Chapter 12

Which of the following statements about federal courts is true? a. Federal courts only hear a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the US, and their decisions are rarely important b/c they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans b. Although federal courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the US, their decisions are rarely important b/c they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans c. Federal Courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the US, and their decisions are extremely important b/c they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans d. Although the federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the US, their decisions are extremely important b/c they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans

Although the federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the US, their decisions are extremely important b/c they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans

If someone is an advocate of the philosophy of judicial restraint, he or she believes a. in looking only at the words of the Constitution in order to understand its meaning b. that the meaning of the law tends to evolve over time c. the Courts should go beyond the words of the Constitution or a statute to consider the broader societal implications of its decisions d. that judges should openly consider both legal and political questions when adjudicating cases

a. in looking only at the words of the Constitution in order to understand its meaning

The doctrine of _______________ requires courts to follow authoritative prior decisions when ruling on a case a. stare decisis b. habeas corpus c. ex post facto d. a priori

a. state decisis

A writ of habeas corpus declares that a. the gov. must show a legal cause for holding someone in detention b. the gov. cannot send a defendant to stand trial in a geographically distant jurisdiction c. a defendant in a felony trial must receive assistance from legal counsel d. capital punishment can be neither cruel nor unusual

a. the government must show a legal cause for holding someone in detention.

How many justices are on the Supreme Court? a. 7 b. 9 c. 11 d. 15

b. 9

There are ________ U.S. district courts. a. 50 b. 94 c. 200 d. 434

b. 94

_______________ occurs when a criminal case is resolved through a negotiated agreement before a full trial is completed a. A misdemeanor b. A plea bargain c. A writ of certiorari d. Mediation

b. A plea bargain

Roe v. Wade (1973) was a. based on a strict interpretation of the Constitution b. based on judicial activism c. based on judicial restraint d. not based on any precedent established by the Supreme Court

b. based on judicial activism.

When a private individual brings a suit against a company for breaking a contract, this is an example of ________ law. a. criminal b. civil c. constitutional d. common

b. civil

In what type of law is the government always the plaintiff? a. public b. criminal c. common d. tort

b. criminal

Trial courts in the federal judicial system are called a. grand juries b. district courts c. appellate courts d. civil courts

b. district courts

The first court to hear a case is called a(n) ____________ court a. supreme b. trial c. advisory d. appellate

b. trial

Most cases reach the Supreme Court through a. a writ of appeal b. a writ of certiorari c. a writ of amicus curiae d. state courts

b. writ of certiorari

Why is Marbury v. Madison an important case? a. In this case, the justices recognized the authority of Congress to regulate the economy of the US b. In this case, the justices nationalized the Bill of Rights c. In this case, the justices authorized the Supreme Court to exercise judicial review over laws passed by Congress d. In this case, the justices declared the secession of the Confederate states to be in violation of the Constitution

c. In this case, the justices authorized the Supreme Court to exercise judicial review over laws passed by Congress.

Prior cases whose principles are used by judges to decide current cases are called a. public law b. en banc decisions c. precedents d. ex post facto cases

c. precedents

About _____________ percent of all cases in the US are heard in state courts a. 33 b. 50 c. 68 d. 97

d. 97

If a man is arrested because his home was searched by police without a legal warrant, he could argue in court that he had been denied ________. a. a writ of habeas corpus b. his Miranda rights c. judicial review d. the due process of law

d. due process of law

Activist judges believe that federal judges should a. always overrule state legislatures and governors when making decisions b. interpret the US Constitution according to the intentions of its framers and defer to the views of Congress when interpreting federal statues c. be more aggressive and ideological than the president when vacancies occur on the courts d. go beyond the words of a Constitution or statute to consider the broader societal implications of their decisions

d. go beyond the words of a constitution or statute to consider the broader societal implications of their decisions.

Which of the following statements about the Supreme Court is true? a. in 2014, seven of the nine justices were appointed by Democratic presidents b. in 2014, seven of the nine justices were appointed by Republican presidents c. in 2014, all of the justices were appointed by Democratic presidents d. in 2014, five of the nine justices were appointed by Republican presidents

d. in 2014, five of the nine justices were appointed by Republican presidents

Through the exercise of ________, the Supreme Court has held actions or laws of the executive and legislative branches unconstitutional. a. stare decisis b. writs of ceritiotrari c. clemency d. judicial review

d. judicial review