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Unit 7 Study Guide: The Judicial Branch

Directions: Use your notes and book to answer the following questions
1. How many chief justices of the Supreme Court have there been?
2. Who is the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
3. Between the years of 1789-1860 the Supreme Court was primarily concerned with what two
issues?
4. The principle that the Supreme Court used in overturning Fulton's monopoly on a New York
steamboat operation was what?
5. What did the Dred Scott Case involve?
6. From the Civil War to 1930, the Supreme Court was primarily concerned with which major
issue?
7. Define Court-packing
8. Which courts are mandated by the Constitution?
9. What does the US Constitution say about the size of the Supreme Court?
10. Which type of court exercise the judicial powers found in Article III?
11. How many district courts are there in the US?
12. How many US appellate courts are there in the US?
13. The Court of Military Appeals is an example of what type of court?
14. Define Senatorial Courtesy
15. What is an important characteristic a president is usually looking for when they select federal
judges?
16. What is the litmus test?
17. Typically, those who complain about the litmus testing of judicial candidates are
18. What does the dual court system refer to?
19. Citizen X is suing his neighbor Y for ramming his $7,000 car. Where would this case be heard?
20. Citizen X robs a state bank that is insured by the federal government. He can be prosecuted in

21. The majority of cases heard in federal court begin at which level?
22. Define Certiorari
23. What is meant by the Rule of four?
24. In a typical year, the Supreme Court may consider over ______ petitions asking it to review
decisions of lower or state courts.
25. In a typical year, the Supreme Court rarely gives full review to more than about
__________________ of the petitions that request review of the decisions of lower or state
courts.
26. What are two common ways for a plaintiff to lower the costs for an appeal?
27. What is sovereign immunity?
28. Brown vs. Board of Education was an example of this type of law suit?
29. The most common background or professional experience among members of the current
Supreme Court is experience as what?
30. Define brief. What is the purpose of a Brief?
31. How long are oral arguments on the Supreme Court?
32. What is the main way the chief justice can exercise their influence most effectively?
33. What happens if a vote on the Supreme Court ends in a tie?
34. Which type of opinion of the Supreme Court is usually brief and unsigned?
35. What is a concurring opinion?
36. What is one important reason why federal courts follow precedent?
Unit 7 Study Guide: The Judicial Branch

37. Define judicial activism
38. What is one restraint in which the federal courts operate?
39. Which landmark Supreme Court case did the 14
th
Amendment overturn?
40. What is one way Congress can get around an unfavorable ruling by the Supreme Court?
41. Define Judicial Review
42. True/ False Judicial review gives the Supreme Court the power to declare laws passed by states
unconstitutional and to determine the meaning and application of the Constitution, along with
declaring laws and acts by the federal government unconstitutional.
43. Define strict construction
44. Which chief Justice of the Supreme Court was the most active in expanding civil liberties?
45. What types of cases do federal courts have jurisdiction over? Be specific
46. Long after the Supreme Court ruled prayer in the public schools unconstitutional, schools all
over the country were still allowing prayer and Bible readings. What explains this?
47. What are some checks that Congress has over the judicial branch?



Essay Topics
1. You need to understand the way the Executive Branch and Legislative Branch can check the
power held by the Judicial Branch. You also need to know how the Judicial Branch can check the
powers held by the other two branches of government. (Identify and Explain)
2. You need to be able to explain how the Supreme Court has enlarged the role of the federal
government with respect to the issues of slavery, the economy, and civil liberties. (all should be
discussed in your book)
3. The Judicial branch is designed to be more independent of public opinion than are the
legislature or the executive. Yet, the US Supreme Court rarely deviates too far for too long from
prevalent public opinion.
a. Describe 2 ways in which the US Supreme Court is insulated from public opinion
b. Explain how two factors work to keep the US Supreme Court from deviating too far from
public opinion.

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