Question 1

In Texas, the county judge presides over the county commissioner's court.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

In order to be eligible to serve on either the Texas Supreme Court or the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, you must

Accepted Answer

A)  be at least 50 years old. 
B)  have lived in Texas for the previous 10 years. 
C)  have not held any previous elected office. 
D)  have been either a judge or practicing lawyer for at least 10 years. 
A)  be at least 50 years old. 
B)  have lived in Texas for the previous 10 years. 
C)  have not held any previous elected office. 
D)  have been either a judge or practicing lawyer for at least 10 years.

Question 3

According to the Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, what dollar amount is an individual limited to when donating to a statewide judicial candidate?

Accepted Answer

A)  $100,000 
B)  $75,000 
C)  $30,000 
D)  $5,000 
A)  $100,000 
B)  $75,000 
C)  $30,000 
D)  $5,000

Question 4

Texas officially uses which method to select state judges?

Accepted Answer

A)  nonpartisan election 
B)  merit plan 
C)  partisan election 
D)  appointment by governor 
A)  nonpartisan election 
B)  merit plan 
C)  partisan election 
D)  appointment by governor

Question 5

Which court's justices are the least likely to be lawyers?

Accepted Answer

A)  court of appeals 
B)  district court 
C)  justice of the peace 
D)  Texas Court of Criminal Appeals 
A)  court of appeals 
B)  district court 
C)  justice of the peace 
D)  Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Question 6

In order to serve in any judicial position in Texas, you must be a licensed attorney and in good standing with the Texas Bar Association.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following is a court of limited civil jurisdiction within the Texas state court system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas Court of Criminal Appeals 
B)  municipal court 
C)  Texas Supreme Court 
D)  district court 
A)  Texas Court of Criminal Appeals 
B)  municipal court 
C)  Texas Supreme Court 
D)  district court

Question 8

Each county has at least how many district courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  10 
D)  14 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  10 
D)  14

Question 9

In Texas, lawyers are able to continue practicing law and representing clients when they are charged with a crime, but have not yet been found guilty by a court of committing that crime.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

By 2017, what percentage of district judges in Texas were women?

Accepted Answer

A)  35 
B)  17 
C)  15 
D)  43 
A)  35 
B)  17 
C)  15 
D)  43

Question 11

By the early 1980s, judicial candidates in Texas made a mass change in their campaign strategies. What was that change?

Accepted Answer

A)  Candidates began making a switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party. 
B)  Candidates began running with running mates to increase their chances of victory. 
C)  Candidates began selecting a party to align with, unlike when they used to run as nonpartisan candidates. 
D)  Candidates began making a switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. 
A)  Candidates began making a switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party. 
B)  Candidates began running with running mates to increase their chances of victory. 
C)  Candidates began selecting a party to align with, unlike when they used to run as nonpartisan candidates. 
D)  Candidates began making a switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.

Question 12

Less than 20 percent of all district judges in Texas are Latino.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

In criminal cases, the prosecutor must prove that the defendant is guilty

Accepted Answer

A)  based on a preponderance of the evidence. 
B)  beyond a reasonable doubt. 
C)  without any hesitation. 
D)  based on overwhelming proof. 
A)  based on a preponderance of the evidence. 
B)  beyond a reasonable doubt. 
C)  without any hesitation. 
D)  based on overwhelming proof.

Question 14

What is the most important type of case that the Texas Supreme Court handles?

Accepted Answer

A)  impeachment of public officials 
B)  tort law cases 
C)  prison reform 
D)  death penalty cases 
A)  impeachment of public officials 
B)  tort law cases 
C)  prison reform 
D)  death penalty cases

Question 15

What happens in a bench trial?

Accepted Answer

A)  The defendant gives up his or her constitutional right to a trial by jury. Instead, the trial is conducted with only the judge. 
B)  Multiple defendants who are all accused of the same crime are tried together and share one trial. 
C)  The defendant is represented by a public defender instead of a private attorney. 
D)  The trial is one of great public interest and is covered by the media, with television cameras located on special benches so that the faces of the jury are not made public. 
A)  The defendant gives up his or her constitutional right to a trial by jury. Instead, the trial is conducted with only the judge. 
B)  Multiple defendants who are all accused of the same crime are tried together and share one trial. 
C)  The defendant is represented by a public defender instead of a private attorney. 
D)  The trial is one of great public interest and is covered by the media, with television cameras located on special benches so that the faces of the jury are not made public.

Question 16

Civil rights organizations representing Latinos and African Americans have argued that for minorities to get elected into office

Accepted Answer

A)  there must be large judicial districts where minority voters make up the majority. 
B)  they must change their last names. 
C)  there must be small judicial districts where minority voters make up the majority. 
D)  they need to first be appointed. 
A)  there must be large judicial districts where minority voters make up the majority. 
B)  they must change their last names. 
C)  there must be small judicial districts where minority voters make up the majority. 
D)  they need to first be appointed.

