386 CHAPTER 12
SUMMARY
When hearing a case, the justices prepare by reading briefs
before they hear the oral arguments. After oral arguments,
the justices meet in conference to discuss and vote on the
cases. The majority opinion explains the rationale for how a
decision is reached, though justices can also write dissent-
ing and concurring opinions if they agree with the outcome
of the case, but not the legal reasoning.
KEY TERMS
amicus curiae (p. 376)
oral arguments (p. 376)
PRACTICE QUIZ QUESTIONS
- Oral arguments generally last , and jus-
tices wait until the end of the arguments
to ask questions.
a) one hour; do
b) one hour; do not
c) one day; will
d) one week; do
e) one week; do not
11. Generally, the chief justice or the
justice decides who writes the majority opinion;
justices’ individual areas of expertise
a factor in making this assignment.
a) most junior; are not
b) most junior; are
c) most senior; are not
d) most senior; are
e) dissenting; are not
S PRACTICE ONLINE
“Critical Thinking ” exercise: Politics Is Confl ictual—
Sandra Day O’Connor on The Daily ShowHEARING CASES BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT
E Describe the Supreme Court’s procedures for hearing a case. Pages 3 76 –7 8
PRACTICE QUIZ QUESTIONS
- When a litigant who lost in a lower court fi les
a petition, the case reaches the Supreme Court
.
a) as a matter of right
b) through a writ of certifi cation
c) through a writ of certiorari
d) as a matter of original jurisdiction
e) through senatorial courtesy - means that the controversy is not
relevant when the Court hears the case.
a) Mootness
b) Ripeness
c) Collusion
d) Standing
e) Precedent
9. Most justices in initially deciding which
cases should be heard.
a) personally review all cases
b) personally review a random sample of cases
c) follow the recommendations of the chief justice
d) use a random selection process
e) use a cert pool
|THE COURTS