Stare Decisis AP Gov Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Legal Precedent

📚 Quick Study Guide

• ⚖️ Definition: *Stare decisis* is a Latin legal term meaning "to stand by things decided." It is the doctrine that courts should follow precedents when deciding similar cases.
• 🏛️ Importance: It promotes consistency and predictability in the application of law. This allows individuals and businesses to understand their rights and obligations.
• 📈 Vertical Stare Decisis: Lower courts must follow precedents set by higher courts within the same jurisdiction. For example, a district court must follow a circuit court's precedent.
• ↔️ Horizontal Stare Decisis: Courts at the same level should generally follow their own prior decisions. However, this is not an absolute rule, and courts can overturn their own precedents under certain circumstances.
• 📜 Binding Precedent: A prior court decision that must be followed by other courts. Binding precedent comes from higher courts within the same jurisdiction.
• 💡 Persuasive Precedent: A prior court decision that is not binding but may be considered by other courts. Persuasive precedent can come from lower courts, courts in other jurisdictions, or legal scholars.
• 🔑 Overruling Precedent: A court can overturn its own prior precedent or a precedent set by a lower court if it finds that the precedent was wrongly decided or is no longer applicable due to changing circumstances.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following best describes the principle of *stare decisis*?
   1. Following precedents set by previous court decisions.
   2. Interpreting laws based on current societal values.
   3. Ignoring prior rulings and establishing new legal standards.
   4. Applying federal laws uniformly across all states.
2. What is the primary purpose of *stare decisis* in the judicial system?
   1. To ensure that all cases are decided differently.
   2. To promote consistency and predictability in legal decisions.
   3. To allow judges complete discretion in interpreting laws.
   4. To make the law more complex and difficult to understand.
3. Which type of precedent is *binding* on lower courts?
   1. Persuasive precedent from another jurisdiction.
   2. Precedent set by a higher court within the same jurisdiction.
   3. Precedent from a similar case in a different state.
   4. Scholarly articles discussing legal theories.
4. What does it mean when a court *overrules* a precedent?
   1. The court affirms the validity of the previous ruling.
   2. The court rejects the previous ruling, establishing a new one.
   3. The court postpones making a decision on the issue.
   4. The court refers the case to a higher authority.
5. A state supreme court's decision is binding on which of the following?
   1. All federal courts.
   2. All lower courts within that state.
   3. Courts in other states.
   4. The United States Supreme Court.
6. Which of the following is an example of persuasive precedent?
   1. A decision from the United States Supreme Court.
   2. A decision from a lower court in the same jurisdiction.
   3. A decision from a court in another state.
   4. A statute passed by the state legislature.
7. Why might a court choose to deviate from *stare decisis*?
   1. To intentionally create confusion in the legal system.
   2. If the previous ruling is deemed unjust or no longer relevant.
   3. To show deference to the legislative branch.
   4. To expedite the judicial process.