Judicial Branch PRACTICE QUIZ

Which level of the U.S. federal court system is the first to hear most cases?

• Supreme Court

• Courts of Appeals (Circuit Courts)

• Trial Courts (District Courts)

• State Supreme Courts

How many U.S. federal Courts of Appeals (Circuit Courts) are there?

• 94

• 50

• 13

• 1

Which statement best describes the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in the federal system?

• It starts cases and determines basic facts.

• It reviews trial decisions for mistakes but cannot make final rulings.

• It is the highest court with final decisions that must be followed by all other courts.

• It operates only within individual states and handles state law.

In most states, how many Courts of Appeals exist within the state court system?

• None; appeals go directly to the state supreme court

• Exactly 13 in every state

• 1 or 2

• Thousands

Which comparison between federal and state court structures is accurate?

• Both have three main levels with trial courts at the bottom, appeals courts in the middle, and a supreme court at the top.

• Only the federal system has appeals courts; states do not.

• Federal trial courts number in the thousands, while state trial courts number 94.

• State supreme courts make final decisions that must be followed by all federal courts.

Which court is described as the highest court in the United States?

• U.S. District Courts

• State Trial Courts

• U.S. Supreme Court

• U.S. Courts of Appeals

How many justices serve on the U.S. Supreme Court?

• 7 (1 Chief and 6 Associates)

• 8 (no Chief Justice)

• 9 (1 Chief and 8 Associates)

• 12 (3 panels of 4)

According to the notes, who appoints U.S. Supreme Court justices and who must approve them?

• Appointed by Congress; approved by the President

• Appointed by the President; approved by the Senate

• Appointed by the Chief Justice; approved by the House

• Appointed by state governors; approved by state legislatures

What is the primary job of the U.S. Supreme Court as stated in the notes?

• To write new laws for Congress

• To decide if laws follow the Constitution

• To prosecute federal crimes

• To manage state court budgets

Which term refers to the Supreme Court’s power to be the final authority so that no other court can overrule its decisions?

• Judicial restraint

• Final say

• Original jurisdiction

• Concurrent jurisdiction