WorksheetsChapter 13 Study Guide Civics
Total questions: 48
Worksheet time: 24mins
What is the primary function of trial courts?
To determine the guilt or innocence of a defendant
To create laws for our nation to follow
To enforce the laws that passed by the executive branch
To provide legal advice to the masses
Which of the following best describes original jurisdiction?
In an adversarial system, what role does the judge primarily serve?
The judge serves as a neutral arbiter or a referee.
What is the role of a plaintiff in a civil trial?
To represent the defendant in court of law. Hopefully, obtaining their freedom
To provide witness testimony for the trial court case going on
Which amendment guarantees the right to a trial by jury in criminal cases?
What is a plea bargain?
What is the significance of a grand jury?
How does serving on a jury empower citizens?
Serving on a jury empowers citizens by involving them in the legal process and allowing them to influence justice. Their Direct Role
Which of the following is NOT a requirement to serve on a jury?
Must be a resident of the state
What is the primary difference between an adversarial and an inquisitorial trial system?
What is the primary focus of appellate courts when reviewing a case?
Reviewing legal errors in the application of law and procedures that took place during a trial court.
What is an 'Error of Law' in a legal context?
What constitutional amendments protect defendants' rights during legal proceedings?
Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments
Second, Third, and fourth Amendments
What does 'Stare Decisis' mean in legal terminology?
In an appeals court, what unique characteristic distinguishes it from a trial court?
Presence of a jury
Ability to retry the entire case
Ability to introduce new evidence
No witnesses or juries, only lawyers and judges
What are the possible outcomes when an appeals court reviews a case?
Only uphold or reverse the original decision
Uphold, reverse, or send back to lower courts
Completely retry the case
Dismiss the case entirely
What is a 'Precedent' in legal terms?
What is the primary purpose of Procedural Due Process?
To prevent arbitrary and unreasonable decisions
When can a case typically be appealed?
In every case automatically after the lose it
Only when new evidence is discovered in a court case that the defendant lost
When the losing party can claim the trial court did not apply the law correctly or fairly
Only in criminal cases where the defendant lose the argument.
What determines whether an error of law will result in reversing a trial court's decision?
Which characteristic best describes the fundamental purpose of federal courts in the United States?
To handle all criminal cases nationwide
To replace state court systems entirely
To serve as constitutional guardians with limited jurisdiction
To manage local traffic violations
How are federal judges typically selected for their positions?
What distinguishes state courts from federal courts in terms of jurisdiction?
State courts have limited jurisdiction
Federal courts can hear all types of legal cases, especially traffic cases
Federal courts have general jurisdiction and can hear a wide variety of cases
State courts have general jurisdiction and can hear a wide variety of cases
Approximately how many cases do state court systems handle annually?
Approximately 103 million cases
Approximately 150 million cases
What is the primary function of federal Circuit Courts of Appeals?
To review and determine the legal correctness of district court decisions
To conduct initial trials for the United States Supreme Court and make sure they are worth it
How many federal district courts exist across the United States?
Which statement best describes local courts in the U.S. judicial system?
They handle complex legal cases that require a lot of work to process
They are the most formal court system, handle high end cases that consume a lot of resources
They are the closest point of contact between citizens and the judicial system
They exclusively manage federal law cases that the district courts do not want to handle
How are state court judges typically selected?
Exclusively by presidential appointment
Only through legislative election that require the approval of the governor of the state
Through four different methods including election and appointment
Randomly selected from the population, as long as they have met the requirements
What percentage of state court cases were criminal cases in 2010?
10%
20%
35%
55%
Which branch of government plays a crucial role in removing federal judges?
Executive branch at the request of the President and the Attorney General
Judicial branch at the request of the Supreme Court
Congress through impeachment procedures
State legislatures which is a grueling process that is conducted throughout the fifty states
What is the definition for law?
The set of rules and standards by which a society governs itself.
The ten commandments are a model for what kind of law?
Ethical law
What was the important basis for American law?
English Common Law
Why do we agree to guidelines for our behavior in the United States?
To protect our Pursuit of Happiness
It is important for citizens to have confidence in the American judicial system
True
False
What are the two types of cases that can be heard in trial court?
How can a civil incident be solved without going to court?
By agreeing to a settlement
Precedents cannot be overruled
True
False
