9. Multiple Choice

Question 1

Cases in which the government (as plaintiff) charges an individual with violating a statute that has been enacted to protect the public health, safety, morals, or welfare are classified as _________ law.

Answer 1

criminal

Question 2

Most criminal cases are heard in …

Answer 2

state and local courts

Question 3

Cases involving disputes among individuals (or between individuals and the government) in which the losers may be required to pay monetary damages for their actions but not fined or sent to prison are classified as ______________ law.

Answer 3

Civil

Question 4

The two most common types of civil cases involve …

Answer 4

contracts and torts

Question 5

Smith Manufacturing Corporation charges that Jones Distributors failed to honor an agreement to deliver raw materials at a specified time, causing Smith to lose business. Smith asks the Court to order Jones to pay compensation for damage that was allegedly suffered. This is an example of a typical ______________case.

Answer 5

Contract

Question 6

In a medical malpractice case, an individual alleges that he or she has been injured by another’s negligence or malfeasance. Medical malpractice cases such as this one involve which kind of law?

Answer 6

tort

Question 7

Which of the following is a major form of public law?

Answer 7

constitutional law

Question 8

Under which condition would a criminal case enter the realm of public law?

Answer 8

if the defendant claims that constitutional rights were violated

Question 9

Administrative law is a subset of what category of law?

Answer 9

public law

Question 10

One of the foundations of judicial independence in the United States is …

Answer 10

judicial review

Question 11

Cases in which a plaintiff or defendant alleges the government’s misuse of powers or abuse of citizens’ rights as defined under the Constitution or by statute are called ________________ law.

Answer 11

public

Question 12

What is the name of the court practice in which a previous decision by a court applies as a precedent in similar cases until the decision is overruled?

Answer 12

stare decisis

Question 13

Why does the history principle apply to the judicial branch more than the other two branches of the federal government?

Answer 13

Courts rely on precedents from previous cases to guide current decisions.

Question 14

Under what authority does the U.S. military operate its own court system that governs the behavior of men and women in uniform?

Answer 14

Uniform Code of Military Justice

Question 15

Ninety-nine percent of all court cases are heard in which of the following venues?

Answer 15

state and local courts

Question 16

In civil cases, most litigation is brought in the …

Answer 16

state and local courts

Question 17

The court that initially hears a criminal or civil case is the __________ court.

Answer 17

trail

Question 18

If a defendant is convicted of robbery in a state trial court, he or she may challenge the outcome in a higher court, such as …

Answer 18

a state court of appeals

Question 19

What is the difference between the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction and its appellate jurisdiction?

Answer 19

Cases in the Court’s original jurisdiction go directly to the Supreme Court, while cases in its appellate jurisdiction go to state or lower federal courts first.

Question 20

In the United States, the basis for the authority of judges is …

Answer 20

the Constitution and laws

Question 21

Civil cases that involve the citizens of more than one state and in which more than $75,000 is at stake may be heard in either the federal or the state courts, usually depending on the preference of the …

Answer 21

plaintiff

Question 22

For the most part, Congress has assigned federal court jurisdictions on the basis of …

Answer 22

geography

Question 23

Which of the following courts exercises appellate jurisdiction over cases heard by the district courts within its region?

Answer 23

each circuit court

Question 24

Which court hears appeals involving patent law and those appeals arising from the decisions of the trade and claims court?

Answer 24

Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Question 25

The Federal Ninth Circuit of Appeals includes eleven western states and territories, making it the largest court in terms of both population and land area. There have been attempts to divide the Ninth Circuit, but it has proven difficult to organize a coalition in favor of a specific alternative. Which of the five principles of politics highlights the importance of coalition building?

Answer 25

All politics is collective action.

Question 26

Which of the following is true regarding Article I courts and Article III courts?

Answer 26

Article I courts are less independent than Article III courts.

Question 27

Most of the cases filed with the Supreme Court …

Answer 27

are dismissed without rulings on their merits.

Question 28

Which constitutional article gives the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in cases involving foreign ambassadors and issues in which a state is a party?

Answer 28

Article III

Question 29

Which constitutional article gives the Supreme Court appellate jurisdiction in all federal cases?

Answer 29

Article III