PSCI 100 Quiz #2 Study Guide
What does the term stare decisis mean?
"Let the decision stand." In court rulings, a reliance on precedents, or previous rulings, in formulating decisions in new cases.
What is civil law?
- stem from disputed claims to something of value -Disputes arise from accidents, contractual obligations, and divorce -Parties disagree over items such as possession of property, custody of children and compensation for pain and suffering
What is criminal law?
-Breach of public order (violation of law) -Criminal laws are created, amended and repealed by state legislatures -Criminal law is largely a state and local function
What percent of cases in the US are heard in Federal Court?
1%
How many justices currently sit on the US Appellate Court?
179
Marbury v Madison was decided in what year?
1803
How many Electoral College votes must be won in order to become President Elect?
270
How many Electoral College votes are there?
538
California has how many Electoral College votes and why?
55 53 congressional district representatives & 2 senators
How many justices currently serve on the US Supreme Court?
9
Explain the "Winner Take All" system in the Electoral College
An election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.
What type of court is the US Supreme Court?
Appellate Court
Which court is the trial court in the federal system of courts?
District court
How are electors chosen by each state?
Each State is allocated a number of Electors equal to the number of its U.S. Senators (always 2) plus the number of its U.S. Representatives - which may change each decade according to the size of each State's population as determined in the Census. It is subject to change.
Know how the number of electors for each state is determined.
Each State is allocated a number of Electors equal to the number of its U.S. Senators (always 2) plus the number of its U.S. Representatives - which may change each decade according to the size of each State's population as determined in the Census. It is subject to change.
When are the Electoral College ballots opened and before whom?
January 6th & by the Vice President
When are the Electoral votes cast?
On or before Oct 1st of presidential election year, each party's nominee must file a list containing the names of the 55 electors pledged to him/her
What did the 12th Amendment bring about in the Presidential Elections?
That candidate's vice-presidential running mate will then also receive a majority of electoral votes (for Vice-President), and that person is selected Vice-President. If There's No Electoral College Winner, the House of Representatives chooses the President.
Who may not be an elector?
an inhabitant of that elector's home state
Define Original Jurisdiction
the power of a court to hear a case first, before any other court.
Define Judicial Review
the right of the Supreme Court to declare a law, or action based upon that law, unconstitutional
Why is Washington DC only given 3 electoral votes?
to equal the number of electors held by the smallest states.