Chapter 8: Courts and the Quest for Justice – Worksheet 2
TRUE/FALSE
1. Five justices, representing a majority of the United States Supreme Court, must agree
to hear a case before a writ of certiorari will be issued.
T
F
REF:
266
OBJ:
6
2. The Rule of Four requires that at least four Supreme Court justices make any decision.
T
F
REF:
266
OBJ:
6
269
OBJ:
7
3. The judge is both a teacher and a referee during the trial.
T
F
REF:
4. In a partisan election, candidates align themselves with a specified political party.
T
F
REF:
270
OBJ:
8
5. Debate about judicial selection methods often raises two key issues, experience and
independence.
T
F
REF:
270
OBJ:
8
6. Federal judges have lifetime appointments, and therefore cannot be impeached for
judicial misconduct.
T
F
REF:
272
OBJ:
8
7. Keeping up with paperwork generated during a trial, including transcripts and
evidence, is the responsibility of the court clerk.
T
F
REF:
274
OBJ:
9
8. The court reporter publishes case highlights for release to the popular media.
T
F
REF:
274
OBJ:
9
9. The courtroom workgroup differs from a traditional workgroup at a company is that
each participant answers to a different sponsoring agency.
T
F
REF:
275
OBJ:
9
10. The term “assembly-line justice” is associated with case overload.
T
F
REF:
192
276-277
OBJ:
9
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The U.S. Supreme Court is
a. only a court of origination.
b. only an appellate court.
c. both a court of origination and appellate court.
d. partisan court.
REF: 264-265
OBJ: 5
2. What type of request does the Supreme Court issue to lower courts as an order to
review the case record?
a. writ of certiorari
b. writ of habeas corpus
c. rule of four
d. corpus delicti
REF: 266
OBJ: 6
REF: 267
OBJ: 6
3. U.S. Supreme Court rulings are decided
a. in oral arguments.
b. in briefs.
c. in dissenting opinions.
d. in conference.
4. All of the following are found in a U.S. Supreme Court decision except
a. the opinion.
b. conference notes and transcripts.
c. concurring opinions.
d. dissenting opinions.
REF: 267
OBJ: 6
5. During pretrial activities a judge may handle all of the following except
a. review probable cause for arrest.
b. review to determine if evidence to justify detention exists.
c. bond issues.
d. jury selection.
REF: 268
193
OBJ: 7
6. During pretrial activities, the judge assumes the role of
a. referee.
b. teacher.
c. negotiator.
d. court administrator.
REF: 268
OBJ: 7
7. In the federal court system judges are
a. elected by popular vote.
b. nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
c. appointed by a joint House and Senate Judiciary Committee.
d. nominated by the Senate and confirmed by the President.
REF: 270
OBJ: 8
8. One criticism of merit selection is that
a. it is a partisan process.
b. it results in a lack of diversity on the bench.
c. the process is too lengthy.
d. the full senate must approve each candidate.
REF: 271-272
OBJ: 8
9. How many women have been confirmed and seated as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice?
a. 6
b. 3
c. 4
d. 2
REF: 273
OBJ: 8
10. Which member of the courtroom work group is responsible for the large amount of
paperwork which is generated during a trial?
a. The court clerk.
b. The judge.
c. The court reporter.
d. The prosecutor.
REF: 274
OBJ: 9
11. The dominant figure in the courtroom work group is the ________________.
a. court clerk.
b. prosecutor.
c. judge.
d. bailiff.
REF: 275
194
OBJ: 9
12. Case overload has been linked to all of the following situations except
a. prosecutors charge only slam dunk cases in minor/non-violent incidents.
b. prosecutors negotiate reduced sentences unnecessarily.
c. police officers are too eager to obtain confessions in lieu of other evidence.
d. closure rates rise.
REF: 278
OBJ: 9
COMPLETION
1. A request from the U.S. Supreme Court asking a lower court for the record of a case is
a(n)
.
REF:
266
OBJ:
6
2. Supreme Court judges express their disagreement with a decision by their fellow
Supreme Court members by writing a __________________.
REF:
267
OBJ:
6
3. During pretrial activities, the judge takes on the role of _____________________-.
REF:
4. The judge performs
268
OBJ:
7
duties in order to manage the day-to-day operations of
their court.
REF:
269
OBJ:
7
5. The ____________ combines both merit appointment and popular election to select
judges.
REF:
271
OBJ:
8
6. ___________ maintain order and security in the court.
REF:
274
OBJ:
9
7. A main criticism of the American court system is that it has sacrificed the goal of
for efficiency.
REF:
276
195
OBJ:
9