Question 17

Characterize the judicial controversies in Texas and their impact on public perception of the courts.

Accepted Answer

a. Campaign contributions: Campaign cont

Question 18

County judges preside over

Accepted Answer

A)  the county commissioners' court. 
B)  the county court of appeals. 
C)  the district court for that county. 
D)  statutory courts. 
A)  the county commissioners' court. 
B)  the county court of appeals. 
C)  the district court for that county. 
D)  statutory courts.

Question 19

Texas politics has always been a heated topic, but none more so than the area of judicial politics. Explain and discuss the partisan nature of and the political aspects to judicial selection. Why is the system so partisan? How does campaign finance play a role?

Accepted Answer

a. Why the system is partisan: Prior to

Question 20

Civil law focuses on __________________, while criminal law focuses on __________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  disputes about relationships, obligations, and responsibilities; violations of codes of right and wrong as determined by criminal statutes 
B)  violations of normative standards; disputes regarding implementation of law 
C)  matters involving juveniles and families; matters involving adults 
D)  only issues regarding money, all other issues related to the law 
A)  disputes about relationships, obligations, and responsibilities; violations of codes of right and wrong as determined by criminal statutes 
B)  violations of normative standards; disputes regarding implementation of law 
C)  matters involving juveniles and families; matters involving adults 
D)  only issues regarding money, all other issues related to the law

In Texas, the county judge presides over the county commissioner's court.

In order to be eligible to serve on either the Texas Supreme Court or the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, you must

According to the Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, what dollar amount is an individual limited to when donating to a statewide judicial candidate?

Texas officially uses which method to select state judges?

Which court's justices are the least likely to be lawyers?

In order to serve in any judicial position in Texas, you must be a licensed attorney and in good standing with the Texas Bar Association.

Which of the following is a court of limited civil jurisdiction within the Texas state court system?

Each county has at least how many district courts?

In Texas, lawyers are able to continue practicing law and representing clients when they are charged with a crime, but have not yet been found guilty by a court of committing that crime.

By 2017, what percentage of district judges in Texas were women?

By the early 1980s, judicial candidates in Texas made a mass change in their campaign strategies. What was that change?

Less than 20 percent of all district judges in Texas are Latino.

In criminal cases, the prosecutor must prove that the defendant is guilty

What is the most important type of case that the Texas Supreme Court handles?

What happens in a bench trial?

Civil rights organizations representing Latinos and African Americans have argued that for minorities to get elected into office

Characterize the judicial controversies in Texas and their impact on public perception of the courts.

County judges preside over

Texas politics has always been a heated topic, but none more so than the area of judicial politics. Explain and discuss the partisan nature of and the political aspects to judicial selection. Why is the system so partisan? How does campaign finance play a role?

Civil law focuses on , while criminal law focuses on .

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Legislature

The Executive Branch

Local Government

Public Finance

Public Policy

Crime and Corrections Policy

Building the Future: Public Policies for a Changing Texas

Filters

Exam 9: The Judiciary

In Texas, the county judge presides over the county commissioner's court.

In order to be eligible to serve on either the Texas Supreme Court or the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, you must

According to the Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, what dollar amount is an individual limited to when donating to a statewide judicial candidate?

Texas officially uses which method to select state judges?

Which court's justices are the least likely to be lawyers?

In order to serve in any judicial position in Texas, you must be a licensed attorney and in good standing with the Texas Bar Association.

Which of the following is a court of limited civil jurisdiction within the Texas state court system?

Each county has at least how many district courts?

In Texas, lawyers are able to continue practicing law and representing clients when they are charged with a crime, but have not yet been found guilty by a court of committing that crime.

By 2017, what percentage of district judges in Texas were women?

By the early 1980s, judicial candidates in Texas made a mass change in their campaign strategies. What was that change?

Less than 20 percent of all district judges in Texas are Latino.

In criminal cases, the prosecutor must prove that the defendant is guilty

What is the most important type of case that the Texas Supreme Court handles?

What happens in a bench trial?

Civil rights organizations representing Latinos and African Americans have argued that for minorities to get elected into office

Characterize the judicial controversies in Texas and their impact on public perception of the courts.

County judges preside over

Texas politics has always been a heated topic, but none more so than the area of judicial politics. Explain and discuss the partisan nature of and the political aspects to judicial selection. Why is the system so partisan? How does campaign finance play a role?

Civil law focuses on __________________, while criminal law focuses on __________________.

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Legislature

The Executive Branch

Local Government

Public Finance

Public Policy

Crime and Corrections Policy

Building the Future: Public Policies for a Changing Texas

Filters

Civil law focuses on , while criminal law focuses on .