Which of the Following Statements About Opinion Writing at the Supreme

question 40

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements about opinion writing at the Supreme Court is true?

• A) Once the majority opinion is drafted, it often undergoes prolonged internal bargaining as the writer tries to persuade the other justices that the legal arguments are correct.
• B) To ensure that the wishes of the Supreme Court are followed, all of the decisions are tightly written so there is no blurring of the message.
• C) There is really no difference in effect between a unanimous decision and a 5-4 decision because both decisions still establish a majority for an outcome.
• D) Members issue few dissenting or concurring opinions because the caseload at the Supreme Court is so extensive that members spend most of their time writing majority opinions.

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Definitions:

Ozone

A molecule made of three oxygen atoms, O3, forming a layer in the Earth's stratosphere that protects life by absorbing most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Resonance Structures

Representations of a molecule showing different configurations of electron pairs, to depict delocalization of electrons within the molecule.

Nitrite Ion

A polyatomic ion with the molecular formula NO2-, derived from nitrous acid.

Methane

A colorless, odorless flammable gas that is the simplest alkane, used as a fuel and in chemical synthesis, with the chemical formula CH4.