The National Courts

The Supreme Court was created by the Constitution, not Congress.

• True

• False

Which article created the Supreme Court?

• Article I

• Article II

• Article III

• Article IV

Since the adoption of the Constitution we have had 9 Justices on the Supreme Court.

• True

• False

Congress created the Supreme Court and the lower federal courts.

• True

• False

We have had 9 Justices on the Supreme Court since 1869.

• True

• False

There are two different kinds of federal courts, Article III courts and Special Courts.

• True

• False

The Constitution created a national court system that replaced the state courts.

• True

• False

Why do we have a federal court system alongside the state court systems?

Answer explanation

The states would not have ratified a Constitution that did away with their state court systems.

Also, we needed a federal court system to settle disputes that states could not settle in their state court systems.

In your opinion, what is the role of a judge?

Answer explanation

Judges make sure that courtroom rules are followed by plaintiffs, defendants, and their attorneys.

Judges sometimes decide a case when there is no jury.

Judges decide the punishments and fines imposed on those who lose their court cases.

Stare decisis is the idea that courts can decide whatever they want in any given case, based solely on what the judge wants.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

It means something like "to stand on previous decisions." Judges must decide cases in the same way that similar cases were decided by other judges in the past.