Chapter 9
When was the last year in which there was no concurring opinions?
1925
Which decade had the sharpest rise in dissenting opinions?
1940-1950
Research shows that while White Americans use marijuana at higher rates, Black Americans are three times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession. What can be surmised from this information?
Black Americans are more likely to be stopped by a police officers.
At the time of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, a few European countries had independent judiciaries.
False
The United States' legal system is founded on a civil law tradition.
False
How did Chief Justice John Marshall rule in the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison?
He claimed it was unconstitutional for Congress to give the Supreme Court the authority to make decisions about Marbury's appointment.
Which of the following describes the court system in the United States?
It is uniquely its own
How have the percent of cases with concurring opinions changed since 1800
It stayed level and then increased.
What is the primary function of laws?
Laws provide security for people and their property
Which Supreme Court case established a precedent of judicial review in the United States?
Marbury v. Madison
American laws have a somewhat haphazard and hodgepodge character.
True
Most cases heard by the Supreme Court arrive it on appeal.
True
People's perceptions of the role of the criminal justice system are often divided along racial lines.
True
Which of the following arguments were made by Democrats opposed to voter ID laws?
Voter ID laws may discourage people from voting if they are low income, minority, or out of state students.
When one side of a case believes that the law was not applied appropriately, they can _____.
appeal to a higher court
In the federal system, which tier of courts is situated in the middle?
appellate courts
Which of the following interpretive models posits that the political and policy preferences, and the personal experiences of judges, shape their decisions?
attitudinal model
In which court system are the facts of a case assumed to be true, and, therefore, the lawyers do not present any evidence or call any witnesses?
court of appeals
In 2017, the Supreme Court refused to permit a strict North Carolina voter ID law on the grounds that it ______.
discriminated against African Americans
According to Republicans, ID laws ensure all of the following EXCEPT ______.
disenfranchised felons cannot vote
In what ways have African Americans been mistreated by the American judicial system?
indirect racial profiling due to stop-and-frisk tactics
This is judicial approach maintaining that the Constitution is a living document and therefore should be interpreted within a historical context.
judicial interpretivism
Supreme Court members that reject any active lawmaking in preference to previous rulings of the Court are engaging in _____.
judicial restraint
Supreme Court members who stick to previous judicial interpretations are likely adhering to _____.
judicial restraint
The power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws is known as ______.
judicial review
Which power allows the Supreme Court to invalidate acts of the other branches if they contradict the principles of the Constitution?
judicial review
Philosophy of law is also known as _____.
jurisprudence
Which of the following occupies a central position in any political society?
laws
High ethical standards belong to which of the following categories as pertains to the choice of Supreme Court nominees?
merit
In the United States, how many federal cases accept verdicts without appealing?
more than 90%
Considering the trends of the last few decades, which qualification for the position of federal judge is becoming more important?
political ideology
Who is generally at most risk in the American justice system?
poor Americans
When judicial decisions are based on previous legal decisions and applied uniformly across the nation, the legal system is relying on _____.
precedent
The protections developed for those dealing with the legal system are guarantees of _____.
procedural due process
For which of the following did Thomas Hobbes and John Locke believe that people would be willing to leave the state of nature?
security
In the United States, which type of law defines what individuals can and cannot do legally?
substantive laws
The Rule of Four gives a little power to the minority on the Supreme Court because it _____.
takes fewer people to decide to hear a case than it takes to decide the case
All of the following statements pertaining to judicial review are true EXCEPT that ______.
the judicial review power is stated in the Constitution
Which of the following contributes to the Supreme Court's status as an intensely political institution?
the method by which its members are chosen
Within each state, the lowest level of the court system is _____.
trial court
Which of the following describes the traditional demographic make-up of the federal courts?
white, male, and Christian