PrepGo

AP U.S. Government and Politics Practice Quiz: The Judicial Branch

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 7 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 7

Which of the following best defines the principle of judicial review?

All Questions (7)

Which of the following best defines the principle of judicial review?

A) The authority of the courts to declare laws and actions of other branches unconstitutional.

B) The process by which federal judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

C) The power of Congress to create lower federal courts as established in Article III.

D) The argument in Federalist No. 78 that the judiciary is the "least dangerous" branch.

Correct Answer: A

Judicial review is the power of the judiciary to examine and invalidate actions undertaken by the legislative and executive branches if they are judged to be in conflict with the Constitution. This serves as a primary check on the power of the other branches.

According to the provided text, which document establishes the foundational powers of the federal judicial branch?

A) Federalist No. 78

B) The Bill of Rights

C) Article III of the Constitution

D) The Declaration of Independence

Correct Answer: C

The provided content explicitly states that the foundation for the powers of the judicial branch is set forth in Article III of the Constitution.

The arguments presented in Federalist No. 78 advocate for an independent judiciary primarily to ensure that it can effectively...

A) create and enforce its own laws without interference.

B) check the power of the legislative and executive branches.

C) advise the President on the constitutionality of proposed policies.

D) override presidential vetoes with a majority vote.

Correct Answer: B

Federalist No. 78 argues that an independent judiciary, free from political pressure, is essential for it to fulfill its duty of interpreting the Constitution and checking the power of the other branches by ensuring their actions are constitutional.

If the Supreme Court rules that a law passed by Congress and signed by the President is unconstitutional, the Court is exercising its power of...

A) legislative oversight.

B) executive privilege.

C) judicial review.

D) constitutional amendment.

Correct Answer: C

This scenario is a direct application of judicial review, where the judicial branch checks the power of both the legislative branch (which passed the law) and the executive branch (which signed it) by declaring the law unconstitutional.

Which of the following correctly pairs the foundational document for the judiciary's power with the document that argues for its independence?

A) Power: Federalist No. 78; Independence: Article III of the Constitution

B) Power: Article III of the Constitution; Independence: Federalist No. 78

C) Power: Article I of the Constitution; Independence: Article III of the Constitution

D) Power: Federalist No. 78; Independence: The Bill of Rights

Correct Answer: B

The provided content specifies that Article III of the Constitution sets the foundation for the judiciary's powers, while Federalist No. 78 presents the argument for why its independence is a necessary check on the other branches.

The ability of the judicial branch to check the other branches, as explained by the principle of judicial review, is most directly dependent on the concept of judicial independence argued for in...

A) the supremacy clause of the Constitution.

B) the impeachment clauses in Article I and Article II.

C) Article III of the Constitution.

D) Federalist No. 78.

Correct Answer: D

For judicial review to be an effective check, judges must be able to make decisions based on the law and Constitution without fear of political retribution from the other branches. Federalist No. 78 argues for this necessary independence (e.g., through life tenure), which is the philosophical backbone supporting the practical application of judicial review.

How does judicial review serve as a check on the power of the executive branch?

A) It allows the Supreme Court to remove the President from office for high crimes.

B) It requires the President to get judicial approval before issuing an executive order.

C) It enables courts to declare actions or orders by the President unconstitutional.

D) It grants Congress the authority to investigate the executive branch.

Correct Answer: C

Judicial review allows the courts to assess the constitutionality of the executive branch's actions, including executive orders. If an action is found to violate the Constitution, the courts can invalidate it, thereby checking the President's power.