Question 1

The final interpreter of the U.S. Constitution is ______________.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court is the final interpreter of the U.S. Constitution. This is established through the system of judicial review, where the Supreme Court has the authority to interpret the Constitution and declare actions of the other branches of government unconstitutional.

Question 2

The election of judges may be problematic for a democracy because

Accepted Answer

The cost of campaigning can create a conflict of interest for judges who may feel compelled to rule in favor of donors or supporters who helped them get elected, rather than ruling impartially based on the law. This can undermine the integrity of the judiciary and erode public trust in the judicial system. The other answer choices are either incorrect or do not address the potential problem of elected judges and campaign finance.

Question 3

The rule of four refers to

Accepted Answer

The rule of four is a Supreme Court practice that permits four of the nine justices to grant a writ of certiorari, which is essentially an agreement to review a case. This ensures that minority opinions have a chance to be heard, even if a majority of the justices are not initially interested in the case.

Question 4

When political scientists say that the courts have the power of judicial review, they mainly mean that the courts

Accepted Answer

The power of judicial review allows the courts to declare any federal or state law unconstitutional if it conflicts with the Constitution. Therefore, option D is the correct answer. Option A and B are not relevant to the power of judicial review, and option C is incorrect because the courts can also declare state laws unconstitutional. Option E is partially correct, but not the most precise answer as the power of judicial review is broader in scope than just ruling parts of the Constitution unconstitutional.

Question 5

In the areas of civil liberties and civil rights, President George W. Bush's judicial appointees have been

Accepted Answer

President George W. Bush's judicial appointees have been the most conservative on record, especially on issues related to civil liberties and civil rights. Many of his appointees have displayed a traditionalist approach to interpreting the Constitution, which has led to decisions that limit the scope of civil rights protections and expand the powers of law enforcement and government surveillance. This has been particularly evident in cases related to national security and the balance between individual rights and collective security interests.

Question 6

______________ was the Supreme Court decision that outlawed state-sanctioned segregation in public schools.

Accepted Answer

Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court decision in 1954 that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. This decision effectively outlawed racial segregation in public schools, which had been permitted under the "separate but equal" doctrine established in the 1896 case of Plessy v. Ferguson.

Question 7

How are federal judges chosen?

Accepted Answer

Federal judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. This process is outlined in Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. State governors and the House of Representatives are not involved in the selection of federal judges. The American Bar Association may evaluate the qualifications of potential nominees, but they do not have the authority to appoint judges.

Question 8

When political scientists say that the United States has a dual court system, they most often mean that

Accepted Answer

The term "dual court system" refers to the fact that there are two separate systems of courts in the United States - one at the state level and one at the federal level. State courts handle cases involving state law, while federal courts handle cases involving federal law or cases that cross state lines.

Question 9

Ten years after the Brown decision, what percentage of Southern black children were in non-segregated schools?

Accepted Answer

Ten years after the Brown decision, only 1 percent of Southern black children were in non-segregated schools. Despite the 1954 ruling, many states in the South used legal loopholes and delayed tactics to avoid desegregation. It was not until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other federal intervention that significant progress towards desegregation was made.

Question 10

According to the text, why do federal courts tend to lag behind other political institutions and act as a drag on political change?

Accepted Answer

Federal judges enjoy a lifetime tenure, which means they are not subject to the same political pressures and rapid changes as other political institutions. This can lead to a slower pace of change within the judiciary compared to other branches of government.

Question 11

In 2011, the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, was upheld in a ______________ decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act in a 5-4 decision on June 28, 2012.

Question 12

On average, the U.S. Supreme Court usually hears ______________ cases per year.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court usually hears around 80 cases per year. Therefore, option B is the best choice as it is the only option that says "less than 100."

Question 13

Which statement about the U.S. Supreme Court is true?

Accepted Answer

Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court are appointed for life, although they can choose to retire or resign. This is intended to insulate them from political pressures and ensure an independent judiciary.

Question 14

What was the Constitutional reasoning that the Supreme Court used to uphold the Affordable Care Act?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act primarily on the basis that Congress has the power to tax. The individual mandate, which requires most Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty, was seen as a tax, and therefore within Congress's constitutional powers.

Question 15

How many federal courts of appeals are there?

Accepted Answer

There are 12 federal courts of appeals, each having jurisdiction over particular circuits or regions of the country.

Question 16

The text makes all of the following claims except

Accepted Answer

The text discusses the importance of judges to remain impartial and not be influenced by public opinion, but it does not make the claim that judges do not have policy goals. In fact, the article acknowledges that judges may have different interpretations and goals in applying the law.

Question 17

How many federal district courts are there?

Accepted Answer

There are 94 federal district courts in the United States. Each state has at least one district court, and some states have more than one.

Question 18

The term of office for a federal justice is ______________.

Accepted Answer

Federal justices, including Supreme Court justices, are appointed for a life term, meaning they serve until they resign, retire, or pass away.

Question 19

According to the text, the appointment of judges is hard to reconcile with democratic theory because

Accepted Answer

The text states that appointment of judges is hard to reconcile with democratic theory because judges selected by appointment are not accountable to voters. This means that they do not have to participate in elections and therefore are not directly accountable to the people they serve.

Question 20

The text cites President Andrew Jackson's comment on a Supreme Court decision mainly to illustrate the book's point that

Accepted Answer

The text cites President Andrew Jackson's comment on a Supreme Court decision to illustrate the book's point that there are many limitations on the power of the courts. Jackson famously said, "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!" This comment reflects Jackson's frustration with the limitations on the power of the executive branch to enforce Supreme Court decisions. It shows that even the president, who is seen as a powerful figure, may be limited by the power of the courts.

Quiz 8: The Courts