Unit 3: Courts and Adjudication

Answer: B — The correct answer is B because the primary difference between federal and state court systems is the type of cases they have jurisdiction over. Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases involving federal laws, while state courts have jurisdiction over cases involving state laws. Option A is incorrect because both federal and state courts have appellate and original jurisdiction. Option C is incorrect because both federal and state courts can hear cases involving maritime and family law. Option D is incorrect because while federal judges are appointed by the President, state judges can be either appointed or elected, depending on the state.

Answer: C — The correct answer is C) United States Court of Appeals, because in the federal court system, the United States Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court that hears appeals from the district courts. The Supreme Court (A) is the highest court in the land, but it is not typically the next level of adjudication. The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (B) has limited jurisdiction and primarily hears appeals related to patent and trademark cases. The State Supreme Court (D) is the highest court in a state and would not have jurisdiction over a federal law violation case. This question requires the test-taker to understand the structure and jurisdiction of the federal court system.

Answer: C — The correct answer is C because federal district courts have federal question jurisdiction, which allows them to hear cases that involve federal statutes or the US Constitution. This is stated in Article III, Section 2 of the US Constitution. The other options are incorrect because A) diversity jurisdiction requires complete diversity between the parties and an amount in controversy over $75,000, which is not mentioned in the scenario; B) is incorrect because district courts do have jurisdiction over federal law claims; and D) is incorrect because district courts can hear cases that involve both federal and state law claims, this is known as supplemental jurisdiction.

Answer: C — The correct answer, C, is correct because federal courts have jurisdiction over cases involving federal laws and the Constitution, while state courts have jurisdiction over cases involving state laws. Option A is incorrect because both federal and state courts can have appellate and original jurisdiction. Option B is incorrect because it reverses the actual jurisdiction of federal and state courts. Option D is incorrect because both federal and state courts can hear civil and criminal cases.

Answer: A — The correct answer is A) The district court has original jurisdiction over cases involving federal questions. This is because federal district courts have original jurisdiction over cases that involve federal questions, which are cases that arise under the Constitution or federal statutes. The other options are incorrect because B) appellate jurisdiction refers to the power of a higher court to review the decisions of a lower court, C) concurrent jurisdiction refers to the power of multiple courts to hear the same type of case, and D) is incorrect because district courts do have jurisdiction over cases involving federal questions.