PDGA CERTIFIED RULES EXAM SCRIPT
2026 COMPLETE TEST QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT SOLUTIONS
⩥ Subject Matter. Answer: The power of a court to hear a certain type of
case. (i.e. debt collection, family law)
⩥ Personal. Answer: The Court's power to bring a person before it and to
make a binding decision on that person.
Includes rendering judgement on a person or corporation's rights.
⩥ Venue. Answer: Refers to the geographic location; this is the location
where the case should be tried. This can be based upon the place of
residence of the plaintiff and/or defendant, where the event took place,
or "Forum Shopping" (having a choice on the venue for the trial).
⩥ Appellate Jurisdiction. Answer: the power to reverse or modify the
lower court's decision.
⩥ Original jurisdiction. Answer: A court's authority to hear and decide a
case for the first time, before any appellate court. ex. US
Supreme/Circuit Court of Appeals over US District Court.
,⩥ Limited Jurisdiction. Answer: the authority to hear and decide cases
only of a particular subject matter. All federal courts are courts of limited
jurisdiction.
⩥ Diversity Jurisdiction. Answer: When the parties are from different
states AND the amount in controversy is more than $75,000. Exists to
prevent bias by a state court over a party that may live there. Happens in
U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
⩥ Two types of U.S. Supreme Jurisdiction. Answer: Limited and
Original Jurisdiction. U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the land
and only hears cases with a federal question.
⩥ FRCP history. Answer: FRCP's were first adopted by the U.S.
Supreme Court on 12/30/1937, transmitted to Congress in 1/1938, and in
effect on 9/16/1938.
⩥ Rule 1. Answer: secures the just, speedy and inexpensive
determination of every action and proceeding
⩥ General Timeline of a Federal Civil Case. Answer: 1. Complaint (the
instigating document of a case)
2. Answer (or other responsive pleading) - motions/notices
3. Discovery
4. Motions
, 5. Mediation or Arbitration (a.k.a. alternative dispute resolution) - may
be required or ordered by the court
6. Trial
⩥ Pleadings. Answer: State allegations against the other side or your
response to the other side.
- Complaint
- Counterclaim or cross-claim
- answer to complaint, counterclaim, or cross-claim
⩥ Rule 7(a). Answer: Designation - the name of the pleading
ex. Complaint for Divorce
⩥ Rule 10. Answer: States what a pleading must have.
1. Caption/Names of parties - includes the court's name, name of parties,
case number, and title of document.
2. Paragraphs/Separate statements - a party must state its claims or
defenses in numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as practicable to a
single set of circumstances.
3. References/Exhibits - you will attach documents that you refer to in
the pleading as exhibits
⩥ Rule 8. Answer: Pertains to the contents of a Complaint
2026 COMPLETE TEST QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT SOLUTIONS
⩥ Subject Matter. Answer: The power of a court to hear a certain type of
case. (i.e. debt collection, family law)
⩥ Personal. Answer: The Court's power to bring a person before it and to
make a binding decision on that person.
Includes rendering judgement on a person or corporation's rights.
⩥ Venue. Answer: Refers to the geographic location; this is the location
where the case should be tried. This can be based upon the place of
residence of the plaintiff and/or defendant, where the event took place,
or "Forum Shopping" (having a choice on the venue for the trial).
⩥ Appellate Jurisdiction. Answer: the power to reverse or modify the
lower court's decision.
⩥ Original jurisdiction. Answer: A court's authority to hear and decide a
case for the first time, before any appellate court. ex. US
Supreme/Circuit Court of Appeals over US District Court.
,⩥ Limited Jurisdiction. Answer: the authority to hear and decide cases
only of a particular subject matter. All federal courts are courts of limited
jurisdiction.
⩥ Diversity Jurisdiction. Answer: When the parties are from different
states AND the amount in controversy is more than $75,000. Exists to
prevent bias by a state court over a party that may live there. Happens in
U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
⩥ Two types of U.S. Supreme Jurisdiction. Answer: Limited and
Original Jurisdiction. U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the land
and only hears cases with a federal question.
⩥ FRCP history. Answer: FRCP's were first adopted by the U.S.
Supreme Court on 12/30/1937, transmitted to Congress in 1/1938, and in
effect on 9/16/1938.
⩥ Rule 1. Answer: secures the just, speedy and inexpensive
determination of every action and proceeding
⩥ General Timeline of a Federal Civil Case. Answer: 1. Complaint (the
instigating document of a case)
2. Answer (or other responsive pleading) - motions/notices
3. Discovery
4. Motions
, 5. Mediation or Arbitration (a.k.a. alternative dispute resolution) - may
be required or ordered by the court
6. Trial
⩥ Pleadings. Answer: State allegations against the other side or your
response to the other side.
- Complaint
- Counterclaim or cross-claim
- answer to complaint, counterclaim, or cross-claim
⩥ Rule 7(a). Answer: Designation - the name of the pleading
ex. Complaint for Divorce
⩥ Rule 10. Answer: States what a pleading must have.
1. Caption/Names of parties - includes the court's name, name of parties,
case number, and title of document.
2. Paragraphs/Separate statements - a party must state its claims or
defenses in numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as practicable to a
single set of circumstances.
3. References/Exhibits - you will attach documents that you refer to in
the pleading as exhibits
⩥ Rule 8. Answer: Pertains to the contents of a Complaint
