Unit 12: The Supreme Court & The Judiciary

Question 1

(T/F) The United States Supreme Court can decide only cases that originate in federal courts.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The United States government’s lawyer before the Supreme Court is called the __________.

Answer 2

Solicitor General

Question 3

A jurist who believes in judicial restraint ___________.

Answer 3

Is wary of going against the wishes of elected representatives

Question 4

Checks on judicial power include ___________.

Answer 4

Constitutional amendment
impeachment
withdrawing jurisdiction

Question 5

The Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction includes cases _______.

Answer 5

Between one of the states and the United States government
Between two or more states
Involving foreign ambassadors, ministers, or consuls

Question 6

Who or what determines the size of the US Supreme Court?

Answer 6

Congress

Question 7

Today, almost all cases reach the Supreme Court on a writ of _____________________.

Answer 7

Certiorari

Question 8

What are the constitutional qualifications to become a federal judge?

Answer 8

None

Question 9

(T/F) The Supreme Court is much more active in striking down state than federal legislation.

Answer 9

True

Question 10

The power to hear a case for the first time

Answer 10

Original jurisdiction

Question 11

The power of a higher court to review decisions and change outcomes of decisions of lower courts

Answer 11

Appellate jurisdiction

Question 12

Orders a lower court to deliver its record in a case so that the higher court may review it.

Answer 12

Writ of certiorari

Question 13

An impartial adviser, often voluntary, to a court of law in a particular case.

Answer 13

Amicus curiae

Question 14

Latin for “to stand by things decided.” In short, it is the doctrine of precedent.

Answer 14

Stare decisis

Question 15

The way lawyers and judges talk publicly about the law.

Answer 15

Legal reasoning

Question 16

A process under which executive and (in some countries) legislative actions are subject to review by the judiciary

Answer 16

Judicial review

Question 17

Refers to court rulings based on a judge’s political or personal considerations

Answer 17

Judicial activism

Question 18

A theory of judicial interpretation that encourages judges to limit the exercise of their own power.

Answer 18

Judicial restraint

Question 19

Refers to a tacit agreement among senators not to vote for any presidential nominee who is opposed by the senators from the nominee’s home state.

Answer 19

Senatorial courtesy

Question 20

(aka Circuit Split) When multiple U.S. Courts of Appeal issue rulings on a point of law which are in conflict with each other.

Answer 20

Circuit Conflict

Question 21

The name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.

Answer 21

Circuit court

Question 22

The general trial courts of the United States federal court system.

Answer 22

District court

Question 23

A landmark case by the United States Supreme Court which forms the basis for the exercise of judicial review

Answer 23

Marbury v Madison (1803)