Question 1

In the context of the American legal system, original jurisdiction refers to the

Accepted Answer

Original jurisdiction is the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction, where a court reviews the decision of a lower court.

Question 2

When the United States' legal system is described as a "dual court system," it means that

Accepted Answer

The United States has a dual court system consisting of state courts and federal courts, each with its own jurisdiction and authority. This structure allows for the coexistence of both state and federal laws and legal proceedings.

Question 3

An example of a trial court of general jurisdiction is a

Accepted Answer

Superior Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction that handle both civil and criminal cases. They have the authority to hear a wide range of cases, unlike specialized courts that have jurisdiction over specific types of cases.

Question 4

A written argument submitted by lawyers in appellate court cases are generally known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

Appellate briefs are written arguments submitted by lawyers in appellate court cases, outlining the legal reasons for the appeal and the desired outcome.

Question 5

A traditional legal order that commands a lower court to send a case forward to the U.S. Supreme Court is known as a

Accepted Answer

A writ of certiorari is the order a higher court, including the U.S. Supreme Court, issues to review the decision of a lower court. It's a common way for the Supreme Court to take up cases.

Question 6

Decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court become final when the

Accepted Answer

Decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court become final when the opinion is announced and published. This is the point at which the Court's ruling is officially communicated to the public and becomes part of the legal record.

Question 7

After its first use of the power of judicial review in 1803, the U.S. Supreme Court next used the power to invalidate an act of the Congress in its

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court next used its power of judicial review to invalidate an act of Congress in its 1857 decision in Dred Scott v. Sanford, ruling that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional.

Question 8

The legal rule established by a judicial decision that guides subsequent judicial decisions is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Case precedent refers to a legal principle or rule that is established in a previous legal case that is either binding on or persuasive for a court or other tribunal when deciding subsequent cases with similar issues or facts.

Question 9

Cruel and unusual punishment is prohibited by the

Accepted Answer

The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, ensuring humane treatment of individuals within the criminal justice system.

Question 10

In Atkins v. Virginia, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that

Accepted Answer

In Atkins v. Virginia, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that imposing the death penalty on individuals with intellectual disabilities (referred to in the decision as "mentally retarded") constituted cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the Eighth Amendment. This landmark decision in 2002 significantly impacted the application of the death penalty in the United States.

Question 11

The requirement that police officers inform arrested suspects of their Miranda rights was imposed by

Accepted Answer

The requirement for police to inform arrested suspects of their Miranda rights comes from a U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case Miranda v. Arizona (1966). This landmark ruling held that detained criminal suspects must be informed of their rights to an attorney and against self-incrimination before police questioning, to ensure the protection of the Fifth Amendment.

Question 12

As a component of legal strategy, the choice of jurisdiction is important because

Accepted Answer

Some courts or judges may be more sympathetic to particular values or policy preferences.

Question 13

The Supreme Court decided the Brown v. Board of Education case by a vote of

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court decided the Brown v. Board of Education case unanimously, with a 9-0 vote, declaring state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional.

Question 14

An amicus brief

Accepted Answer

An amicus brief, also known as an amicus curiae brief, is a document submitted to a court by someone who is not a party to the case, offering information, expertise, or insight that has a bearing on the issues in the case. The purpose is to assist the court in its decision-making process by presenting arguments or perspectives the court might not otherwise consider.

Question 15

President John F. Kennedy dispatched the army to the University of Mississippi in 1962 so that

Accepted Answer

President John F. Kennedy dispatched the army to the University of Mississippi in 1962 to ensure that James Meredith, an African American student, could enroll and attend classes, thereby confronting and overcoming the state's segregationist policies.

Question 16

In Korematsu v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court

Accepted Answer

In Korematsu v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court endorsed the detainment of Japanese Americans during World War II, ruling that the need to protect against espionage outweighed Fred Korematsu's individual rights.

Question 17

The federal criminal case concerning the depiction of animal cruelty started in the Connecticut Superior Court and ended up at the Supreme Court.

Accepted Answer

Federal criminal cases do not start in state courts like the Connecticut Superior Court; they begin in federal district courts. The case may have started as a state issue but a federal criminal case would originate in a federal court.

Question 18

There are more state supreme courts than there are state courts of appeals.

Accepted Answer

There are 50 state supreme courts and 133 state courts of appeals.

Question 19

In the United States, the phrase "dual court system" is used to refer to the existence of two types of courts: trial and appellate courts.

Accepted Answer

The phrase "dual court system" in the United States refers to the existence of both federal and state courts, not the distinction between trial and appellate courts.

Question 20

The U.S. courts of appeals have a specialized federal circuit for patent and
trade cases.

Accepted Answer

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction in a variety of areas, including international trade, government contracts, patents, trademarks, certain money claims against the United States government, federal personnel, and veterans' benefits.

Quiz 9: The Judiciary