US Judicial Branch MCQs with Answer
Which branch of the US government is responsible for interpreting the law and ensuring justice?
A) Executive Branch
B) Legislative Branch
C) Judicial Branch
D) Administrative Branch
Answer: C) Judicial Branch
How many justices serve on the United States Supreme Court?
A) 6
B) 8
C) 9
D) 10
Answer: C) 9
The highest court in the federal judicial system is:
A) Circuit Court of Appeals
B) District Court
C) Supreme Court
D) Court of Claims
Answer: C) Supreme Court
The power to confirm federal judges is held by:
A) The President
B) The Senate
C) The House of Representatives
D) The Supreme Court
Answer: B) The Senate
Federal judges serve for:
A) Life
B) 4 years
C) 8 years
D) 10 years
Answer: A) Life
The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time is called:
A) Original jurisdiction
B) Appellate jurisdiction
C) Exclusive jurisdiction
D) Concurrent jurisdiction
Answer: A) Original jurisdiction
Which level of federal courts has the authority to hear appeals from district courts?
A) Circuit Courts of Appeals
B) Supreme Court
C) District Courts
D) Magistrate Courts
Answer: A) Circuit Courts of Appeals
The power of the courts to determine if a law is unconstitutional is called:
A) Judicial review
B) Executive privilege
C) Legislative oversight
D) Congressional authority
Answer: A) Judicial review
The jurisdiction of federal courts is limited to cases involving:
A) State laws
B) Local laws
C) Federal laws and the Constitution
D) International laws
Answer: C) Federal laws and the Constitution
Which type of jurisdiction allows a court to hear a case that has been heard before by another court?
A) Exclusive jurisdiction
B) Concurrent jurisdiction
C) Appellate jurisdiction
D) Original jurisdiction
Answer: C) Appellate jurisdiction
How are federal judges and justices of the Supreme Court appointed?
A) By popular vote
B) By the President and confirmed by the Senate
C) By state legislatures
D) By the House of Representatives
Answer: B) By the President and confirmed by the Senate
The doctrine of stare decisis refers to the principle that:
A) Judges must interpret the Constitution strictly
B) Federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all cases
C) Courts must follow precedent and make decisions based on previous rulings
D) Judges have the power to declare laws unconstitutional
Answer: C) Courts must follow precedent and make decisions based on previous rulings
The authority of a court to hear a case on appeal is known as:
A) Exclusive jurisdiction
B) Concurrent jurisdiction
C) Appellate jurisdiction
D) Original jurisdiction
Answer: C) Appellate jurisdiction
The concept of “dual sovereignty” in the US legal system refers to:
A) The division of power between the federal and state governments
B) The overlapping jurisdiction of federal and state courts
C) The power of the President to veto legislation
D) The power of Congress to override Supreme Court decisions
Answer: A) The division of power between the federal and state governments
The principle that a higher court’s decision becomes a binding precedent for lower courts is known as:
A) Original jurisdiction
B) Stare decisis
C) Appellate jurisdiction
D) Concurrent jurisdiction
Answer: B) Stare decisis
Which federal court is the trial court of original jurisdiction?
A) Supreme Court
B) Circuit Court of Appeals
C) District Court
D) Court of Claims
Answer: C) District Court
The majority of cases in the federal court system are heard in:
A) Supreme Court
B) Circuit Courts of Appeals
C) District Courts
D) Magistrate Courts
Answer: C) District Courts
The principle that federal law takes precedence over state law in case of a conflict is known as:
A) Supremacy Clause
B) Due Process Clause
C) Equal Protection Clause
D) Privileges and Immunities Clause
Answer: A) Supremacy Clause
Which court case established the principle of judicial review in the United States?
A) Marbury v. Madison
B) Brown v. Board of Education
C) Roe v. Wade
D) Plessy v. Ferguson
Answer: A) Marbury v. Madison
The federal courts have the authority to hear cases involving which types of law?
A) Only criminal law
B) Only state law
C) Both federal and state law
D) Only international law
Answer: C) Both federal and state law
The power to interpret and apply the law in specific cases is known as:
A) Judicial review
B) Executive privilege
C) Legislative oversight
D) Judicial activism
Answer: D) Judicial activism
Which federal court has the authority to review cases decided by other federal agencies and ensure they follow the law?
A) Supreme Court
B) Circuit Court of Appeals
C) District Court
D) Court of Federal Claims
Answer: D) Court of Federal Claims
The power of federal courts to hear cases involving disputes between citizens of different states is called:
A) Appellate jurisdiction
B) Original jurisdiction
C) Exclusive jurisdiction
D) Concurrent jurisdiction
Answer: B) Original jurisdiction
Which type of federal court has the authority to hear a case for the first time?
A) District Court
B) Circuit Court of Appeals
C) Supreme Court
D) Court of Claims
Answer: A) District Court
The federal courts derive their authority from which article of the US Constitution?
A) Article I
B) Article II
C) Article III
D) Article IV
Answer: C) Article III
Which type of jurisdiction allows both federal and state courts to hear a case?
