3.2.2.3 The judiciaries: UK and US supreme courts Quiz: AQA Politics, Unit 2

The 20 questions

1. In which year did the UK Supreme Court officially begin its operations?

   • 1998
   • 2009
   • 2005
   • 2011

2. How many justices sit on the US Supreme Court?

   • Twelve
   • Seven
   • Nine
   • Eleven

3. Which landmark ruling established the principle of judicial review in the US?

   • McCulloch v Maryland
   • Brown v Board
   • Marbury v Madison
   • Roe v Wade

4. What power do UK courts have under the Human Rights Act when legislation conflicts with rights?

   • Immediate repeal
   • Declaration of incompatibility
   • Veto power
   • Constitutional strike

5. A federal court rules that an Act of Congress breaches the Constitution and is void. Which principle is being applied?

   • Judicial review
   • Parliamentary sovereignty
   • The royal prerogative
   • Devolution of powers

6. What legal process do UK courts use to check if government actions exceed legal powers?

   • Judicial review
   • Statutory interpretation
   • Judicial activism
   • Constitutional reform

7. Which feature of US Supreme Court justices most strongly supports their judicial independence?

   • Cabinet appointment
   • Elected office
   • Annual review
   • Life tenure

8. Which two government branches share the responsibility of appointing US Supreme Court justices?

   • President and House
   • President and Senate
   • Prime Minister and Parliament
   • Senate and Supreme Court

9. Which landmark US Supreme Court case struck down state laws requiring racial segregation?

   • Brown v Board
   • Miranda v Arizona
   • Plessy v Ferguson
   • Obergefell v Hodges

10. Which court has the power to strike down federal primary legislation?

    • US Supreme Court
    • Both courts
    • Neither court
    • UK Supreme Court

11. What is the primary criticism of judicial activism made by its opponents?

    • Judges lack legal training
    • Judges are elected
    • Judges make policy
    • Courts are too slow

12. What is the primary constitutional basis for the US Supreme Court's power of judicial review?

    • Constitutional interpretation
    • Executive decrees
    • Direct parliamentary grants
    • United Nations treaties

13. Which structural feature is most likely to reduce the independence of a judiciary?

    • Life tenure
    • Guaranteed salaries
    • Short fixed terms
    • Independent commissions

14. What is a key institutional limitation on courts using litigation to drive social change?

    • Passive institution
    • Absolute enforcement
    • Direct legislative initiative
    • Unlimited budgets

15. Which core UK constitutional doctrine limits the power of the UK Supreme Court?

    • Codified constitution
    • Federalism
    • Judicial supremacy
    • Parliamentary sovereignty

16. How do legal scholars generally evaluate the relative independence of UK and US judiciaries?

    • UK is completely dependent
    • Neither has independence
    • US has no independence
    • Both protect independence

17. How are UK Supreme Court justices formally appointed?

    • Prime ministerial decree
    • Parliamentary vote
    • Independent selection commission
    • Royal prerogative alone

18. Which body performs judicial review of executive orders in the USA?

    • The US Senate
    • The Electoral College
    • The State Governors
    • Federal courts

19. What is the basis of the UK Supreme Court's power to review executive action?

    • Codified constitution
    • Statute and law
    • Absolute veto
    • Presidential decree

20. Which process do US Supreme Court nominees face in the legislature?

    • Electoral College vote
    • Senate confirmation hearings
    • House impeachment trials
    • Cabinet confirmation

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