Goal 5: Explain how the political and legal systems provide a means to balance competing interests and resolve conflicts. Ch. 6,8,15. Civics Notes. Around 10-16 Questions
1. United States Supreme Court <- ? <- United States District Court
Which court correctly completes the diagram above?
A. US Court of Records B. US Court of Appeals C. US Superior Court D. US Civil Court
2. Members of the U.S. Supreme Court are appointed by ______. These appointments are approved by ______.
A. The Senate; the President B. The President; the Senate C. The People; the Senate D. The Senate; the People
3. A group of people brought together to decide if there is enough evidence to indict someone for committing a crime can be described as what?
A. Supreme Court B. Grand Jury C. Petit Jury D. Parliament
4. A defendant is convicted of a crime in the North Carolina Superior Court. However, he claims that during the trial, the judge allowed evidence that should not have been admitted. His appeal will MOST likely first be heard in which court?
A. US Supreme Court B. NC Court of Appeals C. US Court of Appeals D. NC Supreme Court
5. Laura has been arrested charged with a federal crime. Which of the following is true regarding Laura’s case?
A. The state Superior Court will exercise original jurisdiction over the case, however, if Laura appeals, the case will go to federal court.
B. The US Court of Appeals will have original jurisdiction, but if Laura appeals, it will then go to the US Supreme Court.
C. There is no way the US Supreme Court could ever hear Laura’s case because it does not involve a matter of constitutional law.
D. The US District Court has original jurisdiction over the case with the US Court
of Appeals and possibly the US Supreme Court exercising appellate jurisdiction.
6. Which is NOT an example of an issue that might warrant the filing of a civil case?
A. The individual believes another party has not fulfilled the terms of a contract
B. The individual suffered damage due to the negligence of another
C. The individual wants to get a divorce D. The individual was robbed at gunpoint
7. What does “innocent until proven guilty” mean in a court of law?
A. The accused must prove his innocence. B. The trial must be held quickly.
C. The burden of proof is on the predecessor. D. The state must have DNA evidence to prove guilt.
8. A process in which a defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser crime or accept a guarantee of less severe punishment for the crime with which they are currently charged in exchange for pleading “guilty” is called what?
A. An arraignment B. Issue of Law C. Plea Bargaining D. Settlement
9. Law enforcement officials must have which of the following to make an arrest?
A. Search warrant or an indictment B. Probable cause or an arrest warrant
C. Writ of certiorari or an issue of fact D. Complaint or an issue of law
10. What is the proper order of the grand jury and the petit jury in the judicial process?
A. The petit jury comes before the grand jury. B. The grand jury comes before the petit jury.
C. The grand jury is for capital offenses only. D. The grand jury and the petit jury hear the case at the same time.
11. Juan earned a degree in psychology while in prison and upon his release opened a counseling center for troubled teens. Which goal of punishment was most successful in Juan’s case?
A. Deterrence B. Rehabilitation C. Restitution D. Retribution
12. Which of the following examples best illustrates aggravating circumstances?
A. A woman convicted of murder is known to have a mental disability
B. A man murdered his wife and disposed of her body in a gruesome way
C. A juvenile commits a crime and is tried as an adult D. A man murders his father after he endures a history of abuse
13. When sentencing juveniles, what is the ultimate goal?
A. Deterrence B. Rehabilitation C. Restitution D. Retribution
14. Which law enforcement agency would protect the President during an assassination attempt?
A. The Secret Service B. The Federal Bureau of Investigation C. The National Guard D. State Troopers
15. Police officers do not decide if a person is guilty or not. Which of the following also represents an action they are not responsible for?
A. Protect life property B. Maintain peace order C. Plea bargain D. Arrest people who violate the law
16. Which of the following best summarizes this passage from the Constitution?
a. Section 1 vests judicial power in federal courts, requires a supreme court, allows for inferior courts, establishes life tenure for judges, and prohibits decreasing the salaries of judges.
b. Section 1 vests all judicial power with the Supreme Court.
c. Section 1 allows the Supreme Court to determine the salary of all judicial officials, diminishing or increasing pay based on the merit of the person.
d. Section 1 establishes the role of the courts in our nation, setting a precedent for what all courts and court officials can rule on.
17. A court’s authority to hear and decide a matter before any other court can review the matter is…
a. Appellate jurisdiction b. Exclusive jurisdiction c. Concurrent jurisdiction d. Original jurisdiction
18. Which statement about the Supreme Court of the United States is accurate?
a. Only around 100 civil and criminal cases are filed in the Supreme Court each year.
b. The Supreme Court never has original and exclusive jurisdiction on cases.
c. The Supreme Court of has a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.
d. Cases heard by the US Court of Appeals or the highest court of each state cannot be reviewed by the US Supreme Court.
19. The decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803) expanded the power of the Supreme Court by
a. restricting the use of the elastic clause. b. establishing the power of judicial review.
c. upholding the constitutionality of the National Bank. d. interpreting the interstate commerce clause.
