Elena Kagan And The Supreme Court
How much do you know about Elena Kagan, President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, and the composition of today's high court? Take this quiz and find out how much of a legal expert you are.
- 1.
Where did Elena Kagan grow up?
- A.
New York City
- B.
Chicago
- C.
Boston
- D.
Princeton
- E.
Washington, D.C.
Correct Answer
A. New York CityExplanation
Elena Kagan grew up in New York City.Rate this question:
-
- 2.
What city does she consider her official hometown now?
- A.
New York City
- B.
Chicago
- C.
Boston
- D.
Washington, D.C.
- E.
Austin
Correct Answer
C. BostonExplanation
The given correct answer is Boston. This suggests that the person in question considers Boston as their official hometown.Rate this question:
-
- 3.
How many Supreme Court justices had no prior judicial experience when they were nominated?
- A.
0
- B.
10
- C.
20
- D.
30
- E.
40
Correct Answer
E. 40Explanation
The correct answer is 40. This means that all 40 Supreme Court justices had prior judicial experience when they were nominated.Rate this question:
-
- 4.
How many women have been nominated for the Supreme Court?
- A.
1
- B.
2
- C.
3
- D.
4
- E.
5
Correct Answer
E. 5Explanation
Harriet Miers was nominated by President Bush, but her nomination was withdrawn after three weeks. Three others before Kagan have been nominated and confirmed.Rate this question:
-
- 5.
Where did Elena Kagan go to college as an undergraduate?
- A.
Harvard
- B.
Yale
- C.
Columbia
- D.
Princeton
- E.
Penn
Correct Answer
D. PrincetonExplanation
Elena Kagan attended Princeton University for her undergraduate studies.Rate this question:
-
- 6.
Which law school did Elena Kagan attend?
- A.
Harvard
- B.
Yale
- C.
Penn
- D.
Chicago
- E.
UT
Correct Answer
A. HarvardExplanation
Elena Kagan attended Harvard Law School.Rate this question:
-
- 7.
Which Supreme Court justice did she serve as a law clerk?
- A.
William Brennan
- B.
Thurgood Marshall
- C.
John Paul Stevens
- D.
William Rehnquist
- E.
Felix Frankfurter
Correct Answer
B. Thurgood MarshallExplanation
Thurgood Marshall is the correct answer because the question asks which Supreme Court justice she served as a law clerk. The other options are also Supreme Court justices, but there is no indication that she served as a law clerk for any of them.Rate this question:
-
- 8.
Where did Elena Kagan first teach law?
- A.
Harvard
- B.
Yale
- C.
Penn
- D.
Chicago
- E.
UT
Correct Answer
D. ChicagoExplanation
Elena Kagan first taught law at the University of Chicago.Rate this question:
-
- 9.
Where was she law school dean?
- A.
Harvard
- B.
Yale
- C.
Penn
- D.
Chicago
- E.
UT
Correct Answer
A. HarvardExplanation
The correct answer is Harvard. This implies that she was the dean of the law school at Harvard University.Rate this question:
-
- 10.
Who was the first presidential candidate she worked for on staff?
- A.
Michael Dukakis
- B.
Bill Clinton
- C.
Al Gore
- D.
John Kerry
- E.
Barack Obama
Correct Answer
A. Michael DukakisExplanation
The correct answer is Michael Dukakis. This suggests that the person in question worked for Michael Dukakis as a staff member during his presidential campaign.Rate this question:
-
- 11.
Which of these jobs did Elena Kagan hold in the Clinton White House?
- A.
White House counsel
- B.
Deputy White House counsel
- C.
Deputy Chief of Staff
- D.
Domestic policy adviser
- E.
Vetter of Supreme Court candidates
Correct Answer
D. Domestic policy adviserExplanation
Elena Kagan held the job of Domestic Policy Adviser in the Clinton White House. This role involved providing advice and guidance to the President on various domestic policy issues. As a Domestic Policy Adviser, Kagan would have been responsible for analyzing and formulating policy recommendations, conducting research, and coordinating with other White House staff and agencies to develop and implement domestic policy initiatives.Rate this question:
-
- 12.
Where did she first meet Barack Obama?
- A.
Harvard
- B.
University of Chicago
- C.
2008 campaign
- D.
When she interviewed to be Solicitor General
- E.
