Chapter 9: The Judiciary: Blending Law and Politics

Question 1

Which group’s extreme underrepresentation in the federal judiciary has been challenged by President Obama’s nomination efforts?

Answer 1

c. Asian Americans.

Question 2

The nomination of judges for the federal judiciary is highly

Answer 2

d. Political.

Question 3

The story of Goodwin Liu’s unsuccessful nomination to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals demonstrates

Answer 3

d. All of the above.
( The strength of partisan politics in judicial politics.
The importance of the perceived ideology of a judicial nominee.
The ability of a few politicians to prevent and delay essential political processes. )

Question 4

Institutions that interpret the laws of the land are known as

Answer 4

d. Courts.

Question 5

The rules of conduct that pertain to a given political order in society, rules that are backed by the organized force of the community, are known as

Answer 5

b. Laws.

Question 6

Constitutional law is a type of law pertaining to

Answer 6

b. The rules for our government expressed in the Constitution.

Question 7

Administrative law is a type of law pertaining to

Answer 7

a. The rules made by bureaucrats and administrative agencies.

Question 8

Criminal law is a type of law pertaining to

Answer 8

c. Violations of a code of behavior specific in local, state, and federal statutes.

Question 9

Statutory law is a type of law pertaining to

Answer 9

d. Rules made by legislatures, especially Congress.

Question 10

If a case is brought before a federal court concerning the separation of powers or civil liberties, it is said to deal with

Answer 10

b. Constitutional law.

Question 11

If a case is brought before a federal court concerning a law created by a state legislature, it is said to deal with

Answer 11

d. Statutory law.

Question 12

If a case is brought before a federal court concerning regulations made by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), it is said to deal with

Answer 12

a. Administrative law.

Question 13

If a case is brought before a federal court concerning an alleged homicide, it is said to deal with

Answer 13

c. Criminal law.

Question 14

A type of law that pertains to a dispute between two parties, at least one of which is a nongovernmental private party, is known as

Answer 14

a. Civil law.

Question 15

If a case is brought before a federal court concerning compensation for an individual’s negligent actions, it is said to deal with

Answer 15

a. Civil law.

Question 16

Unlike criminal law cases, civil law cases

Answer 16

b. Do not result in prison time or fines.

Question 17

Very serious crimes, such as homicide and armed robbery, often receive lengthy sentences and are known as

Answer 17

d. Felonies.

Question 18

Crimes that are not the most serious in the judicial system often receive relatively little jail time and low fines and are known as

Answer 18

c. Misdemeanors.

Question 19

Criminal cases always involve the government as

Answer 19

a. The prosecutor.

Question 20

What are the two simultaneously operating tracks of the American judiciary?

Answer 20

a. State courts and federal courts.