Name _________________

Date/Period _____________
Chapter 16 questions
1. What is the only court mentioned in the Constitution. Who creates lesser courts
(tribunals)?
2. What is litigation? Who are the litigants?
3. How long does each side get to argue its case before the Supreme Court?
4. How long in the term for a federal judge? Supreme Court Justice?
5. What is a dual court system?
6. Go to the Supreme Court website. Read the biographies of each of the eight
associate justices and the chief justice. Then summarize general key
characteristics like age, colleges attended, and prior experience.
7. Who was the first black Supreme Court Justice? Second? Who was the first
woman Supreme Court Justice? Second? Third (new)
8. In addition to the Supreme Court, there are _______federal courts of appeal,
_____Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, _______federal district courts, and
__________of state and local courts. Create a chart outlining the role of the
federal courts.
9. In reality, do most cases ever go to trial? What happens?
10. Explain the difference between a criminal law case, civil law, and common law.
Give an example of each.
11. Where are the vast majority of all criminal and civil cases tried?
12. Do judges issue advisory opinions on what they think (in the abstract) may be the
meaning or constitutionality of the law?
13. Identify: standing to sue, class action suits, and justiciable disputes
14. What are amicus curiae brief? Why are they important
15. Write a brief description of Thurgood Marshall. Then discuss Brown v Board of
Education of Topeka, Kansas. How did the NAACP impact this case? What is
the role of the ACLU and the NAACP in civil rights cases?
16. Create a chart and explain the organization of the Federal Court System. Discuss
the difference in constitutional Article III Courts and Article I Courts.
17. Explain the difference in original jurisdiction, appellate jurisdiction, and
concurrent jurisdiction.
18. What are district courts? Name three areas of jurisdiction. How many judges hear
a case? Does a district court have original or appellate jurisdiction? Does it have
trials and juries?
19. What percent of criminal cases are handled in state and local courts?
20. What is the role of a federal magistrate? U.S. Marshal? Attorney General?
Solicitor General?
21. What is a distinguishing feature of the American legal system?
22. What is the role of courts of appeal? How many judges typically hear a case?
What type of jurisdiction do they have? Do they have trials? Juries?
23. The U.S. is divided into how many judicial circuits?
24. Explain the role of U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. How many are
there? Purpose of creation?

25. Explain the role of the Supreme Court. How many justices make up the Supreme
Court? Does the Constitution give a specific number? Are most of the Supreme
Court cases related to original or appellate jurisdiction? Discuss the ways a case
reaches the Supreme Court? When does the Supreme Court convene each year?
Discuss how its monthly schedule is structured. Current salary (use internet)
26. Discuss the impact and connection of the rule of four and writ of certiorari.
27. Name two instances where the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction.
28. Does the Supreme Court try to settle matters of state law or determine guilt or
innocence in state criminal proceedings?
29. Explain the process one must go through to become a federal judge. What is the
litmus test (see Wood)
30. How many federal judges have been removed from office? How many have been
Supreme Court justices?
31. What is senatorial courtesy? Why is it important?
32. When are Supreme Court nominations likely to run into problems?
33. Why is ideology an important part in the selection of a Supreme Court judge?
34. Ultimately, on average, how many cases does the Supreme Court hear every year?
35. What is the most common way for the Supreme Court to put a case on the docket?
36. Explain the Supreme Courts decision making process. Discuss and explain each
type of opinion.
37. Identify: stare decisis, precedents. What is the impact of these on the court?
38. Explain the debate over original intentions.
39. What is judicial implementation? Why is it important
40. Explain the importance of Marbury vs. Madison and Gideon v Wainwright.
41. Why did FDR try to pack the courts?
42. Create a Chart comparing the Warren, Burger, and Rehnquist Courts.
43. Identify and give the importance: judicial restraint, judicial activism, political
questions, and statutory construction.
44. Starting page 526. Discuss the historical significance of the Marshall, Warren,
and Burger Courts. What is the historical significance of the Nine Old Men?