Unit 5 Test

Question 1

A judicial decision that establishes a rule for settling subsequent cases of a similar nature is a

A. writ of certiorari
B. landmark decision
C. writ of mandamus
D. precedent
E. writ error

Answer 1

D. precedent

Question 2

A writ of certiorari is

A. permission granted by a higher court allowing a losing party to bring its care before the court for a ruling
B. the statement explaining the reasoning behind a Supreme Court decision
C. the official transcript of Supreme Court proceedings
D. a statement from a group not directly involved in a Supreme Court case, indicating the group’s opinion on the legal issue at hand
E. an application for a waiver of court fees due to indigence

Answer 2

A. permission granted by a higher court allowing a losing party to bring its care before the court for a ruling

Question 3

Regarding Supreme Court procedures, which one of the following statements is not accurate?

A. when part of the majority, the chief justice decides which justice will write the majority opinion
B. a concurring opinion is a view written by a justice who votes with the majority and agrees with its reasoning
C. a dissenting opinion is an opinion of a judge who votes against the majority
D. attorneys who argue a case before the Supreme Court operate under strict time limits
E. the court has broad standards in choosing the cases it will hear

Answer 3

B. a concurring opinion is a view written by a justice who votes with the majority and agrees with its reasoning

Question 4

Compared with the decision is a Supreme Court case, the opinion is more significant because it

A. determines the losing part in a case and the penalty to be imposed on this party
B. reveals the conflicts between the justices, which the president and Congress can use in determining their position on judicial appointments and new legislation
C. informed others of the Court’s interpretation of the laws and thereby guides their decisions
D. addresses the constitutional aspects of a case, whereas the decision addresses the statutory aspects
E. none of these answers are correct

Answer 4

C. informed others of the Court’s interpretation of the laws and thereby guides their decisions