Having read the chapter, you should be able to do each of the following:

1. Distinguish between federal and state court systems, indicating the conditions under which a case originating in a state court can be appealed in the federal courts. Differentiate further between trial and appellate courts.
2. Discuss the role of partisan politics in the appointment of federal judges and justices.
3. Discuss the criteria underlying the Supreme Court’s selection of cases. Describe the procedures employed in case selection.
4. Give an account of the political factors—both inside and outside the Court—that influence the Supreme Court’s decision making.
5. Describe the Supreme Court’s policymaking process. Discuss the effect of this process on the related issues of legitimacy and compliance.
6. Distinguish between the doctrines of judicial activism and judicial restraint. Provide a critique of each doctrine, discussing its underlying assumptions relating to the proper role of the Court.