AP Gov Unit 2 Practice Questions

Which of the following is the best way for Congress to provide people with disabilities access to the airline industry in light of the Court's ruling?

• Appeal the ruling to the United States Court of Appeals
• Override the court with a two-thirds majority in both chambers
• Pass a new law that specifies that the airlines must provide access for people with disabilities
• Remove members of the Supreme Court who ruled against the law and have the president appoint new justices

Percentage of Liberal Decisions of the United States Supreme Court in Civil Liberties-Civil Rights Cases, 1888–1996 Which of the following factors most likely led to shifts in Supreme Court decision making over time?

• The ideological composition of the justices on the Supreme Court shifted to become less liberal over time.
• Rather than pass new legislation, Congress was inclined to refer civil rights legislation to the Supreme Court.
• Constitutional amendments enabled the Supreme Court to issue more liberal decisions.
• After 1960, the Supreme Court deferred to the wishes of state and local governments rather than voting to expand the authority of the federal government.

Percentage of Liberal Decisions of the United States Supreme Court in Civil Liberties-Civil Rights Cases, 1888–1996 Based on the data in the chart, which of the following is true?

• The percentage of liberal decisions made by the Supreme Court on civil rights and civil liberties cases decreased between 1964 and 1996.
• The number of civil rights and civil liberties cases heard by the Supreme Court declined between 1944 and 1952.
• The number of civil rights and civil liberties cases heard by the federal district courts decreased between 1972 and 1992.
• The percentage of liberal decisions made by the federal district courts on civil rights and civil liberties cases increased between 1900 and 1928.

A major reason why the majority of Supreme Court justices have had political experience prior to appointment to the Court is that

• justices are expected to act like politicians in their decision-making
• Presidents seek to place individuals on the Court whose policy views are similar to their own
• the Senate will refuse to confirm any nominee to the Court who is not familiar with the political process
• appointment to the Supreme Court is a reward for political party loyalty
• the Court is expected to defer to the political branches in making its decisions

Which of the following best reflects a function of the Supreme Court in Article III of the Constitution?

• To interpret the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress
• To adjudicate disputes between the president and Congress
• To overturn legislation passed by the state legislatures
• To serve as the highest court of appeals

Which of the following is a way Congress can influence the federal judiciary?

• It can prohibit judicial activism.
• It can filibuster decisions made by courts.
• It can change appellate jurisdiction of federal courts.
• It can review federal judges for reappointment every ten years.
• It can exercise oversight authority over rulings of individual justices.

The data illustrate that most conservatives believe that the United States Constitution

• outlines a framework for government that the Supreme Court should apply strictly regardless of the political or personal preferences of judges
• establishes a shared set of political values flexible enough to empower the Supreme Court to apply its own personal judgment to their interpretation
• gives judges the power to overrule the other two branches of government in times when those other branches fail to be responsive to changing public opinion on issues
• is a living document and the Supreme Court should consider public opinion and contemporary values when interpreting constitutional provisions

Which of the following statements is an accurate interpretation of the data on the bar chart?

• Most Democrats believe that the Supreme Court should base its rulings on what the Constitution meant as originally written.
• The more consistently liberal a person is, the more that person is likely to believe that the Supreme Court should base its rulings on what the Constitution means in current times.
• The more consistently conservative a person is, the more that person is likely to believe that the Supreme Court should base its rulings on what the Constitution means in current times.
• Most Independents believe that the Supreme Court should base its rulings on what the Constitution meant as originally written.

Which of the following is true of nominees for federal judgeships?

• They are recruited from the current pool of United States attorneys.
• They are nominated by the Senate and approved by the House of Representatives.
• They are elected in popular elections in individual states.
• They must receive the approval of the American Bar Association upon nomination.
• They are appointed for life by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The doctrine of original intent holds that

• the meaning of the Constitution depends on the intention of the framers
• Supreme Court justices should avoid bias by documenting their original impressions of a case
• the Supreme Court should review all treaties that alter previously established foreign policy
• Supreme Court justices must emphasize independent and original thinking in considering constitutional matters
• cases selected for review by the Supreme Court must address an original and new concern not previously addressed by the Court