Test Bank For
Trager's The Law of Journalism and Mass Communication Eighth Edition Victoria
Smith Ekstrand, Caitlin Ring Carlson, Erin Coyle, Susan Dente Ross, Amy
Reynolds
Chapter 1-12
Chapter 1: The Rule of Law: Law in a Changing Communication
Environment
Multiple Choice
1. An unsigned opinion of the court is called a(n) ______ opinion.
a. per curiam
b. memorandum
c. en banc
d. majority
Ans: A
Learning Objective: Analyze the structure of the court system in the United
States.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Reaching Decisions
Difficulty Level: Easy
2. What is a distinguishing characteristic of courts of appeal?
a. They find facts.
b. They establish precedent.
c. They are called district courts in the federal court system.
d. They are generally the first courts to hear a dispute.
Ans: B
Learning Objective: Analyze the structure of the court system in the United
States.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Courts of Appeal
Difficulty Level: Easy
3. Select the proper legal citation for a case decided on May 22, 2009, by the
District of Columbia Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals and published starting on
page 1,095 of volume 566 of the Third Series of the official Federal Reporter.
a. 566 F.3d 1095 (2009)
b. 1095 F.3d 566 (2009)
c. 566 F.3d 1095 (9th 2009)
d. 566 F.3d 1095 (D.C. Cir. 2009)
Ans: D
Learning Objective: Locate primary and secondary sources of law through
research.
,Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Finding the Law
Difficulty Level: Medium
4. Aristotle believed the law should achieve a just balance between ______.
a. personal and universal concerns
b. economic and political interests
c. corporations and individuals
d. punishment and reward
Ans: A
Learning Objective: NA
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Easy
5. Laws are well tailored when they ______.
a. are not vague or overbroad
b. do not limit the discretion of government officials
c. are imprecise
d. use legal jargon
Ans: A
Learning Objective: NA
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Easy
6. Statutes may be enacted by legislatures ______.
a. at the federal level only
b. at the federal, state, or local level
c. at the federal and state levels only
d. only by executive order
Ans: B
Learning Objective: Describe the six sources of journalism and mass
communication law.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Statutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
7. What is common law?
a. a form of black-letter law
b. unconstitutional
c. not applicable to government officials
d. judge-made law
Ans: D
Learning Objective: Describe the six sources of journalism and mass
communication law.
,Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Common Law
Difficulty Level: Easy
8. Among the three branches of the government, the executive branch is ______.
a. supreme
b. primarily symbolic
c. co-equal
d. empowered to enact laws
Ans: C
Learning Objective: Describe the six sources of journalism and mass
communication law.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Body of the Law
Difficulty Level: Easy
9. Of the amendments proposed to the U.S. Constitution, ______.
a. few have been approved or ratified
b. most have been approved and ratified
c. most have been approved but few have been ratified
d. only 10 amendments contained in the Bill of Rights have been approved and
ratified
Ans: A
Learning Objective: Describe the six sources of journalism and mass
communication law.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Constitutions
Difficulty Level: Easy
10. Stare decisis means (to) ______.
a. look firmly at the text
b. let the decision stand
c. decisions should be based on facial readings of laws
d. consider at least five choices before deciding
Ans: B
Learning Objective: NA
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Easy
11. To achieve the desired goals of the rule of law, laws should be ______.
a. general and non-discriminatory
b. widely known and disseminated
c. forward-looking
d. relatively stable
Ans: D
, Learning Objective: NA
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Easy
12. An overbroad law is ______.
a. presumptively constitutional
b. imprecise and punishes more protected activity than necessary
c. imprecise and targets specific content
d. an effective remedy to specified harms
Ans: B
Learning Objective: NA
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Medium
13. The U.S. Supreme Court established the power of courts to interpret laws in
its decision in ______.
a. Marbury v. Madison
b. Powell v. McCormack
c. Miami Herald v. Tornillo
d. Texas v. Johnson
Ans: A
Learning Objective: Describe the six sources of journalism and mass
communication law.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Statutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
14. Executive orders represent a ______.
a. clear violation of the separation of powers
b. constitutionally delegated power of the executive branch
c. power of the executive branch often targeted by political opponents
d. measure taken by the Supreme Court in extreme cases
Ans: C
Learning Objective: Describe the six sources of journalism and mass
communication law.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Executive Orders
Difficulty Level: Medium
15. Forum shopping allows plaintiffs to ______.
a. pay jurors to rule in their favor
b. choose the court in which their case will be heard
c. pay for the best legal advice available
d. have their cases decided online
Trager's The Law of Journalism and Mass Communication Eighth Edition Victoria
Smith Ekstrand, Caitlin Ring Carlson, Erin Coyle, Susan Dente Ross, Amy
Reynolds
Chapter 1-12
Chapter 1: The Rule of Law: Law in a Changing Communication
Environment
Multiple Choice
1. An unsigned opinion of the court is called a(n) ______ opinion.
a. per curiam
b. memorandum
c. en banc
d. majority
Ans: A
Learning Objective: Analyze the structure of the court system in the United
States.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Reaching Decisions
Difficulty Level: Easy
2. What is a distinguishing characteristic of courts of appeal?
a. They find facts.
