Question 1

Of the following Supreme Court justices, which has been the MOST conservative?

Accepted Answer

A)  Anthony Kennedy 
B)  Earl Warren 
C)  Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
D)  Clarence Thomas 
E)  Thurgood Marshall 
A)  Anthony Kennedy 
B)  Earl Warren 
C)  Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
D)  Clarence Thomas 
E)  Thurgood Marshall

Question 2

The power of the Supreme Court is MOST apparent in its ability to

Accepted Answer

A)  issue advisory opinions when Congress is considering a new bill. 
B)  impeach federal judges who consistently ignore its rulings. 
C)  declare another institution's action to be unconstitutional. 
D)  override any decision of a state court. 
E)  issue advisory opinions to the president on a regular basis. 
A)  issue advisory opinions when Congress is considering a new bill. 
B)  impeach federal judges who consistently ignore its rulings. 
C)  declare another institution's action to be unconstitutional. 
D)  override any decision of a state court. 
E)  issue advisory opinions to the president on a regular basis.

Question 3

The appointment of this Supreme Court justice in 2006 swung the Supreme Court to the right:

Accepted Answer

A)  Ruth Bader Ginsburg. 
B)  Samuel Alito. 
C)  John Roberts. 
D)  Elena Kagan. 
E)  Antonin Scalia. 
A)  Ruth Bader Ginsburg. 
B)  Samuel Alito. 
C)  John Roberts. 
D)  Elena Kagan. 
E)  Antonin Scalia.

Question 4

Opposition to the judiciary's creative policy-making role is a consistent tenet of judicial

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

Federal judges are

Accepted Answer

A)  nominated by the president. 
B)  confirmed by the U.S. Senate. 
C)  appointed for an indefinite period, providing they maintain "good behavior." 
D)  all of these: nominated by the president, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and appointed for an indefinite period providing they maintain "good behavior." 
E)  None of these answers is correct. 
A)  nominated by the president. 
B)  confirmed by the U.S. Senate. 
C)  appointed for an indefinite period, providing they maintain "good behavior." 
D)  all of these: nominated by the president, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and appointed for an indefinite period providing they maintain "good behavior." 
E)  None of these answers is correct.

Question 6

________ was the first black justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Accepted Answer

A)  Clarence Thomas 
B)  Antonin Scalia 
C)  Robert Bork 
D)  Thurgood Marshall 
E)  Laurence Tribe 
A)  Clarence Thomas 
B)  Antonin Scalia 
C)  Robert Bork 
D)  Thurgood Marshall 
E)  Laurence Tribe

Question 7

The appointment of federal judges is influenced MOST substantially by

Accepted Answer

A)  partisanship. 
B)  logrolling. 
C)  pork barreling. 
D)  affirmative action. 
E)  personal friendships. 
A)  partisanship. 
B)  logrolling. 
C)  pork barreling. 
D)  affirmative action. 
E)  personal friendships.

Question 8

The Lawrence v. Texas decision in 2003 involved

Accepted Answer

A)  the Supreme Court reinterpreting a provision of the Constitution. 
B)  the Supreme Court striking down federal law. 
C)  the Supreme Court invalidating state laws. 
D)  the Supreme Court striking down an executive action as unconstitutional. 
E)  a U.S. appeals court upholding a lower state court ruling. 
A)  the Supreme Court reinterpreting a provision of the Constitution. 
B)  the Supreme Court striking down federal law. 
C)  the Supreme Court invalidating state laws. 
D)  the Supreme Court striking down an executive action as unconstitutional. 
E)  a U.S. appeals court upholding a lower state court ruling.

Question 9

The federal district courts

Accepted Answer

A)  are the chief trial courts of the federal system. 
B)  are the only federal courts where the two sides present their case to a jury for a verdict. 
C)  are the courts that, in practice, make the final decision in most federal cases. 
D)  exist in each state. 
E)  All of these answers are correct. 
A)  are the chief trial courts of the federal system. 
B)  are the only federal courts where the two sides present their case to a jury for a verdict. 
C)  are the courts that, in practice, make the final decision in most federal cases. 
D)  exist in each state. 
E)  All of these answers are correct.

Question 10

Describe the relationship between the federal and the state court systems.

Accepted Answer

As a consequence of the separation of st

Question 11

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

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 12

Describe the four types of U.S. Supreme Court opinions.

Accepted Answer

There are four types of U.S. Supreme Cou

Question 13

What is the MOST common method in the states for the selection of judges?

Accepted Answer

A)  appointment by the state supreme courts 
B)  promotion from within the legal establishment 
C)  appointment by the governor 
D)  election to office 
E)  appointment by state legislatures 
A)  appointment by the state supreme courts 
B)  promotion from within the legal establishment 
C)  appointment by the governor 
D)  election to office 
E)  appointment by state legislatures

Question 14

The merit plan applies to ________ in the ________ court system.

