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When the defendant has agreed to plead guilty to committing a crime in exchange for a reduced charge or sentence, the prosecutor and defendant in the case has agreed to pursue a ________________________________.

Which of the following does not characterize the spoils system?

Assume the government reduces its spending and raises income taxes in an effort to reduce the budget deficit. The most likely short-run result will be an increase in

Which of the following does not characterize yellow journalism?

In the courtroom, decisions that are based on _______________ rely on established legal norms arising from previous cases that concern the same legal questions.

In the Supreme Court, how many justices must vote in favor of issuing a writ of certiorari in order for the case to be placed on the docket?

Why is bureaucratic drift allowed?

Whether engaging their colleagues in conference or thinking in their private chambers, justices to the Supreme Court are influenced by a range of factors when deciding winners and losers in cases. Such factors include how they view the role of the Supreme Court (i.e., judicial activism or restraint), their political ideology and political preferences (i.e., conservative or liberal), their personal background (i.e., race, gender, ethnicity, religion, parenthood, education, etc.), and the “court of public opinion.” Both Republicans (2017) and Democrats (2013) altered Senate rules to ban the use of the filibuster on nominations to the federal courts, meaning senators can no longer delay the confirmation process of federal judges to the bench. Fifty votes of support, with the Vice President casting the tie-breaking vote, are now enough. Once confirmed, federal judges serve lifetime appointments, and they retain their positions so long as they maintain “good behavior.” Justices, of course, make controversial and consequential decisions. When nominating candidates to join the most important court, what qualities should the president emphasize? Rank the following factors from important (1) to least important (9): Political ideology (conservative or liberal) Gender Race Age Religion Endorsement of the American Bar Association, an organization of lawyers A law degree** Prestige/importance of law school (Ivy League vs. non-Ivy League) Area of legal expertise (constitutional law, family law, corporate law, property law, criminal law, international law, etc.)   **The last justice to be appointed who did not attend any law school was James F. Byrnes. He didn’t graduate from high school, he taught himself law, and he passed the bar at the age of 23! He also holds the record for the shortest service in the Supreme Court—15 months (1941-1942). He joined FDR’s Cabinet.

If citizens and journalists alert Congress to problems within a bureaucratic agency, and Congress responds to their concerns by conducting investigations and developing legislation to remedy these problems, Congress is engaging in ______________________.

A petition submitted to the US Supreme Court requesting that it order (i.e., call up, request) records from the lower courts and review the case is referred to as _________________.