Lesson 6.04 Shifting Balance of the Supreme Court

Try It

Supreme Court Review

Practice the major concepts from the lesson.

1. A vacancy has occurred in the United States Supreme Court due to the announced retirement of its most liberal justice. What will the role of the President of the United States be?
   1. After vetting various candidates, the President will select one candidate to appoint to the bench.
   2. The President is honor bound to replace the liberal justice with another liberal justice.
   3. The President will make a speech honoring the work of the retiring justice.
   4. The President of the United States will have no role in this scenario.

   Answer: a. After vetting various candidates, the President will select one candidate to appoint to the bench.

2. The President has selected a nominee for the Supreme Court. He announced his choice following the unexpected death of the court's moderate Chief Justice. The President will proceed by doing which of the following?
   1. The President will make an appointment with no regard to the balance of ideologies on the court.
   2. The President will attempt to appoint a justice that shifts the balance of the court to reflect his party’s ideology.
   3. The President will only appoint impartial justices.
   4. The President will have to appoint a moderate justice to replace the previous justice.

   Answer: b. The President will attempt to appoint a justice that shifts the balance of the court to reflect his party’s ideology.

3. After the President appoints a Supreme Court justice, all of the following will occur EXCEPT
   1. The Senate will hold confirmation hearings to learn more about the appointee.
   2. The Senate will vote on whether or not to confirm the appointee.
   3. The justice will take office if confirmed by the Senate.
   4. The Senate will appoint a different potential justice.  The House of Representatives will decide which of the two appointees to confirm.

   Answer: d. The Senate will appoint a different potential justice.  The House of Representatives will decide which of the two appointees to confirm.

4. The power to confirm the President's appointees to the Supreme Court is vested in:
   1. The House of Representatives.
   2. The Cabinet.
   3. The Senate.
   4. The Speaker of the House.

   Answer: c. The Senate.

5. A Supreme Court Justice is expected to make decisions without the consideration of _________.

   1. the law.
   2. the United States Constitution.
   3. political ramifications.
   4. personal ideology.

   Answer: c. political ramifications.

6. A strict constructionist will make decisions:
   1. without considering what is written in the United States Constitution.
   2. based on liberal ideology.
   3. based on what the Framers are believed to have intended when they wrote the United States Constitution.
   4. based on moderate ideology.

   Answer: c. based on what the Framers are believed to have intended when they wrote the United States Constitution.

7. With regard to public opinion, the President:
   1. will usually choose a justice without considering it.
   2. will likely take it into consideration.
   3. is bound by the Constitution to consider it.
   4. is bound by the Constitution to ignore it.

   Answer: b. will likely take it into consideration.

8. If a Republican is serving as President of the United States for two four year terms and gets the opportunity to appoint three different Supreme Court justices, it is likely that the President will attempt to swing the balance of the court in what manner?

   1. The court will likely move to a more conservative position.
   2. The court will likely move to a more liberal position.
   3. The court will likely become more moderate.
   4. The court is unlikely to change its ideology since ideology is determined by the United States Constitution.

   Answer: a. The court will likely move to a more conservative position.

9. A candidate’s ___________ or deeply held beliefs are examined in the selection process.
   1. nomination
   2. interpretation
   3. ideology
   4. party affiliation

   Answer: c. ideology

10. Once appointed to the court, justices attempt to be ___________ , yet often their decisions tend toward the conservative or liberal end of the political spectrum.
    1. liberal
    2. impartial
    3. conservative
    4. activist

    Answer: b. impartial

11. When a justice makes decisions that are based on the specific powers granted and written in the United States Constitution, the judge is said to be a ______ constructionist. 
    1. loose
    2. strict

    Answer: b. strict

12. Justices who believe powers are implied for the federal government by the Necessary and Proper Clause and that the Constitution is a living document are called __________ constructionists.   
    1. loose
    2. strict

    Answer: a. loose