests for promotion are clearly defective, rather than that they produce unequal outcomes based on race or gender. 
D)  It held that, in order to seek damages, employees must show that employment tests for promotion clearly create unequal outcomes based on race or gender. 
E)  It held that employment tests for promotion were allowed to discriminate based on gender or race if the employer could show that the position would be better performed by a person with a particular race or gender. 
A)  It overturned a prior decision by Elena Kagan, who, a few months later, joined the Supreme Court. 
B)  It held that employment tests for promotion could not discriminate based on gender or race. 
C)  It held that, in order to seek damages, employees must show that employment tests for promotion are clearly defective, rather than that they produce unequal outcomes based on race or gender. 
D)  It held that, in order to seek damages, employees must show that employment tests for promotion clearly create unequal outcomes based on race or gender. 
E)  It held that employment tests for promotion were allowed to discriminate based on gender or race if the employer could show that the position would be better performed by a person with a particular race or gender.

Question 13

Each year, the Supreme Court receives about ______ appeals and hears about ______ of them in full court.

Accepted Answer

A)  1,000; 500 
B)  200; 10 
C)  9,500; 80 
D)  12,000; 300 
E)  5,000; 100 
A)  1,000; 500 
B)  200; 10 
C)  9,500; 80 
D)  12,000; 300 
E)  5,000; 100

Question 14

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 15

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 16

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 17

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

Question 18

A single lawsuit involving thousands of smokers suing a tobacco company would be a good example of

Accepted Answer

A)  a class-action suit. 
B)  a plea bargain. 
C)  public law. 
D)  amicus curiae. 
E)  standing. 
A)  a class-action suit. 
B)  a plea bargain. 
C)  public law. 
D)  amicus curiae. 
E)  standing.

Question 19

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 20

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.

Activist judges believe that the courts should

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

Which of the following statements best describes the Supreme Court?

In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court was required to rule on the issue of ______, due to the fact that the pregnancy had already come to term.

What is the Uniform Commercial Code?

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

Which of the following statements best describes the composition of the federal judiciary?

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

______ is an example of a justice who advocated judicial restraint.

The number of cases filed in the Supreme Court has

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

Why was the Supreme Court's decision in Ricci v. DeStefano important?

Each year, the Supreme Court receives about appeals and hears about of them in full court.

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

Original jurisdiction refers to

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

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?

A single lawsuit involving thousands of smokers suing a tobacco company would be a good example of

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

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

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

Exam 15: The Federal Courts

Activist judges believe that the courts should

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

Which of the following statements best describes the Supreme Court?

In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court was required to rule on the issue of ______, due to the fact that the pregnancy had already come to term.

What is the Uniform Commercial Code?

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

Which of the following statements best describes the composition of the federal judiciary?

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

______ is an example of a justice who advocated judicial restraint.

The number of cases filed in the Supreme Court has

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

Why was the Supreme Court's decision in Ricci v. DeStefano important?

Each year, the Supreme Court receives about ______ appeals and hears about ______ of them in full court.

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

Original jurisdiction refers to

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

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?

A single lawsuit involving thousands of smokers suing a tobacco company would be a good example of

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

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

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

Each year, the Supreme Court receives about appeals and hears about of them in full court.