Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

In its ruling in Citizens United v.Federal Election Commission,the Supreme Court

Accepted Answer

A)  invalidated the use of union money in federal election campaigns.
B)  lifted restrictions in corporate and union spending in federal election campaigns.
C)  placed restrictions on the amounts that individuals can donate to federal election campaigns.
D)  placed limits on the amounts that corporations can donate to federal election campaigns.
E)  eliminated the provision for matching federal campaign funds in presidential elections.

Question 3

Regarding Supreme Court procedures,which one of the following statements is NOT accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  When part of the majority,the chief justice decides which justice will write the majority opinion.
B)  A concurring opinion is a view written by a justice who votes with the majority and agrees with its reasoning.
C)  A dissenting opinion is an opinion of a judge who votes against the majority.
D)  Attorneys who argue a case before the Supreme Court operate under strict time limits.
E)  The Court's opinion,not the decision,is used as the primary legal basis for lower court actions based on the decision.

Question 4

The merit plan applies to

Accepted Answer

A)  selection of judges in the federal system.
B)  selection of judges in some states' systems.
C)  jurisdiction in the federal system.
D)  jurisdiction in the state systems.
E)  None of these answers is correct.

Question 5

The constitutional provision that federal judges and justices hold office "during good behavior" has

Accepted Answer

A)  meant,in effect,that they will serve until they die or choose to retire.
B)  eliminated any legal ability by Congress to remove a judge from office.
C)  removed all presidential influence over judicial policy.
D)  was intended to give voters control over the conduct of federal judges.
E)  None of these answers is correct.

Question 6

The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in legal disputes involving

Accepted Answer

A)  foreign diplomats.
B)  the president.
C)  Congress.
D)  private parties.
E)  free speech and equal protection issues.

Question 7

Of the following Supreme Court justices,which has been or was the most conservative?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

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.

Question 9

The Supreme Court grants certiorari to fewer than ________ cases each year.

Accepted Answer

A)  10
B)  30
C)  50
D)  75
E)  100

Question 10

According to the doctrine of judicial restraint,the judiciary should

Accepted Answer

A)  defer to decisions made by the legislature.
B)  deny most appeals for retrials.
C)  deny individual rights when they conflict with the majority's desires.
D)  decline to make any decision that requires judges to give added meaning to the words of the Constitution.
E)  conform to the will of the people as measured by public opinion polls.

Question 11

In which of the following situations is the Supreme Court most likely to grant certiorari?

Accepted Answer

A)  A state government has a legal conflict with a city government.
B)  A lower court ruling conflicts with a previous Supreme Court ruling.
C)  The justices believe a lower court made a mistake in a routine ruling.
D)  A key issue in state law must be settled.
E)  Lower courts have made the same consistent but incorrect ruling on a single issue.

Question 12

There are ________ federal courts of appeal.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

In selecting judges,the states rely on what method?

Accepted Answer

A)  political appointment
B)  competitive elections of a partisan nature
C)  competitive elections of a nonpartisan nature
D)  merit selection
E)  All of these answers are correct.

Question 14

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.

Question 15

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

Question 16

A concurring opinion

Accepted Answer

A)  explains the chief justice's position on a case.
B)  is a separate view written by a justice who votes with the majority but disagrees with its reasoning.
C)  is delivered when the Court interprets a constitutional issue.
D)  is delivered when at least two justices,but less than a majority,hold the same opinion in a case.
E)  explains why the Court accepted the case in the first place.

Question 17

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.

Question 18

What role does partisanship play in federal court appointments?

Accepted Answer

Federal judges are political officials w...

Question 19

What is meant by the term jurisdiction? What is the difference between original and appellate jurisdiction as it applies to the U.S.Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A court's jurisdiction is its authority ...

Question 20

The lowest level of the federal court system is the

Accepted Answer

A)  circuit court of appeal.
B)  highest level of the state courts.
C)  district court.
D)  justice of the peace.
E)  supreme judicial tribunal.

Exam 14: The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

The Supreme Court grants certiorari to fewer than ________ cases each year.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

There are ________ federal courts of appeal.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The laws applicable to a case

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Federal judges are

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In selecting judges,the states rely on what method?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The lowest level of the federal court system is the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In its ruling in Citizens United v.Federal Election Commission,the Supreme Court

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In which of the following situations is the Supreme Court most likely to grant certiorari?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What role does partisanship play in federal court appointments?

Correct AnswerverifiedFederal judges are political officials w...View AnswerShow Answer

The constitutional provision that federal judges and justices hold office "during good behavior" has

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A concurring opinion

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How long do federal judges serve?

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Of the following Supreme Court justices,which has been or was the most conservative?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is meant by the term jurisdiction? What is the difference between original and appellate jurisdiction as it applies to the U.S.Supreme Court?

Correct AnswerverifiedA court's jurisdiction is its authority ...View AnswerShow Answer

The merit plan applies to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the doctrine of judicial restraint,the judiciary should

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Regarding Supreme Court procedures,which one of the following statements is NOT accurate?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in legal disputes involving

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Federal judges are political officials w...
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A court's jurisdiction is its authority ...
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