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Judicial Branch

Total questions: 75

Worksheet time: 38mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Supreme Court justices are nominated by the ____.

a)

President

b)

Vice President

c)

Senate

d)

Congress

2.

Supreme Court justices are confirmed by the _____.

a)

Vice President

b)

Senate

c)

House of Representatives

d)

Congress

3.

How many justices make up the Supreme Court?

a)

5

b)

7

c)

8

d)

9

4.

How many Appellate Courts are in the United States?

a)

5

b)

10

c)

12

d)

50

5.

Who is the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

a)

Sonia Sotomayor

b)

John Roberts

c)

Brett Kavanaugh

d)

Clarence Thomas

6.

What is the term limit for a Supreme Court Justice?

a)

1 year

b)

5 years

c)

10 years

d)

For their life or until they retire

7.

How many Supreme Court Justices does it take to arrive at a majority decision?

a)

4

b)

5

c)

6

d)

7

8.

True or False, approving the writ of certiorari means the Supreme Court will not hear the case?

a)

True

b)

False

9.

What does the Judicial Branch do?

a)

Interprets the laws

b)

Makes the laws

c)

Carries out the laws

10.

What is the job of an appellate court?

a)

To automatically overturn the original ruling

b)

To uphold the original ruling no matter what

c)

To select cases for the Supreme Court

d)

To review an original case for a mistake

11.

The Supreme Court has the power of Judicial Review? What is Judicial Review?

a)

When the Supreme Court decides if a law is unconstitutional

b)

When the Supreme Court enforces the laws of the Legislative Branch

c)

When the Supreme Court creates new law

d)

When the Supreme Court vetoes a Presidential appointment

12.
Document that describes the judicial branch
a)
Article I
b)
Article II
c)
Article III
d)
Articles of Confederation
13.
A court’s authority to hear and decide cases
a)
judicial review
b)
writ of certiorari 
c)
jurisdiction
d)
stare decisis
14.
When the court hears the case first, gives a verdict 
a)
original jurisdiciton
b)
appellate jurisdiction
c)
real jurisdiciton
d)
fake jurisdiction 
15.
What check does the Supreme Court have on Congress?
a)
may veto a law
b)
may disapprove treaties or appointments
c)
may appoint judges
d)
may declare legislative action unconstitutional
16.
The power of judicial review means that the Supreme Court can ...
a)
declare laws passed by Congress or actions of the president unconstitutional
b)
review the Constitution and make laws
c)
review the Constitution and veto laws
d)
impeach a president or member of Congress for doing something unconstitutional
17.
The person in charge on the Supreme Court is called a __________ ___________
a)
First Justice
b)
Chief Justice
c)
Speaker of the Supreme Court
d)
Premier Justice
18.
Fill in the blank on how a case gets to the Supreme Court:
1. Case is filed in a federal district court.
2. ???
3. Case is appealed to the US Supreme Court, which does one of the following:
a. Allows the lower court ruling to stand.
b. Sends the case back to the lower court for reconsideration.
c. Decides to try the case.
a)
Someone sues another person or group.
b)
The Supreme Court declares the law unconstitutional.
c)
The case is filed in a state court.
d)
The case is appealed to a federal court of appeals.
19.
What did Alexander Hamilton mean when he said:
“Laws are a dead letter without courts to expound and define their true meaning and operation.”
a)
For laws to be effective, there must be courts to consistently interpret them.
b)
Laws that are not obeyed should be repealed by the courts.
c)
Laws don't mean anything.
d)
Courts were given all of the power when making laws.
20.

What is "due process of law?"

a)

Government must not enact too many laws or regulations.

b)

Office holders and officials must be bound by the laws.

c)

The process of citizens following the law.

d)

Government must act fairly and in accordance with established rules.

21.

Choose the answer(s) that are true of Judicial Review.

a)

Allows the US Supreme Court the authority to choose which cases they will hear.

b)

Is the result of Marbury v Madison

c)

The actions of the executive and legislative branches of government are subject to review.

d)

Gives the US Supreme Court authority to rule actions unconstitutional.

22.

Appellate Jurisdiction is when:

a)

a court is the first to hear a case

b)

a court has the authority to hear a case

c)

a court reviews the decision of a lower court

d)

power is shared between the Federal and State courts to hear a certain case

23.

If a Supreme Court justice agrees with the decision of the court, but did not agree with the reasoning of how they came to that conclusion, the justice may write a:

a)

Writ of Certiorari

b)

Concurring Opinion

c)

Majority Opinion

d)

Dissenting Opinion

24.

