Name: _____________________________
PARRIS
Date: _____________
Period: _____
Judicial Branch Test Review
Chapter 18
Complete the review and turn it in with your test for 5 bonus points.
Section 1
1. What does jurisdiction mean? Which court has the authority to decide a case
2. TRUE / FALSE: If a State is a party in a case, the State courts have jurisdiction over that case.
3. Which court hears a very narrow range of cases – constitutional courts or special courts?
4. When a court has original jurisdiction, what does that mean?
That court is the first to hear the case.
5. Constitutional court judges are appointed for how long? For life
6. TRUE / FALSE: Federal judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
7. TRUE / FALSE: Under the Articles of Confederation, there were no national courts and no national judiciary.
8. How did the States interpret the laws of the United States under the Articles of Confederation?
Each State interpreted the laws for itself as it saw fit.
9. What is meant by the term Dual Court System?
We have two separate court systems – a national judiciary and state courts.
10. What 2 things determine if a federal court may hear a case?
a) The subject matter of the case
b) The people affected by the case
11. Because each State has its own system of courts, most of the cases in the United States are heard where?
At the State level in State courts
12. Because most constitutional court judges are appointed for life, this helps ensure the independence of the judicial
branch.
13. TRUE / FALSE: The current members of the Supreme Court have a significant impact on who the President appoints
to fill vacancies in the federal courts.
Section 2
14. TRUE / FALSE: The district courts have original jurisdiction of most cases heard in federal court.
15. The list of cases to be heard by the court is called the docket.
16. A district court’s territory is based primarily on what? State boundaries – each State has at least one district court
17. Why were the courts of appeals created by Congress?
To relieve the workload of the Supreme Court
18. Over what 2 types of cases do the courts of appeals have jurisdiction?
a) Appeals from district courts
b) Appeals from several regulatory agencies like the Federal Trade Commission or National Labor Relations
Board
19. Can federal district courts hear appeals? No – they only have original jurisdiction
20. Do the appellate courts have original jurisdiction over any types of cases? No – they only hear appeals
Section 3
21. Which federal court has both original and appellate jurisdiction? Supreme Court
22. Why is the Supreme Court called the High Court?
Because it is the last court in which federal cases can be decided – the highest level court.
23. What is judicial review?
The power of the court to determine if an act is constitutional
24. Which Supreme Court decision established judicial review? Marbury v. Madison
25. In terms of the Supreme Court, what is the “rule of four”?
It is how the Supreme Court decides which cases it will hear – 4 of the Justices have to agree to hear the case.
26. What are the two classes of cases over which the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction?
a) One of the States is a party in the case
b) The case involves an ambassador or other foreign dignitary
27. When a case has been accepted by the Supreme Court, the Court reads the briefs before it hears the oral arguments
of a case.
28. What are amicus curiae briefs and who can file them?
Briefs filed in support of one side of a case that cite legal precedents to persuade the Court of a certain point of view.
They may be filed by groups that are not actual parties to a case, but only at the request of the Court or with its
permission.
Section 4
29. Who created the special courts? Congress
Vocabulary
Civil case
Precedent
Court-martial
Inferior courts
Appellate jurisdiction
Defendant
Majority opinion
Writ of Certiorari
Plaintiff
Dissenting Opinion
Exclusive Jurisdiction
Criminal Case