Question 1

Approximately 90 percent of all criminal and civil cases are settled out of court or with a guilty plea.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Appellate courts have the responsibility for hearing

Accepted Answer

A) appeals of cases tried in lower state courts. 
B) first cases not settled by pretrial agreement. 
C) all cases originating in a specified region of the state. 
D) cases tried previously in federal court. 
A) appeals of cases tried in lower state courts. 
B) first cases not settled by pretrial agreement. 
C) all cases originating in a specified region of the state. 
D) cases tried previously in federal court.

Question 3

The Missouri Plan for selection of judges involves

Accepted Answer

A) identification by the governor, review by a commission on judicial appointments, and acceptance or rejection by the voters. 
B) nomination by the legislature and selection by the governor. 
C) selection of at least two candidates nominated by the state bar association and then a runoff election. 
D) nomination by a bipartisan commission; appointment by the governor; and, thereafter, periodic retention elections by the voters. 
A) identification by the governor, review by a commission on judicial appointments, and acceptance or rejection by the voters. 
B) nomination by the legislature and selection by the governor. 
C) selection of at least two candidates nominated by the state bar association and then a runoff election. 
D) nomination by a bipartisan commission; appointment by the governor; and, thereafter, periodic retention elections by the voters.

Question 4

Describe each of the two tiers of state courts and discuss how they are related. Explain each tier's role in judicial decision making.

Accepted Answer

The two tiers of state courts are the tr

Question 5

The legislatures appoint all state judges in four states.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The question of access to the judicial system as a factor in decision making is

Accepted Answer

A) important because some businesses, groups, and individuals have ready access and thus possess greater advantages than others. 
B) unimportant because judges or juries are able to act on behalf of absent interests. 
C) unimportant because the courts are open to all citizens. 
D) rapidly declining in significance as judicial lobbying becomes increasingly important. 
A) important because some businesses, groups, and individuals have ready access and thus possess greater advantages than others. 
B) unimportant because judges or juries are able to act on behalf of absent interests. 
C) unimportant because the courts are open to all citizens. 
D) rapidly declining in significance as judicial lobbying becomes increasingly important.

Question 7

It is estimated that

Accepted Answer

A) most civil and criminal cases are settled by a coin toss. 
B) about half of all civil and criminal cases are actually resolved outside the courtroom. 
C) most cases are settled by a jury. 
D) 90 percent of all civil and criminal cases are actually resolved outside the courtroom. 
A) most civil and criminal cases are settled by a coin toss. 
B) about half of all civil and criminal cases are actually resolved outside the courtroom. 
C) most cases are settled by a jury. 
D) 90 percent of all civil and criminal cases are actually resolved outside the courtroom.

Question 8

When judges use previous judicial rulings to guide their decisions, they are employing the doctrine of

Accepted Answer

A) ipso facto. 
B) judicial federalism. 
C) stare decisis. 
D) judicial activism. 
A) ipso facto. 
B) judicial federalism. 
C) stare decisis. 
D) judicial activism.

Question 9

Trial courts are more prone to interpret the law, whereas appellate courts are more apt to apply the law and make public policy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

As part of the merit-selection plans for judges, retention elections

Accepted Answer

A) nearly always turn out in favor of the incumbent. 
B) rarely generate much enthusiasm among voters and seldom turn out the incumbent. 
C) generate greater enthusiasm than the general elections. 
D) have turned down retention for about 50 percent of all judges since 1972. 
A) nearly always turn out in favor of the incumbent. 
B) rarely generate much enthusiasm among voters and seldom turn out the incumbent. 
C) generate greater enthusiasm than the general elections. 
D) have turned down retention for about 50 percent of all judges since 1972.

Question 11

Common law is defined as unwritten law based on tradition, custom, or court decisions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The term judicial activism implies that judges are

Accepted Answer

A) actively trying to influence or change public policy. 
B) conservatives who are actively involved in partisan politics. 
C) working in court systems with heavy caseloads. 
D) liberals who seek to use their position on the bench to influence policy on social issues. 
A) actively trying to influence or change public policy. 
B) conservatives who are actively involved in partisan politics. 
C) working in court systems with heavy caseloads. 
D) liberals who seek to use their position on the bench to influence policy on social issues.

Question 13

State supreme courts vary dramatically in ideology. Those in Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Maryland are much more liberal than those in Arizona, Mississippi, and New Hampshire.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The recent trend in judicial federalism is that state courts might override the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. How can they do so? Define judicial federalism and describe the recent trend in federal versus state court power. Provide examples to illustrate your discussion.

Accepted Answer

Judicial federalism refers to the divisi

Question 15

The term judicial federalism refers to a trend in which state courts look first at state constitutional and statutory law in rendering legal judgments on important state and local issues. The effect has been that many state courts are now more liberal than the federal courts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Under the doctrine of stare decisis , the principles and procedures of law applied in one situation are applied in any similar situation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

In the late 1930s, the American Bar Association recommended that states adopt methods of selecting judges that were based on merit plans. The first state to adopt this idea was Arizona in 1940.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Judicial decision making is

Accepted Answer

A) subject to no review or oversight. 
B) based solely on precedents and scientific techniques. 
C) often as subjective as the decision making of other government officials. 
D) so similar from one judge to another that it is unimportant who sits on a case. 
A) subject to no review or oversight. 
B) based solely on precedents and scientific techniques. 
C) often as subjective as the decision making of other government officials. 
D) so similar from one judge to another that it is unimportant who sits on a case.

