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WorksheetsChapter 7 - Article III - The Judicial System
Total questions: 75
Worksheet time: 38mins
Why is it so important that there is judicial independence in our court system? Pick two answers here.
Without independence, there is a risk that the courts will not render a decision fairly.
Courts should not be accountable to anyone.
Courts must be independent if they are to be an effective "check" on the executive and legislative branches.
Judges are the only people capable to interpret the law.
Three of the following ARE the basic functions that courts serve. Pick the one that is NOT a function.
Courts determine whether a law has been broken.
Courts approve elections results.
Courts provide relief for those who have been harmed. In other words, they provide "justice".
Courts determine the meaning of a particular law.
What are the two court systems enumerated by the U.S. Constitution?
Local and state courts
Local and federal courts
Federal and state courts
The Constitution only mentions the Supreme Court.
What type of courts hear the vast majority of cases in the United States?
District courts
Courts of Appeals
The Supreme Court
State courts
Pick the right term. The authority to hear and decide a case is...
Judicial independence
Jurisdiction
Plaintiff
Defendant
Pick the right term. When a court is free from too much political influence, that is ...
Judicial independence
Jurisdiction
Plaintiff
Defendant
Pick the right term. A person making a legal complaint is ...
Judicial independence
Jurisdiction
Plaintiff
Defendant
Pick the right term. Person against whom a case is filed is ...
Judicial independence
Jurisdiction
Plaintiff
Defendant
What are examples of a case where the federal government has exclusive jurisdiction? Pick two answers here.
Maritime law
Interpretations of the U.S. Constitution
Criminal cases
Traffic violations
What are the three tiers to our federal court system? Choose three answers here.
District courts
Courts of Appeals
The Supreme Court
Tax courts
What are district courts?
They are the trial courts for the federal system.
These courts are where appeals are heard.
This court is the final stop, or top tier, in the federal system.
What are courts of appeals?
They are the trial courts for the federal system.
These courts are where appeals are heard.
This court is the final stop, or top tier, in the federal system.
What is the Supreme Court?
They are the trial courts for the federal system.
These courts are where appeals are heard.
This court is the final stop, or top tier, in the federal system.
It is the leading professional organization for the legal community.
The Supreme Court
The American Bar Association
National Education Association
AFL-CIO
What is the connection between political party affiliation and presidential nomination of judges?
Presidents nominate judges from their own political party.
Presidents do not nominate judges from their own political party.
Judges cannot belong to a political party.
What can we assume is the political party affiliation of Ketanji Brown Jackson (KBJ) since President Biden nominated her to the U.S. Supreme Court?
KBJ is a Democrat.
KBJ is a Republican.
KBJ is a political independent.
KBJ does not have a political party affiliation.
Kentaji Brown Jackson is considered to be on the liberal side of the American political spectrum; therefore, how is she likely to interpret the U.S. Constitution?
More expansively. She will use legal precedent and make sure the Supreme Court addresses problems that the country is facing.
More narrowly. She will only use the actual language of the U.S. Constitution to guide her legal decisions.
Who knows. She has only been confirmed. She won't actually sit on the Supreme Court until after its current session ends in the summer.
Which is which? This is when judges adapt the meaning of the Constitution to meet the demands of contemporary realities.
Judicial activism
Judicial restraint
Which is which? This is when judges interpret the Constitution based on the Framers' original intent.
Judicial activism
Judicial restraint
How does the concept of precedent influence the rulings of a judge or justice?
A judge or justice who is influenced by precedent only looks to the actual language of the Constitution to render decisions.
A judge or justice who is influenced by precedent seeks guidance from Congress when rendering legal decisions.
A judge or justice who is influenced by precedent looks at case law that is approved by his or her political party.
A judge or justice who is influenced by precedent looks to previous court decisions for guidance when rendering decisions.
It is a custom whereby presidential appointments are confirmed only if there is no objection to them by the senators from the appointee's home state.
Senatorial oversight
Senatorial approval
Senatorial overreach
Senatorial courtesy
How many Justices are on the US Supreme Court
9
5
7
13
States create state law, federal government creates federal law, municipalities create what?
Constitutional Law
State Law
Local Law
Federal Law
Who appoints a justice to the US Supreme Court?
Congress
Senate
House of Representatives
President of the US
Are federal judges appointed for life?
True
False
What Article of the Constitution created the Judicial Branch?
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3
Article 4
What does SCOTUS refer to?
Superior Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
Super Courageous Octopie That Understand Spanish
Scariest Court of the United States
This level court listens to testimony, considers evidence and decides the facts in disputed situations. Evidence is provided by witnesses called to testify in the case.
Trial Courts
Court of Appeals
Supreme Court
US District Court
In a civil action, this party that brings legal action is called this.
Prosecutor
Plaintiff
Parties
Defendant
In a criminal trial, the government starts the cases and serves as this.
Parties
Defendant
Plaintiff
Prosecutor
In both a civil and a criminal trial, the party responding to the plaintiff or a prosecutor is called this.
