Step 1
1. What was the main purpose of the Judiciary Act of 1801?
A) To remove Supreme Court judges
B) To reduce the workload of Supreme Court judges
C) To give the President more power over the courts
D) To allow judges to make new laws
B) To reduce the workload of Supreme Court judges
1. What is the role of the Supreme Court in the United States?
A) To create new laws
B) To handle small legal disputes
C) To make important decisions about laws and the Constitution
D) To help the President enforce laws
C) To make important decisions about laws and the Constitution
1. Who appointed the "Midnight Judges"?
A) Thomas Jefferson
B) James Madison
C) John Adams
D) John Marshall
C) John Adams
2. Why was the law called "The Midnight Judges Act"?
A) It was passed at midnight
B) It appointed judges late at night
C) It was passed in the final days of President Adams' term
D) It allowed judges to work only at night
C) It was passed in the final days of President Adams' term
2. Why were some people concerned about the Supreme Court in the late 1700s?
A) They thought it had too much power over Congress
B) They felt it was too connected to the Circuit Courts
C) They wanted it to have fewer judges
D) They believed it should focus only on criminal cases
B) They felt it was too connected to the Circuit Courts
2. Why did William Marbury not receive his job as a judge?
A) He refused to accept the position
B) The Supreme Court ruled against him
C) James Madison did not deliver his appointment
D) John Adams changed his mind
C) James Madison did not deliver his appointment
3. What problem did Supreme Court Justices face before this law?
A) They had to work only in one place
B) They had to do two jobs, making them overworked
C) They were not allowed to travel
D) They had too much free time
B) They had to do two jobs, making them overworked
3. What was the main purpose of the Judiciary Act of 1801?
A) To add more judges and Circuit Courts
B) To remove judges from the Supreme Court
C) To give the President more control over the courts
D) To create a new branch of government
A) To add more judges and Circuit Courts
3. What was the main issue in the case of Marbury v. Madison?
A) Whether the president could remove Supreme Court judges
B) Whether Marbury had a right to his appointment as a judge
C) Whether the Supreme Court could create new laws
D) Whether judges should be elected
B) Whether Marbury had a right to his appointment as a judge
4. What does "riding circuit" mean in the passage?
A) Judges traveling to different places to hear cases
B) Judges staying in one place to hear cases
C) Judges retiring after a few years
D) Judges making new laws
A) Judges traveling to different places to hear cases
4. Why were the judges appointed by John Adams called the "Midnight Judges"?
A) They worked only at night
B) They were appointed late at night before Adams left office
C) They were secret judges that no one knew about
D) They had to make decisions very quickly
B) They were appointed late at night before Adams left office
4. Who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during Marbury v. Madison?
A) Thomas Jefferson
B) John Marshall
C) James Madison
D) John Adams
B) John Marshall
5. Why could "riding circuit" lead to unfairness?
A) Judges would forget the laws
B) Judges had to work too late at night
C) Judges had to decide on cases twice
D) Judges could not meet with the President
C) Judges had to decide on cases twice
5. What was a major concern about Adams' last-minute judge appointments?
A) The judges might not be qualified
B) The judges might refuse to hear cases
C) Adams was trying to fill courts with judges who supported his political party
D) The new judges were too young to serve in court
C) Adams was trying to fill courts with judges who supported his political party
5. What important principle did the Marbury v. Madison case establish?
A) The president can appoint judges without approval
B) The Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional (judicial review)
C) The Supreme Court cannot hear political cases
D) Congress has the power to overrule the Supreme Court
Answer: B) The Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional (judicial review)