Question

Which statement about the Supreme Court is true?

a. The Supreme Court can influence the nation's policies by deciding to hear some types of cases and refusing to hear appeals in others.
b. Congress has the discretion of determining the cases that the Supreme Court will hear.
c. The cases that the Supreme Court reviews often involve issues between the executive branch and legislative branch.
d. Cases that are not heard during the regular annual term of the Supreme Court are allowed to stand based on the lower court's decision.
e. The Supreme Court reviews about 25 percent of the total number of cases that are decided each year.

Answer 1

The correct statement about the Supreme Court is that it can influence policy by choosing which cases to hear. The Court reviews a small percentage of the thousands of cases presented each year, and its decisions have a significant impact on legal and constitutional interpretation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement about the Supreme Court is: 'The Supreme Court can influence the nation's policies by deciding to hear some types of cases and refusing to hear appeals in others.'

This is because the Supreme Court hears cases involving federal law and is the nation's final court of appeal, with the power to declare laws and actions by the executive branch unconstitutional. Importantly, the Supreme Court does not hear every case presented to it; each year, thousands of cases are petitioned, but the Court selects less than one hundred for argument and consideration.

Thus, their selective case acceptance is a major way in which they can influence policy.

While the legislative branch, through Congress, and the executive, through the President, make policy through statutes and regulations, the Supreme Court influences policy through its rulings and interpretations of the law in specific cases.

A significant aspect of this process is the Court's 'certiorari' power, which effectively means they can choose which cases they want to hear, having a lasting impact on legal and constitutional interpretation.

It's also important to point out that Congress does not determine the cases the Supreme Court will hear. The Supreme Court exerts influence in matters such as deciding to hear cases involving foreign nations and their citizens, treaties, and ambassadors, which might impact the nation's foreign policy.

Cases that are refused by the Supreme Court let the lower court's decision stand, which also affects policy indirectly.

The correct statement about the Supreme Court is: 'The Supreme Court can influence the nation's policies by deciding to hear some types of cases and refusing to hear appeals in others.' That is option D