Question 19

Appellate courts hold a second trial, which includes hearing testimonies from plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Most states use a two-tiered court structure.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Approximately 90 percent of all criminal and civil cases are settled out of court or with a guilty plea.

Appellate courts have the responsibility for hearing

The Missouri Plan for selection of judges involves

Describe each of the two tiers of state courts and discuss how they are related. Explain each tier's role in judicial decision making.

The legislatures appoint all state judges in four states.

The question of access to the judicial system as a factor in decision making is

It is estimated that

When judges use previous judicial rulings to guide their decisions, they are employing the doctrine of

Trial courts are more prone to interpret the law, whereas appellate courts are more apt to apply the law and make public policy.

As part of the merit-selection plans for judges, retention elections

Common law is defined as unwritten law based on tradition, custom, or court decisions.

The term judicial activism implies that judges are

State supreme courts vary dramatically in ideology. Those in Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Maryland are much more liberal than those in Arizona, Mississippi, and New Hampshire.

The recent trend in judicial federalism is that state courts might override the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. How can they do so? Define judicial federalism and describe the recent trend in federal versus state court power. Provide examples to illustrate your discussion.

The term judicial federalism refers to a trend in which state courts look first at state constitutional and statutory law in rendering legal judgments on important state and local issues. The effect has been that many state courts are now more liberal than the federal courts.

Under the doctrine of stare decisis , the principles and procedures of law applied in one situation are applied in any similar situation.

In the late 1930s, the American Bar Association recommended that states adopt methods of selecting judges that were based on merit plans. The first state to adopt this idea was Arizona in 1940.

Judicial decision making is

Appellate courts hold a second trial, which includes hearing testimonies from plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses.

Most states use a two-tiered court structure.

New Directions for State and Local Governments

Federalism and the States: Sorting Out Roles and Responsibilities

State Constitutions: the Fundamental Rules of State Government

Citizen Participation and Elections

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Campaigns

State Legislatures

Governors: Power, Politics and Executive Leadership

Public Administration: Budgeting and Service Delivery

The Structure of Local Government

Local Leadership and Governance

State Local Relations

Taxing and Spending

Economic Development

Education Policy: Reading, Writing and Reform

Criminal Justice: Cops and Corrections

Social Welfare and Health Care Policy: Addressing Poverty and Sickness

Environmental Policy

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Exam 9: The Judiciary: Independence Vs Accountability

Approximately 90 percent of all criminal and civil cases are settled out of court or with a guilty plea.

Appellate courts have the responsibility for hearing

The Missouri Plan for selection of judges involves

Describe each of the two tiers of state courts and discuss how they are related. Explain each tier's role in judicial decision making.

The legislatures appoint all state judges in four states.

The question of access to the judicial system as a factor in decision making is

It is estimated that

When judges use previous judicial rulings to guide their decisions, they are employing the doctrine of

Trial courts are more prone to interpret the law, whereas appellate courts are more apt to apply the law and make public policy.

As part of the merit-selection plans for judges, retention elections

Common law is defined as unwritten law based on tradition, custom, or court decisions.

The term judicial activism implies that judges are

State supreme courts vary dramatically in ideology. Those in Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Maryland are much more liberal than those in Arizona, Mississippi, and New Hampshire.

The recent trend in judicial federalism is that state courts might override the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. How can they do so? Define judicial federalism and describe the recent trend in federal versus state court power. Provide examples to illustrate your discussion.

The term judicial federalism refers to a trend in which state courts look first at state constitutional and statutory law in rendering legal judgments on important state and local issues. The effect has been that many state courts are now more liberal than the federal courts.

Under the doctrine of stare decisis , the principles and procedures of law applied in one situation are applied in any similar situation.

In the late 1930s, the American Bar Association recommended that states adopt methods of selecting judges that were based on merit plans. The first state to adopt this idea was Arizona in 1940.

Judicial decision making is

Appellate courts hold a second trial, which includes hearing testimonies from plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses.

Most states use a two-tiered court structure.

New Directions for State and Local Governments

Federalism and the States: Sorting Out Roles and Responsibilities

State Constitutions: the Fundamental Rules of State Government

Citizen Participation and Elections

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Campaigns

State Legislatures

Governors: Power, Politics and Executive Leadership

Public Administration: Budgeting and Service Delivery

The Structure of Local Government

Local Leadership and Governance

State Local Relations

Taxing and Spending

Economic Development

Education Policy: Reading, Writing and Reform

Criminal Justice: Cops and Corrections

Social Welfare and Health Care Policy: Addressing Poverty and Sickness

Environmental Policy

Filters