Federal Courts in a Nutshell
Quiz and Answer Key

Ten Key Facts
Key Concepts

Multiple Choice

1. The highest court in the land and the final decider of constitutional questions is
A. Congress
B. The President
C. The U.S. District Courts
D. The U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal
E. The Supreme Court of the United States

2. What is meant by the term judicial review?
A. The name of the third branch of government
B. Congress' authority to make laws
C. The process of appealing cases to a higher court
D. The courts' authority to enforce the laws
E. The courts' authority to declare a law or an act unconstitutional

3. An important attribute of the judiciary is
A. The ability to make laws consistent with the Constitution
B. The judiciary's independence from the other two branches
C. The ability to enforce the law consistent with the Constitution
D. All of the above
E. None of the above

4. How can law-abiding citizens get involved in the court system?
A. Serving on juries
B. Acting as witnesses
C. Resolving disputes using the judicial system
D. All of the above
E. None of the above

5. Courts are established to
A. Determine the guilt of an individual
B. Settle disputes between individuals
C. Settle disputes between states
D. Ensure that proper procedures are followed
E. All of the above

6. Federal Courts get their power from
A. Judges and lawyers
B. The people through the Constitution
C. The House and the Senate
D. Through nominations by the President
E. The federal bureaucracy

True or False
7. ______ Errors of law and imperfections in the American justice system are mainly corrected by the trial courts.
8. ______ Judges rely on public defenders, among others, to help ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice.
9.  ______ Trial courts are responsible for determining the facts of a particular legal case.
10. ______ The judicial branch is called the third branch. It is equal to the executive branch and the legislative branch.

Answer Key
1. E
2. E
3. B
4. D
5. E
6. B
7. False/appellate courts
8. True
9. True
10. True

Suggested Discussions Questions

1. In the United States, the federal courts are without the means to enforce their own decisions. They must rely on the President and the executive branch (which includes the military and police) to enforce them. What does this say about society's respect for the rule of law and for the role of the federal judiciary in maintaining the rule of law?
2. The President's enforcement of court orders demonstrates the high regard Americans have for the rule of law and their expectation that court orders will be followed. Site examples from history when this has or has not been the case?

top