PSCI 2306 EXAM 4 COX QUESTIONS
Which Article of the Constitution deals with the judiciary? - Answer -Article III
ethics - Answer -the principles of right and wrong that guide an individual in making
decisions
mores - Answer -norms that are widely observed and have great moral significance
laws - Answer -rules of behavior established by a political authority and backed by state
power
What is the difference between civil and criminal law? - Answer -Civil law deals with
people who committed a wrong against another person while criminal law deals with
offenses against the state and federal government.
What is the difference between common and statutory law? - Answer -Common law
allow judges to decide cases based on rules of prior cases while statutory law is a more
formal body of the legal system that consists of written legislation.
What does the term jurisdiction mean? - Answer -the right of a court to hear a case.
6. What did the Judiciary Act of 1789 do? - Answer -Created the structure of the federal
courts.
7. What are the three levels of federal courts? - Answer -District Courts, Courts of
Appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Which courts does Article III establish? - Answer -Supreme Court
What are some limitations on the courts? —types of questions they can and cannot
answer, standing, real cases or controversies. - Answer -Questions related to religion,
such as what do angels do or what is the best religion
Questions about medical treatment, such as what is the best drug to treat leukemia or
mono
Questions about political matters, such as whether there should be a draft or who we
should bomb
What happened in the presidential election of 1800? Why do people consider it to have
been a constitutional crisis? - Answer -There was a tie in the EC and the House would
have to pick the president- lead to the 12th Amendment to prevent such a tie.
, What dilemma did the Marbury case bring to the Supreme Court? - Answer -Madison
would ignore any order to deliver commissions. Court in danger of being seen as weak
and ineffective.
Who was chief justice during the Marbury case? Who was Secretary of State? - Answer
-John Marshall
James Madison
What are the differences between restraintist and activist judges? Who supports each of
these views on the role of a judge? - Answer -Judicial activists:
-Have an agenda of their own
-Believe in a modern, loose interpretation of the Constitution.
-Tend to rely on scientific data.
-Can be liberal or conservative.
Judicial restraintists:
-Tend to look to values of those who wrote the Constitution.
-Examine constitutionality without assessing wisdom of the law.
-Reject introduction of outside data.
-Favor a strict construction (interpretation) of the Constitution.
What do presidents look for when they have appointments to make to the Supreme
Court? Who reviews candidates for the Supreme Court? - Answer -Someone with
judicial experience, someone with views similar to his own, someone whose nomination
might help politically.
The Senate approval.
What is the confirmation process? - Answer -Senate confirming president's
appointments to federal and Supreme Court.
Which Texas courts have original jurisdiction in felony cases? - Answer -District Courts
As Texas has two highest courts, how is the work load divided between the two? -
Answer -Supreme Court deals with appellate in civil cases and juvenile matters
Court of Criminal Appeals is the final appellate jurisdiction in criminal cases
What is the difference between original and appellate jurisdiction? - Answer -Original
jurisdiction refers to the first court to hear a case while appellate jurisdiction refers to
hearing a case on appeal.
How many District courts does Texas have? - Answer -4
What is the role of the U.S. Solicitor General? - Answer -Represents the federal
government of the United States before the Supreme Court.
What is the Rule of Four and for what is it used? - Answer -Four justices must agree to
hear a case.
Which Article of the Constitution deals with the judiciary? - Answer -Article III
ethics - Answer -the principles of right and wrong that guide an individual in making
decisions
mores - Answer -norms that are widely observed and have great moral significance
laws - Answer -rules of behavior established by a political authority and backed by state
power
What is the difference between civil and criminal law? - Answer -Civil law deals with
people who committed a wrong against another person while criminal law deals with
offenses against the state and federal government.
What is the difference between common and statutory law? - Answer -Common law
allow judges to decide cases based on rules of prior cases while statutory law is a more
formal body of the legal system that consists of written legislation.
What does the term jurisdiction mean? - Answer -the right of a court to hear a case.
6. What did the Judiciary Act of 1789 do? - Answer -Created the structure of the federal
courts.
7. What are the three levels of federal courts? - Answer -District Courts, Courts of
Appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Which courts does Article III establish? - Answer -Supreme Court
What are some limitations on the courts? —types of questions they can and cannot
answer, standing, real cases or controversies. - Answer -Questions related to religion,
such as what do angels do or what is the best religion
Questions about medical treatment, such as what is the best drug to treat leukemia or
mono
Questions about political matters, such as whether there should be a draft or who we
should bomb
What happened in the presidential election of 1800? Why do people consider it to have
been a constitutional crisis? - Answer -There was a tie in the EC and the House would
have to pick the president- lead to the 12th Amendment to prevent such a tie.
, What dilemma did the Marbury case bring to the Supreme Court? - Answer -Madison
would ignore any order to deliver commissions. Court in danger of being seen as weak
and ineffective.
Who was chief justice during the Marbury case? Who was Secretary of State? - Answer
-John Marshall
James Madison
What are the differences between restraintist and activist judges? Who supports each of
these views on the role of a judge? - Answer -Judicial activists:
-Have an agenda of their own
-Believe in a modern, loose interpretation of the Constitution.
-Tend to rely on scientific data.
-Can be liberal or conservative.
Judicial restraintists:
-Tend to look to values of those who wrote the Constitution.
-Examine constitutionality without assessing wisdom of the law.
-Reject introduction of outside data.
-Favor a strict construction (interpretation) of the Constitution.
What do presidents look for when they have appointments to make to the Supreme
Court? Who reviews candidates for the Supreme Court? - Answer -Someone with
judicial experience, someone with views similar to his own, someone whose nomination
might help politically.
The Senate approval.
What is the confirmation process? - Answer -Senate confirming president's
appointments to federal and Supreme Court.
Which Texas courts have original jurisdiction in felony cases? - Answer -District Courts
As Texas has two highest courts, how is the work load divided between the two? -
Answer -Supreme Court deals with appellate in civil cases and juvenile matters
Court of Criminal Appeals is the final appellate jurisdiction in criminal cases
What is the difference between original and appellate jurisdiction? - Answer -Original
jurisdiction refers to the first court to hear a case while appellate jurisdiction refers to
hearing a case on appeal.
How many District courts does Texas have? - Answer -4
What is the role of the U.S. Solicitor General? - Answer -Represents the federal
government of the United States before the Supreme Court.
What is the Rule of Four and for what is it used? - Answer -Four justices must agree to
hear a case.