The Rule of 4 states that:

a)

Attorney's are only allotted 4 minutes per witness for questioning

b)

If there are ever less than 4 Supreme Court Justices, the role of the Judicial Branch is taken over by the President

c)

There must be at least 4 members of a jury in order to try a case

d)

4 or more Justices must agree to hear a case for it to go to the Supreme Court

25.

What is the opinion of the Supreme Court justices who make up the minority?

a)

Majority Opinion

b)

Concurring Opinion

c)

Unanimous Decision

d)

Dissenting Opinion

26.

What is the highest Court in the United States.

a)

State Court

b)

Federal Court

c)

Supreme Court

d)

District Court

27.
How many district courts are there?
a)
100
b)
12
c)
94
d)
1
28.
What kind of jurisdiction do District Courts have?
a)
Appellate
b)
Original
c)
Appellate and Original
d)
No jurisdiction
29.
A ________ is an interpretation of a law that is used in later trials.
a)
statute
b)
precedent
c)
criminal
d)
jury
30.
The Supreme Court hears what type of law?
a)
Constitutional
b)
Civil
c)
Criminal
d)
Military
31.
Supreme Court cases that established that separate is equal, therefore making segregation legal.
a)
Plessy v. Ferguson
b)
Brown v. Board of Education Topeka, Kansas
c)
Washington D.C. v. Heller
d)
United States v Nixon
32.
Supreme Court case that established separate is NOT equal, therefore DESEGREGATING public schools.
a)
Plessy v. Ferguson
b)
Brown v. Board of Education
c)
Gideon v. Wainwright
d)
Bush v. Gore
33.

True or False: to be a Supreme Court justice you have to be born in the US

a)

True

b)

False

34.

Supreme Court nominees are confirmed by the

a)

Congress

b)

House

c)

Senate

d)

President

35.

The Supreme Court is

a)

part of the legislative branch

b)

the highest court in the land

c)

part of the executive branch

d)

appointed by each president

36.

Which case established judicial review?

a)

Brown v Board of Education

b)

Tinker v Des Moines

c)

Marbury v Madison

d)

Miranda v Arizona

37.

All of the following are factors that affect whether a nominee receives a federal court position EXCEPT:

a)

the experience of the nominee

b)

the political ideology of the nominee

c)

recommendations from the Speaker of the House

d)

Nominations from the Senate Judiciary Committee

38.

When the Supreme Court enacts social justice rulings this is viewed as __.

a)

judicial activism

b)

judicial restraint

c)

a mittimus judgment

d)

preemptory challenge

39.

The authority of a court to hear a case is called __.

a)

originalism

b)

jurisdiction

c)

amicus curiae

d)

stare decisis

40.

The two types of courts are ___ and ___.

a)

domestic and foregin

b)

tribal and tax

c)

neutral and biased

d)

federal and state

41.

Which courts hear the most cases?

a)

bankruptcy

b)

state

c)

special

d)

constitutional

42.

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

a)

6

b)

9

c)

12

d)

15

43.

The role of the Judicial Branch is to

a)

enforce the laws

b)

create the laws

c)

support treaties and executive agreements

d)

interpret the laws

44.

Approximately how many cases does the Supreme Court hear per year?

a)

25

b)

150

c)

300

d)

8000

45.

The Supreme Court has both __ and __ jurisdiction.

a)

constitutional and extra-legal

b)

original and appellate

c)

executive and non-executive

d)

exclusive and inclusive

46.

Under Article III of the Constitution, __ creates the inferior (lower) courts.

a)

the president

b)

Congress

c)

the Senate Judiciary Committee

d)

the Attorney General

47.

All of the following are means the Supreme Court chooses cases EXCEPT:

a)

"Rule of Four"

b)

writ of habeas corpus

c)

writ of certiorari

d)

certificate

48.

All of the following are types of jurisdictions EXCEPT:

a)

original

b)

appellate

c)

exclusive

d)

overture

49.

Which of the following is NOT a part of a criminal case?

a)

evidence is presented to a grand jury & they decide if there is enough evidence to indict

b)

the district attorney gathers works with law enforcement to gather evidence

c)

once the trial court decides the case, it then automatically goes to the appellate court

d)

Once indicted by a grand jury, a new trial begins with a new set of jurors

50.

The __ nominates federal and Supreme Court justices with confirmation from a majority of the __.

a)

president; Senate

b)

Senate Judiciary Committee; Attorney General

c)

president; House of Representatives

d)

vice president; electors

51.

