1 .		U.S. Supreme Court justices' term under the Constitution is [Hint]   A. ten years.   B. life tenure "with good behavior."   C. two years.   D. four years.   E. six years.
2 .		The U.S. Supreme Court's power to determine the constitutionality of acts of Congress, the executive branch, and the states is known as [Hint]   A. judicial oversight.   B. judicial restraint.   C. judicial review.   D. original jurisdiction.   E. federalism.
3 .		The Judiciary Act of 1789 established [Hint]   A. the U.S. Supreme Court.   B. the local court system.   C. both the state and federal court system.   D. the state court system.   E. federal district courts.
4 .		The federal courts of appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court are [Hint]   A. appellate courts.   B. trial courts.   C. original jurisdiction courts.   D. legislative courts.   E. both creations of the Congress.
5 .		Courts that review legal procedures to make certain that the law was applied properly to the issues presented in the case are specifically [Hint]   A. appellate courts.   B. district courts.   C. all of the constitutional courts.   D. A, B, and C are correct   E. oversight courts.
6 .		If a case goes to trial, who is it that always brings criminal charges against a defendant? [Hint]   A. government   B. just the federal government, a state government does not prosecute criminal cases   C. the U.S. Attorney General   D. just the state government, the federal government does not prosecute criminal cases   E. a solicitor general
7 .		Which of the following is an example of a constitutional court? [Hint]   A. U.S. Supreme Court   B. federal district courts   C. circuit courts of appeals   D. A, B, and C are correct   E. B and C only are correct
8 .		The reliance on past decisions or precedents to formulate decisions in new cases is called [Hint]   A. stare decisis.   B. writ of review   C. amicus curiae.   D. original jurisdiction.   E. writ of certiorari.
9 .		Which of the following criteria has been important to presidents as they select federal judges? [Hint]   A. ideological preferences   B. gender   C. competence   D. all of the above   E. none of the above are criteria
10 .		Who has the authority to approve (the constitutional authority of "consent") of U.S. Supreme Court nominees? [Hint]   A. the U.S. House of Representatives   B. the entire Congress   C. the U.S. Senate   D. the President   E. current members of the U.S. Supreme Court
11 .		The U.S. Supreme Court today has [Hint]   A. eleven members.   B. legislative jurisdiction only.   C. appellate jurisdiction only.   D. original and appellate jurisdiction.   E. original jurisdiction only.
12 .		If two state governments had conflicting claims regarding water rights, according to the Constitution, where would the case be heard? [Hint]   A. U.S. Court of Appeals   B. local courts   C. U.S. Supreme Court   D. state court   E. U.S. district court
13 .		All petitions for a writ of certiorari involving the U.S. Supreme Court must meet two criteria: the case must have appeals exhausted up to the Court, and the case must [Hint]   A. be brought by a U.S. citizen.   B. involve a state question.   C. be in forma pauperis.   D. have the support of four members of Congress (known as the rule of four).   E. involve a federal question.
14 .		In a case that comes on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, certiorari will most certainly be granted when [Hint]   A. the federal government requests a review.   B. a governor requests a review.   C. the President demands it.   D. the case involves a federal question.   E. four justices on the Court have voted in favor of hearing the case.
15 .		The solicitor general is [Hint]   A. an aide to the U.S. Supreme Court who helps prepare the written opinions of the Court.   B. appointed by the U.S. Supreme Court.   C. a member of the Justice Department who is responsible for handling all appeals on behalf of the U.S. government to the U.S. Supreme Court.   D. any private attorney who represents a client for free before the U.S. Supreme Court.   E. the watchdog post in the Congress to monitor the fitness of judicial candidates.
16 .		If an interest group wanted to influence the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in a specific case, they would [Hint]   A. file an amicus curiae brief.   B. file a stare decisis brief.   C. file an in forma pauperis brief.   D. all of the above   E. A and B are correct.
17 .		Which of the following statements regarding how U.S. Supreme Court decisions get made is true? [Hint]   A. Oral arguments in a case may go on for more than one day, sometimes up to a week.   B. All parties to the case are required to provide their own legal counsel, no counsel will be provided for free.   C. Initial conference votes are not final; justices are allowed to change their minds on a case before final votes are taken later.   D. The President may "pocket veto" any decision of the Court.   E. Justices usually meet in open conference to discuss the case amongst themselves.
18 .		Judicial restraintists refer to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade as a classic example of [Hint]   A. judicial activism.   B. judicial oversight.   C. judicial restraint.   D. original jurisdiction.   E. strict constructionism.
19 .		Which of the following factors may affect Supreme Court decision-making? [Hint]   A. judicial philosophy   B. precedent   C. social background differences   D. A, B, and C are correct   E. none are correct
20 .		Which of the following statements is true regarding the power of the U.S. Supreme Court? [Hint]   A. The Court does not hear a case that is considered to be a political question.   B. The Court has never declared a state law unconstitutional.   C. More than one hundred federal laws have been declared unconstitutional by the Court.   D. all of the above   E. It is extremely rare for the Court to overrule itself, as there are no such instances in the 1900s.