Chapter 17 Practice Quiz - Federal Courts

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  1. Under their appellate jurisdiction, courts of appeals may do which of the following?
  2. Your answer:
    send the case back for re-trial in a lower court
    uphold the original decision of a lower court
    both of these


  3. Historically, which of the following describes a typical nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court?
  4. Your answer:
    he/she is from the same political party as the President
    he is a graduate of the nation’s top law schools
    both of these


  5. When cases can be decided in either federal courts or state courts (such as the robbery of a federally-insured bank or lawsuits between people from two different states), they are said to have _____?_____ jurisdiction.
  6. Your answer:
    concurrent
    federal
    original


  7. All appointments of federal judges must be consented to by __?__ .
  8. Your answer:
    the Secretary of State.
    the Senate.
    the House of Representatives.


  9. The U.S. Supreme Court has ___?___ jurisdiction as well as the authority to hear cases for the first time.
  10. Your answer:
    appellate
    original
    none of these


  11. The U.S. Supreme Court’s power of __?__ is its authority to judge whether the acts of the other two branches of government are constitutional.
  12. Your answer:
    legislative veto
    judicial review
    courts martial


  13. An order from the U.S. Supreme Court to a lower court to prepare and send records of a case for their review is called a __?__ .
  14. Your answer:
    sic semper tyrannis
    writ of lessaiz faire
    writ of certiorari


  15. Which of the following is a reason why the U.S. Supreme Court may refuse to even hear arguments in a case on appeal?
  16. Your answer:
    No one was harmed in any manner.
    The case has become a moot question.
    both of these


  17. Supreme Court Justices who believe that their decisions in cases should not go against the wishes of Congress and/or the President (unless, of course, their actions clearly violate the law of the land) are said to uphold the principle of __?__ .
  18. Your answer:
    judicial activism
    judicial restraint
    judicial review


  19. When courts have the authority to hear cases for the very first time, they are said to have _____?_____ jurisdiction.
  20. Your answer:
    statute
    original
    appellate


  21. The Miranda Warning includes which of the following?
  22. Your answer:
    a warning that the suspect must give his/her name, address and telephone number to law enforcement officers
    a warning that the suspect may be questioned by law enforcement officers
    a warning that the suspect has the right to remain silent


  23. After a vote is taken on a case, one of the justices is assigned the job of creating the __?__ that summarizes the case, presents the questions of law, presents the Court’s ruling and the Court’s reasoning.
  24. Your answer:
    majority opinion
    precedent
    brief


  25. If the Chief Justice votes with the majority on a case, he/she may either write the opinion him/herself, or may assign that task to
  26. Your answer:
    the most senior justice who holds a dissenting opinion.
    the Clerk of the Court.
    the most senior justice who holds an opinion agreeing with the majority.


  27. In cases where an individual making an appeal cannot afford the filing costs or attorneys’ fees, the Court will allow an application for __?__ to allow for a free petition of appeal and attorney costs.
  28. Your answer:
    application for informa pauperis
    writ of mandamus
    a bill of attainder


  29. All appointments of federal judges are made by __?__ .
  30. Your answer:
    the Senate.
    the President.
    a committee of the American Bar Association.


  31. Federal courts of appeals are referred to as __?__ courts.
  32. Your answer:
    district
    circuit
    supreme


  33. In federal district courts, __?__ juries bring indictments (charges) against people who they suspect of breaking federal laws.
  34. Your answer:
    petite
    original
    grand


  35. The “court of last resort” is the U.S. __?__ .
  36. Your answer:
    Supreme Court
    court of appeals
    constitutional court


  37. Written documents arguing one side of a legal case are called __?__ .
  38. Your answer:
    briefs
    dockets
    calendars


  39. Supreme Court rulings that enlarge the role of the courts in changing society uphold which legal principle?
  40. Your answer:
    judicial restraint
    writ of certiorari
    judicial activism


  41. Which of the following Presidents was involved in a scheme to “pack” the Supreme Court with his own appointees?
  42. Your answer:
    Harry Truman
    Franklin Roosevelt
    Dwight D. Eisenhower


  43. Often, interest groups file legal documents called __?__ to state their support of one side in a case.
  44. Your answer:
    defense liens
    amicus curiae briefs
    writs of habeus corpus


  45. The Supreme Court’s civil liberties and civil rights rulings that increased protections for individuals in their dealings with law enforcement and the courts system came mostly during which period?
  46. Your answer:
    the 1950s and 1960s
    the period before the Civil War in the U.S.
    the period after the Civil War in the U.S.


  47. A case in which the armed forces believe that military law has been broken by a soldier or sailor would be heard in a trial called a __?__.
  48. Your answer:
    legislative court
    military court
    court martial


  49. Interest groups such as the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union, National Organization for Women and – more recently – conservative/right wing ideological groups all have played an important role in the process of making appointments to the U.S. __?__.
  50. Your answer:
    Court of Appeals
    Supreme Court
    District Court



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