AP Gov Quiz: Congressional and Presidential Checks on the Judiciary

📚 Quick Study Guide

📜 Checks and balances ensure no single branch of the US government becomes too powerful. This system allows each branch to limit the power of the other two.

🏛️ Congressional Checks on the Judiciary:
• ⚖️ Impeachment: Congress can impeach and remove judges and justices.
• 🖋️ Amendment: Congress can propose constitutional amendments to overturn judicial decisions.
• 💰 Funding: Congress controls the judiciary's budget.
• 📝 Creating Lower Courts: Congress establishes lower federal courts.
• 👨‍⚖️ Confirmations: The Senate confirms presidential judicial nominations.

🏛️ Presidential Checks on the Judiciary:
• 👨‍⚖️ Appointments: The President appoints federal judges, including Supreme Court justices.
• 🤝 Pardons: The President can pardon individuals convicted in federal courts.
• 👮 Enforcement: The President can influence how judicial decisions are enforced through the executive branch.

Practice Quiz

Question 1: Which of the following is a check that the legislative branch has on the judicial branch? A) Appointing judges B) Pardoning federal offenders C) Declaring laws unconstitutional D) Impeaching judges Question 2: The President's power to appoint judges to the federal courts is an example of: A) A legislative check on the executive branch B) An executive check on the legislative branch C) An executive check on the judicial branch D) A judicial check on the executive branch Question 3: If the Supreme Court declares a law passed by Congress unconstitutional, what check does Congress have? A) Impeachment of justices B) Overriding the Supreme Court's decision with a 2/3 vote C) Proposing a constitutional amendment D) Ordering the Supreme Court to rehear the case Question 4: What is the main check the President has on the judicial branch? A) Vetoing judicial decisions B) Appointing judges C) Removing judges from office D) Changing the Constitution Question 5: What happens if a federal judge is found guilty of accepting bribes? A) The President automatically removes the judge B) The judge faces impeachment by the House and trial by the Senate C) The Supreme Court reviews the case D) The state legislature decides the judge's fate Question 6: Which action represents a congressional check on judicial power? A) Issuing a pardon to a convicted criminal. B) Nominating a Supreme Court Justice. C) Altering the number of justices on the Supreme Court. D) Refusing to enforce a Supreme Court ruling. Question 7: Which scenario illustrates the presidential check on the judiciary? A) Congress passing a law that limits the jurisdiction of federal courts. B) The president vetoing a bill passed by Congress concerning judicial procedures. C) The president’s refusal to implement a Supreme Court decision. D) The president appointing a conservative judge to a vacancy on the Supreme Court.

Click to see Answers

1. D
2. C
3. C
4. B
5. B
6. C
7. D