Question 1

The U.S.Supreme Court has both original and appellate jurisdiction.

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over cases involving ambassadors, public ministers and consuls, and disputes between states. It has appellate jurisdiction over cases appealed from lower federal courts or state courts.

Question 2

Losers in civil cases may be required to pay monetary damages for their actions.

Accepted Answer

It is true that losers in civil cases may be required to pay monetary damages for their actions.

Question 3

The application of prior court decisions to a case is also known as:

Accepted Answer

Legal precedents refer to prior court decisions that are applied to current cases. Standards refer to generally accepted levels of behavior or quality. Touchmarks and bench rulings are not commonly used legal terms. Briefs refer to written arguments presented to the court.

Question 4

What is the president's most direct influence on the Court?

Accepted Answer

The president's most direct influence on the Court is through their power to nominate judges whom they believe share their policy preferences. This can have long-term effects on the Court's decisions as justices serve lifelong appointments.

Question 5

A judicial philosophy that,when making decisions,the courts should see beyond the text of the Constitution or a statute in order to consider broader societal implications is considered to be indicative of judicial:

Accepted Answer

This question is referring to the difference between judicial restraint and judicial activism. Judicial restraint is the philosophy that courts should adhere to the literal language of the Constitution or statute and defer to the decisions of the elected branches of government. Judicial activism, on the other hand, is the philosophy that courts should interpret the Constitution or statute more broadly, taking into account broader societal impacts and injustices. Therefore, the judicial philosophy described in the question is indicative of judicial activism.

Question 6

The U.S.Supreme Court operates primarily as a trial court.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court is primarily an appellate court, meaning it hears appeals from lower courts and does not generally serve as a trial court. It only hears cases that involve important constitutional or legal issues.

Question 7

Public law is a form of criminal law.

Accepted Answer

Public law is a form of law that deals with the relationships between individuals and the state, including constitutional law, administrative law, and criminal law. Criminal law is a specific type of public law that deals with offenses against the state or society as a whole, and involves prosecution by the state. Therefore, while public law includes criminal law, it is not synonymous with it.

Question 8

The Supreme Court only hears cases involving public law.

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court hears cases involving both public law (issues that concern the public or society, such as constitutional law, administrative law, and criminal law) and private law (matters that concern private individuals or entities, such as contracts, property, and family law).

Question 9

In the United States,the courts resolve both civil and criminal disputes.

Accepted Answer

The court system in the United States is responsible for resolving both civil and criminal disputes. Civil disputes typically involve private or personal matters between individuals or organizations, such as disputes over contracts or property ownership. Criminal disputes relate to violations of criminal law, such as theft or assault, and generally involve the state prosecuting an individual or organization for the alleged crime.

Question 10

According to stare decisis,judges are significantly influenced by:

Accepted Answer

Stare decisis is the legal principle of adhering to precedent or previously decided cases. This means that judges are significantly influenced by prior judicial decisions and rulings when making their own decisions. Federal statutes, the Constitution, administrative rules and regulations, and the original intent of documents may also play a role in their decisions, but the primary focus is on the precedent set by past cases.

Question 11

Which of the following guiding legal doctrines is a Latin phrase for "let the decision stand"?

Accepted Answer

Stare decisis is a legal doctrine that means to "let the decision stand." It is the principle that precedents set in higher courts are binding on lower courts.

Question 12

Justice Harry Blackmun's decision in Roe v.Wade was based on a judicial philosophy that involved looking beyond the text of the Constitution to find a right to an abortion.He used the philosophy of judicial:

Accepted Answer

Justice Blackmun's decision in Roe v. Wade was based on the philosophy of judicial activism, which involves interpreting the Constitution in a way that advances or promotes certain social or political goals. In this case, Justice Blackmun found that a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy was protected under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, even though the text of the Constitution does not expressly mention this right.

Question 13

Most cases are settled before trial.

Accepted Answer

According to statistics, over 90% of civil cases and 80% of criminal cases are settled before trial.

Question 14

Justices O'Connor and Kennedy have both been known for breaking ties in 5-4 Supreme Court decisions.These "tie breakers" are also known as:

Accepted Answer

Justices O'Connor and Kennedy were known as swing voters because they often provided the decisive vote in closely divided cases, making them pivotal in determining the outcome of 5-4 decisions on the Supreme Court.

Question 15

In 2002,Justice David Souter wrote a 34-page dissent,which upheld the use of government-funded school vouchers to pay for parochial school tuition.Why might Supreme Court justices decide to write a long,dissenting opinion such as this?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 2002,Justice David Souter wrote a 34-page...

Question 16

A lawsuit in which a large number of persons with common interests join together under a representative party to bring or defend a lawsuit is called a ________ lawsuit.

Accepted Answer

A class-action lawsuit allows a group of individuals with similar legal claims to join together under the representation of one or a few individuals, known as the named plaintiffs. This is often used in cases where each individual's claim may be too small to litigate individually or where common issues of fact or law exist.

Question 17

Defendants found guilty of civil wrongs can be fined or sent to prison.

Accepted Answer

Defendants found guilty of civil wrongs can be ordered to pay damages or restitution, but they are not sent to prison, which is a penalty for criminal offenses, not civil wrongs.

Question 18

When the Supreme Court ruled that it would apply the ruling of a previous establishment clause case to a new establishment clause case,what doctrine did it implement?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court implemented the doctrine of stare decisis, which means "to stand by things decided." This doctrine requires the lower courts to follow the decisions of higher courts, and the Supreme Court to follow its own previous decisions, unless there is a compelling reason to overrule such decisions.

Question 19

A judicial philosophy holding that,when making decisions,the courts should remain as close as possible to the actual wording of the Constitution and other laws as well as to the original intent of lawmakers is considered to be indicative of judicial:

Accepted Answer

Judicial restraint is a philosophy that advocates for judges to limit their interpretation of the law and adhere closely to the language and original intent of the Constitution and other laws. This approach prioritizes the role of the legislature and executive branches in writing and implementing laws, and emphasizes respect for precedent and the traditional role of the judiciary in society.

Question 20

In a public law case,the government is the plaintiff.

Accepted Answer

In a public law case, the government can be either the plaintiff or the defendant, depending on the nature of the case. For example, in criminal cases, the government acts as the plaintiff prosecuting the defendant, but in cases where government actions are being challenged, the government may be the defendant.

Quiz 8: The Federal Courts