Loafman Unit 9: The Judicial Branch

Multiple Select

The Judicial Branch can do which of these ?

• Declare laws unconstitutional

• Write laws

• Interpret laws

• Appoint judges

Fill in the Blanks

Article III of the Constitution creates the ______________ and other federal courts are created by______________.

Multiple Choice

This important group is key in helping to choose new federal Judges by holding hearings.

• The Senate

• Senate Judiciary Committee

• House Committee of Judicial Affairs

• The Judiciary

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the vetting process for federal judges?

• To ensure candidates are qualified, competent, and impartial.
• To assess the political affiliations of nominees.
• To determine the financial status of applicants.
• To evaluate the personal beliefs of candidates.

Multiple Choice

What is the third step process of becoming a federal judge as outlined in the image?

• The President nominates

• The Senate Judiciary Committee conducts a hearing

• The full Senate debates and votes to confirm the nominee

• Lifetime appointment begins after the President signs the nominee's commission

Multiple Choice

What are some common backgrounds of federal judges?

• Corporate executives
• Political activists
• Financial analysts
• Common backgrounds of federal judges include attorneys, legal scholars, lower court judges, prosecutors, and academics.

Fill in the Blanks

Congress has the power to change the size of the Court through legislation, but the current number of

has been set by law since 1869.

Multiple Choice

What does the distribution of Supreme Court Justices over time reveal about diversity in the court?

• Lack of diversity

• Increased representation of women

• Equal representation of all races

• No change in demographics

Multiple Choice

Why are federal judges given lifetime appointments?

• To ensure judges are accountable to the public.
• To allow judges to influence legislation.
• To promote political loyalty among judges.
• To ensure judicial independence and protect the rule of law.

Fill in the Blanks

The Supreme Court being the highest court in the land is primarily only going to hear the most important cases. It can choose the ones it wants to hear based on how important the case may be especially to issues of constitutionality. This refers to the idea of

jurisdiction.

Multiple Choice

What types of cases do Federal Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over?

• Cases involving ambassadors

• Cases involving state laws

• Cases involving local ordinances

• Cases involving international treaties

Multiple Choice

What are the three levels of the federal court system?

• County, Trial, Supreme

• District, Appeals, Supreme

• Criminal, Civil, Appeals

• Trial, County, District

Multiple Choice

What is the role of state courts in the judicial system?

• To hear only federal cases

• To interpret federal laws

• To hear cases not specifically selected for federal courts

• To have limited jurisdiction

Multiple Choice

What is the structure of the Georgia Judicial Branch?

• Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, Administrative Branch

• Family Courts, Probate Courts, Juvenile Courts

• Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Superior Courts

• District Courts, Magistrate Courts, Municipal Courts

Multiple Choice

Which type of court in Georgia primarily handles felony cases, divorce, and land titles?

• Magistrate Court

• Probate Court

• Superior Court

• Juvenile Court

Multiple Choice

What is the role of U.S. District Courts in the federal judicial system?

• Trial level court with original jurisdiction

• Intermediate level federal courts

• Highest court in the federal system

• Appellate jurisdiction from district courts

Multiple Choice

Which courts can review and change outcomes and decisions of lower courts?

• jurisidiction

• district courts

• remand

• appellate courts

Fill in the Blanks

Georgia is in district

the Federal Court of Appeals (Circuit courts)

Multiple Choice

How did the decision in Marbury v. Madison impact the power of the Supreme Court?

• It limited the Court's power by reducing its jurisdiction

• It expanded the Court's power by allowing it to overturn state laws

• It confirmed the Court's power to declare federal laws unconstitutional

• It decreased the Court's independence by requiring Congressional approval of decisions

Multiple Choice

Why was John marshal so important?

• John Marshall was known for his role in the American Revolution.
• John Marshall was a famous military leader in the Civil War.
• John Marshall was a prominent figure in the early days of the Internet.
• John Marshall was crucial in shaping the American legal system and affirming the power of the Supreme Court.

Multiple Choice

What was the impact of Marbury v. Madison on the Supreme Court's ability to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional?

• It established the Supreme Court's power of judicial review.

• It limited the power of the Supreme Court.

• It had no significant impact on the Supreme Court.

• It allowed Congress to override Supreme Court decisions.

Multiple Choice

What is the cartoon's message regarding the role of the Supreme Court?

• The Supreme Court primarily focuses on international law and treaties.
• The Supreme Court is mainly an advisory body to the President.
• The Supreme Court's role is to enforce state laws and regulations.
• The Supreme Court serves as a protector of constitutional rights and a check on government power.

Fill in the Blanks

The Supreme Court selects and decides cases based on current issues. At least _______ members must agree to her a case. Afterward the court will issue a __________________ so the lower courts will send their records up to the Supreme Court for review.

Multiple Choice

What is the term for when the Supreme Court overturns a precedent?

• Judicial Activism

• Stare Decisis

• Overruling

• Judicial Review

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction?

• Original jurisdiction refers to a case being heard in a federal court; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case being heard in a State court.
• Original jurisdiction refers to criminal or civil cases; appellate jurisdiction refers to only to civil cases.
• Original jurisdiction refers to a case that could be heard in a federal or a State court; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case that must be heard in a federal court.
• Original jurisdiction refers to a court where a case is first heard; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case being heard after it was tried in a lower court.

Multiple Choice

What is the minimum number of Supreme Court justices needed to hear a case?

• 6
• 8
• 7
• 5

Fill in the Blanks

A ___________ opinion is a written explanation endorsed by more than half of the judges on a court, and it provides the official reasoning for the court's decision, which becomes the guiding rule or ___________ that future courts are expected to follow when facing similar cases.

Multiple Choice

the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade (1973), which recognized a constitutional right to abortion by interpreting the Constitution as protecting a woman's right to privacy, despite no explicit mention of abortion in the text of the Constitution. This decision effectively created new law rather than simply interpreting existing law, and it dramatically changed abortion laws across the country. This is an example of

• judicial restraint
• judicial activism

Multiple Choice

the Supreme Court's decision in Gibbons v. Ogden (1824), where the Court relied solely on the Constitution and established legal precedent to decide that Congress—not the states—holds the power to regulate interstate commerce, without injecting personal or political bias into its ruling. This is an example of...

• judicial activism
• judicial restraint

Multiple Select

What two areas have the courts usually shown a great deal of judicial restraint

• same sex marriage

• cruel punishment

• gun legislation

• free speech