LAVC Fall 2012

The Government of the United States (PS 001)

Quiz Chapter 12 The Federal Courts According to the textbook: We the People 8th Essentials Edition Name: _______________________________ Date: _______________ 1. In what type of law is the government always plaintiff? Criminal law 2. Prior cases whose principles are used to decide current cases are called precedents 3. The right of due process is best described as the right of every person not to be treated arbitrarily by a government official or agency. 4. All of the following are part of the official jurisdiction of the federal courts except: cases involving citizens from the same state. 5. When all of the justices of the Supreme court are hearing a case, they are said to be sitting en banc. 6. What is the main function of the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court? Presiding over the courts public sessions and private conferences. 7. In recent years, Federal court appointments have been characterized by intense partisan and ideological efforts to support or defeat the candidate. 8. Which of the following is part of the Miranda Rule? Arrested people have the right to remain silent. 9. If someone is an advocate of judicial restraint, he or she believes in looking only at the words of the constitution in order to understand its meaning. 10. What did the framers call the least dangerous branch? the Supreme Court

Sample essay questions for Final exam: Three of the following 5 questions will be available to answer on the final exam. You will be asked to write on only one. 1. Describe the Legislative branch of government. Be sure to include the different chambers, their membership, and the different personalities they project. 2. Describe the Judicial Branch of government. Include where it gets its power, the main purpose, membership and political balance. 3. We watched a movie on class about the Hurricane Katrina disaster and the governmental failures that were exposed. Describe specifically some of the problems we discussed in class and what could have been done differently to prevent the loss of lives and property. 4. If a friend or family member asked you to describe the American President, write what you would say to help them understand the structure of the branch, its power, and its functions. 5. Describe the different layers of government that are added by the people onto themselves at the local level. Be sure to describe the differences between them, how they come about and what they are designed to do.