U.S. Judiciary

Question 1

Jurisdiction

Answer 1

Authority vested in a court to hear and decide cases (both geographic and legal in nature)

Question 2

Original Jurisdiction

Answer 2

The jurisdiction of courts that hear a case first.

Question 3

Appellate Jurisdiction

Answer 3

The power of courts to hear and review cases decided by lower courts.

Question 4

How did Alexander Hamilton refer to the courts?

Answer 4

The least dangerous branch of government.

Question 5

What courts are enumerated in Article III?

Answer 5

Supreme court and “other courts as established by Congress.”

Question 6

Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction

Answer 6

Disputes between states.

Question 7

Supreme Court Appellate Jurisdiction

Answer 7

all other cases

Question 8

Why did the framers give federal judges lifetime tenure?

Answer 8

To insulate them from the whims of politics.

Question 9

How do checks and balances work with the judiciary?

Answer 9

President nominates judges, the Senate confirms them, the court can find laws passed by Congress unconstitutional, Congress can impeach judges

Question 10

Federalist 78

Answer 10

Federalist paper authored by Alexander Hamilton that covers the role of the judiciary including judicial review.

Question 11

Judiciary Act of 1789

Answer 11

Legislation that created the current three-tiered system of the judiciary.

Question 12

First Supreme Court Justice

Answer 12

John Jay (one of the authors of the Federalist Papers)

Question 13

How many justices on the Supreme Court?

Answer 13

9 (fixed in 1869)

Question 14

Was Supreme Court initially effective?

Answer 14

No. First session was missing half the justices. When the federal government moved to D.C., they forgot to provide space for the court, Supreme Court justices also had to serve as lower court justices, traveling a lot.

Question 15

Whiskey Rebellion

Answer 15

civil insurrection in 1794 suppressed by military force by Washington.

Question 16

Chisolm v Georgia

Answer 16

Supreme Court case that allowed citizens to bring suit against a state in which they did not reside.

Question 17

11th Amendment

Answer 17

overturned Chisolm v Georgia

Question 18

Longest Serving Chief Justice

Answer 18

John Marshall (appointed by Adams just before he left office)

Question 19

Key Contributions by the Marshall Court

Answer 19

1) spoke as one court instead of individual justices, 2) established authority over state courts (McCulloch v Maryland, and 3) judicial review (Marbury v Madison)

Question 20

Why was Marbury v Madison so important?

Answer 20

Constitution actually didn’t include judicial review as a role of the judiciary.

Question 21

Trial court

Answer 21

court of original jurisdiction

Question 22

Legislative court

Answer 22

Courts established by Congress for specialized purposes (Appeals for Veterans Claims)

Question 23

Constitutional (or Article III) Courts

Answer 23

Federal district and appellate courts and the Supreme Court because Article III either establishes them or authorizes Congress to do so.

Question 24

How Many District Courts?

Answer 24

94

Question 25

Do district courts cross state lines?

Answer 25

No. (each has at least one)

Question 26

Can federal courts have juries?

Answer 26

Yes

Question 27

Kinds of cases heard by federal courts.

Answer 27

1) federal government is a party to the case, 2) present a federal question under the Constitution or a treaty or federal statute, and 3) involve civil suits between citizens of different states for values greater than $75,000

Question 28

How many judges are there for a given case in an appellate court?

Answer 28

3 but a litigant can request “en banc” which is when all the judges in an appellate court (anywhere from 6 to 30) hear a case.

Question 29

Brief

Answer 29

Document containing written legal arguments filed with a court prior to trial.

Question 30

Precedent

Answer 30

a prior judicial decision that serves as a rule for setting subsequent cases of a similar nature.

Question 31

stare decisis

Answer 31

reliance on past decisions to formulate decisions in new cases.

Question 32

senatorial courtesy

Answer 32

Process by which presidents generally allow senators from the state in which a judicial vacancy occurs to block a nomination simply by registering an objection.

Question 33

First woman Supreme Court Justice

Answer 33

Sandra Day O’Connor

Question 34

Process to become federal judge.

Answer 34

Nominated by the president, considered by the Senate Judiciary committee, then voted on by the full Senate. Simple majority is required.

Question 35

How many cases are filed with the Supreme Court each year and how many do they accept?

Answer 35

8000 and less than 100.