Accepted Answer

A)  selection of judges; federal 
B)  selection of judges; state 
C)  jurisdiction; federal 
D)  jurisdiction; state 
E)  None of these answers is correct. 
A)  selection of judges; federal 
B)  selection of judges; state 
C)  jurisdiction; federal 
D)  jurisdiction; state 
E)  None of these answers is correct.

Question 15

Senatorial courtesy refers to the tradition whereby

Accepted Answer

A)  nominees for federal judgeships are treated with respect during Senate confirmation hearings, even by senators who plan to vote against the nominee. 
B)  senators usually defer to the president's choice of Supreme Court nominees. 
C)  senators are consulted on the nomination of lower-court federal judgeships in their state. 
D)  nominations for the federal courts, once committee hearings are concluded, are scheduled for a vote ahead of other Senate business. 
E)  House members always defer to the Senate on matters dealing with the judiciary. 
A)  nominees for federal judgeships are treated with respect during Senate confirmation hearings, even by senators who plan to vote against the nominee. 
B)  senators usually defer to the president's choice of Supreme Court nominees. 
C)  senators are consulted on the nomination of lower-court federal judgeships in their state. 
D)  nominations for the federal courts, once committee hearings are concluded, are scheduled for a vote ahead of other Senate business. 
E)  House members always defer to the Senate on matters dealing with the judiciary.

Question 16

The term stare decisis refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  adherence to precedent. 
B)  judicial activism. 
C)  judicial restraint. 
D)  judicial review. 
E)  excessive partisanship. 
A)  adherence to precedent. 
B)  judicial activism. 
C)  judicial restraint. 
D)  judicial review. 
E)  excessive partisanship.

Question 17

The facts of a case

Accepted Answer

A)  are largely irrelevant, in that the judiciary has wide freedom with decisions. 
B)  affect which law or laws will apply to the case. 
C)  are important only if the case involves a statutory dispute. 
D)  are important only if the case involves a constitutional dispute. 
E)  are important about 50 percent of the time. 
A)  are largely irrelevant, in that the judiciary has wide freedom with decisions. 
B)  affect which law or laws will apply to the case. 
C)  are important only if the case involves a statutory dispute. 
D)  are important only if the case involves a constitutional dispute. 
E)  are important about 50 percent of the time.

Question 18

Fewer than ________ 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 19

Which of the following Supreme Court justices was appointed during the Clinton administration?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sandra Day O'Connor 
B)  Clarence Thomas 
C)  Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
D)  Robert Bork 
E)  John Paul Stevens 
A)  Sandra Day O'Connor 
B)  Clarence Thomas 
C)  Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
D)  Robert Bork 
E)  John Paul Stevens

Question 20

The Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison is significant

Accepted Answer

A)  as the first instance of the court ruling on a state matter. 
B)  as the first use of judicial activism. 
C)  for the establishment of judicial review. 
D)  as the first instance of the Court ruling on a disagreement between states. 
E)  as the Court's first non-majority opinion. 
A)  as the first instance of the court ruling on a state matter. 
B)  as the first use of judicial activism. 
C)  for the establishment of judicial review. 
D)  as the first instance of the Court ruling on a disagreement between states. 
E)  as the Court's first non-majority opinion.

Of the following Supreme Court justices, which has been the MOST conservative?

The power of the Supreme Court is MOST apparent in its ability to

The appointment of this Supreme Court justice in 2006 swung the Supreme Court to the right:

Opposition to the judiciary's creative policy-making role is a consistent tenet of judicial

Federal judges are

________ was the first black justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The appointment of federal judges is influenced MOST substantially by

The Lawrence v. Texas decision in 2003 involved

The federal district courts

Describe the relationship between the federal and the state court systems.

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

Describe the four types of U.S. Supreme Court opinions.

What is the MOST common method in the states for the selection of judges?

The merit plan applies to in the court system.

Senatorial courtesy refers to the tradition whereby

The term stare decisis refers to

The facts of a case

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

Which of the following Supreme Court justices was appointed during the Clinton administration?

The Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison is significant

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

Welfare and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters

Exam 14: The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Of the following Supreme Court justices, which has been the MOST conservative?

The power of the Supreme Court is MOST apparent in its ability to

The appointment of this Supreme Court justice in 2006 swung the Supreme Court to the right:

Opposition to the judiciary's creative policy-making role is a consistent tenet of judicial

Federal judges are

________ was the first black justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The appointment of federal judges is influenced MOST substantially by

The Lawrence v. Texas decision in 2003 involved

The federal district courts

Describe the relationship between the federal and the state court systems.

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

Describe the four types of U.S. Supreme Court opinions.

What is the MOST common method in the states for the selection of judges?

The merit plan applies to ________ in the ________ court system.

Senatorial courtesy refers to the tradition whereby

The term stare decisis refers to

The facts of a case

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

Which of the following Supreme Court justices was appointed during the Clinton administration?

The Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison is significant

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

Welfare and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters

The merit plan applies to in the court system.