Studying Unit 8

Question 1

number of judges at the circuit level

Answer 1

three

Question 2

who can change the size of the supreme court

Answer 2

congress

Question 3

can federal judges be impeached

Answer 3

yes

Question 4

what federal court system did the articles of confederation set up

Answer 4

none

Question 5

what is unique about the 13th circuit

Answer 5

there is no geographic distinction

Question 6

original number of justices by the constitution

Answer 6

unspecified

Question 7

what is pittsburgh’s circuit number

Answer 7

3

Question 8

article 3 set up what federal court system

Answer 8

only the supreme court

Question 9

what case deals with the 6th amendment

Answer 9

gideon v wainwright

Question 10

what courts deal with factual issues

Answer 10

district

Question 11

what established that the constitution was the supreme law of the land

Answer 11

supremacy clause

Question 12

senatorial courtesy

Answer 12

if the senators from a judges’ state object their appointment, likely the president will not appoint them

Question 13

hamiltons arguments for a strong judiciary

Answer 13

must check the executive branch and prevent the legislative branch from becoming tyrannical, judicial review is very important

Question 14

why does hamilton say the judicial branch is the weakest

Answer 14

it has no power over the military or national finances, relies on the other branches to enforce its rulings

Question 15

why does hamilton say justices should serve for life

Answer 15

it enables them to be impartial because they dont have to worry about pleasing others for reelection

Question 16

what does equal justice under law mean

Answer 16

everyone must be treated equally under the law no matter waht

Question 17

what is the primary job of the federal court system

Answer 17

to use the law to settle legal disputes and use evidence to decide who is guilty and innocent

Question 18

history of the federal court system

Answer 18

constitution established the judicial branch with the supreme court in 1789, congress created an act that created district courts later that year, in 1891 congress created an act that created the circuit courts

Question 19

when do federal courts have original jurisdiction 8

Answer 19

constitutional issues, federal laws, state disputes, different state citizens dispute, dispute with federal government, involve foreign countries, maritime laws, US diplomats

Question 20

other officials in federal court system

Answer 20

magistrates, US attorneys, US marshals

Question 21

magistrates role

Answer 21

issue search and arrest warrants, decide whether there is enough evidence for a trial, determine whether bail is allowed and for how much

Question 22

US attorneys role

Answer 22

prosecute people accused of breaking federal law, argue on the governments behalf when involved in a case

Question 23

US marshals role

Answer 23

make arrests, collect fines, take those convicted to prison, protect jurors, notify people who must go to court (serving subpoenas), keep court order

Question 24

why are the supreme court positions so hotly contested

Answer 24

they serve for life, have high national influence

Question 25

limits on the supreme court

Answer 25

legislative branch can impeach them, cannot enforce their own rulings, limited jurisdiction, can be ignored, not into politics, can only hear cases that go to it, congress can work around it by passing and changing laws and amending the constitution

Question 26

reasons why justices rule in certain ways

Answer 26

their interpretation of the law, judicial philosophy, personal belief, what is going on in the world

Question 27

difference between judicial philosophy and political ideology

Answer 27

deal with how one views hte law vs political and morality views

Question 28

marbury v madison

Answer 28

dispute over presidential appointments and delivery of presidential papers, known as most important US court case becuase it firmly established judicial review

Question 29

mcCulloch v maryland

Answer 29

dispute whether a state can tax a federal institution, caused a reaffirmation of the supremacy and elastic clause, granting congress the inexplicitely stated powers

Question 30

planned parenthood v casey

Answer 30

upheld roe v wade, states can slightly regualte abortion but cannot put undue obstacles in the way of a woman seeking abortion

Question 31

plessy v ferguson

Answer 31

a man was kicked off a segragated bus due to his race, argued the 14th amendments equal protection clause, concluded that segregation was allowed if things were separate but equal which led to jim crow laws

Question 32

brown v board of education

Answer 32

argued the equal protection clause, separate but equal deemed as unconstitutional and schools must desegregate with all deliberate speed

Question 33

roe v wade

Answer 33

state tried to prevent abortion to a woman, argued the 4, 9, 14 amendments and precedent to establish that states cannot prevent the right to an abortion and a nationwide ban with limits was in place

Question 34

gideon v wainwright

Answer 34

main was jailed for violating state law but he could not afford a laywer for his trial and the state said he had to represent himself, violated the 6th amendment

Question 35

miranda v arizona

Answer 35

man arrested for kidnap, robbery, rape and he admitted his crime but his legal team said that he was not informed of his rights prior, which violated his 5th amendment rights, and created the miranda rights

Question 36

new jersey v tlo

Answer 36

female student challenged whether school had the authority to search belongings, they have authority within certain parameters as long as reasonable suspicion established

Question 37

us v nixon

Answer 37

questioned presidential authority, nixon said he had the right under executive privilege to keep incriminating recordings secret from a watergate scandal, and since this did not affect national security or american lives, they ruled against him

Question 38

korematsu v us

Answer 38

fdr imprisoned all those with japanese descent on the west coast into internment camps after pearl harbor, challenged 5th amendment rights, ruled that it was not racist but a legitamate expression of wartime powers, many think this was a big mistake case because it did not protect all fairly

Question 39

everyone accused has

Answer 39

innocent until proven guilty, public trial, lawyer, jury trial, access to appeal decisions, viewed equally under the law

Question 40

judiciary act

Answer 40

establishes district courts

Question 41

why do we use circuit courts

Answer 41

judges used to travel city to city to hear appeals and now we go to judges

Question 42

what does each state have

Answer 42

its own lawyers and courts

Question 43

where are state court powers derived from

Answer 43

state constitutions

Question 44

when will dispute between citizens of different states go to federal courts

Answer 44

if it involves more than$75,000

Question 45

what do US diplomats have to do to appear in federal court trial

Answer 45

live abroad and break US law

Question 46

how many district courts are there

Answer 46

94

Question 47

what must happen in an appeals court if new evidence is found

Answer 47

it must go back to the district courts to discuss its validity

Question 48

how many regional circuit courts

Answer 48

12

Question 49

what does the additional circuit court do

Answer 49

considers non regional appeals

Question 50

3 outcomes of court of appeals

Answer 50

uphold original verdict, reverse decision, remand for further consideration

Question 51

whose decisions must district courts follow

Answer 51

their court of appeals

Question 52

term length of US attorney

Answer 52

4 years

Question 53

what is under US attorneys

Answer 53

office of assistant US attorneys

Question 54

what are supreme court vacancies due to

Answer 54

death, resignation, removal (hasnt occured)

Question 55

first african american justice

Answer 55

thurgood marshal

Question 56

first femal justice

Answer 56

sandra day o'connor

Question 57

first hispanic justice

Answer 57

sonia sotomayor

Question 58

first female african american justice

Answer 58

kentanji brown jackson

Question 59

caseload

Answer 59

number of cases handled in a given period

Question 60

steps in decision making at supreme court

Answer 60

written argument, oral argument, conference, opinon writing, announcement