US Supreme Court

Question 1

How many justices serve on the supreme court?

Answer 1

9

Question 2

How are justices appointed and for how long?

Answer 2

By the president for life

Question 3

What is judicial review?

Answer 3

The power to declare acts of congress, the executive, or state governments unconstitutional

Question 4

Which supreme court case established judicial review in the US?

Answer 4

Marbury vs Madison (1803)

Question 5

Which supreme court extended judicial review to state law?

Answer 5

Fletcher vs Peck (1810)

Question 6

Which 4 constitutional provisions ensure judicial independence?

Answer 6

1. One cannot serve in the judiciary and another branch simultaneously
2. Justices are appointed by the president with approval from congress
3. Justices hold their positions for life
4. Congress cannot reduce the pay for justices

Question 7

What is judicial activism?

Answer 7

Where justices are willing to challenge other branches of government

Question 8

What is one conservative and one liberal activist court?

Answer 8

Conservative - Roberts court (2005-)
Liberal - Warren court (1953-1969)

Question 9

What are 2 criticisms of judicial activism?

Answer 9

1. Justices have excessive power over elected politicians
2. Allows justices to pursue political goals through vagueness in the constitution

Question 10

What is judicial restraint?

Answer 10

Where justices are unwilling to challenge other branches of government

Question 11

What is stare decisis?

Answer 11

The idea of respecting judicial precedent

Question 12

What are civil liberties and civil rights?

Answer 12

Civil liberties - the basic rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution and interpreted by the courts and legislatures
Civil rights - the legal provisions that counter inequality and discrimination

Question 13

What did the supreme court rule in Allen vs Milligan (2023)?

Answer 13

States must consider fair representation of race when drawing congressional districts

Question 14

What did the supreme court rule in Students for Fair Admissions vs Harvard College (2023)?

Answer 14

The use of race in college admissions is unconstitutional

Question 15

Which case declared that convicts being stopped from voting is constitutional?

Answer 15

Richardson vs Ramirez (1974)

Question 16

What did Regents of California vs Bakke (1978) do?

Answer 16

Banned race quotas

Question 17

What did Grutter vs Bollinger (2003) do?

Answer 17

Upheld “narrowly tailored” affirmative action

Question 18

Which 2 supreme court cases resulted in the banning of affirmative action in the US?

Answer 18

1. SFFA vs Harvard (2023)
2. SFFA vs University of North Carolina (2023)

Question 19

What did the supreme court rule in Bush vs Gore (2000)?

Answer 19

Blocked a decision to recount Floridian votes

Question 20

What are the 2 main restrictions on judicial review?

Answer 20

1. Can only deal with constitutional issues
2. Judicial restraint

Question 21

What is the current conservative-liberal split in the supreme court?

Answer 21

6-3

Question 22

Which 3 arguments suggest that the supreme court is a policy enforcer?

Answer 22

1. Judges cannot initiate cases
2. Judicial review is limited to constitutional issues
3. The court refuses to hear matters that present a political question

Question 23

Which 2 arguments suggest that the supreme court is a policy maker?

Answer 23

1. Constitutional vagueness
2. Judges have made decisions that suggest a political motive

Question 24

What is originalism?

Answer 24

The theory that the constitution’s original meaning should be applied to modern society