Ch. 16: The Federal Courts (502-516):
Directions: Read Ch. 16 pages 502-516 and answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Explain the “likely” outcome of most cases.
2. Define what it means to have standing to sue.
3. Explain why interest groups seek out litigants for court cases. Provide an
example.
4. Define original jurisdiction. Explain what types of cases the Supreme Court
might have original jurisdiction
5. A court’s appellate jurisdiction refers to:
6. List the types of federal courts from lowest to highest:
7. Explain why the choice for a nominee to the Supreme Court provides the
President an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy on the American legal system.
8. Define senatorial courtesy:
Supreme Court Landmark Cases (To Know)
Marbury v. Madison
McCulloch v. Maryland
Plessy v. Ferguson
Gitlow v. New York
Brown v. Board of Education Engel v. Vitale
Gideon v. Wainwright
Miranda v. Arizona
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Korematsu v. US
Mapp v. Ohio
Ch. 16: The Federal Courts (516-537):
Directions: Read Ch. 16 pages 516-537 and answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Describe why judges are not a representative sample of the American people.
2. Explain the most important criteria for presidents when considering a nominee for
the court
3. Define writ of certiorari
4. Explain why the written opinion of a case is just as significant as the decision
itself.
5. Define original intent.
6. Describe the views of those who oppose the application of original intent.
7. Describe the difficulty in implementing court decisions, by using Brown v. Board
of Ed. as an example.
8. Compare and contrast the policy of judicial restraint v. judicial activism
JUDICIAL ACTIVIST CASES:
Ÿ Brown v. Board of Ed. (1954)
Texas v. Johnson (1989)
Ÿ Gun Free School Zones Act (U.S. v. Lopez, 1995)
Clinton v. N.Y. (1998)
Ÿ Bush v. Gore (2000)
Atkins v. Virg., (2002)
Ÿ Lawrence v. Texas (1998)
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
UC Regents v. Bakke, 1978
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)