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JUDICAL BRANCH TEST

Total questions: 28

Worksheet time: 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The outcome of a Supreme Court decision is determined by a

a)

1/2 vote

b)

majority vote

c)

3/4 vote

d)

unanimous vote

2.

The means by which the Supreme Court has the authority to rule on the Constitutionality of federal and state laws is called

a)

appeals review

b)

ultimate authority

c)

a supreme decision

d)

judicial review

3.

Which branch of government interprets laws and government interprets laws and government policies?

a)

legislative

b)

judicial

c)

executive

d)

Congressional

4.

Which is the current number of Supreme Court justices?

a)

6

b)

9

c)

7

d)

12

5.

Courts with the authority to decide cases for the first time are said to have

a)

exclusive jurisdiction

b)

appellate jurisdiction

c)

original jurisdiction

d)

concurrent jurisdiction

6.

Which of the following requirements are needed in order to be a Supreme Court justice?

a)

Be at least 36 yrs. of age

b)

Be a U.S. Citizen

c)

Be a lawyer

d)

Have held political office

7.

The person that is the head of the Supreme Court is the

a)

Vice President

b)

President

c)

Speaker of the House

d)

Chief Justice

8.

Which of the following is a TRUE statement about a writ of certiorari?

a)

Only a defendant can petition for it

b)

Only a plaintiff can petition for it

c)

The Supreme Court must grant cert for all requests

d)

The Supreme Court grants cert in a limited number of instances

9.

Which federal court has original jurisdiction over MOST cases heard in federal court?

a)

district court

b)

the Supreme Court

c)

court of appeals

d)

the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

10.

Most importantly, The Supreme Court is called the High Court because it is the

a)

Best court in the country

b)

Only court established by the Constitution

c)

First court in which most of the important federal cases are heard

d)

Last court in which federal questions can be decided

11.

The Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison

a)

Established the Court's power pf judicial review

b)

none of the above

c)

enabled William Marbury to become a justice of the peace

d)

stripped the President of his power to appoint federal judges

12.

A federal court has jurisdiction over a case if

a)

a citizen of one State is suing a citizen from another State

b)

a State is suing a resident of another State

c)

a State is suing another State

d)

all of the above

13.

Which of the following statements about the Supreme Court is FALSE?

a)

The Supreme Court exercises both original and appellate jurisdiction

b)

Cases can reach the Supreme Court by certificate and writ of certiorari

c)

The Supreme Court only read briefs; it does not hear oral arguments

d)

All of the above statements are false

14.

A living legacy left behind by a former President is (are)

a)

his memoirs (dairy's)

b)

the judges whom he has appointed and who continue to serve

c)

the constitutional amendments he has proposed

d)

none of the above

15.

Which opinion is known as the "Opinion of the Court"?

a)

Dissenting opinion

b)

Concurring opinion

c)

Majority opinion

d)

Minority opinion

16.

The judicial philosophy of judicial restraint

a)

means that judges should always try to decide cases on the basis of original intent of those who wrote the constitution or enacted the statue

b)

Means that judges should always try to decide cases on the basis precedent

c)

is most closely associated with former Chief Justice Rehnquist

d)

all of the above

17.

Frederick is suing his former employer for back pay of $10,000, What court would he go to?

a)

State Supreme Court

b)

U.S. District Court

c)

Federal District Court

d)

State Supreme Court

18.

Melissa felt that she was discriminated against on a application for a federal civil service test. She sued the U.S. Civil Service Commission in a federal district court but lost her case. After losing a second time in the federal appeals court, she has decided to appeal again, what court would she go to?

a)

State Supreme Court

b)

Federal District Court

c)

U.S. Supreme Court

d)

U.S. Court of Appeals

19.

What type of Federal Court is the United States Tax Court?

a)

Financial Court

b)

IRS Court

c)

Special Court

d)

U.S. Court of Appeals for the IRS

20.

The only way to overturn a Supreme Court decision is with another Supreme Court decision or a constitutional amendment

a)

True

b)

False

21.

The name of the minority decision in the Supreme Court is called the Dissenting Opinion.

a)

True

b)

False

22.

The judicial branch is made up solely of the Supreme Court.

a)

True

b)

False

23.

The Constitution calls for a Supreme Court in Article II.

a)

True

b)

False

24.

Most Supreme Court cases come from appeals.

a)

True

b)

False

25.

Thus, the particular phraseology of the Constitution of the United States confirms and strengthens the principle, supposed to be essential to all written Constitutions, that a law repugnant (unacceptable) to the Constitution is void, and that courts, as well as other departments, are bound by that instrument. (opinion of the Court - Marbury v. Madison)

a)

the President is above the law because the power of Executive Action

b)

a law that violates the Constitution is not valid

c)

the 3 branches are above the law because they need to power to do what is best for the country

d)

Marbury won the case

26.

Whether we are on a trial court or an appellate court, at the end of our task some human being is going to be affected.....If indeed we are going to be trial judges, whose rulings will affect the lives of other people and who are going to change their lives of our minds and our hearts and or beings to get those rulings rights. (David Souter Supreme Court Justice)

In the quote above, Souter is suggesting:

a)

court rulings will always affect the lives of people so they need to be sure they make the right decision in all cases

b)

only Supreme Court decisions will affect the lives of human beings

c)

court decisions will rarely affect the lives of people

d)

judges should make decisions quickly because of the large case load they have

27.

The _______ nominates individuals to be Supreme Court justices.

a)

Congress

b)

Supreme Court

c)

President

d)

Ms. Viera

28.

_______ approves individuals to be Supreme Court justices.

a)

Congress

b)

Mr. Romo

c)

President

d)

Supreme Court