In its ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election commission, the Supreme Court

In its ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election commission, the Supreme Court

A. Invalidated the use of union money in federal election campaigns
B. Lifted restrictions in corporate and union spending in federal election campaigns
C. Placed restrictions on the amounts that individuals can donate to federal election campaigns
D. Placed limits on the amounts that corporations can donate to federal election campaigns
E. eliminated the provision form matching federal campaigns funds in presidential elections

Answer: B

The Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison is significant

The Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison is significant 

A. As the first instance of the court ruling on a state matter
B. As the first use of judicial activism
C. For the establishment of judicial review
D. As the first instance of the court ruling on a disagreement between states
E. as the courts first non-majority opinion

Answer: C

Precedent, while not and absolute constraint on the courts, is needed to

Precedent, while not and absolute constraint on the courts, is needed to

A. Preserve the courts as a counter majoritarian institution
B. Maintain legal consistency over time, so confusion and uncertainty about the law can be avoided
C. Check the president in the area of public law
D. Balance the policy making authority of congress
E. check the president in the area of foreign policy

Answer: B

With regard to public opinion, the Supreme Court

With regard to public opinion, the Supreme Court 

A. Ignores it in order to make decisions that are based on enduring values rather than the public's passing whims
B. Remains uniformed about it because justices stay on the bench for life and never face the public scrutiny of an election
C. Attempts to stay close enough to public opinion so as to avoid outright defiance of its decisions
D. Attempts to follow it very closely in order to create public enthusiasm for its rulings
E. none of the above

Answer: C

An amicus ("friend of the court") brief provides a court with the view held by

An amicus ("friend of the court") brief provides a court with the view held by 

A. An interest that is not direct party to the case
B. The justice department
C. The house and senate judiciary committees
D. The American bar association
E. the solicitor general

Answer: A

The term stare decisis refers to

The term stare decisis refers to

A. Adherence to precedent
B. Judicial activism
C. Judicial restraint
D. Judicial review
E. excessive partisanship

Answer: A

The judiciary's status as an independent branch of national government depends on judicial review, which grants the judiciary authority to

The judiciary's status as an independent branch of national government depends on judicial review, which grants the judiciary authority to

A. Make political decisions: judges can overturn any congressional or presidential decision they personally dislike
B. Decide which laws apply to a particular case
C. Ignore public opinion when making decisions
D. Invalidate the actions of other institutions when judges believe they have acted unconstitutionally
E. strike down certain sections of the constitution

Answer: D

The facts of the case

The facts of the case 

A. Are largely irrelevant, in that the judiciary has wide freedom with decisions
B. Affect which law or laws will apply to the case
C. Are important only if the case involves a statutory dispute
D. Are important only if the case involves a constitutional dispute
E. are important about 50 percent of the time

Answer: B

The long-serving chief justice that established the principle of judicial review was

The long-serving chief justice that established the principle of judicial review was 

A. Charles Evans Hughes
B. Hugo Black
C. Clarence thomas
D. John Marshall
E. Benjamin Cardozo

Answer: D