Chapter 1 pt. 3

Question 1

The federal court system today consists of three primary tiers
1.
2.
3.

Answer 1

1. district courts
2. intermediate appellate courts
3. Supreme Court

Question 2

The district court is the ____ ______, or the court of ______ _______, for the federal court system.

Answer 2

trial court

original jurisdiction

Question 3

There are currently how many federal judicial districts?

Answer 3

94

Question 4

In each district there is a United States District Court.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

There are approximately how many federal district judges?

Answer 5

650

Question 6

Are federal district judges appointed for life ?

Answer 6

Yes

Question 7

The number of judges ranges from __ to ___ depending on the population of the individual district.

Answer 7

2

28

Question 8

Subordinate judicial officers are referred to as

Answer 8

magistrates (Judges)

Question 9

Who conducts preliminary proceedings in cases before the district court and issue warrants?

Answer 9

Magistrates (Judges)

Question 10

What courts have original jurisdiction over both civil matters and criminal cases involving federal statues?

Answer 10

Federal District Courts

Question 11

What refers to the situation where the opposing parties are from different states?

Answer 11

Diversity of citizenship

Question 12

Because the Constitution requires a speedy trial, criminal cases take precedence, and civil cases are often delayed.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

How long are federal judges appointed for?

Answer 13

Life

Question 14

After district court the next level of court is?

Answer 14

Courts of Appeals

Question 15

Courts of Appeals are also sometimes referred to as?

Answer 15

circuit courts

Question 16

Today there are how many courts of appeals ?

Answer 16

13

Question 17

11 for the fifty states
1 for District of Columbia
1 for the federal circuit

Answer 17

Court of Appeals

Question 18

Appeals are heard by _____ _______ _______.

Answer 18

Three Judge Panels

Question 19

For the court of appeals if there are conflicting decisions involving the same legal issue between two panels, the entire circuit may sit en banc and rehear the case.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

The Supreme Court is known as the “___________”

Answer 20

Court of Last Resort

Question 21

What is an order issued by the Supreme Court to the lower court to send the record of the case up to the Supreme Court?

Answer 21

Writ of Certiorari

Question 22

Who votes to determine if the Supreme Court accepts a case?

Answer 22

Justices

Question 23

If four or more justices vote to accept a case it is placed on the Court’s docket. What is this called ?

Answer 23

rule of 4

Question 24

Supreme Court has three main purposes:

1. to resolve disputes between states
2. to resolve conflicting opinions of lower federal and state courts
3. to resolve constitutional questions

Answer 24

True

Question 25

resolve disputes between states

Answer 25

Supreme Court

Question 26

resolve conflicting opinions of lower federal and state courts

Answer 26

Supreme Court

Question 27

resolve constitutional questions

Answer 27

Supreme Court

Question 28

The Supreme Court is currently composed of how many justices?

Answer 28

9

Question 29

What are the courts that deal with less serious criminal offenses and civil cases?

Answer 29

Courts of Limited Jurisdiction

Question 30

What is an entirely new trial that is conducted as if the previous proceeding had not occurred?

Answer 30

Trial de novo

Question 31

The primary purpose of the intermediate court of appeals is to hear ____ and _____ appeals.

Answer 31

Civil and Criminal

Question 32

A direct appeal if also referred to as “an appeal as a matter of right.”

Answer 32

True

Question 33

48 states have one court of last resort and two states have two. Which states have two ?

Answer 33

Oklahoma and Texas

Question 34

The number of judges on the court of last resort varies from ___ to ___.

Answer 34

3 to 9