The Judiciary

Question 0

Judicial power extends to issues dealing with…

Answer 0

Common law
Equity
Civil law
Criminal law 
Public law

Question 1

Where is the constitutional basis found for the judiciary

Answer 1

Article III

Question 2

How are cases decided?

Answer 2

Through original jurisdiction or appellate jurisdiction

Question 3

Who presides over impeachment trials?

Answer 3

Supreme Court Chief Justice

Question 4

Who creates “inferior” courts to the Supreme Court?

Answer 4

Congress

Question 5

On the federal level, Congress has creates two kinds of courts:

Answer 5

1. Constitutional courts

2. Special courts

Question 6

Constitutional courts

Answer 6

Formed to carry out the direction in the Constitution for the courts to exercise judicial power

Question 7

Special courts

Answer 7

Created to deal with cases deriving from delegated powers of Congress (ex. Military’ tax, and veteran appeals)

Question 8

Jurisdiction for federal courts

Answer 8

Laws arising from the Constitution 
Treaties 
Cases dealing with ambassadors 
Admiralty and maritime issues 
Cases between two or more US states 
Cases between citizens of different states

Question 9

Judiciary Act

Answer 9

Est. District courts

Question 10

District courts handle ___ (percent) of the federal cases brought to them

Answer 10

80%

Question 11

First court for hearing cases involving federal crimes, civil suits over federal laws, bankruptcy proceeding, admiralty/maritime cases, and immigration cases

Answer 11

Destruct courts

Question 12

Courts of appeal

Answer 12

Created to set up an intermediate level of appeal and a Supreme Court justice is assigned to act as a liaison
There are 13
Review decisions of district courts and special courts
Enforce decisions of regulatory agencies

Question 13

Final court of appeals

Answer 13

Supreme Court

Question 14

The appointment of federal justices

Answer 14

Has as much to do with partisanship as ideology

Is an example of the relationship among government branches and institutions

Question 15

Senatorial courtesy

Answer 15

Tradition of prior approval of senators from the state from which the judge comes from
Does not apply to Supreme Court nominations

Question 16

What issues come under scrutiny when a Supreme Court Justice nominee goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee

Answer 16

Constitutional precedent
Judicial activism 
Legal writings 
Past judicial decisions 
Feelings of interest groups 
Public and media opinions 
Ethical/moral actions

Question 17

“Borked”

Answer 17

Reeds to a presidential appointee who does not get approved by the Senate because of ideological reasons

Question 18

The death of William Rhenquist resulted in…

Answer 18

End of an era of judicial restrain and conservative activism

Question 19

About how many cases does the court review each year?

Answer 19

75-100

Question 20

Rule of Four

Answer 20

A minimum of four justices agreeing to review a case

Question 21

Writ of certiorari

Answer 21

How cases move up in the federal court system

“To be made more certain”

Question 22

Five criteria for an appeal to be heard by the Supreme Court

Answer 22

1. If a court has made a decisions that conflicts with precedent
2. If a court has come up with a new question
3. If one court of appeals has made a decision that conflicts with another
4. If there are inconsistencies between courts of different states
5. If there is a split in the court of appeals

Question 23

Amicus curiae

Answer 23

“Friend of the court”

Support certain positions for court cases

Question 24

Who represents the US government when cases are brought against it

Answer 24

The Solicitor General

Question 25

Once a majority decision is established, the Chief Justice assigns a justice to write _______, while opposing justices write _________. If the majority has a different opinion regarding certain components of the majority opinion, they may write ___________

Answer 25

Majority decision
Dissenting opinions
Concurring opinions

Question 26

Who has been given credit for setting the course of the young Supreme Court?

Answer 26

John Marshall

Question 27

Most activist Court

Answer 27

The Warren Court

Ex. Plessy v. Ferguson case was overturned, rights of the accused were expanded, etc.

Question 28

Rhenquist Court

Answer 28

Reversed many decisions by the Warren and Burger Courts

Conservative Activism