7.1 U.S. Government

The Framers stipulated that federal judges should be appointed, rather than elected, and serve for life because

• they wanted to be able to appoint their friends.

• they did not think people were knowledgeable enough to vote for judges.

• they felt public pressure to do so.

• they wanted judges to be able to make decisions based on their best judgment.

Which court does Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution specifically name?

• inferior court

• State court

• Supreme Court

• district court

If the U.S. Army were sued, the case would be heard by

• a federal court.

• a State court.

• a military court.

• a civilian court.

What kind of jurisdiction allows either a State or a federal court to hear a case?

• original jurisdiction

• appellate jurisdiction

• exclusive jurisdiction

• concurrent jurisdiction

Today, most Supreme Court justices come from

• the U.S. Senate.

• the U.S. House of Representatives.

• the State courts.

• the courts of appeals.

A federal crime involving parties on Guam would most likely be heard in which court?

• U.S. Court of International Trade

• U.S. Tax Court

• U.S. Court of Federal Claims

• Territorial Courts

Why do special courts exist in the U.S. judicial system?

• Congress needed to create courts with narrow jurisdictions to address specific types of cases.

• Congress needed to create additional courts with broad jurisdiction to ease court docket burdens.

• The Constitution did not provide the federal judiciary with enough power to decide all cases that might occur.

• The Constitution only allowed the establishment of courts that handled general cases with broad jurisdiction.

An activity that may be handled by the lawyers, although the procedure is monitored by the judge if necessary, is

• hiring the court reporter.

• requesting a bailiff’s presence.

• determining the sentencing.

• selecting the jury.

Why is understanding precedent an important part of a judge’s role?

• It allows the judge to demonstrate an overall understanding of the judicial system structure.

• It provides background to maintain consistency with rulings in the current case or highlight key differences.

• It allows the judge to maintain balance in the courtroom by understanding courtroom procedures.

• It serves as a basis for understanding lawyers’ strategies for selecting a fair and balanced jury.

The Framers believed a strong judicial system was necessary because it would

• stop corrupt leaders from gaining power.

• guarantee freedom of press.

• prevent the States from interpreting, applying, or ignoring U.S. laws as they saw fit.

• provide the new country with a set of precedents on which to base legal decisions.