AP United States Government and Politics - Unit 5 Quiz

If a group or individual has not been harmed by an action of the federal government, but they still disagree with it, how may they make use of the judicial system?

The may sue the government in federal court.

They may petition the White House to bring the case into federal court.

They may call for the impeachment of a federal judge.

They may file an amicus curiae brief when someone else brings the issue to court.

They may file an amicus curiae brief when someone else brings the issue to court.

If at least four Supreme Court justices agree that a case ought to be heard, ________.

those justices will hear the case without the others

they will grant a writ of certiorari

the case will not be heard because the decision to hear a case must be unanimous

the case may be heard, but the Court will let the decision of the lower court stand

they will grant a writ of certiorari

Federal circuit courts have no original jurisdiction. This means that they ________.

are presided over by elected judges

are never the first court to hear a case

cannot hear cases until after they have been through the Supreme Court

were not included in the original constitution.

are never the first court to hear a case

For the judiciary to maintain its efficacy, it must remain ________, according to Federalist Paper #78.

independent

inexpensive

a part of Congress

a political arm of the president

independent

Most cases heard by the Supreme Court come from ________.

state criminal courts

the cases that the president recommends

appeals from lower federal courts

matters over which the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction.

appeals from lower federal courts

Why might Congress change the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?

To lighten the court's workload.

To punish the court for an unpopular decision.

To account for growing U.S. territory, as happened during the mid-nineteenth century.

To prevent the court from ruling on a particular issue.

To prevent the court from ruling on a particular issue.

Which structural feature of the Supreme Court has done the most to increase the controversy surrounding unpopular decisions?

The independence brought about by life-tenure.

The fact that justices are non-partisan.

The fact that a Supreme Court decision cannot be appealed or overturned.

The fact that there is an odd number of justices, so liberals or conservatives always have a majority.

The independence brought about by life-tenure.

What right did the Supreme Court assert is implied by the Constitution in Griswold v. Connecticut and Roe v. Wade?

The right to medical products and services.

The right to privacy.

The right to due process.

Freedom of expression.

The right to privacy.

If the Supreme Court agrees with the ruling of a lower court, they will likely ________.

hear the case anyway, simply to reinforce the lower court's decision

deny the petition for a writ of certiorari

grant the petition for a writ of certiorari, but refuse to hear the case

deny the petition for a writ of certiorari, but still hear the case

deny the petition for a writ of certiorari

On the Supreme Court, a unanimous decision ________.

is required for a ruling to be issued

represents the conclusions of all nine justices, but not necessarily their reasoning

represents the opinion of all nine justices

never occurs

represents the opinion of all nine justices

Which of the following statements best characterizes the argument in favor of judicial activism?

In order to promote the interests of the federal government, the Supreme Court should be allowed to go beyond the confines of the Constitution.

In a majoritarian system, the role of the judiciary is to look after the rights of the minority.

In order to maintain the rule of law, the Constitution must be strictly and uniformly applied to each case.

In order to protect the power of the Judicial Branch, it needs to be insulated from the political process.

In a majoritarian system, the role of the judiciary is to look after the rights of the minority.

Which Supreme Court decision was promptly overturned by a constitutional amendment?

Brown v. Board of Education

Griswold v. Connecticut

Roe v. Wade

Chisolm v. Georgia

Chisolm v. Georgia

Why is the threat of impeachment not likely to influence judicial rulings?

Congress does not have the power to impeach judges.

Impeachment of federal judges must be voted upon by the public.

Federal judges are appointed for life.

Policy disagreements are not seen as grounds for impeachment.

Policy disagreements are not seen as grounds for impeachment.

The principle of judicial review reinforces the rule of law by ________.

Expanding judicial power beyond what is defined in the Constitution

requiring acts of the federal government to comply with the Constitution

requiring the Supreme Court to approve of each law passed by Congress

limiting the power of the federal judiciary

requiring acts of the federal government to comply with the Constitution

How can a president have the greatest impact on Supreme Court decisions?

The president can appoint justices to the court who agree with the president's policy positions.

The president can lobby members of the Supreme Court to support his or her agenda.

The president can refuse to enforce Supreme Court decisions.

The president can impeach members of the Supreme Court.

The president can appoint justices to the court who agree with the president's policy positions.

Judicial activism refers to ________.

the practice of judges actively shaping policy to support the disadvantaged

the practice of judges strictly adhering to the original intent of the Constitution

the practice of judges actively engaging in political debates with the president and members of Congress

the practice of judges expanding the power of the federal government

the practice of judges actively shaping policy to support the disadvantaged

The size of the Supreme Court is ________.

changed from one session of the court to another

determined by Congress

irrelevant because only the chief justice issues written opinions

required by the Constitution to be one chief justice and eight associate justices

determined by Congress

How did President Andrew Jackson and Governor George Wallace both attempt to curb the power of the judiciary?

They attempted to increase the size of the court in order to maximize their own influence.

They lobbied Congress to limit the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

They simply refused to enforce certain Supreme Court decisions.

They appointed conservative justices to the Supreme Court.

They simply refused to enforce certain Supreme Court decisions.

The concept of original intent holds that ________.

judges and justices should determine the intent of the framers of the Constitution regarding a particular matter and decide cases in line with that intent

the founders intended judges to use discretion

it is necessary to adapt the principles in the Constitution to the demands of each era

the founders embraced general principles that are open to interpretation

judges and justices should determine the intent of the framers of the Constitution regarding a particular matter and decide cases in line with that intent

Article III of the Constitution creates the federal judiciary by stating that there would be a Supreme Court and ________.

lower courts created by Congress as needed

a fixed number of lower federal courts

it would have sole judicial power in all federal issues

a system of state courts

lower courts created by Congress as needed