Chapter 15 Flashcards

1
Q

4 typical backgrounds of Supreme Court justices

A

Whites males

From appointing presidentship political party

Same political philosophy as appointing president

Usually had administrative or judicial positions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Who is the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

A

John Roberts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

4 criteria for selection as a Supreme Court justice

A

Experience

Ideology

Judicial philosophy

Partisanship (political party)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

4 means by which interest groups influence the judicial process

A

Filing a class action lawsuit

Having their lawyers representing a plaintiff

Filing an amicus curiae brief

Lobbying the judiciary committee about a judicial nominee

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What court case established the principle of judicial review

A

Madison vs. Marbury

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Who was the Chief Justice

A

John Marshall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the judicial review

A

Ability of the court to rule acts of congress, executive branch,state legislatures as unconstitutional

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is original jurisdiction

A

Courts that hears cases for the first time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is appellate jurisdiction

A

Courts that hear cases on appeal or review

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Which does the Supreme Court have

Appellate or original jurisdiction

A

Both

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What federal courts are specified by the constitution

A

U.S. Supreme Court

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Civil cases

A

Dispute between two parties usually over property such as divorce, discrimination charges by an example employee vs an employer, child support, merger of two firms for its legality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Criminal cases

A

Violation of specific law such as theft, murder, embezzlement, assault etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the weakness of the courts as policy makers

A

The courts must rely on other institutions to implement their decisions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the formal definition of the judicial system

A

An adversarial system in which justice emerges from the struggle between two contending points of view

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is senatorial courtesy

A

Nominees for federal judgeships most meet the approval of senators of the presidents party of from the state that the nominee is from

17
Q

What is the basis for most Supreme Court decisions

A

Based on past procedure or diversions in similar cases

18
Q

What are stare decisis

A

Courts decide cases largely based on earlier or previous court decisions

19
Q

Besides judicial review what is the primary strength of the Supreme Court

A

Ability to decide which cases it will hear

20
Q

What is an amicus curiae brief

A

Legal briefs submitted by “friends of the court” to provide information and influence the courts decision

21
Q

What is the check of the Supreme Court on congress

A

Judicial review -declares laws unconstitutional

22
Q

Judicial activism

A

Decisions in the courts opinion based on the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation

23
Q

Judicial restraint

A

Courts merely act as referees for the disputants/defer as much as possible to legislatures

24
Q

Dissenting opinion

A

Decision written by one or more justices that disagrees with the majority opinion

25
Q

What was court packing

A

FDR’s plan to expand the court by increasing the number of judges on the court and getting others to retire

26
Q

How many Supreme Court justices currently serve on the court

A

9

27
Q

How does the warren court serve as an example of judicial system

A

Brown vs board-Prohibited prayer in school

Miranda vs Arizona -Initiated congressional reapportionment

28
Q

What is the courts policy of political questions

A

The court does not issues a ruling to avoid being involved in resolving disputes between the president and congress

29
Q

4 functions of the Supreme Court

A

Hear cases

Resolved conflicts amongst states

Maintain the supremacy of of national laws

Ensure uniform interpretation of court decisions