Study Guide - Civics Chapter 10 The Judicial Branch
Mr. Ron McCants, Teacher
Answers on pages 5-7
Matching
KEY TERMS
Match each item with the correct statement below.
a. judicial review
h.
b. original jurisdiction
i.
c. opinion
j.
d. appeal
k.
e. circuit courts
l.
f. judicial activism
m.
g. prosecution
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
precedent
appellate jurisdiction
plaintiff
judicial restraint
courts of appeals
defendant
government body that brings a criminal charge against the accused
individual or group that brings a complaint against another party
another name for courts of appeals
request for a higher court to review a case
power of the Supreme Court to overturn laws
guidelines for how similar cases should be decided in the future
effort by judges to play an active role in making policy
written statement explaining a decision
party who defends against a complaint
work by judges to avoid overturning laws
the authority to hear a case first
the authority to hear a case from a lower court
handle appeals from federal district courts
Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
MAIN IDEAS
____ 14. What is true about federal courts?
a. There can be no appeal from a federal court.
b. Each state has its own federal court.
c. A federal court may hear a civil or a criminal case.
d. The only federal court is the U.S. Supreme Court.
____ 15. Both sides in a court case are called the
a. parties.
b. plaintiffs.
c. prosecutions.
d. judges.
____ 16. Who is the defendant in this case: The People of the State of Florida v. Jones?
a. The People
b. The State of Florida
c. the government
d. Jones
____ 17. Which can decide the facts in a case?
a. the accused
b. the conflict
c. the jury
d. the lawyers
____ 18. The framework for the federal court system was created by
a. Congress.
b. the Supreme Court.
c. the Constitution.
d. the President.
____ 19. The major purpose of the Supreme Court is to
a. hear cases about kidnapping.
b. hear cases about foreigners.
c. conduct special jury trials.
d. serve as final court of appeals.
____ 20. What was the purpose of the Judiciary Act?
a. to create Supreme Court seats
b. to establish lower courts
c. to set out appeals court procedure
d. to remove ineffective judges
____ 21. Which courts are the workhorses of the federal court system?
a. state appeals courts
b. state supreme courts
c. state trial courts
d. district courts
____ 22. Which is not an example of a special federal court?
a. Court of Claims
b. Supreme Court
c. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
d. Tax Court
____ 23. How do judges come to serve on special federal courts?
a. elections
b. rise from lower courts
c. appointed by the President
d. chosen by Congress
____ 24. In the court system, what is a circuit?
a. a geographic area
b. a group of judges
c. a set of legislators
d. a type of job
____ 25. Unlike legislators, federal judges should
a. listen to citizens’ views.
b. solve broad problems.
c. be impartial.
d. be elected.
____ 26. Which best describes the U.S. Supreme Court?
a. a strong trial court
b. part of the executive branch
c. one of the district courts
____ 27.
____ 28.
____ 29.
____ 30.
____ 31.
____ 32.
____ 33.
____ 34.
____ 35.
____ 36.
d. the highest court in the land
How does the Supreme Court decide which cases to hear?
a. hears all cases
b. the President decides
c. hears cases about Constitutional issues
d. Congress decides by voting
The "Warren Court" was best known for
a. not overturning laws.
b. defending rights of accused.
c. defending of states’ rights.
d. limiting the President’s authority.
Congress "checks" the power of the President and the Supreme Court by not
a. confirming an appointment.
b. agreeing with Court rulings.
c. reelecting Supreme Court justices.
d. overruling a veto.
Judicial review gives the judicial branch
a. the right to overturn a law.
b. rights in the Constitution.
c. the right to study precedents.
d. the duty to hear disputes among states.
A Supreme Court opinion
a. shows how to apply the law.
b. interprets the Constitution.
c. is written by a justice.
d. all of the above.
Who is least influenced by public opinion?
a. the President
b. senators
c. Supreme Court justices
d. representatives
Federal circuit courts hear appeals from
a. federal courts of appeals.
b. district courts.
c. the Supreme Court.
d. state supreme courts.
How can a precedent help a judge make a decision?
a. The judge may find an earlier case similar to the current case.
b. A judge may use a precedent to discuss a current political issue.
c. A judge may use a precedent to question people not part of the case.
d. The judge may use a precedent to keep secrets from lawyers.
The judicial branch of the federal government is made up of
a. the Supreme Court and the federal courts.
b. the U.S. Supreme Court and the state supreme courts.
c. judges and members of Congress.
d. the federal and state court systems.
The Supreme Court hears cases involving
a. disputes between states.
b. representatives of foreign governments.
c. appeals from state and federal courts.
d. all of the above.
Essay
CRITICAL THINKING
Answer each of the following questions. Write your answers in complete sentences.
37. Contrast Contrast the role of the legislator and the judge. Explain how each has an impact on the laws of our
country.
38. Support a Point of View Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes said, "The Constitution is what
the judges say it is." What did Justice Hughes mean? Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?
39. Analyze Information Some people argue that appointed judges should not have what amounts to “veto
power over laws passed by elected legislators.” What do they mean?
