Courts in the US: Structure and Jurisdiction - Criminal Justice Capstone

Question 1

What is the name of the highest court in the United States judicial system?

Accepted Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

District Court

Answer

Court of Appeals

Question 2

Which of the following is not a level of the federal court system?

Accepted Answer

Probate courts

Answer

District courts

Answer

Circuit courts of appeals

Answer

Supreme Court

Question 3

Which level of the United States court system is the highest?

Accepted Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

Court of Appeals

Answer

District Court

Answer

State Supreme Court

Question 4

Which court level has the initial authority to hear cases involving federal offenses?

Accepted Answer

District Court

Answer

Court of Appeals

Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

State Court

Question 5

In which court system would a case involving a person accused of murder most likely be heard?

Accepted Answer

State Court

Answer

Federal Court

Answer

Juvenile Court

Answer

Military Court

Question 6

What term refers to the geographical area over which a particular court has legal authority?

Accepted Answer

Jurisdiction

Answer

Venue

Answer

Territory

Answer

District

Question 7

Which of the following court types is NOT part of the federal court system?

Accepted Answer

Probate Court

Answer

District Court

Answer

Court of Appeals

Answer

Supreme Court

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a factor that can potentially limit a court's jurisdiction?

Accepted Answer

Time of day the incident occurred

Answer

Subject matter of the case

Answer

Geographical location of the incident

Answer

Citizenship status of the parties involved

Question 9

A property dispute between neighbors would most likely be heard in which court system?

Accepted Answer

State Court

Answer

Federal Court

Answer

Local Court

Answer

Tribal Court

Question 10

What is a unique power held exclusively by the Supreme Court of the United States?

Accepted Answer

Striking down laws deemed unconstitutional

Answer

Reviewing decisions made by lower courts

Answer

Selecting judges for lower courts

Question 11

To initiate the formal appeals process of a lower court ruling in the United States, what action must be taken?

Accepted Answer

File a notice of appeal

Answer

Submit an appellate brief

Answer

Request a hearing

Answer

Consult an attorney

Question 12

Within the federal district court system, which of these is a specialized court?

Accepted Answer

Bankruptcy court

Answer

Court of Appeals

Answer

Supreme Court

Question 13

How does a court system's hierarchy affect the reach and power of its courts?

Accepted Answer

Higher courts usually have jurisdiction over larger areas and more authority than lower courts.

Answer

A court system's hierarchy has no impact on its courts' reach or power.

Answer

Lower courts typically have wider geographical reach than higher courts.

Answer

The types of cases a court handles don't affect its reach or power.

Question 14

Which court in the United States has the exclusive power to interpret the Constitution and overturn decisions made by both state and federal courts?

Accepted Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

Appellate Courts

Answer

District Courts

Answer

Local Courts

Question 15

Which court is the highest judicial authority in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

Court of Appeals

Answer

District Court

Answer

State Supreme Court

Question 16

What is the primary purpose of a Court of Appeals?

Accepted Answer

To review decisions made by lower courts

Answer

To hear criminal cases

Answer

To interpret the constitutionality of laws

Answer

To appoint judges to lower courts

Question 17

What term refers to the specific geographic area over which a court has authority?

Accepted Answer

Jurisdiction

Answer

Venue

Answer

District

Answer

Territory

Question 18

What is the purpose of the legal principle known as stare decisis?

Accepted Answer

To ensure consistency in court rulings on similar cases

Answer

To prevent courts from altering previous decisions

Answer

To limit the power of the judiciary

Answer

To promote judicial activism

Question 19

Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a fair and impartial trial?

Accepted Answer

Sixth Amendment

Answer

First Amendment

Answer

Fifth Amendment

Answer

Eighth Amendment

Question 20

Which court has the original power to hear cases about bankruptcy, trademarks, and patents?

Accepted Answer

Federal District Courts

Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

State Courts

Answer

Appellate Courts

Question 21

Which court is not part of the federal court system hierarchy?

Accepted Answer

Tax Court

Answer

District Court

Answer

Court of Appeals

Answer

Supreme Court

Question 22

Which federal court has the primary responsibility of hearing cases involving federal laws initially?

Accepted Answer

District Courts

Answer

Appellate Courts

Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

Circuit Courts

Question 23

Within the state court system, which court holds the highest level of authority?

Accepted Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

Appeals Court

Answer

District Court

Answer

Probate Court

Question 24

Which type of case is commonly handled by municipal courts?

Accepted Answer

Traffic violations

Answer

Murder

Answer

Bankruptcy

Answer

Contract disputes

Question 25

When comparing federal and state courts, a key distinction lies in their:

Accepted Answer

Federal courts are established by the US Constitution, while state courts are established by state constitutions.

Answer

State courts have authority over all cases, whereas federal courts handle a specific set of cases.

Answer

Federal courts possess greater authority than state courts.