Prosecutor
Defendant
Plaintiff
Parties
Justices review the decisions of the trial court judges in this type of court.
Supreme Court
Municipal Court
Appeals Court
US District Court
A court decision that is considered as authority for deciding subsequent cases involving identical or similar facts, or similar legal issues.
Precedent
Error of Law
Majority Opinion
Dissenting Opinion
This opinion states the decision of the court.
Dissenting Opinion
Concurring Opinion
Majority Opinion
Appeals Court
Judges who disagree with the majority opinion issue a separate document called this.
Dissenting Opinion
Majority Opinion
Concurring opinion
Error of Law
Judges who agree with the majority opinion, but have different reasons write this.
Error of Law
Dissenting Opinion
Majority Opinion
Concurring Opinion
This occurs when a judge makes a mistake as to the law applicable in the case is called this.
Petitioner
Error of Law
Respondent
Appeals Court
This type of court hears criminal and civil cases involving the Constitution or federal law.
State Court
Court of Appeals
Federal Court
Municipal Court
Federal Courts are also known as this.
US District Court
Municipal Court
State Court
Superior Court
This courts system resembles the federal courts system in structure and procedure.
Appeals Court
Supreme Court
US District Court
State Court
This type of court hears matters of local law and ordinances.
US Court of Appeals
State Supreme Court
Municipal Court
US District Court
This is the highest court in the state.
US Supreme Court
State Supreme Court
Municipal Court
Court of Appeals
This is the highest court in the nation.
US Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
District Court
Municipal Court
According to the Constitution, the lower federal courts have
The power to disagree with the Supreme Court
The authority to administer and interpret the law
The ability to overrule higher federal courts
Any jurisdiction they choose
A large judicial district at the Court of Appeals level is called a:
Precedent
Stare Decisis
Docket
Circuit
Select ALL of the following that describe Supreme Court Justices
They’re appointed for life
They do not have any Constitutional age or professional requirements
They can be impeached by Congress
They usually resign at an early age
Once appointed, they must serve until they die
The lower federal courts consist of:
District Courts and Courts of Appeals
Appellate Courts and Local Courts
State Courts and District Courts
City Courts and State Courts
Federal Justices are selected by:
Popular vote
Supreme Court nomination, and Senate majority approval
House nomination and Presidential ratification
Presidential nomination and Senate majority approval
The power of a court to administer the law.
Jurisdiction
Circuit
Executive Authority
Judicial Review
The requirement or authority of a court to be the first to hear a case.
Appellate Jurisdiction
Judicial Review
Original Jurisdiction
Judicial Jurisdiction
A process under which executive or legislative actions are subject to review by the judiciary to determine if they are unconstitutional
Legislative Oversight
Judicial Appointment
Judicial Review
Executive Privilege
A right granted to an inventor to protect her invention from other using, marking or selling it is known as a _______.
Tort
Censure
Probate
Patent
Which of these types of cases would fall under State and Local Jurisdiction (select all that apply)?
Family Law
Cases involving international treaties
Most Criminal Cases
Banking regulation cases
Any _________ is operated by the Department of Defense, not the judicial branch.
court-martial
military commission
civilian tribunal
circuit court of appeals
The court that hears appeals from most of the special federal courts (such as US Tax Court or US Federal Claims Court) is the _________.
DC Circuit Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals for Veteran's Claims
9th Circuit Court of Appeals
Federal Circuit Court of Appeals
Which courts(s) serve as local and state courts for places like Puerto Rico and Guam?
territorial courts
3rd Circuit Court of Appeals
DC Local Court
1st Circuit Court of Appeals
Which court would serve as the court to appeal decisions of the IRS?
DC Circuit Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals for Veteran's Claims
US Tax Court
1st Circuit Court of Appeals
In order for the US Supreme Court to hear a case (issue a writ of certiorari), ___ justices must agree to hear the case.
3
4
6
5
The power of judicial review was created by/in ____.
the case of McCulloch v. Maryland
Article III of the Constitution
Article II of the Constitution
the case of Marbury v. Madison
The Supreme has two types of jurisdiction but hears the vast majority of its cases in ____ jurisdiction.
original
appellate
exclusive
concurrent
The verdict of a US Supreme Court decision can come with three types of opinions. Which type of opinion is written by a justice who disagrees with the official decision?
concurring opinion
majority opinion
dissenting opinion
rebuttal opinion
The verdict of a US Supreme Court decision can come with three types of opinions. Which type of opinion is written by a justice who agrees with the official decision but for different reasons than officially stated?
concurring opinion
majority opinion
dissenting opinion
rebuttal opinion
The verdict of a US Supreme Court decision can come with three types of opinions. Which type of opinion is the official reason for the decision and itself becomes law?
concurring opinion
majority opinion
dissenting opinion
rebuttal opinion
What does Original Jurisdiction mean?
The authority to review a case from a lower court
The authority to hear a case
The authority to hear a case first
