Judical Branch

Question 1

The Constitution created the _____________, but lets Congress decide on the ____ of the _____________ & ____________________.

Answer 1

Supreme Court, size, Supreme Court & lower federal courts

Question 2

The federal courts hear and decide - have ____________ over - a case depending on either the _______ ______ or the _______ involved in the case.

Answer 2

Jurisdiction, subject matter, parties

Question 3

The Supreme Court mainly acts as an _________ _____, meaning that it hears cases on appeal from lower courts.

Answer 3

Appellate court

Question 4

A trial by jury is guaranteed to anyone accused of a federal crime, EXCEPT those cases dealing with ___________.

Answer 4

Impeachment

Question 5

A person can be convicted of treason only if he or she _________ or two _________ testify to it.

Answer 5

Confesses, witnesses

Question 6

Which Presidents collectively appointed all of our current Supreme Court Justices?

Answer 6

George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden

Question 7

How many current Supreme Court Justices did George W. Bush appoint?

Answer 7

3

Question 8

How many current Supreme Court Justices did Barack Obama appoint?

Answer 8

2

Question 9

How many current Supreme Court Justices did Donald Trump appoint?

Answer 9

3

Question 10

How many current Supreme Court Justices did Joe Biden appoint?

Answer 10

1

Question 11

In what article and section of the Constitution do we find the judicial powers given to the Supreme Court and any inferior courts that Congress may authorize?

Answer 11

Article 3, Section 1

Question 12

What are the two different court systems that are used in the US?

Answer 12

The national judiciary and the courts run by each of the 50 states

Question 13

Jurisdiction is the authority of a court to “hear” a case. What does it mean to “hear” a case?

Answer 13

To try and decide

Question 14

Under which two scenarios will the federal court system hear a case?

Answer 14

The subject matter or the parties involved

Question 15

What is original jurisdiction?

Answer 15

Belongs to the court in which a case is first heard

Question 16

Which federal court can practice both original and appellate jurisdiction?

Answer 16

The Supreme Court

Question 17

In which case did the Supreme Court first assert its power of judicial review? In what year?

Answer 17

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Question 18

What is the 2-step process for judicial appointments?

Answer 18

President nominates, Senate approves

Question 19

How many justices have to agree to hear a case (grant a “writ of certiorari”) before it appears on the Court’s docket?

Answer 19

4

Question 20

How many cases does the Court grant a writ of certiorari to each term?

Answer 20

Less than 100

Question 21

How many district courts are there throughout the United States?

Answer 21

94

Question 22

What type of jurisdiction do district courts practice?

Answer 22

Original jurisdiction

Question 23

What are criminal cases?

Answer 23

Cases in which a defendant is tried for committing a crime as defined by the law

Question 24

What are civil cases?

Answer 24

Cases involving a non criminal matter such as a contract dispute or a claim of patent infringement

Question 25

How many federal appeal courts are there?

Answer 25

12

Question 26

How many different judges hear cases on the court of appeals?

Answer 26

179

Question 27

What does the Court of Federal Claims hear?

Answer 27

Pleas against the acts of the US government