The Judicial Branch (SSCG13)

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.

How are federal judges selected?

• The person is named to the bench by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
• The person is named to the bench by the President and does not need to be confirmed.
• The person is publicly elected to the bench and confirmed by the Senate.
• The person is nominated by the Senate and chosen by the President.

In the federal system, a district court has the power to

• retry a case that was first decided by a State court.
• exercise original jurisdiction over a federal case.
• apply appellate jurisdiction to a federal case.
• determine if a lower court made an unconstitutional ruling on a case.

Put the following courts in order, Ranking from bottom to top

• Supreme, Appellate, Trial

• Trial, Supreme, Appellate

• Appellate, Trial, Supreme

• Trial, Appellate, Supreme

What kind of federal courts were created as “gatekeepers” to relieve burden on the Supreme Court?

• courts-martial
• federal district courts
• federal courts of appeals
• special courts

A case in which a defendant is tried for committing a crime as defined by the law 

• civil case
• certificate 
• criminal case 
• original jurisdiction

A check the executive branch has on the judicial branch

• impeach for committing a crime
• veto laws
• nominate a justice to the Supreme Court
• declare a law unconstitutional

The lowest level of court in the federal system is a....

• Federal Court

• Trial Court

• District Court

• Appellate Court

A check the judicial branch has on the executive branch

• impeach for committing a crime
• veto laws
• nominate a justice to the Supreme Court
• declare an action by the president to be unconstitutional 

Term of office for a Supreme Court justice

• elected for a period of 5 years
• nominated for a period of 10 years
• elected for a period of 8 years
• nominated for life (until retirement or death)