Kenya
Correct Answer
B. University of ChicagoExplanation
Michelle Obama first met Barack Obama at the University of Chicago.Rate this question:
-
- 13.
Upon Justice Stevens' departure, how many Protestants will sit on the Supreme Court?
- A.
0
- B.
1
- C.
2
- D.
3
- E.
5
Correct Answer
A. 0Explanation
The question is asking about the number of Protestants who will sit on the Supreme Court after Justice Stevens' departure. The correct answer is 0 because Justice Stevens was the last Protestant justice on the Supreme Court, and upon his departure, there will be no Protestants remaining.Rate this question:
-
- 14.
How many Catholics currently sit on the Supreme Court?
- A.
0
- B.
1
- C.
2
- D.
4
- E.
6
Correct Answer
E. 6Explanation
There are currently six Catholics who sit on the Supreme Court. This information can be verified through public records and official sources.Rate this question:
-
- 15.
If Elena Kagan is confirmed, how many Supreme Court justices would be Jewish?
- A.
0
- B.
1
- C.
2
- D.
3
- E.
4
Correct Answer
D. 3Explanation
If Elena Kagan is confirmed, there would be a total of three Jewish Supreme Court justices. This is because the question is asking about the number of Jewish justices specifically if Elena Kagan is confirmed, and it is known that there are already two Jewish justices currently serving on the Supreme Court. Therefore, if Kagan is confirmed, the total number of Jewish justices would be three.Rate this question:
-
- 16.
If Elena Kagan is confirmed, how many Supreme Court justices would boast Ivy League educations?
- A.
1
- B.
3
- C.
5
- D.
7
- E.
9
Correct Answer
E. 9Explanation
If Elena Kagan is confirmed, all nine Supreme Court justices would have Ivy League educations. This is because the question is asking about the total number of justices with Ivy League educations, and if Kagan is confirmed, she would join the other eight justices who already have Ivy League backgrounds. Therefore, the correct answer is 9.Rate this question:
-
- 17.
Elena Kagan's best-known argument before the Supreme Court as Solicitor General was in the Citizens United case dealing with corporate involvement in U.S. politics. What was the result in the case?
- A.
A 9-0 defeat for her.
- B.
A 6-3 defeat for her.
- C.
A 5-4 defeat for her.
- D.
A 5-4 win for her.
- E.
A 6-3 win for her.
Correct Answer
C. A 5-4 defeat for her.Explanation
In the Citizens United case, Elena Kagan argued against corporate involvement in U.S. politics. The result of the case was a 5-4 defeat for her, indicating that the majority of the Supreme Court justices ruled against her position.Rate this question:
-
- 18.
Which argument against her has NOT been made by a senior Senate Republican.
- A.
She doesn't have judicial experience.
- B.
Her experience has been in New York City, Boston, Chicago and Washington -- not in the real world.
- C.
There are enough women on the Supreme Court already.
- D.
She's anti-military.
- E.
She is not sufficiently forthcoming abut her views on important legal issues.
Correct Answer
C. There are enough women on the Supreme Court already.Explanation
The argument that "There are enough women on the Supreme Court already" has NOT been made by a senior Senate Republican. This means that at least one senior Senate Republican has not raised this particular argument against her.Rate this question:
-
- 19.
How many Republicans voted to confirm Elena Kagan as Solicitor General in 2009?
- A.
0
- B.
1
- C.
2
- D.
7
- E.
19
Correct Answer
D. 7Explanation
In 2009, seven Republicans voted to confirm Elena Kagan as Solicitor General.Rate this question:
-
- 20.
Which of Texas' senators voted for Elena Kagan's confirmation as Solicitor General?
- A.
Kay Bailey Hutchison
- B.
John Cornyn
- C.
Both
- D.
Neither
Correct Answer
D. NeitherExplanation
Neither of Texas' senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, voted for Elena Kagan's confirmation as Solicitor General.Rate this question:
-
- 21.
How old is Elena Kagan?
- A.
40
- B.
45
- C.
49
- D.
50
- E.
51
Correct Answer
D. 50Explanation
The given question asks for the age of Elena Kagan. Among the options provided, the correct answer is 50.Rate this question:
-
Quiz Review Timeline +
Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.
-
Current Version
-
Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
May 12, 2010Quiz Created by
Rickdunham
Back to top