U.S. Court System & Supreme Court Procedures Quiz

Match the following courts with their descriptions.

• Handles cases under state law

• State court

• Handles appeals from district courts

• Supreme court

• The highest court in the United States

• District court

• Handles federal trial cases

• Circuit court

In which court are most cases settled outside of court?

• State court
• District court
• Circuit court
• Supreme court

How many U.S. district courts are there?

• 12
• 50
• 94
• 663

Which type of case can go to a federal court?

(a)  

• Cases involving only one state
• Cases involving more than one state
• Cases involving only federal laws
• Cases involving only state laws

What is the main requirement for the Supreme Court to hear a case?

• The case must involve a federal law
• The case must involve a state law
• The case must involve a foreign law
• The case must involve a constitutional question

When does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?

• In cases between two or more states
• In cases involving foreign ministers or ambassadors
• In cases brought by citizens of one state against citizens of another state
• All of the above

What is the purpose of the circuit courts?

• To hear appeals from state courts
• To hear appeals from district courts
• To hear appeals from the Supreme Court
• To hear original jurisdiction cases

The nickname sometimes used for the Supreme Court of the United States is (a)   .

• S. C. O. T. U. S.
• Supreme Cocoa
• Cocoa Supreme
• Supreme Court

What is the first requirement to take a case to the Supreme Court?

• Having a case already heard and decided by a lower court
• Having a case that has not been heard by any court
• Having a case that has been appealed multiple times
• Having a case that raises a federal law question

What is a writ of certiorari?

• A formal request to the Supreme Court to hear a case
• A written legal argument from each side explaining why the law favors their position
• A decision made by the Supreme Court to affirm or overturn a lower court's ruling
• A nickname for the Supreme Court