b. They establish precedent.
c. They are called district courts in the federal court system.
d. They are generally the first courts to hear a dispute.
Ans: B
Learning Objective: Analyze the structure of the court system in the United
States.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Courts of Appeal
Difficulty Level: Easy
3. Select the proper legal citation for a case decided on May 22, 2009, by the
District of Columbia Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals and published starting on
page 1,095 of volume 566 of the Third Series of the official Federal Reporter.
a. 566 F.3d 1095 (2009)
b. 1095 F.3d 566 (2009)
c. 566 F.3d 1095 (9th 2009)
d. 566 F.3d 1095 (D.C. Cir. 2009)
Ans: D
Learning Objective: Locate primary and secondary sources of law through
research.
,Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Finding the Law
Difficulty Level: Medium
4. Aristotle believed the law should achieve a just balance between ______.
a. personal and universal concerns
b. economic and political interests
c. corporations and individuals
d. punishment and reward
Ans: A
Learning Objective: NA
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Easy
5. Laws are well tailored when they ______.
a. are not vague or overbroad
b. do not limit the discretion of government officials
c. are imprecise
d. use legal jargon
Ans: A
Learning Objective: NA
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Easy
6. Statutes may be enacted by legislatures ______.
a. at the federal level only
b. at the federal, state, or local level
c. at the federal and state levels only
d. only by executive order
Ans: B
Learning Objective: Describe the six sources of journalism and mass
communication law.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Statutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
7. What is common law?
a. a form of black-letter law
b. unconstitutional
c. not applicable to government officials
d. judge-made law
Ans: D
Learning Objective: Describe the six sources of journalism and mass
communication law.
,Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Common Law
Difficulty Level: Easy
8. Among the three branches of the government, the executive branch is ______.
a. supreme
b. primarily symbolic
c. co-equal
d. empowered to enact laws
Ans: C
Learning Objective: Describe the six sources of journalism and mass
communication law.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Body of the Law
Difficulty Level: Easy
9. Of the amendments proposed to the U.S. Constitution, ______.
a. few have been approved or ratified
b. most have been approved and ratified
c. most have been approved but few have been ratified
d. only 10 amendments contained in the Bill of Rights have been approved and
ratified
Ans: A
Learning Objective: Describe the six sources of journalism and mass
communication law.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Constitutions
Difficulty Level: Easy
10. Stare decisis means (to) ______.
a. look firmly at the text
b. let the decision stand
c. decisions should be based on facial readings of laws
d. consider at least five choices before deciding
Ans: B
Learning Objective: NA
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Easy
11. To achieve the desired goals of the rule of law, laws should be ______.
a. general and non-discriminatory
b. widely known and disseminated
c. forward-looking
d. relatively stable
Ans: D
, Learning Objective: NA
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Easy
12. An overbroad law is ______.
a. presumptively constitutional
b. imprecise and punishes more protected activity than necessary
c. imprecise and targets specific content
d. an effective remedy to specified harms
Ans: B
Learning Objective: NA
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Medium
13. The U.S. Supreme Court established the power of courts to interpret laws in
its decision in ______.
a. Marbury v. Madison
b. Powell v. McCormack
c. Miami Herald v. Tornillo
d. Texas v. Johnson
Ans: A
Learning Objective: Describe the six sources of journalism and mass
communication law.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Statutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
14. Executive orders represent a ______.
a. clear violation of the separation of powers
b. constitutionally delegated power of the executive branch
c. power of the executive branch often targeted by political opponents
d. measure taken by the Supreme Court in extreme cases
Ans: C
Learning Objective: Describe the six sources of journalism and mass
communication law.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Executive Orders
Difficulty Level: Medium
15. Forum shopping allows plaintiffs to ______.
a. pay jurors to rule in their favor
b. choose the court in which their case will be heard
c. pay for the best legal advice available
d. have their cases decided online