What does judicial review mean?

a)

that the Supreme Court can investigate the president for misconduct

b)

that the Supreme Court can declare executive orders and legislation unconstitutional

c)

that the president can review an Supreme Court decisions he deems unfair

d)

that Congress has the right to ensure the Supreme Court's decisions are impartial

52.

Why did the Founding Fathers want federal judges to serve life terms?

a)

they wanted to ensure that judges couldn't be bribed

b)

they didn't want masses of uneducated people to influence the outcome of the judicial process

c)

they wanted an independent judiciary that was free from the influence of politics

d)

they wanted to make sure that there was long-lasting stability in the judiciary

53.

Which of the following is a TRUE statement regarding the Supreme Court?

a)

New evidence is argued before the Supreme Court

b)

all decisions must be unanimous

c)

Supreme Court decisions can be overruled by the president

d)

on attorney from each side is given 30 minutes to argue his case

54.

When the Supreme Court enacts social justice rulings this is viewed as __.

a)

judicial activism

b)

judicial restraint

c)

a mittimus judgment

d)

preemptory challenge

55.

All of the following are factors that affect whether a nominee receives a federal court position EXCEPT:

a)

the experience of the nominee

b)

the political ideology of the nominee

c)

recommendations from the Speaker of the House

d)

Nominations from the Senate Judiciary Committee

56.

The Supreme Court's power of judicial review came from which court case?

a)

Gibbons v Odgen

b)

Marbury v Madison

c)

Citizens United v U.S.

d)

Miranda v Arizona

57.

Which of following is FALSE regarding District Courts?

a)

There are 94 District Courts

b)

There are no juries at the District Court level; the judge hands down the ruling

c)

Most of the cases are settled out of court

d)

The District Court hears civil and criminal cases

58.

Which of the following is FALSE regarding the Appellate Courts?

a)

They are made up of 3 judges

b)

There are 35 Appellate Courts throughout the U.S.

c)

They act as "gatekeepers" to relieve the Supreme Court of the burden of hearing so many cases

d)

Their rulings are final unless overturned by the Supreme Court

59.

The __ nominates federal and Supreme Court justices with confirmation from a majority of the __.

a)

president; Senate

b)

Senate Judiciary Committee; Attorney General

c)

president; House of Representatives

d)

vice president; electors

60.

The Supreme Court has both __ and __ jurisdiction.

a)

constitutional and extra-legal

b)

original and appellate

c)

executive and non-executive

d)

exclusive and inclusive

61.

Approximately how many cases does the Supreme Court hear per year?

a)

25

b)

150

c)

300

d)

8000

62.

The two types of courts are ___ and ___.

a)

domestic and foregin

b)

tribal and tax

c)

neutral and biased

d)

federal and state

63.

The authority of a court to hear a case is called __.

a)

originalism

b)

jurisdiction

c)

amicus curiae

d)

stare decisis

64.
Term of office for a Supreme Court justice
a)
elected for a period of 5 years
b)
nominated for a period of 10 years
c)
elected for a period of 8 years
d)
nominated for life (until retirement or death)
65.
The main job of the judicial branch is to?
a)
a.  interpret the law
b)
a.  make pop corn
c)
a.  enforce the law
d)
a.  provide a jury
66.
What is highest court in the land?? 
a)
a.  U.S. Court of Appeals 
b)
a.  U.S. Supreme Court 
c)
a.  U.S. District Court 
d)
a.  U.S. High Court
67.

True or False, Judicial restraint is supported typically by those with liberal ideology?

a)

True

b)

False

68.

True or False, Judicial Activism is supported typically by individuals with liberal ideology.

a)

True

b)

False

69.

True or False, Judicial review is an effective check and balance on the other two branches?

a)

True

b)

False

70.

Which of the following would best describe a dissenting opinion?

a)

"Opinion of the Court"

b)

Agree with the majority but for different reasons

c)

Decided to sit out the case for personal reasons

d)

Disagrees with the majority outcome for different reasons.

71.
What is the age requirement for the Supreme Court Justices?
a)
50
b)
45
c)
40
d)
No age requirement
72.

True or False, Concurrent opinions written disagree with the Majority opinion.

a)

True

b)

False

73.

What is the LOWEST type of Federal court?

a)

District Court

b)

Court of Appeals

c)

The Supreme Court

d)

The US Senate

74.

To appeal means

a)

To say "no" to a bill

b)

To ask again

c)

To make laws

d)

To elect the President

75.

If you do not like the decision of the District court, what court do you ask to hear your case?

a)

District Court

b)

The Supreme Court

c)

Court of Appeals

d)

The US Senate