Sources of Law, Levels of Courts, Landmark Cases, and Govt.

The Code of Hammurabi, includes laws focusing on contracts. What type of US law is based on the Code of Hammurabi?

• civil

• constitutional

• criminal

• military

1)      The graph below describes appeals filed by type of appeal in the U.S. Courts of Appeals, 1990-2010.

Year Civil Criminal

1990 27116 9493

1995 34203 10162

2000 35780 10707

2005 32818 16060

2010 55992 12797

       Source: United States Courts

Based on the graph, what conclusion can be drawn about court cases in the U.S.?

• More civil cases are being filed without legal representation

• More criminal cases are being filed without legal representation.

• More criminal actions are being dropped before trial.

• More civil actions are being dropped before trial.

In which case did the U.S. Supreme Court rule that the Florida Supreme Court’s plan for recounting ballots violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?

• Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988)

• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

• U.S. v. Nixon (1974)

• Bush v. Gore (2000)

Which was an outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?

• Administrators may limit the content of student publications.

• Public school districts that segregate deny equal protection.

• Students have a reduced expectation of privacy in school.

• Criminal defendants have the right to an attorney.

What lessons did future U.S. leaders learn from the 1974 U.S. Supreme Court case United States v. Nixon?

• The president is accountable for obeying the law.

• The president is responsible for enforcing the law

• The president is not allowed to hold secret talks with foreign governments.

• The president is not allowed to have private meetings with Cabinet members.

What do an absolute monarchy and an autocracy have in common?

• a single ruler

• a written constitution

• a national court system

• a single legislative house

Joey P. Martin is on trial for robbing a bank. He plead “not guilty”, had his case heard, and is now waiting for the jury’s verdict. What verdict would Joey most likely want?

• acquittal

• booking

• indictment

• sentencing

Ross Goldberg wants to pass an ordinance within his jurisdiction that would make parking in front of the public library on Wednesdays illegal and deserving of a $100 fine. To which legislative body should Ross Goldberg make his proposal?

• UN General Assmbly

• local city council

• State Congress

• US Congress

Mayor Roberts of Coconut Village, Florida was pulled over for speeding and given a ticket by one of his own police department officers.

 

             Mayor Roberts receiving a ticket despite being mayor represents what concept?

• rule of law

• justice privilege

• executive privilege

• ordinance of law

What would be the strongest argument against the United States having a direct democracy?

• A direct democracy would take away most of the power from the people.

• A direct democracy would mean electing new representative every year.

• A direct democracy would be almost impossible to manage due to the population size.

• A direct democracy would be almost impossible to manage due to the president being given complete governing authority.