Question 1

The Supreme Court's decision in Chamber of Commerce of the United States v. Environmental Protection Agency (2014)  was significant because it

Accepted Answer

A)   determined that organized business groups did not have standing to file suits against the Environmental Protection Agency.
B)   outlawed congressional oversight hearings and investigations of independent executive branch agencies.
C)   clearly stated that federal courts would not hear cases involving the implementation of decisions made by executive branch agencies.
D)   affirmed the idea that courts will give considerable deference to administrative agencies in the rule-making process.

Question 2

The written document in which attorneys explain why the court should rule in favor of their clients is called a(n)  ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   intervention
B)   writ of certiorari
C)   brief
D)   writ of habeas corpus

Question 3

As of 2016, ________ justices, excluding the seat left vacant by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, were appointed by ________ presidents.

Accepted Answer

A)   six of the eight; Democratic
B)   six of the eight; Republican
C)   all of the; Democratic
D)   four of the eight; Republican

Question 4

________ protects federal judges from political pressure by granting them life tenure.

Accepted Answer

A)   The Judiciary Act of 1789
B)   Article III of the U.S. Constitution
C)   The First Amendment
D)   The Judicial Tenure Act of 1891

Question 5

The requirement of standing means that parties in a case must

Accepted Answer

A)   have a concrete injury or interest at stake.
B)   be present in court during the trial.
C)   know the law they are using to defend themselves.
D)   have an attorney present with them in court.

Question 6

Explain the basic structure and jurisdiction of the federal judicial system. Describe the three different levels of federal courts. How are the lower courts created and how is their jurisdiction defined? What was the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

There are three components to this quest...

Question 7

A single lawsuit involving thousands of smokers suing a tobacco company would be an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   a class-action suit
B)   a plea bargain
C)   amicus curiae
D)   standing

Question 8

The process of confirming federal court appointments has recently become very contentious. Describe the steps to becoming a federal judge and the considerations involved in who is nominated. Why has this process become so controversial in recent years? Provide some examples of this conflict in the confirmation process.

Accepted Answer

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Question 9

Which of the following statements best describes the composition of the federal judiciary?

Accepted Answer

A)   There are an equal number of men and women, and far fewer Latino Americans than African Americans.
B)   There are far fewer women than men, and far fewer African Americans than Latino Americans.
C)   There are far fewer women than men, and fewer Latino Americans than African Americans.
D)   There are far fewer men than women, and far fewer Latino Americans than African Americans.

Question 10

The essence of the rule of law is

Accepted Answer

A)   having a supreme court.
B)   having a government composed of a legislative, judicial, and executive branch.
C)   ensuring that "the state" and its officials are judged by a different set of laws than the citizenry.
D)   ensuring that "the state" and its officials are judged by the same laws as the citizenry.

Question 11

In Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action (2014) , the justices ruled on a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)   Michigan ballot initiative establishing that a ban on racial preferences in college admissions was constitutional.
B)   Nebraska ballot initiative establishing that strict gun control laws were constitutional.
C)   Indiana ballot initiative establishing that education vouchers were constitutional.
D)   Maine ballot initiative establishing that banning the harvesting of lobsters was constitutional.

Question 12

Roe v. Wade (1973)  was

Accepted Answer

A)   based on a strict interpretation of the Constitution.
B)   based on judicial activism.
C)   based on judicial restraint.
D)   not based on any precedent established by the Supreme Court.

Question 13

The first court to hear a case is called a(n)  ________ court.

Accepted Answer

A)   supreme
B)   trial
C)   advisory
D)   appellate

Question 14

Section 1983 of the U.S. Code is significant because it

Accepted Answer

A)   defines the formal requirements of becoming a judge in the federal court system.
B)   expands the ability of federal judges to issue "consent decrees," under which the judges could take control of state prison systems.
C)   limits the ability of federal judges to issue "consent decrees," under which the judges could take control of state prison systems.
D)   encourages individuals and groups to bring their problems to the courts rather than to Congress or the executive branch.

Question 15

There are different kinds of judicial philosophy in how to interpret the law. Outline the theories of judicial restraint and judicial activism. Discuss an example of the Supreme Court employing judicial activism.

Accepted Answer

There are three components to this quest...

Question 16

In Roe v. Wade (1973) , the Supreme Court was required to rule on the issue of ________, due to the fact that the pregnancy had already come to term.

Accepted Answer

A)   jurisdiction
B)   standing
C)   mootness
D)   stare decisis

Question 17

If someone is an advocate of the philosophy of judicial restraint, he or she believes

Accepted Answer

A)   in looking only at the words of the Constitution in order to understand its meaning.
B)   that the meaning of the law tends to evolve over time.
C)   the Court should go beyond the words of the Constitution or a statute to consider the broader societal implications of its decisions.
D)   that judges should openly consider both legal and political questions when adjudicating cases.

