Question 1

The most important factor in predicting how a Supreme Court justice will vote is

Accepted Answer

A)   the justice's ideological predilections.
B)   the justice's social background.
C)   the justice's previous judicial experience.
D)   the justice's belief that a decision will enhance the Court's influence in American government and society.
E)   unknown.

Question 2

Which of these is an example of a court ruling that overturned a precedent?

Accepted Answer

A)   Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
B)   Plessy v. Ferguson
C)   Gideon v. Wainwright
D)   Gibbons v. Ogden
E)   They are all examples of decisions that overturned a precedent.

Question 3

Briefs are frequently submitted on most important cases by other parties who may be interested in the disputes. These "friends of the court" briefs are called "per curiam."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Disputants in a case before the Supreme Court must have ________, meaning that they must have a real and direct interest in the issues that are raised.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Disputants in a case before the Supreme...

Question 5

Petitions are normally granted writs of certiorari if at least ________ justices vote in favor.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Petitions are normally granted writs of certiorari...

Question 6

Which of the following concerning judicial activism is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is only practiced by liberal judges.
B)   It is the same thing as "original intention."
C)   It is only practiced by conservative judges.
D)   The modern Supreme Court is more activist than it was in the past.
E)   none of the above

Question 7

The organization of the federal court system is

Accepted Answer

A)   the prerogative of Congress.
B)   specified in detail in the Constitution.
C)   the prerogative of the president.
D)   the prerogative of the Department of Justice.
E)   the prerogative of the Circuit courts.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is true about Supreme Court use of judicial review?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Court immediately began striking down acts of Congress, but exercised restraint in striking down executive action.
B)   For the first one-hundred years, the Court used its power only to address political questions.
C)   The Court used its power of judicial review only with great restraint.
D)   The Court has used its power of judicial review less, as voting rights have been extended to women and minorities.
E)   The Court has used its power recklessly and throughout the history of the nation.

Question 9

Chamber of Commerce v. U.S. (1824) helped create the foundations of a national economy in which commerce could flow freely between the states.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The only court specifically mentioned in the Constitution's Article III is ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The only court specifically mentioned in the...

Question 11

Stare decisis refers to

Accepted Answer

A)   legal briefs submitted by counsel in federal courts.
B)   legal standing in federal courts.
C)   the doctrine of closely following precedent in federal courts.
D)   "friends of the court" briefs by interested parties.
E)   the term used to call up a case on appeal.

Question 12

Which fundamental issue of constitutional law had NOT been settled by the Supreme Court by the time of the Second World War?

Accepted Answer

A)   the relationship of the states to the nation
B)   the role of government in the management of the economy
C)   the relationship between the individual and government
D)   the nature of private property and the national economy
E)   the inherent interpretation of the supremacy clause.

Question 13

When critics speak out about the Supreme Court ordering busing or requiring states to build more prisons, they are attacking

Accepted Answer

A)   the Court's remedies.
B)   stare decisis.
C)   judicial review.
D)   appellate jurisdiction.
E)   the Court's reluctance to act.

Question 14

The main protection for the corporation against regulation by both the state and federal governments came from the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

John Marshall, Louis Brandeis, Harlan Stone, Charles Evan Hughes, Earl Warren, and former Chief Justice William Rehnquist all came to the bench without judicial experience.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the makeup of the federal bench?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Federal bench is skewed toward those from privileged backgrounds.
B)   The Federal bench reflects the diversity of the United States as a group.
C)   The Federal bench is balanced in terms of gender but not in terms of racial make-up.
D)   The Federal bench is balanced in terms of racial makeup but not in terms of gender.
E)   The Federal bench is balanced in all ways except their religious backgrounds.

Question 17

Which of these courts is specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)   the Supreme Court
B)   Court of Appeals
C)   District Court
D)   state courts
E)   all of the above

Question 18

The U.S. Supreme Court is both a court of original jurisdiction and an appellate court.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

According to the authors of Struggle for Democracy, the Court does not recognize its policymaking role.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Congress has reorganized the federal court system periodically. What is the result of these reorganizations?

Accepted Answer

A)   a three-tiered pyramidal system with a handful of off-shoots
B)   a dual system that is divided between the federal government and the states
C)   a system in which any one of the court systems may have rulings that supersede those of the other courts
D)   a multilayered system with continually shifting hierarchies
E)   a linear system in which all of the courts have equal standing

Exam 14: The Courts

Which of these courts is specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Chamber of Commerce v. U.S. (1824) helped create the foundations of a national economy in which commerce could flow freely between the states.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the authors of Struggle for Democracy, the Court does not recognize its policymaking role.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Briefs are frequently submitted on most important cases by other parties who may be interested in the disputes. These "friends of the court" briefs are called "per curiam."

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When critics speak out about the Supreme Court ordering busing or requiring states to build more prisons, they are attacking

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The organization of the federal court system is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of these is an example of a court ruling that overturned a precedent?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Disputants in a case before the Supreme Court must have ________, meaning that they must have a real and direct interest in the issues that are raised.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

John Marshall, Louis Brandeis, Harlan Stone, Charles Evan Hughes, Earl Warren, and former Chief Justice William Rehnquist all came to the bench without judicial experience.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements is true about Supreme Court use of judicial review?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court is both a court of original jurisdiction and an appellate court.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The most important factor in predicting how a Supreme Court justice will vote is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Stare decisis refers to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The main protection for the corporation against regulation by both the state and federal governments came from the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Petitions are normally granted writs of certiorari if at least ________ justices vote in favor.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Congress has reorganized the federal court system periodically. What is the result of these reorganizations?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following best describes the makeup of the federal bench?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following concerning judicial activism is TRUE?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which fundamental issue of constitutional law had NOT been settled by the Supreme Court by the time of the Second World War?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The only court specifically mentioned in the Constitution's Article III is ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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