A) Original jurisdiction
B) Appellate jurisdiction
C) Exclusive jurisdiction
D) Concurrent jurisdiction
Answer: D) Concurrent jurisdiction
The doctrine that protects members of Congress from lawsuits based on statements made in official proceedings is known as:
A) Judicial review
B) Legislative immunity
C) Executive privilege
D) Congressional oversight
Answer: B) Legislative immunity
The Supreme Court’s decisions in cases like Brown v. Board of Education and Miranda v. Arizona had a significant impact on:
A) Executive powers
B) Foreign policy
C) Civil rights and individual liberties
D) Taxation policies
Answer: C) Civil rights and individual liberties
The federal courts are responsible for interpreting and applying which document?
A) The Declaration of Independence
B) The Magna Carta
C) The Constitution
D) The Bill of Rights
Answer: C) The Constitution
The federal court system was established by:
A) The Declaration of Independence
B) The Articles of Confederation
C) The Bill of Rights
D) The Judiciary Act of 1789
Answer: D) The Judiciary Act of 1789
The authority of a court to hear cases related to a specific subject matter is known as:
A) Appellate jurisdiction
B) Original jurisdiction
C) Exclusive jurisdiction
D) Concurrent jurisdiction
Answer: C) Exclusive jurisdiction
How are federal judges and justices of the Supreme Court removed from office?
A) By popular vote
B) By the President
C) By the Senate
D) Through impeachment and conviction
Answer: D) Through impeachment and conviction
Which federal court is responsible for hearing cases involving disputes between states?
A) District Court
B) Circuit Court of Appeals
C) Supreme Court
D) Court of Federal Claims
Answer: C) Supreme Court
The federal courts have the authority to hear cases involving:
A) Criminal law only
B) Civil law only
C) Both criminal and civil law
D) State law only
Answer: C) Both criminal and civil law
The power of the Supreme Court to declare a law unconstitutional is an example of:
A) Original jurisdiction
B) Appellate jurisdiction
C) Judicial review
D) Judicial activism
Answer: C) Judicial review
Which level of federal courts has the authority to review cases from federal agencies to ensure they followed proper procedures?
A) District Courts
B) Circuit Courts of Appeals
C) Supreme Court
D) Administrative Law Courts
Answer: B) Circuit Courts of Appeals
The principle that federal courts must have the authority to hear certain types of cases is known as:
A) Appellate jurisdiction
B) Original jurisdiction
C) Mandamus jurisdiction
D) Necessary and Proper Clause
Answer: B) Original jurisdiction
Which federal court has the power to issue writs of mandamus to compel action by government officials?
A) District Court
B) Circuit Court of Appeals
C) Supreme Court
D) Court of Claims
Answer: C) Supreme Court
The power of the courts to hear and decide a case is known as:
A) Jurisdiction
B) Appellate review
C) Judicial review
D) Standing
Answer: A) Jurisdiction
The doctrine that prevents a person from being tried for the same crime twice is known as:
A) Habeas corpus
B) Double jeopardy
C) Due process
D) Ex post facto
Answer: B) Double jeopardy
The authority of a court to hear a case on appeal is known as:
A) Appellate jurisdiction
B) Original jurisdiction
C) Concurrent jurisdiction
D) Exclusive jurisdiction
Answer: A) Appellate jurisdiction
The power of a court to review decisions of lower courts is known as:
A) Appellate jurisdiction
B) Original jurisdiction
C) Exclusive jurisdiction
D) Concurrent jurisdiction
Answer: A) Appellate jurisdiction
Which federal court has the authority to hear cases involving claims against the federal government?
A) District Court
B) Circuit Court of Appeals
C) Court of Federal Claims
D) Supreme Court
Answer: C) Court of Federal Claims
The power of the courts to review the actions of the executive and legislative branches is known as:
A) Judicial review
B) Executive oversight
C) Legislative control
D) Presidential authority
Answer: A) Judicial review
The authority of a court to hear cases involving foreign ambassadors and disputes between states is known as:
A) Original jurisdiction
B) Appellate jurisdiction
C) Exclusive jurisdiction
D) Concurrent jurisdiction
Answer: A) Original jurisdiction
The federal courts have the authority to resolve disputes between states through:
A) Mediation
B) Arbitration
C) Litigation
D) Original jurisdiction
Answer: D) Original jurisdiction
The federal courts have the authority to hear cases involving:
A) Only federal law
B) Only state law
C) Both federal and state law
D) Only international law
Answer: C) Both federal and state law
Which federal court is often the final court of appeal in most federal cases?
A) District Court
B) Circuit Court of Appeals
C) Court of Federal Claims
D) Supreme Court
Answer: B) Circuit Court of Appeals
The power of the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution and determine the constitutionality of laws is called:
A) Judicial review
B) Legislative authority
C) Executive privilege
D) Presidential power
Answer: A) Judicial review
The federal court system is organized into how many levels?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5
Answer: B) 3