0

Public Policy and the Courts

Description: This quiz is designed to assess your understanding of the relationship between public policy and the courts.
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: public policy courts judicial review separation of powers
Attempted 0/15 Correct 0 Score 0

Which of the following is a primary function of the courts in a democracy?

  1. To make laws

  2. To enforce laws

  3. To interpret laws

  4. To create public policy


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

In a democracy, the courts are responsible for interpreting the laws that are made by the legislature and enforcing those laws.

What is the principle of judicial review?

  1. The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

  2. The power of the courts to create laws

  3. The power of the courts to enforce laws

  4. The power of the courts to interpret laws


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Judicial review is the power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional. This power is essential to the system of checks and balances in a democracy.

Which of the following is a landmark case in which the Supreme Court exercised its power of judicial review?

  1. Marbury v. Madison

  2. Brown v. Board of Education

  3. Roe v. Wade

  4. Obergefell v. Hodges


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In Marbury v. Madison (1803), the Supreme Court ruled that it had the power to declare laws unconstitutional. This decision established the principle of judicial review.

What is the doctrine of stare decisis?

  1. The principle that courts should follow precedent

  2. The principle that courts should create new laws

  3. The principle that courts should enforce laws

  4. The principle that courts should interpret laws


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Stare decisis is the principle that courts should follow precedent. This doctrine helps to ensure that the law is applied consistently and fairly.

Which of the following is a type of public policy that is created by the courts?

  1. Statutory law

  2. Case law

  3. Administrative law

  4. Executive orders


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Case law is a type of public policy that is created by the courts. It is based on the decisions that courts make in individual cases.

What is the difference between statutory law and case law?

  1. Statutory law is created by the legislature, while case law is created by the courts.

  2. Statutory law is more important than case law.

  3. Case law is more important than statutory law.

  4. Statutory law and case law are the same thing.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Statutory law is created by the legislature, while case law is created by the courts. Statutory law is more general, while case law is more specific.

Which of the following is an example of a statutory law?

  1. The Constitution

  2. The Bill of Rights

  3. The Affordable Care Act

  4. Roe v. Wade


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Affordable Care Act is an example of a statutory law. It was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama.

Which of the following is an example of a case law?

  1. The Constitution

  2. The Bill of Rights

  3. The Affordable Care Act

  4. Roe v. Wade


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Roe v. Wade is an example of a case law. It was decided by the Supreme Court in 1973.

What is the role of the courts in the policy-making process?

  1. To make laws

  2. To enforce laws

  3. To interpret laws

  4. To create public policy


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The role of the courts in the policy-making process is to interpret laws. This means that the courts decide what the laws mean and how they should be applied.

How can the courts influence public policy?

  1. By making laws

  2. By enforcing laws

  3. By interpreting laws

  4. By creating public policy


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The courts can influence public policy by interpreting laws. This means that the courts can decide what the laws mean and how they should be applied. This can have a significant impact on public policy.

What are some of the challenges that the courts face in interpreting laws?

  1. The laws are often vague and ambiguous.

  2. The laws are often conflicting.

  3. The laws are often outdated.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The courts face a number of challenges in interpreting laws. These challenges include the fact that the laws are often vague and ambiguous, the laws are often conflicting, and the laws are often outdated.

How do the courts resolve conflicts between different laws?

  1. They apply the rule of stare decisis.

  2. They apply the doctrine of implied repeal.

  3. They apply the principle of severability.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The courts resolve conflicts between different laws by applying the rule of stare decisis, the doctrine of implied repeal, and the principle of severability.

What is the rule of stare decisis?

  1. The principle that courts should follow precedent

  2. The principle that courts should create new laws

  3. The principle that courts should enforce laws

  4. The principle that courts should interpret laws


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The rule of stare decisis is the principle that courts should follow precedent. This means that courts should decide cases in the same way that they have decided similar cases in the past.

What is the doctrine of implied repeal?

  1. The principle that a later law repeals an earlier law that is inconsistent with it

  2. The principle that a later law does not repeal an earlier law that is consistent with it

  3. The principle that a later law repeals an earlier law that is more specific than it

  4. The principle that a later law repeals an earlier law that is less specific than it


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The doctrine of implied repeal is the principle that a later law repeals an earlier law that is inconsistent with it. This means that if a later law conflicts with an earlier law, the later law will prevail.

What is the principle of severability?

  1. The principle that a court can strike down a portion of a law without invalidating the entire law

  2. The principle that a court cannot strike down a portion of a law without invalidating the entire law

  3. The principle that a court must strike down an entire law if any portion of it is unconstitutional

  4. The principle that a court must uphold an entire law if any portion of it is constitutional


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The principle of severability is the principle that a court can strike down a portion of a law without invalidating the entire law. This means that if a court finds that a portion of a law is unconstitutional, it can strike down that portion of the law without affecting the rest of the law.

- Hide questions