AAERT (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers)
Certification Actual Exam Newest Actual Exam With Complete 200 Questions
And Correct Detailed Answers (Verified Answers) |Already Graded A+
Question 1
The 94 Federal District Courts are organized into how many regional circuits?
A) 11
B) 13
C) 50
D) 12
E) 9
Correct Answer: D) 12
Rationale: The United States federal court system is structured such that the 94 judicial
districts are organized into 12 regional circuits. Each circuit has its own Court of Appeals.
Additionally, there is a 13th circuit, the Federal Circuit, which has nationwide jurisdiction
over specific subjects, but the 94 districts are specifically mapped into the 12 regional
circuits.
Question 2
When ranking court systems by hierarchy or "tiers," which of the following represents the correct
descending order of authority?
A) Municipal, Circuit, Appeals, State Supreme
B) State Supreme, Circuit, Municipal, Appeals
C) State Supreme, Court of Appeals, Circuit or District, Municipal
D) Circuit, Municipal, Appeals, State Supreme
E) Appeals, State Supreme, Municipal, District
Correct Answer: C) State Supreme, Court of Appeals, Circuit or District, Municipal
Rationale: In the standard state court hierarchy, the State Supreme Court is the "court of
last resort" (the highest). Below it is the intermediate Court of Appeals. Next are the trial
courts of general jurisdiction, often called Circuit or District Courts. The lowest tier
consists of courts of limited jurisdiction, such as Municipal or City courts.
, 2
Question 3
Which of the following best defines the "venue" of a legal case?
A) The specific judge assigned to the case.
B) The type of crime committed by the defendant.
C) The geographic location where the case is filed and heard.
D) The laws of the state where the plaintiff lives.
E) The final monetary amount of a settlement.
Correct Answer: C) The geographic location where the case is filed and heard.
Rationale: While "jurisdiction" refers to the court's power to hear a case, "venue" refers to
the most appropriate physical location or "neighborhood" where the case should be tried.
It is essentially [WHERE] the case is [FILED], usually determined by where the parties live
or where the underlying incident occurred.
Question 4
In the history and structure of the United States judiciary, which type of courts have been
established the longest?
A) Federal Courts
B) Administrative Courts
C) Municipal Courts
D) State Courts
E) The U.S. Supreme Court
Correct Answer: D) State Courts
Rationale: State courts existed as colonial courts long before the United States was formed
and before the federal judiciary was established by the Constitution. They handle the vast
majority of legal disputes in the U.S. and operate independently of the federal system
unless a federal or constitutional issue arises.
Question 5
Which court represents the third branch of the federal government and oversees the Circuit
Courts of Appeal?
A) The United States Tax Court
, 3
B) The United States Supreme Court
C) The State Supreme Court
D) The Social Security Administration Forum
E) The Federal District Court
Correct Answer: B) The United States Supreme Court
Rationale: The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and constitutes the
judicial branch of the federal government. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all
federal courts and over state court cases that involve aspects of federal law or the
Constitution.
Question 6
A court that is authorized to hear only specific types of cases, such as Bankruptcy Court only
hearing bankruptcy matters, is exercising what type of jurisdiction?
A) Geographic jurisdiction
B) General jurisdiction
C) Subject matter jurisdiction
D) Sovereign jurisdiction
E) Personal jurisdiction
Correct Answer: C) Subject matter jurisdiction
Rationale: Subject matter jurisdiction is the authority of a court to hear cases of a
particular type or cases relating to a specific subject. For example, a bankruptcy court
lacks the "subject matter jurisdiction" to hear a divorce case or a high-level felony murder
trial.
Question 7
AAERT standards for electronic reporting and transcription are primarily based on which set of
rules?
A) State rules
B) Independent industry thoughts
C) International protocols
, 4
D) Federal rules
E) Local municipal codes
Correct Answer: D) federal rules
Rationale: To ensure consistency and high quality across the profession, AAERT aligns its
standards with the Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure and the Federal Rules of
Evidence. This provides a rigorous baseline that can be applied across various jurisdictions.
Question 8
What is the legal effect when the U.S. Supreme Court issues a ruling on a specific legal matter?
A) It only applies to the parties involved in that specific case.
B) It serves as a suggestion for state courts.
C) All other courts in the country must follow that ruling as a precedent.
D) It can be ignored if a state legislature disagrees.
E) It must be approved by the President to become law.
Correct Answer: C) All other courts now have to follow that.
Rationale: Under the principle of "stare decisis" and the hierarchy of the American legal
system, a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on federal or constitutional law is binding on
all other courts, both state and federal. It becomes the "law of the land."
Question 9
Which of the following is responsible for deciding the "constitutionality" of a law or government
action?
A) The District Court
B) The Supreme Court
C) The Appeals Court
D) The Legislative Branch
E) The Executive Branch
Correct Answer: B) Supreme
Rationale: While any court can evaluate a law, the Supreme Court has the ultimate
authority of "judicial review." This power allows the Court to declare acts of the other
Certification Actual Exam Newest Actual Exam With Complete 200 Questions
And Correct Detailed Answers (Verified Answers) |Already Graded A+
Question 1
The 94 Federal District Courts are organized into how many regional circuits?
