Question 1

This is the schedule of cases for a court.

Accepted Answer

A docket is a schedule of cases to be heard in a court.

Question 2

This is a trial heard by a judge and not a jury.

Accepted Answer

A bench trial is a trial heard by a judge without a jury present. Therefore, the best choice is C. A hearing (A) can refer to any type of court proceeding, not necessarily a trial. A grand jury (B) is a group of citizens convened to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial, but they do not determine guilt or innocence. An arraignment (D) is a hearing where the defendant is read the charges against them and enters a plea.

Question 3

A formal statement of the criminal offense the defendant is accused of.

Accepted Answer

A charge is a formal statement of the criminal offense the defendant is accused of. An inquest is an investigation into the cause of someone's death. A plea is a defendant's formal response to a criminal charge. Writ is a legal document issued by a court that commands or orders someone to do something or refraining from doing something.

Question 4

This refers to a court's authority to hear certain cases.

Accepted Answer

Jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to hear certain cases. This means that a court has the power to make legal decisions and judgments regarding a specific case or issue. Without jurisdiction, a court cannot legally hear and resolve a case.

Question 5

In Martin v. Hunter's Lessee (1816) and Cohens v. Virginia (1821), the Marshall court upheld this clause found in Article VI of the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

Martin v. Hunter's Lessee and Cohens v. Virginia both dealt with the issue of federal laws or treaties conflicting with state laws. The Supreme Court upheld the Supremacy Clause found in Article VI of the Constitution, which establishes that federal laws and treaties take precedence over conflicting state laws, as long as they are consistent with the Constitution.

Question 6

The federal courts get their power from this Article of the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

Article III of the Constitution establishes the judicial branch of the federal government, which includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts. This article outlines the jurisdiction of these courts and grants them the power to interpret federal law and the Constitution.

Question 7

The U.S. district courts, U.S. courts of appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court together compose this.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. district courts, U.S. courts of appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court are all part of the federal court system, making choice D, "Federal courts," the correct answer. The other choices are not accurate descriptions of these courts, as appeals courts refer specifically to courts of appeals and circuit courts refer to a specific grouping of district courts. State courts also do not include the federal courts.

Question 8

These are courts of limited jurisdiction within the district courts that perform many of the federal court system's routine, but essential tasks.

Accepted Answer

Magistrate courts are responsible for performing routine tasks such as conducting preliminary hearings, issuing warrants, and conducting misdemeanor trials. They are considered to be courts of limited jurisdiction within the district courts. The other options listed are not courts of limited jurisdiction within the district courts.

Question 9

Which types of cases do federal courts hear?

Accepted Answer

Federal courts hear cases that involve violations of federal law or the Constitution, cases between residents of different states if the dollar amount at issue exceeds $75,000, and cases involving bankruptcy, copyright, patent, and maritime law. Therefore, all of the above options are correct.

Question 10

Which of the following offenses would trigger a federal charge?

Accepted Answer

All of the offenses listed (identity theft, child pornography, and bank robbery) can be prosecuted under federal law, in addition to state law.

Question 11

The courts do not control how they are financed, do not control how many cases they receive, cannot ensure adequate resources to carry out sentences, and cannot control their public image.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately describes the limitations of the courts.

Question 12

By the 18th century, many of the essential elements of modern criminal procedure were found in some form in English courts.

Accepted Answer

By the 18th century, English courts had established principles such as the presumption of innocence, the right to legal counsel, the burden of proof on the prosecution, and the right to a fair and impartial trial. These elements form the basis of modern criminal procedure.

Question 13

England standardized court practices among the colonies, so U.S. courts developed in response to the English system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of England standardized court practices among the colonies,...

Question 14

Federal law enforcement agencies are rarely the source of criminal investigations referred to the U.S. attorneys.

Accepted Answer

Federal law enforcement agencies often refer criminal investigations to U.S. attorneys for prosecution.

Question 15

Civil cases constitute most of the district courts' workload.

Accepted Answer

Civil cases, which involve disputes between individuals or organizations, make up the majority of cases heard in district courts.

Question 16

Prisoners in either federal or state prisons can file petitions in the U.S. district courts if they believe their rights under federal law are being violated.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true according to the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) of 1996, which allows prisoners to file petitions in federal courts if they believe their rights under federal law are being violated.

Question 17

The U.S. Supreme Court is near the top of the hierarchical jurisdiction for both the federal and state court systems.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court is at the top of the federal court system hierarchy but does not have jurisdiction over state court systems, except for cases that involve federal law or constitutional issues.

Quiz 6: The Courts