Supreme Court Basics
Q: This is the highest court in the United States.
A: What is the Supreme Court?
Q: This article of the U.S. Constitution created the judicial branch.
A: What is Article III?
Q: These are the main trial courts in the federal system.
A: What are U.S. District Courts?
Q: In this case, the Supreme Court established the power of judicial review in 1803.
A: What is Marbury v. Madison?
Q: This branch can appoint federal judges, but cannot remove them on its own.
A: What is the executive branch?
Q: This term describes the group of judges who sit on the Supreme Court.
A: What are the Supreme Court justices? (or Who are the justices?)
Q: This power allows courts to declare laws or actions unconstitutional.
A: What is judicial review?
Q: These courts review decisions made by lower courts and do not hold trials.
A: What are Courts of Appeals? (or What are Circuit Courts?)
Q: This 1954 case ended legal segregation in public schools.
A: What is Brown v. Board of Education?
Q: This branch confirms or rejects the President’s judicial nominees.
A: What is the legislative branch (the Senate)?
Q: This number is the total of justices currently serving on the Supreme Court.
A: What is nine?
Q: This type of case involves people or groups suing over rights, money, or contracts.
A: What is a civil case?
Q: Federal judges are appointed by this person.
A: Who is the President?
Q: This 1966 case said police must inform people of their rights, including the right to remain silent.
A: What is Miranda v. Arizona?
Q: This process is how Congress can remove federal judges for misconduct.
A: What is impeachment?
Q: This person leads the Supreme Court and presides over oral arguments.
A: Who is the Chief Justice?
Q: This type of case involves someone being accused of breaking a law.
A: What is a criminal case?
Q: After being nominated, federal judges must be confirmed by this part of Congress.
A: What is the Senate?
Q: This 1973 case involved a woman’s right to choose an abortion and was later overturned in 2022.
A: What is Roe v. Wade?
Q: The judicial branch can check the legislative and executive branches by declaring laws or actions this.
A: What is unconstitutional?
Q: This is the official title for the other eight members of the Supreme Court.
A: What are Associate Justices?
Q: This term means a court has the power to hear a case for the first time, rather than on appeal.
A: What is original jurisdiction?
Q: Federal judges serve for this length of time, as long as they show “good behavior.”
A: What is for life? (or What is a lifetime term?)
Q: This 1819 case strengthened federal power by saying states could not tax the national bank.
A: What is McCulloch v. Maryland?
Q: This power allows Congress to change the structure or number of federal courts, including the Supreme Court.
A: What is the power to organize the judiciary (or set up and change federal courts) under the Constitution?