Branches of Government
Which factor contributes to the perception that The Supreme Court is an apolitical entity?
Its Justices serve life terms and are exempt from electoral pressure.
Its Justices meet regularly with lawmakers to discuss pending legislation.
Its Justices are elected by popular vote every four years.
Its Justices are former politicians themselves who maintain strong political affiliations.
What is one risk associated with the strategy of 'court packing,' wherein the party in control attempts to increase the number of Justices on the Supreme Court?
Potential for multiparty coalitions among justices that could lead to unpredictable outcomes in legal decisions instead of clear partisan trends.
Overloading the court system with cases due to the addition of justices, leading to decreased efficiency.
Reduced respect and legitimacy for the Supreme Court may result if it is perceived as a partisan vehicle rather than an impartial arbiter of the law.
Diminished power of individual justice votes could lead to less comprehensive examinations of cases presented for review.
Which one is NOT a factor the Court can use to make decisions?
Legal reasoning
Case law
Opinion of other countries' legal experts
Precedent
In which legal system is the principle of stare decisis strongly emphasized?
Customary law system
Common law system
Civil law system
International law system
Which part of Roe v Wade exemplified judicial activism?
The ruling extended privacy rights to include abortion decisions.
The case ruled that Congress should determine healthcare policy not courts
The court adopted a strict interpretation of existing laws.
It upheld all prior regulations on women's reproductive healthcare without deviation.
What event significantly expanded judicial review powers for the Supreme Court?
Roe v Wade case.
Brown v Board Of Education case.
Signing of the Constitution.
Marbury v Madison case, in 1803.
In which scenario would stare decisis most likely be overturned by the Supreme Court?
When public opinion polling consistently shows declining support for a precedent
When there is unanimous disagreement among lower federal courts regarding interpretation
During confirmation hearings when nominees commit to revisiting specific precedents
When subsequent rulings or societal shifts have significantly undermined its foundations

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What is one possible outcome if the Supreme Court routinely makes controversial decisions along ideological lines?
It will ensure greater compliance from state legislatures with federal mandates.
It might result in term limits being imposed on SCOTUS by popular referendum.
It could lead to increased voter turnout during presidential elections.
It may erode public confidence in the judiciary's impartiality.
Which term signifies an approach to constitutional interpretation that emphasizes interpreting the constitution as it was originally written and intended by the framers?
Originalism
Legal realism
Pragmatism
Positivism
How do lower courts reconcile conflicting precedents from the same level of the judiciary?
They will refer it directly to the Supreme Court
They may consider underlying legal principles
Each judge will issue a ruling using individual judgement
They will throw the case out completely