Question 1

What role does partisanship play in federal court appointments?

Accepted Answer

Federal judges are political officials w

Question 2

Which of the following Supreme Court justices was appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower?

Accepted Answer

A) Sandra Day O'Connor 
B) John Stevens 
C) Earl Warren 
D) Louis Brandeis 
E) David Souter 
A) Sandra Day O'Connor 
B) John Stevens 
C) Earl Warren 
D) Louis Brandeis 
E) David Souter

Question 3

A written Supreme Court opinion that describes what the majority of the justices decided is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) majority opinion. 
B) plurality opinion. 
C) dissenting opinion. 
D) concurring opinion. 
E) adjunct opinion. 
A) majority opinion. 
B) plurality opinion. 
C) dissenting opinion. 
D) concurring opinion. 
E) adjunct opinion.

Question 4

Although federal district courts are theoretically bound by Supreme Court precedents,they sometimes deviate because

Accepted Answer

A) the facts of a case are seldom precisely the same as those of similar cases decided by the Supreme Court. 
B) federal judges may misunderstand the Court's judicial reasoning or position. 
C) ambiguities or unaddressed issues in Supreme Court rulings give lower courts some flexibility in deciding cases. 
D) of all these factors: The facts of a case are seldom precisely the same as those of similar cases decided by the Supreme Court; federal judges may misunderstand the Court's judicial reasoning or position; and ambiguities or unaddressed issues in the Court's rulings give lower courts some flexibility in deciding cases. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) the facts of a case are seldom precisely the same as those of similar cases decided by the Supreme Court. 
B) federal judges may misunderstand the Court's judicial reasoning or position. 
C) ambiguities or unaddressed issues in Supreme Court rulings give lower courts some flexibility in deciding cases. 
D) of all these factors: The facts of a case are seldom precisely the same as those of similar cases decided by the Supreme Court; federal judges may misunderstand the Court's judicial reasoning or position; and ambiguities or unaddressed issues in the Court's rulings give lower courts some flexibility in deciding cases. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 5

A judicial decision that establishes a rule for settling subsequent cases of a similar nature is a

Accepted Answer

A) writ of certiorari. 
B) landmark decision. 
C) writ of mandamus. 
D) precedent. 
E) writ of error. 
A) writ of certiorari. 
B) landmark decision. 
C) writ of mandamus. 
D) precedent. 
E) writ of error.

Question 6

Precedent,while not an absolute constraint on the courts,is needed to

Accepted Answer

A) preserve the courts as a counter majoritarian institution. 
B) maintain legal consistency over time,so confusion and uncertainty about the law can be avoided. 
C) check the president in the area of public law. 
D) balance the policy making authority of Congress. 
E) check the president in the area of foreign policy. 
A) preserve the courts as a counter majoritarian institution. 
B) maintain legal consistency over time,so confusion and uncertainty about the law can be avoided. 
C) check the president in the area of public law. 
D) balance the policy making authority of Congress. 
E) check the president in the area of foreign policy.

Question 7

About ________ percent of the cases heard by federal appeals courts are later reviewed by the Supreme Court.

Accepted Answer

A) 1 
B) 10 
C) 25 
D) 33 
E) 50 
A) 1 
B) 10 
C) 25 
D) 33 
E) 50

Question 8

How long do federal judges serve?

Accepted Answer

A) two years 
B) four years 
C) eight years 
D) ten years 
E) until they retire,die,or are removed through the impeachment and conviction process 
A) two years 
B) four years 
C) eight years 
D) ten years 
E) until they retire,die,or are removed through the impeachment and conviction process

Question 9

Of the thirteen U.S.courts of appeals,

Accepted Answer

A) all thirteen are assigned geographically to groups of states to deal with disputes over state laws. 
B) one is devoted to issues involving military tribunals and the District of Columbia. 
C) five have jurisdiction over disputes involving foreign territories or countries and the District of Columbia. 
D) eleven have jurisdiction over a "circuit" comprised of the district courts in anywhere from three to five states. 
E) three are devoted to dealing with disputes involving the overlapping contradiction between state and federal laws. 
A) all thirteen are assigned geographically to groups of states to deal with disputes over state laws. 
B) one is devoted to issues involving military tribunals and the District of Columbia. 
C) five have jurisdiction over disputes involving foreign territories or countries and the District of Columbia. 
D) eleven have jurisdiction over a "circuit" comprised of the district courts in anywhere from three to five states. 
E) three are devoted to dealing with disputes involving the overlapping contradiction between state and federal laws.

