Deck 10: The Supreme Court

Question 1

Of the current members on the Supreme Court, which of the following justices is considered to be ideologically conservative

A)Ruth Bader Ginsburg
B)Sonia Sotomayor
C)Samuel Alito
D)Elena Kagan

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The term "sorcerers' apprentice" refers to:

A)retired Supreme Court justices
B)Supreme Court law clerks
C)Chief Justice John Roberts
D)amicus briefs

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The process by which the justices choose the cases that they will formally decide from among the thousands of petitions they receive is known as:

A)oral argument
B)opinion assignment
C)seriatim
D)agenda setting

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The most important cue used to signal that a case is worthy of consideration and therefore likely to be granted cert by the Supreme Court is:

A)the presence of a circuit split
B)a large amount of amicus briefs
C)a large company is involved in the litigation
D)an person sentenced to death row claims they are innocent

Question 5

Which of the following is not a reason put forward by political scientists to explain the decline in the number of cases the Supreme Court agree to hear?

A)an increased reliance and participation in the cert pool
B)a drastic reduction in the total number of cases that are appealed to the Court
C)a belief among newer justices that the Court can provide the doctrinal guidance necessary with fewer cases
D)an increase in ideological polarization among justices coupled with the almost complete elimination of mandatory review

Question 6

The made-for-TV film Gideoan's Trumpet followed Clarence Earl Gideon, who argued before the Supreme Court that it was unconstitutional to:

A)try Gideon twice for the same the offense
B)admit evidence that was collected during the investigation of the robbery Gideon was accused of committing
C)deny Gideon a court appointed attorney because the crime he was accused of did not carry a potential death penalty sentence
D)deny Gideon a 12-person impartial jury of his peers

Question 7

______________ refers to a justice changing their mind and switching their initial conference vote during the coalition formation stage.

A)ideological drift
B)join 3
C)voting fluidity
D)plurality swapping

Question 8

Which of the following is an argument made by Justice Scalia in his opposition to televising Supreme Court proceedings?

A)no one would actually tune-in to watch the proceedings, so there is no need to televise them
B)attorneys in the case would play to the camera to the detriment of their client
C)the Court releases verbatim transcripts shortly after oral argument, so cameras are not necessary
D)most of the American people would see 30-second takeouts from the proceedings, which would serve to miseducate them