Question 18

Activist judges believe that federal judges should

Accepted Answer

A)   always overrule state legislatures and governors when making decisions.
B)   interpret the U.S. Constitution according to the intentions of its framers and defer to the views of Congress when interpreting federal statutes.
C)   be more aggressive and ideological than the president when vacancies occur on the courts.
D)   go beyond the words of a constitution or statute to consider the broader societal implications of their decisions.

Question 19

Despite their prominence in the American political system, the federal courts have traditionally been subject to serious limitations on their power. Discuss the five major limitations on the power of the federal courts and explain what, if anything, the courts have done in recent decades to overcome these limitations.

Accepted Answer

There are two components to this questio...

Question 20

Civil cases involving the citizens of more than one state and in which more than $75,000 is at stake

Accepted Answer

A)   must always be heard in federal district court.
B)   must always be heard in a state court.
C)   must always be heard in the U.S. Supreme Court.
D)   may be heard in either the federal or the state courts, usually depending on the preference of the plaintiff.

Exam 15: The Federal Courts

As of 2016, justices, excluding the seat left vacant by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, were appointed by presidents.

Correct Answer
verified

The written document in which attorneys explain why the court should rule in favor of their clients is called a(n) ________.

Correct Answer
verified

There are different kinds of judicial philosophy in how to interpret the law. Outline the theories of judicial restraint and judicial activism. Discuss an example of the Supreme Court employing judicial activism.

Correct Answer
verified
There are three components to this quest...
View Answer

Roe v. Wade (1973) was

Correct Answer
verified

Explain the basic structure and jurisdiction of the federal judicial system. Describe the three different levels of federal courts. How are the lower courts created and how is their jurisdiction defined? What was the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?

Correct Answer
verified
There are three components to this quest...
View Answer

If someone is an advocate of the philosophy of judicial restraint, he or she believes

Correct Answer
verified

________ protects federal judges from political pressure by granting them life tenure.

Correct Answer
verified

The requirement of standing means that parties in a case must

Correct Answer
verified

Activist judges believe that federal judges should

Correct Answer
verified

The first court to hear a case is called a(n) ________ court.

Correct Answer
verified

Section 1983 of the U.S. Code is significant because it

Correct Answer
verified

A single lawsuit involving thousands of smokers suing a tobacco company would be an example of ________.

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following statements best describes the composition of the federal judiciary?

Correct Answer
verified

The essence of the rule of law is

Correct Answer
verified

In Roe v. Wade (1973) , the Supreme Court was required to rule on the issue of ________, due to the fact that the pregnancy had already come to term.

Correct Answer
verified

The Supreme Court's decision in Chamber of Commerce of the United States v. Environmental Protection Agency (2014) was significant because it

Correct Answer
verified

In Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action (2014) , the justices ruled on a(n)

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
There are two components to this questio...
View Answer

Civil cases involving the citizens of more than one state and in which more than $75,000 is at stake

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
There are three components to this quest...
View Answer

Exam 15: The Federal Courts

As of 2016, ________ justices, excluding the seat left vacant by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, were appointed by ________ presidents.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The written document in which attorneys explain why the court should rule in favor of their clients is called a(n) ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

There are different kinds of judicial philosophy in how to interpret the law. Outline the theories of judicial restraint and judicial activism. Discuss an example of the Supreme Court employing judicial activism.

Correct AnswerverifiedThere are three components to this quest...View AnswerShow Answer

Roe v. Wade (1973) was

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain the basic structure and jurisdiction of the federal judicial system. Describe the three different levels of federal courts. How are the lower courts created and how is their jurisdiction defined? What was the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?

Correct AnswerverifiedThere are three components to this quest...View AnswerShow Answer

If someone is an advocate of the philosophy of judicial restraint, he or she believes

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

________ protects federal judges from political pressure by granting them life tenure.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The requirement of standing means that parties in a case must

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Activist judges believe that federal judges should

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The first court to hear a case is called a(n) ________ court.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Section 1983 of the U.S. Code is significant because it

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A single lawsuit involving thousands of smokers suing a tobacco company would be an example of ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements best describes the composition of the federal judiciary?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The essence of the rule of law is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In Roe v. Wade (1973) , the Supreme Court was required to rule on the issue of ________, due to the fact that the pregnancy had already come to term.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Supreme Court's decision in Chamber of Commerce of the United States v. Environmental Protection Agency (2014) was significant because it

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action (2014) , the justices ruled on a(n)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedThere are two components to this questio...View AnswerShow Answer

Civil cases involving the citizens of more than one state and in which more than $75,000 is at stake

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedThere are three components to this quest...View AnswerShow Answer

As of 2016, justices, excluding the seat left vacant by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, were appointed by presidents.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
There are three components to this quest...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
There are three components to this quest...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
There are two components to this questio...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
There are three components to this quest...
View Answer