Civics Chapter 10 The Judicial Branch
Answer Section
Mr. Ron McCants, Teacher
MATCHING
1. ANS:
STO:
2. ANS:
STO:
3. ANS:
STO:
4. ANS:
STO:
5. ANS:
STO:
6. ANS:
STO:
7. ANS:
STO:
8. ANS:
STO:
9. ANS:
STO:
10. ANS:
STO:
11. ANS:
STO:
12. ANS:
STO:
13. ANS:
STO:
G
C.6, C.7
J
C.6, C.7
E
C.6
D
C.6
A
C.6
H
C.6, C.7
F
C.6
C
C.6
M
C.6, C.7
K
C.6
B
C.6
I
C.6
L
C.6
DIF:
TOP:
DIF:
TOP:
DIF:
TOP:
DIF:
TOP:
DIF:
TOP:
DIF:
TOP:
DIF:
TOP:
DIF:
TOP:
DIF:
TOP:
DIF:
TOP:
DIF:
TOP:
DIF:
TOP:
DIF:
TOP:
Easy
REF: 267
Federal courts
Easy
REF: 267
Federal courts
Easy
REF: 272
Organization of federal courts
Easy
REF: 269
Federal courts
Easy
REF: 276
Supreme Court
Easy
REF: 268
Federal courts
Easy
REF: 283
Supreme Court
Easy
REF: 280
Supreme Court
Easy
REF: 267
Federal courts
Easy
REF: 283
Supreme Court
Easy
REF: 269
Federal courts
Easy
REF: 269
Federal courts
Easy
REF: 272
Organization of federal courts
OBJ: 10.1.2
OBJ: 10.1.2
OBJ: 10.2.2
OBJ: 10.1.3
OBJ: 10.3.1
OBJ: 10.1.2
OBJ: 10.3.4
OBJ: 10.3.2
OBJ: 10.1.2
OBJ: 10.3.4
OBJ: 10.1.3
OBJ: 10.1.3
OBJ: 10.2.2
MULTIPLE CHOICE
14. ANS:
STO:
15. ANS:
STO:
16. ANS:
STO:
17. ANS:
STO:
18. ANS:
STO:
19. ANS:
STO:
20. ANS:
C
DIF:
C.6, C.7, C.8
A
DIF:
C.6, C.8
TOP:
D
DIF:
C.6, C.8
TOP:
C
DIF:
C.6, C.7, C.8, C.17
C
DIF:
C.1, C.2, C.6
D
DIF:
C.6, C.8
TOP:
B
DIF:
Medium
REF: 269
OBJ: 10.1.3
TOP: Federal courts
REF: 267
OBJ: 10.1.2
Medium
Federal courts
Medium
REF: 267
OBJ: 10.1.2
Federal courts
Medium
REF: 268
OBJ: 10.1.2
TOP: Federal courts
Medium
REF: 271
OBJ: 10.2.1
TOP: Organization of federal courts
Medium
REF: 273
OBJ: 10.2.3
Organization of federal courts
Medium
REF: 271
OBJ: 10.2.1
STO:
21. ANS:
STO:
22. ANS:
STO:
23. ANS:
STO:
24. ANS:
STO:
25. ANS:
STO:
26. ANS:
STO:
27. ANS:
STO:
28. ANS:
STO:
29. ANS:
STO:
30. ANS:
STO:
31. ANS:
STO:
32. ANS:
STO:
33. ANS:
STO:
34. ANS:
STO:
35. ANS:
STO:
36. ANS:
STO:
C.6
TOP:
D
DIF:
C.6
TOP:
B
DIF:
C.6
TOP:
C
DIF:
C.4, C.6
TOP:
A
DIF:
C.6, WG.4, WG.5
C
DIF:
C.4, C.6
TOP:
D
DIF:
C.6
TOP:
C
DIF:
C.2, C.6, C.8
B
DIF:
C.6, C.8
TOP:
A
DIF:
C.2, C.4
TOP:
A
DIF:
C.2
TOP:
D
DIF:
C.1, C.2, C.6
C
DIF:
C.4, C.6
TOP:
B
DIF:
C.6
TOP:
A
DIF:
C.6, C.8
TOP:
A
DIF:
C.2, C.6
TOP:
D
DIF:
C.2, C.6
TOP:
Organization of federal courts
Medium
REF: 271
OBJ: 10.2.1
Organization of federal courts
Medium
REF: 273
OBJ: 10.2.3
Organization of federal courts
Medium
REF: 274
OBJ: 10.2.4
Organization of federal courts
Medium
REF: 272
OBJ: 10.2.2
TOP: Organization of federal courts
Medium
REF: 274
OBJ: 10.2.4
Organization of federal courts
Medium
REF: 276
OBJ: 10.3.1
Supreme Court
Medium
REF: 279
OBJ: 10.3.2
TOP: Supreme Court
Medium
REF: 283
OBJ: 10.3.4
Supreme Court
Medium
REF: 285
OBJ: 10.3.5
Supreme Court
Medium
REF: 276
OBJ: 10.3.1
Supreme Court
Medium
REF: 280
OBJ: 10.3.2
TOP: Supreme Court
Medium
REF: 266
OBJ: 10.1.1
Federal courts
Medium
REF: 272
OBJ: 10.2.2
Organization of federal courts
Medium
REF: 268
OBJ: 10.1.2
Federal courts
Medium
REF: 266
OBJ: 10.1.1
Federal courts
Medium
REF: 273
OBJ: 10.2.3
Organization of federal courts
ESSAY
37. ANS:
Answers will vary, but should reflect an understanding that a legislator can make laws; however, a judge can
only settle individual cases. Students might also mention that judges help define and clarify the work of
legislators.
DIF: Medium
REF: 274
OBJ: 10.2.4
STO: C.2, C.4, C.6
TOP: Organization of federal courts
38. ANS:
Answers will vary, but should reflect the knowledge that judges must perform a balancing act between the
rights of the individual and the rights of the nation as a whole. Personal opinions should be well supported.
DIF: Hard
REF: 281
OBJ: 10.3.3
STO: C.2
TOP: Supreme Court
39. ANS:
Answers will vary, but they don’t believe that the Supreme Court should be able to declare a law
unconstitutional.
DIF: Hard
REF: 284
TOP: Supreme Court
OBJ: 10.3.5
STO: C.2, C.4, C.6