Question 1

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.F) D) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 2

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.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 3

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.F) A) and B)
G) A) and E)

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

As a consequence of the separation of st...

Question 5

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.F) D) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 6

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.F) D) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 7

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 MarshallF) None of the above
G) B) and C)

Question 8

________ 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 TribeF) A) and D)
G) None of the above

Question 9

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.F) A) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 10

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 legislaturesF) B) and D)
G) A) and E)

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.F) C) and E)
G) D) and E)

Question 12

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.F) A) and D)
G) C) and E)

Question 13

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.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 14

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.F) A) and D)
G) C) and E)

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

There are four types of U.S. Supreme Cou...

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.F) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 17

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.F) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

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)   50F) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

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 StevensF) B) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 20

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.F) B) and C)
G) A) and E)

Exam 14: The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

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

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

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Senatorial courtesy refers to the tradition whereby

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedThere are four types of U.S. Supreme Cou...View AnswerShow Answer

The Lawrence v. Texas decision in 2003 involved

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The federal district courts

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

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The Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison is significant

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The term stare decisis refers to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Federal judges are

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

Correct AnswerverifiedAs a consequence of the separation of st...View AnswerShow Answer

The appointment of federal judges is influenced MOST substantially by

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The facts of a case

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

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There are four types of U.S. Supreme Cou...
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The merit plan applies to in the court system.

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As a consequence of the separation of st...
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