A) 11
B) 13
C) 50
D) 12
E) 9
Correct Answer: D) 12
Rationale: The United States federal court system is structured such that the 94 judicial
districts are organized into 12 regional circuits. Each circuit has its own Court of Appeals.
Additionally, there is a 13th circuit, the Federal Circuit, which has nationwide jurisdiction
over specific subjects, but the 94 districts are specifically mapped into the 12 regional
circuits.
Question 2
When ranking court systems by hierarchy or "tiers," which of the following represents the correct
descending order of authority?
A) Municipal, Circuit, Appeals, State Supreme
B) State Supreme, Circuit, Municipal, Appeals
C) State Supreme, Court of Appeals, Circuit or District, Municipal
D) Circuit, Municipal, Appeals, State Supreme
E) Appeals, State Supreme, Municipal, District
Correct Answer: C) State Supreme, Court of Appeals, Circuit or District, Municipal
Rationale: In the standard state court hierarchy, the State Supreme Court is the "court of
last resort" (the highest). Below it is the intermediate Court of Appeals. Next are the trial
courts of general jurisdiction, often called Circuit or District Courts. The lowest tier
consists of courts of limited jurisdiction, such as Municipal or City courts.
, 2
Question 3
Which of the following best defines the "venue" of a legal case?
A) The specific judge assigned to the case.
B) The type of crime committed by the defendant.
C) The geographic location where the case is filed and heard.
D) The laws of the state where the plaintiff lives.
E) The final monetary amount of a settlement.
Correct Answer: C) The geographic location where the case is filed and heard.
Rationale: While "jurisdiction" refers to the court's power to hear a case, "venue" refers to
the most appropriate physical location or "neighborhood" where the case should be tried.
It is essentially [WHERE] the case is [FILED], usually determined by where the parties live
or where the underlying incident occurred.
Question 4
In the history and structure of the United States judiciary, which type of courts have been
established the longest?
A) Federal Courts
B) Administrative Courts
C) Municipal Courts
D) State Courts
E) The U.S. Supreme Court
Correct Answer: D) State Courts
Rationale: State courts existed as colonial courts long before the United States was formed
and before the federal judiciary was established by the Constitution. They handle the vast
majority of legal disputes in the U.S. and operate independently of the federal system
unless a federal or constitutional issue arises.
Question 5
Which court represents the third branch of the federal government and oversees the Circuit
Courts of Appeal?
A) The United States Tax Court
, 3
B) The United States Supreme Court
C) The State Supreme Court
D) The Social Security Administration Forum
E) The Federal District Court
Correct Answer: B) The United States Supreme Court
Rationale: The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and constitutes the
judicial branch of the federal government. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all
federal courts and over state court cases that involve aspects of federal law or the
Constitution.
Question 6
A court that is authorized to hear only specific types of cases, such as Bankruptcy Court only
hearing bankruptcy matters, is exercising what type of jurisdiction?
A) Geographic jurisdiction
B) General jurisdiction
C) Subject matter jurisdiction
D) Sovereign jurisdiction
E) Personal jurisdiction
Correct Answer: C) Subject matter jurisdiction
Rationale: Subject matter jurisdiction is the authority of a court to hear cases of a
particular type or cases relating to a specific subject. For example, a bankruptcy court
lacks the "subject matter jurisdiction" to hear a divorce case or a high-level felony murder
trial.
Question 7
AAERT standards for electronic reporting and transcription are primarily based on which set of
rules?
A) State rules
B) Independent industry thoughts
C) International protocols
, 4
D) Federal rules
E) Local municipal codes
Correct Answer: D) federal rules
Rationale: To ensure consistency and high quality across the profession, AAERT aligns its
standards with the Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure and the Federal Rules of
Evidence. This provides a rigorous baseline that can be applied across various jurisdictions.
Question 8
What is the legal effect when the U.S. Supreme Court issues a ruling on a specific legal matter?
A) It only applies to the parties involved in that specific case.
B) It serves as a suggestion for state courts.
C) All other courts in the country must follow that ruling as a precedent.
D) It can be ignored if a state legislature disagrees.
E) It must be approved by the President to become law.
Correct Answer: C) All other courts now have to follow that.
Rationale: Under the principle of "stare decisis" and the hierarchy of the American legal
system, a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on federal or constitutional law is binding on
all other courts, both state and federal. It becomes the "law of the land."
Question 9
Which of the following is responsible for deciding the "constitutionality" of a law or government
action?
A) The District Court
B) The Supreme Court
C) The Appeals Court
D) The Legislative Branch
E) The Executive Branch
Correct Answer: B) Supreme
Rationale: While any court can evaluate a law, the Supreme Court has the ultimate
authority of "judicial review." This power allows the Court to declare acts of the other
