Question 1

In 2013, the Democratic-controlled Senate altered the filibuster rules to prevent a minority of senators from being able to obstruct the confirmation of the president's

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 2013, the Democratic-controlled Senate altered the...

Question 2

In 2017, the Republican-controlled Senate altered the filibuster rules to prevent a minority of senators from being able to obstruct the confirmation of the president's

Accepted Answer

In 2017, the Senate, led by Republicans, changed the filibuster rules specifically for Supreme Court nominees, allowing them to be confirmed with a simple majority vote.

Question 3

The "blue slip process" can end a nomination for the lower courts if

Accepted Answer

The "blue slip process" allows home state senators to express approval or disapproval of judicial nominees for federal district and circuit courts in their state. If a senator disapproves, it can effectively block the nomination.

Question 4

Initially, there were how many Supreme Court justices?

Accepted Answer

The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the initial number of Supreme Court justices at six.

Question 5

Which Supreme Court justice has the most conservative average ideology rating of justices appointed since 1937?

Accepted Answer

Justice Clarence Thomas is widely regarded as the most conservative justice on the Supreme Court since 1937, based on his judicial decisions and ideological stance.

Question 6

The trial courts at the federal level are called

Accepted Answer

The U.S. District Courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system where most federal cases begin.

Question 7

Which article of the U.S. Constitution creates the Supreme Court and allows the federal judiciary?

Accepted Answer

Article 3 of the U.S. Constitution establishes the judicial branch, including the Supreme Court and other federal courts.

Question 8

U.S. District Courts rule on

Accepted Answer

U.S. District Courts have jurisdiction over cases involving criminal law, civil law, and constitutional law, making all the options applicable.

Question 9

Civil law cases can result in

Accepted Answer

Civil law cases typically involve disputes between individuals or entities, and the resolution often involves the awarding of monetary damages to the aggrieved party.

Question 10

Approximately how many U.S. District Court judgeships existed in 2017?

Accepted Answer

In 2017, there were nearly 700 U.S. District Court judgeships, as the federal judiciary is composed of a significant number of judges to handle the caseload across the United States.

Question 11

Approximately how many U.S. Circuit Court judgeships existed in fiscal year 2019?

Accepted Answer

In fiscal year 2019, there were approximately 179 authorized U.S. Circuit Court judgeships.

Question 12

The appeals courts at the federal level are called

Accepted Answer

The federal appeals courts are known as the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals. They review decisions from the U.S. District Courts.

Question 13

Have Supreme Court rulings always moved the nation toward more equality and respect for civil rights?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Have Supreme Court rulings always moved the...

Question 14

The federal judiciary does not have significant enforcement power, and when respect for rulings fails, the courts often rely on the _______ branch to enforce their rulings.

Accepted Answer

The executive branch is responsible for enforcing laws and court rulings, so when the judiciary lacks enforcement power, it relies on the executive branch to implement its decisions.

Question 15

How many justices from racial and/or ethnicity minority groups currently serve on the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

As of October 2023, there are two justices from racial and/or ethnic minority groups on the U.S. Supreme Court: Sonia Sotomayor, who is of Hispanic descent, and Clarence Thomas, who is African American.

Question 16

If the Senate Judiciary Committee had held hearings for President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, and had he received a majority vote from the Senate, how many justices would President Obama have placed on the Court?

Accepted Answer

President Obama had already appointed two justices, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. If Merrick Garland had been confirmed, he would have been Obama's third appointment to the Supreme Court.

Question 17

As of 2019, approximately how many federal court judges are women?

Accepted Answer

As of 2019, approximately 35 percent of federal court judges were women.

Question 18

In 2019, Barbara Lagoa became the first _______ to serve on the Florida Supreme Court.

Accepted Answer

Barbara Lagoa became the first Latina to serve on the Florida Supreme Court in 2019.

Question 19

President Franklin Roosevelt proposed increasing the number of Supreme Court justices to

Accepted Answer

President Franklin Roosevelt proposed increasing the number of Supreme Court justices to 15 in 1937 as part of his court-packing plan to obtain favorable rulings for his New Deal legislation.

Question 20

The smallest number of justices on the Supreme Court was

Accepted Answer

The smallest number of justices on the Supreme Court was 5, which was set by the Judiciary Act of 1789.

Quiz 9: The Judiciary