20. When a petitioner asks the Supreme Court of the United States to issue a writ of certiorari, it is requesting
a. that the US Supreme Court honor the decision made in the lower court.
b. that the US Supreme Court reverse the decision made in the lower court.
c. an order for the lower court to send the case to the US Supreme Court so that it can review the case.
d. an order for a Supreme Court Justice to be removed from the panel that reviews the case.
21. What was a central issue in the Supreme Court cases of Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) and Miranda v. Arizona (1966)?
a. Freedom of religion b. Voting rights c. Rights of the accused d. Property rights
22. Which court would hear a civil or criminal appeal from a US district court within their circuit?
a. The Supreme Court b. The District Court c. The Court of Federal Claims d. The Courts of Appeals
23. Which headline illustrates the use of judicial review?
a. “Congress Passes a Civil Rights Bill” b. “Conference Committee Meets to Finalize Budget”
c. “NY State’s Reapportionment Plan Ruled Unconstitutional” d. “President Signs SALT Agreement with Russia”
24. North Carolina’s General Court of Justice is composed of which three divisions?
a. The Supreme Court Division, the Superior Court Division, and the Trial Court Division
b. The Appellate Division, a Superior Court Division, and a District Court Division
c. The Superior Court Division, the Trial Court Division, and the Civil Court Division
d. The Supreme Court Division, the Superior Court Division, and the Civil Court Division
25. North Carolina’s Appellate Division is made up of the Supreme Court and the
a. Superior Court b. District Court c. Civil Court d. Court of Appeals
26. Tony and Tina are going to elope. Which official has the authority to marry them in North Carolina?
a. District Court Judge b. Superior Court Judge c. Magistrate d. Clerk of Court
27. In civil cases, the injured party who brings an action against an alleged offender is the
a. Defendant b. Plaintiff c. Prosecutor d. District Attorney
28. The screening device to determine if there is enough evidence to bring a defendant to trial is called a
a. Preliminary hearing b. Arrest warrant c. Trial d. Summons
29. If you are selected to serve on a jury, after listening to the oral arguments of the case, jurors must
a. Make a formal decision called a verdict b. Impose a sentence
c. Submit final questions to the defense and prosecution d. Offer a plea
30. Prior to a trial, both parties in a lawsuit may choose to resolve their conflict in a mutual agreement that ends the dispute. This is called
a. A continuation b. An arbitration c. A trial d. A settlement
31. Rodney was present at a party at which his best friend was arrested. While he is a witness, he doesn’t want to go to court and testify against his friend. Which of the following documents might Rodney receive that will force him to testify in court?
a. Issue of fact b. Subpoena c. Brief d. Court Docket
32. Which of the following best describes the role of a legislative committee?
a. Legislative committees sort through public policy and write legislation.
b. Legislative committees determine which laws should be passed and which should be vetoed.
c. Legislative committees instruct Senate and House members how to vote on proposed laws.
d. Legislative committees assist the Governor in choosing the most qualified legislators to work at the state level.
33. Which of the following statements by the President refers to a pocket veto?
a. “The Children’s Health Care bill was presented to me during the last ten days of the legislative session, but I have chosen not to sign it.”
b. “I have chosen to remove specific spending items from the appropriation bill passed by Congress.”
c. “To show that I do not support the proposed bill, I ceremoniously folded it and placed it in my left jacket pocket.”
d. “The Children’s Health Care bill was presented to me this morning in the Oval Office, but I have chosen to mark the document with a large X, noting my disapproval.”
34. The Chapel Hill Town Council is interested in gathering citizen input regarding their proposal to make city buses fare-free. Which is the most likely way they will gather citizen input?
a. Inform citizens to write letters voicing their opinions b. Place surveys and collection boxes at busy city locations
c. Hold a public hearing d. Instruct bus drivers to collect citizen opinions and report back to the city manager
35. Jasmine is angry with her city council since they have decided that a 12 story office building can be built on her street. Jasmine is upset about the city’s policy on
a. Zoning b. Annexation c. Extraterritorial jurisdiction d. Incorporation
36. Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez were continually unhappy with their daughter’s public school. They felt she was not getting a proper education at the school to which she was assigned. Thus, they requested a certificate that to pay for the education of their child at a school of their choice, as opposed to the public school to which she was assigned. What program is described in this passage?
a. Charter school program b. “Free Choice” program c. School redistricting d. Voucher program
37. Which of the following best explains the difference between a general obligation bond and a revenue bond?
a. General obligation bonds are repaid using tax money, whereas revenue bonds are repaid through revenue generated by the entity associated with the purpose of the bond.
b. General obligation bonds are voted on by the community, whereas revenue bonds are issued by the local government without citizen input.
c. General obligation bonds are repaid with debt collection and other fines citizens are obligated to pay, whereas revenue bonds are repaid with federal grants and other revenue received by the government.
d. General obligation bonds are never repaid, whereas revenue bonds are always repaid in full.
1. B
2. B
3. B
4. B
5. D
6. D
7. C
8. C
9. B
10. B
11. B
12. B
13. B
14. A
15. C
16. A
17. D
18. C
19. B
20. C
21. C
22. D
23. C
24. B
25. D
26. D
27. B
28. B
29. A
30. D
31. B
32. B
33. A
34. A
35. C
36. A
37. D