Question 10

A written Supreme Court opinion that disagrees with what the majority of the justices decided is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) majority opinion. 
B) plurality opinion. 
C) dissenting opinion. 
D) concurring opinion. 
E) adjunct opinion. 
A) majority opinion. 
B) plurality opinion. 
C) dissenting opinion. 
D) concurring opinion. 
E) adjunct opinion.

Question 11

There are ________ federal courts of appeal.

Accepted Answer

A) 2 
B) 13 
C) 50 
D) 94 
E) 435 
A) 2 
B) 13 
C) 50 
D) 94 
E) 435

Question 12

Over the last fifteen or so years,the Supreme Court can BEST be said to be practicing judicial

Accepted Answer

A) activism. 
B) liberalism. 
C) restraint. 
D) socialism. 
E) relativism. 
A) activism. 
B) liberalism. 
C) restraint. 
D) socialism. 
E) relativism.

Question 13

The Supreme Court is likely to grant a hearing when a case involves

Accepted Answer

A) an issue of state law as opposed to an issue of federal law. 
B) an issue of private law as opposed to an issue of public law. 
C) an issue that is being decided inconsistently by the lower federal courts. 
D) the possibility that an innocent person has been wrongly convicted of a crime. 
E) an issue dealing with state constitutional law. 
A) an issue of state law as opposed to an issue of federal law. 
B) an issue of private law as opposed to an issue of public law. 
C) an issue that is being decided inconsistently by the lower federal courts. 
D) the possibility that an innocent person has been wrongly convicted of a crime. 
E) an issue dealing with state constitutional law.

Question 14

About ________ percent of the nation's legal cases are decided in state court systems.

Accepted Answer

A) 10 
B) 25 
C) 50 
D) 75 
E) 95 
A) 10 
B) 25 
C) 50 
D) 75 
E) 95

Question 15

The long-serving chief justice that established the principle of judicial review was

Accepted Answer

A) Charles Evans Hughes. 
B) Hugo Black. 
C) Clarence Thomas. 
D) John Marshall. 
E) Benjamin Cardozo. 
A) Charles Evans Hughes. 
B) Hugo Black. 
C) Clarence Thomas. 
D) John Marshall. 
E) Benjamin Cardozo.

Question 16

Compared to Supreme Court nominations,those for the lower federal courts

Accepted Answer

A) are,although much greater in number,irrelevant to a president's policy agenda. 
B) are not subject to partisan consideration. 
C) have typically involved nominees who held elective office,particularly a seat in the U.S.Senate. 
D) are not subject to senatorial courtesy. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) are,although much greater in number,irrelevant to a president's policy agenda. 
B) are not subject to partisan consideration. 
C) have typically involved nominees who held elective office,particularly a seat in the U.S.Senate. 
D) are not subject to senatorial courtesy. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 17

The laws applicable to a case

Accepted Answer

A) reveal the relevant circumstances of the case,and are determined solely by trial courts. 
B) are more important than the facts of a case,and supersede the facts when the two conflict. 
C) constrain the judiciary,because court decisions must be based on applicable laws. 
D) apply only in the area of criminal cases and not in the area of civil disputes. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) reveal the relevant circumstances of the case,and are determined solely by trial courts. 
B) are more important than the facts of a case,and supersede the facts when the two conflict. 
C) constrain the judiciary,because court decisions must be based on applicable laws. 
D) apply only in the area of criminal cases and not in the area of civil disputes. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 18

