AP Government CH. 6.2 Reading Check

Article III of the Constitution reads, in part, that “the judicial power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under the Constitution, the laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority.” This sentence signifies that

• the federal judiciary is the highest judicial power in the land.

• the president can interpret laws.

• state courts cannot decide on Constitutional matters.

• the people are not sovereign, the courts are.

The authority of the court to act as the first court to hear a case, which includes finding of facts in the case, is known as

(a)  

If a court has appellate jurisdiction, it can

• find facts of a case.

• decide the case.

• hear the case first.

• review the decision of the lower court.

The Antifederalists feared that the growth of national government through an increasingly powerful judiciary would diminish the rights of

• the president

• states and individuals.

• the federal government.

• the Supreme Court.

Alexander Hamilton, in Federalist No. 78, felt that the judicial power would not trample on the people’s rights because

• Congress was empowered to overturn decisions

• the president would step in to defend the people

• the people would not stand for it

• it was politically impartial.

In Federalist No. 78, Alexander Hamilton argues that the _____ needed protection from encroachment on its limited powers by the ______.

• presidency; judiciary

• judiciary; other two branches

• Congress; the presidency

• federal courts; the state courts

How many total justices are on the Supreme Court at present?

• Five

• Eight

• Nine

• Eleven

Successfully _____ is a way for a president to have an enduring influence on the government and on public policy long after the end of a president’s time in office.

• achieving election of his or her vice president

• passing legislation

• seeking a third consecutive presidential term

• placing individuals on the federal bench

A president who believes in increasing the power of the federal government would MOST LIKELY nominate which person for the Supreme Court?

• An attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union

• A federal judge who ruled that states must legalize marijuana

• An attorney known to sue to stop the federal government from increasing federal spending

• A federal judge who has ruled states can disregard federal laws they don’t like

With which statement about the federal judiciary did the delegates at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 agree?

• Congress should have the power to lowering judges’ salaries to keep them in line.

• The federal court system should be the most elaborately designed in the Constitution.

• Federal judges should serve ten-year terms, renewable only once with the Senate’s consent.

• The judiciary should retain a degree of independence from the other two branches.