Question 1

Republican presidents have appointed _____ of the current members of the Supreme Court.

Accepted Answer

A)   nine
B)   six
C)   five
D)   three
E)   twoF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 2

From the Civil War to the 1930s, the Supreme Court was primarily occupied with

Accepted Answer

A)   the civil rights of former slaves.
B)   economic regulation by government.
C)   the rights of the criminally accused.
D)   the balance of power between states and the federal government.
E)   First Amendment freedoms.F) B) and C)
G) B) and E) B

Question 3

The litmus test is perhaps of greatest importance in nominations to

Accepted Answer

A)   constitutional courts.
B)   district courts.
C)   courts of appeal.
D)   legislative courts.
E)   the Supreme Court.F) B) and D)
G) A) and D)

Question 4

The function of the U.S. solicitor general is to

Accepted Answer

A)   approve every case the federal government presents to the Supreme Court.
B)   enforce the decisions of the Supreme Court.
C)   serve as the principal legal adviser, or counsel, to members of the Supreme Court.
D)   maintain order in the Supreme Court's courtroom.
E)   direct participants in oral argument before the Supreme Court.F) None of the above
G) C) and E)

Question 5

Which of the following observations about the Supreme Court's law clerks is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

A)   They play a big role in deciding which cases are granted certiorari.
B)   They are recent law school graduates.
C)   They are confirmed by the Senate.
D)   Some of the opinions written by the justices are drafted by the clerks.
E)   None of the aboveF) C) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 6

Withdrawing some of the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court would probably shift policymaking to

Accepted Answer

A)   lower federal courts and state courts.
B)   Congress.
C)   the president.
D)   state prosecutors.
E)   state governors.F) None of the above
G) B) and E)

Question 7

The political question doctrine is an important barrier to judicial power today.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

In the first seventy-five years of this country's history, the Supreme Court held only two federal laws unconstitutional.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which of the following significantly increases the odds that the Supreme Court will review a case?

Accepted Answer

A)   Two or more federal courts of appeals have decided the same issue in different ways.
B)   The highest court in a state has held a federal law in violation of the Constitution.
C)   The highest court in a state has held a state law in violation of the Constitution.
D)   The highest court in a state has upheld a state law against a claim that it is in violation of the Constitution.
E)   All of the aboveF) D) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 10

A person cannot sue the government without its consent.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg votes with a majority of Supreme Court justices on a particular case, even though her reasoning differs from the others. She may choose to express her reasons in a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)   dissenting opinion.
B)   concurring opinion.
C)   opinion of the Court.
D)   per curiam opinion.
E)   plurality opinion.F) A) and D)
G) C) and D)

Question 12

Which statement is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

A)   Political liberals can be strict constructionists.
B)   Political conservatives can be activists.
C)   Activists amplify constitutional principles on the basis of some moral or economic philosophy.
D)   Strict constructionists try to confine themselves to rules stated or clearly implied in the Constitution.
E)   None of the aboveF) A) and C)
G) None of the above

Question 13

The most common background or professional experience among members of the current Supreme Court is experience as a

Accepted Answer

A)   attorney general.
B)   state judge.
C)   prosecutor.
D)   defense attorney.
E)   federal judge.F) A) and B)
G) All of the above

Question 14

Among the types of written opinions issued by the Supreme Court are all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)   majority.
B)   per curiam.
C)   concurring.
D)   dissenting.
E)   mandatory.F) A) and E)
G) A) and C)

Question 15

One measure of the policymaking role of the Supreme Court is the frequency with which it

Accepted Answer

A)   supports the president.
B)   supports Congress.
C)   departs from stare decisis.
D)   challenges interest groups.
E)   upholds precedent.F) D) and E)
G) A) and D) C

Question 16

Laws and the U.S. Constitution are filled with vague language, which calls for frequent interpretation by the courts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The litigation involving four police officers accused of beating Rodney King illustrates the fact that

Accepted Answer

A)   some defendants are tried in both state and federal courts.
B)   some cases can be tried only in state courts.
C)   civil rights cases can be tried only in federal courts.
D)   one level of government can block the prosecutions of another.
E)   cases cannot be appealed across the state and federal judiciary.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 18

Courts do not issue _________ opinions.

Accepted Answer

A)   advisory
B)   diverse
C)   unanimous
D)   contentious
E)   multipleF) All of the above
G) A) and B)

Question 19

The Supreme Court is more likely to overturn its own precedents than it is to exercise judicial review of federal laws.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Typically, those who complain about the litmus testing of judicial candidates are

Accepted Answer

A)   in power.
B)   out of power.
C)   liberal.
D)   conservative.
E)   centrist.F) C) and D)
G) A) and B) B

Exam 16: The Judiciary

Republican presidents have appointed _____ of the current members of the Supreme Court.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

From the Civil War to the 1930s, the Supreme Court was primarily occupied with

Correct AnswerverifiedB

The litmus test is perhaps of greatest importance in nominations to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The function of the U.S. solicitor general is to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following observations about the Supreme Court's law clerks is incorrect?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Withdrawing some of the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court would probably shift policymaking to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The political question doctrine is an important barrier to judicial power today.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the first seventy-five years of this country's history, the Supreme Court held only two federal laws unconstitutional.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following significantly increases the odds that the Supreme Court will review a case?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A person cannot sue the government without its consent.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg votes with a majority of Supreme Court justices on a particular case, even though her reasoning differs from the others. She may choose to express her reasons in a(n)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which statement is incorrect?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The most common background or professional experience among members of the current Supreme Court is experience as a

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Among the types of written opinions issued by the Supreme Court are all of the following except

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One measure of the policymaking role of the Supreme Court is the frequency with which it

Correct AnswerverifiedC

Laws and the U.S. Constitution are filled with vague language, which calls for frequent interpretation by the courts.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The litigation involving four police officers accused of beating Rodney King illustrates the fact that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Courts do not issue _________ opinions.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Supreme Court is more likely to overturn its own precedents than it is to exercise judicial review of federal laws.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Typically, those who complain about the litmus testing of judicial candidates are

Correct AnswerverifiedB

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B

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C

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B