A writ of certiorari is

Accepted Answer

A) a request to a lower court to submit to the Supreme Court a record of the case it has been requested to hear. 
B) the statement explaining the reasoning behind a Supreme Court decision. 
C) the official transcript of Supreme Court proceedings. 
D) a statement from a group not directly involved in a Supreme Court case,indicating the group's opinion on the legal issue at hand. 
E) an application for a waiver of court fees due to indigence. 
A) a request to a lower court to submit to the Supreme Court a record of the case it has been requested to hear. 
B) the statement explaining the reasoning behind a Supreme Court decision. 
C) the official transcript of Supreme Court proceedings. 
D) a statement from a group not directly involved in a Supreme Court case,indicating the group's opinion on the legal issue at hand. 
E) an application for a waiver of court fees due to indigence.

Question 19

There are ________ federal district courts.

Accepted Answer

A) 2 
B) 13 
C) 50 
D) 94 
E) 435 
A) 2 
B) 13 
C) 50 
D) 94 
E) 435

Question 20

Studies by political scientists show that Supreme Court justices

Accepted Answer

A) are strongly influenced by their political beliefs. 
B) are slightly influenced by their political beliefs. 
C) are not influenced by their political beliefs. 
D) strive to ensure that their political beliefs do not influence their decisions. 
E) all share the same political beliefs. 
A) are strongly influenced by their political beliefs. 
B) are slightly influenced by their political beliefs. 
C) are not influenced by their political beliefs. 
D) strive to ensure that their political beliefs do not influence their decisions. 
E) all share the same political beliefs.

What role does partisanship play in federal court appointments?

Which of the following Supreme Court justices was appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower?

A written Supreme Court opinion that describes what the majority of the justices decided is a(n)

Although federal district courts are theoretically bound by Supreme Court precedents,they sometimes deviate because

A judicial decision that establishes a rule for settling subsequent cases of a similar nature is a

Precedent,while not an absolute constraint on the courts,is needed to

About ________ percent of the cases heard by federal appeals courts are later reviewed by the Supreme Court.

How long do federal judges serve?

Of the thirteen U.S.courts of appeals,

A written Supreme Court opinion that disagrees with what the majority of the justices decided is a(n)

There are ________ federal courts of appeal.

Over the last fifteen or so years,the Supreme Court can BEST be said to be practicing judicial

The Supreme Court is likely to grant a hearing when a case involves

About ________ percent of the nation's legal cases are decided in state court systems.

The long-serving chief justice that established the principle of judicial review was

Compared to Supreme Court nominations,those for the lower federal courts

The laws applicable to a case

A writ of certiorari is

There are ________ federal district courts.

Studies by political scientists show that Supreme Court justices

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties,candidates,and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Income,welfare,and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

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Exam 14: The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

What role does partisanship play in federal court appointments?

Which of the following Supreme Court justices was appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower?

A written Supreme Court opinion that describes what the majority of the justices decided is a(n)

Although federal district courts are theoretically bound by Supreme Court precedents,they sometimes deviate because

A judicial decision that establishes a rule for settling subsequent cases of a similar nature is a

Precedent,while not an absolute constraint on the courts,is needed to

About ________ percent of the cases heard by federal appeals courts are later reviewed by the Supreme Court.

How long do federal judges serve?

Of the thirteen U.S.courts of appeals,

A written Supreme Court opinion that disagrees with what the majority of the justices decided is a(n)

There are ________ federal courts of appeal.

Over the last fifteen or so years,the Supreme Court can BEST be said to be practicing judicial

The Supreme Court is likely to grant a hearing when a case involves

About ________ percent of the nation's legal cases are decided in state court systems.

The long-serving chief justice that established the principle of judicial review was

Compared to Supreme Court nominations,those for the lower federal courts

The laws applicable to a case

A writ of certiorari is

There are ________ federal district courts.

Studies by political scientists show that Supreme Court justices

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties,candidates,and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Income,welfare,and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

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