Gov Test

Front 1

appellate jurisdiction

Back 1

The requirement that plaintiffs have a serious interest in a case, which depends on whether they have sustained or are likely to sustain a direct and substantial injury from a party or an action of government.

Front 2

writ of certiorari -

Back 2

an order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for review; from the Latin meaning "to be more certain"

Front 3

civil case -

Back 3

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

Front 4

concurrent jurisdiction

Back 4

power shared by federal and State courts to hear certain cases

Front 5

-inferior courts

Back 5

the lower federal courts, beneath the Supreme Court

Front 6

plaintiff

Back 6

in civil law, the party who brings a suit or some other legal action against another (the defendant) in court

Front 7

defendant -

Back 7

in a civil suit, the person against whom a court action is brought by the plaintiff; in a criminal case, the person charged with the crime

Front 8

dissenting opinion -

Back 8

written explanation of the view of one or more judges who disagree with (dissent from) a decision reached by a majority of the court

Front 9

certificate -

Back 9

a method of putting a case before the Supreme Court; used when a lower court is not clear about the procedure or rule of law that should apply in a case and asks the Supreme Court to certify the answer to a specific question

Front 10

concurring opinion -

Back 10

written explanation of the views of one or more judges who support a decision reached by a majority of the court, but wish to add or emphasize a point that was not made in the majority decision

Front 11

Which of the following are all special courts?

Back 11

Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, Court of Federal Claims, U.S. Tax Court

Front 12

Judges of the constitutional courts are appointed

Back 12

for life

Front 13

The courts of appeals hear cases that have been appealed from

Back 13

all of the above

Front 14

The power of judicial review is held-exclusively

Back 14

by most federal and State courts.

Front 15

Which of the following statements about the Supreme Court is FALSE?

Back 15

-The Supreme Court only reads briefs; it does not hear oral arguments

Front 16

The federal courts can hear and decide cases on the basis of

Back 16

-the subject matter or people affected by the case.

Front 17

Federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all of the following types of cases EXCEPT cases involving

Back 17

-the infringement of a copyright

Front 18

The independence of the judicial branch is ensured by the

Back 18

-terms federal judges serve.

Front 19

The court that first hears a case is said to have

Back 19

-original jurisdiction.-

Front 20

The list of cases to be heard by a court is called a

Back 20

docket

Front 21

Which of the following could be the subject of a criminal case tried in federal court?

Back 21

counterfeiting

Front 22

Which of the following is a TRUE statement about a writ of certiorari?

Back 22

-The Supreme Court grants cert in a limited numbers of instances.

Front 23

All of the following statements about the Court of Federal Claims are true EXCEPT:

Back 23

-Decisions from the Court of Federal Claims cannot be appealed.

Front 24

Which of the following federal courts exercises both original and appellate jurisdiction?

Back 24

the supreme court

Front 25

Which of the following statements about federal judges is TRUE?

Back 25

They are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate

Front 26

Which federal court has original jurisdiction over MOST cases heard in federal court?

Back 26

district court

Front 27

Most importantly, the Supreme Court is called the High Court because it is the

Back 27

last court in which federal questions can be decided.

Front 28

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit differs from the other 12 federal courts of appeals because it

Back 28

-hears cases from across the country

Front 29

The purposes of the 12 federal courts of appeals include all of the following EXCEPT

Back 29

to hear original cases that have bypassed lower courts.

Front 30

The term of office for constitutional court judges is determined by

Back 30

-the Constitution.-

Front 31

Which one of the following duties is NOT performed by a United States magistrate?

Back 31

recording court proceedings

Front 32

The United States Tax Court hears

Back 32

civil cases

Front 33

A federal court has jurisdiction over a case if

Back 33

all of the above.

Front 34

The MOST IMPORTANT reason why the United States needed a national court system was that

Back 34

each State was interpreting laws for itself.

Front 35

Jurisdiction DIRECTLY limits

Back 35

which court may decide a case.

Front 36

The federal officers who make arrests, secure jurors, and serve legal papers are

Back 36

marshals

Front 37

Which of the following statements does NOT accurately describe federal district courts?

Back 37

Like courts of appeals, they have the right to listen to appeals

Front 38

Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes once said that the Constitution "means what the judges say it means." He was defining

Back 38

power of judicial review.

Front 39

The Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison

Back 39

established the Court's power of judicial review

Front 40

Legal cases in the District of Columbia and the territories that belong to the United States are settled in:

Back 40

-a separate system of courts for each territory and each district like those at the State and federal levels

Front 41

Which statement about differences between constitutional courts and special courts is TRUE?

Back 41

Special courts hear a much narrower range of cases.

Front 42

Considering the complaints about caseloads on the federal dockets, how is the cartoon ironic?

Back 42

Most of the complaints one hears refer to the great numbers of cases in the federal courts. This cartoon suggests the opposite—a fear of what would happen if there were no cases. In that way, the cartoon may be poking fun at those who complain about being overworked.

Front 43

How would the speaker be affected if his nightmare came true?

Back 43

The speaker, who is a judge, might be out of a job if everyone settled out of court.

Front 44

Why might the speaker in the cartoon be disturbed by people settling out of court?

Back 44

If people settled out of court, all those who work in courtrooms—such as judges and lawyers—would be without jobs.

Front 45

What evidence in your text indicates that just the opposite of the judge's nightmare is taking place today

Back 45

The continual growth of the court system since its inception is due to the increase in caseload. Also, the text makes note of the large number of cases handled by district courts and the backups that have occurred with Supreme Court cases, which led to the creation of the courts of appeals.

Front 46

Drawing Conclusions Weigh the importance of Marbury v. Madison in guaranteeing the power of judicial review. Discuss the case itself, the rationale of the majority opinion, and possible consequences if the decision had gone the other way. COMPONENT #10

Back 46

Jefferson and his democratic-republicans had just won the presidency, so the outgoing federalists tried to pack the judiciary with loyal party members. Adams filled those posts with federalists. Marbury had been appointed justice of peace for D.C. the next day jefferson became president and realized that the commissions had not been delivered and told madison not to deliver them. When marbury went to the supreme court to fight the decisions they decided that it was against the constitution and they weren't going to uphold it. The importance is that the supreme court has the right to declare acts of congress unconstitutional .

Front 47

Recognizing Cause and Effect As you have read, the United States court system has grown since the country's beginning. Describe the structure of our national judiciary as it is today, a dual system.

Back 47

We have a federal and a state court system. Each state has its own court system.