Answer

Federal courts incur higher expenses compared to state courts.

Question 26

In the US judicial system, which court holds the highest position?

Accepted Answer

US Supreme Court

Answer

Federal District Court

Answer

State Supreme Court

Answer

Court of Appeals

Question 27

Under which amendment of the US Constitution is the right to a trial by jury guaranteed?

Accepted Answer

Sixth Amendment

Answer

First Amendment

Answer

Fifth Amendment

Answer

Eighth Amendment

Question 28

Which function is carried out by the judicial branch of government?

Accepted Answer

Interpreting laws

Answer

Creating laws

Answer

Enforcing laws

Answer

Prosecuting criminals

Question 29

In American law, which principle establishes that an individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty?

Accepted Answer

Presumption of innocence

Answer

Equal protection under the law

Answer

Due process of law

Answer

Habeas corpus

Question 30

Which method is NOT considered a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR)?

Accepted Answer

Pleading

Answer

Mediation

Answer

Arbitration

Answer

Negotiation

Question 31

Which court level is NOT part of the federal court system?

Accepted Answer

Specialty Court

Answer

District Court

Answer

Court of Appeals

Answer

Supreme Court

Question 32

When a legal dispute arises between individuals living in different states, which factors are most important in determining the court that will hear the case?

Accepted Answer

The citizenship of the parties and where the incident occurred

Answer

The type of case and the amount of money involved

Answer

The availability of lawyers and the court's workload

Answer

The political views of the judges and past court decisions

Question 33

Which of the following is NOT a level of court in the United States federal court system?

Accepted Answer

Intermediate Appellate Court

Answer

Circuit Court of Appeals

Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

District Court

Question 34

Which type of court has original jurisdiction over most criminal cases in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Trial Court

Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

Appellate Court

Answer

Intermediate Appellate Court

Question 35

Which of the following courts has jurisdiction over matters related to federal law in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Federal Court

Answer

Local Court

Answer

State Court

Answer

Tribal Court

Question 36

Which of the following is a characteristic of a trial court in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Conducts the initial hearing of a case

Answer

Has original jurisdiction over most civil cases

Answer

Reviews decisions of lower courts

Answer

Interprets the Constitution

Question 37

Which of the following is a type of appellate court in the United States federal court system?

Accepted Answer

Court of Appeals

Answer

District Court

Answer

Trial Court

Answer

Supreme Court

Question 38

Which of the following courts has the highest level of authority in the United States federal court system?

Accepted Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

Appellate Court

Answer

Trial Court

Answer

Federal Court

Question 39

Which of the following is a type of local court in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Municipal Court

Answer

Federal Court

Answer

Appellate Court

Answer

Supreme Court

Question 40

Which of the following courts has jurisdiction over cases involving Native Americans in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Tribal Court

Answer

Appellate Court

Answer

State Court

Answer

Federal Court

Question 41

How does federalism affect the division of jurisdiction between federal and state courts?

Accepted Answer

Federalism divides jurisdiction based on the case's subject matter.

Answer

Federal courts handle criminal cases, while state courts handle civil cases.

Answer

Federal and state courts share equal jurisdiction over all cases.

Answer

Federalism has no impact on court jurisdiction.

Question 42

Which of the following is NOT a level of courts in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Parish Court

Answer

District Court

Answer

Appellate Court

Answer

Supreme Court

Question 43

Which type of court adjudicates legal disputes between states or between the federal government and a state?

Accepted Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

Court of Appeals

Answer

Family Court

Answer

State Court

Question 44

Which of these is a key principle of the U.S. court system?

Accepted Answer

Separation of powers

Answer

Totalitarian rule

Answer

Absolute monarchy

Answer

Divine right of kings

Question 45

What is the term for a court's authority to hear and decide cases?

Accepted Answer

Jurisdiction

Answer

Remedies

Answer

Venue

Answer

Standing

Question 46

Which of the following factors can affect a court's jurisdiction?

Accepted Answer

Subject matter of the case

Answer

Popularity of the parties involved

Answer

Age of the defendant

Answer

Political affiliation of the judge

Question 47

What is the highest level of court in each state?

Accepted Answer

State Supreme Court

Answer

Superior Court

Answer

District Court

Answer

Court of Appeals

Question 48

Which of the following is NOT a function of appellate courts?

Accepted Answer

Conduct trials

Answer

Interpret the law

Answer

Set precedents

Answer

Review lower court decisions

Question 49

Which of the following is a type of federal court?

Accepted Answer

U.S. District Court

Answer

Traffic Court

Answer

Probate Court

Answer

Juvenile Court

Question 50

What is the name of a court that has limited jurisdiction to handle specific types of cases, such as family or juvenile matters?

Accepted Answer

Specialized Court

Answer

Appellate Court

Answer

Superior Court

Answer

General Jurisdiction Court