Question 1

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 2

The Supreme Court is established under Article III of the U.S.Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

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 5

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 6

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

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 listens 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 listens 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 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

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 10

Senatorial courtesy describes the practice of:

Accepted Answer

A)  senators from a president's party approving of a judicial nominee from their home state 
B)  including home-state senators in the formal vetting of district and circuit court judges 
C)  allowing any senator to place a hold on the consideration of a judicial nominee 
D)  permitting senators to officially swear in home-state district court judges 
E)  allowing senators to nominate members to the federal judiciary 
A)  senators from a president's party approving of a judicial nominee from their home state 
B)  including home-state senators in the formal vetting of district and circuit court judges 
C)  allowing any senator to place a hold on the consideration of a judicial nominee 
D)  permitting senators to officially swear in home-state district court judges 
E)  allowing senators to nominate members to the federal judiciary

Question 11

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 12

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 13

The assignment of the opinion in a Supreme Court case is:

Accepted Answer

A)  unimportant because the final vote of the justices is the only statement that carries any weight in future cases 
B)  important because differences in wording and emphasis can have important implications for how the decision is interpreted in future litigation 
C)  unimportant because all justices usually describe their decisions in exactly the same way 
D)  important because every word of a decision is legally binding 
E)  unimportant because they are rarely, if ever, read by anyone involved in the legal process 
A)  unimportant because the final vote of the justices is the only statement that carries any weight in future cases 
B)  important because differences in wording and emphasis can have important implications for how the decision is interpreted in future litigation 
C)  unimportant because all justices usually describe their decisions in exactly the same way 
D)  important because every word of a decision is legally binding 
E)  unimportant because they are rarely, if ever, read by anyone involved in the legal process

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

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 16

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Why has partisan conflict surrounded federal judicial appointments in recent years?

Accepted Answer

A)  Members of Congress do not want the president to have so much power that he can place anyone he wants on the federal bench. 
B)  The people recent presidents have chosen to nominate are often unqualified to be federal judges. 
C)  Public opinion has not been favorable to most of the people recent presidents have chosen to nominate. 
D)  There have not been enough minority nominees, including women. 
E)  The federal courts play an important role in shaping American law and politics. 
A)  Members of Congress do not want the president to have so much power that he can place anyone he wants on the federal bench. 
B)  The people recent presidents have chosen to nominate are often unqualified to be federal judges. 
C)  Public opinion has not been favorable to most of the people recent presidents have chosen to nominate. 
D)  There have not been enough minority nominees, including women. 
E)  The federal courts play an important role in shaping American law and politics.

Question 18

In what type of law is the government always the plaintiff?

Accepted Answer

A)  public law 
B)  criminal law 
C)  civil law 
D)  common law 
E)  tort law 
A)  public law 
B)  criminal law 
C)  civil law 
D)  common law 
E)  tort law

Question 19

What is the main function of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  The chief justice decides what cases will be heard by the full Court each term. 
B)  The chief justice always writes the Court's majority opinions. 
C)  The chief justice presides over the Court's public sessions and private conferences. 
D)  The chief justice is also the constitutional adviser to the president. 
E)  The chief justice is the constitutional adviser to Congress. 
A)  The chief justice decides what cases will be heard by the full Court each term. 
B)  The chief justice always writes the Court's majority opinions. 
C)  The chief justice presides over the Court's public sessions and private conferences. 
D)  The chief justice is also the constitutional adviser to the president. 
E)  The chief justice is the constitutional adviser to Congress.

Question 20

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

What was known as the "court packing" plan?

The Supreme Court is established under Article III of the U.S.Constitution.

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

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

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

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

Which of the following statements best describes the Supreme Court?

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

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

Senatorial courtesy describes the practice of:

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

The case Baker v.Carr concerns:

The assignment of the opinion in a Supreme Court case is:

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

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

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

Why has partisan conflict surrounded federal judicial appointments in recent years?

In what type of law is the government always the plaintiff?

What is the main function of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

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

Introduction: The Citizen and the Government

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Parties,Participation,and Elections

Interest Groups

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 12: The Federal Courts

What was known as the "court packing" plan?

The Supreme Court is established under Article III of the U.S.Constitution.

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

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

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

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

Which of the following statements best describes the Supreme Court?

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

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

Senatorial courtesy describes the practice of:

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

The case Baker v.Carr concerns:

The assignment of the opinion in a Supreme Court case is:

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

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

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

Why has partisan conflict surrounded federal judicial appointments in recent years?

In what type of law is the government always the plaintiff?

What is the main function of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

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

Introduction: The Citizen and the Government

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Parties,Participation,and Elections

Interest Groups

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

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