Question 1

Which of the following forms of elections was adopted in the Jacksonian era as a way to create a judiciary answerable to the voters?

Accepted Answer

A)  nonpartisan popular election 
B)  partisan popular election 
C)  Missouri Plan 
D)  initiative elections 
A)  nonpartisan popular election 
B)  partisan popular election 
C)  Missouri Plan 
D)  initiative elections

Question 2

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 3

State court rulings on issues such as school finance, prison overcrowding, and treatment of the mentally ill have severely affected state budgets as the courts seldom factor in the related fiscal impacts of their decisions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

According to the text, how can the issue of heavy caseloads in state court systems be solved?

Accepted Answer

A)  by relying more on mediation and arbitration, which are now used by most states 
B)  by relying more on pretrial settlements and plea bargaining 
C)  by creating stricter appeal regulations to lower the possibility of appeals 
D)  by appointing new trial court judges and expanding the appellate court system 
A)  by relying more on mediation and arbitration, which are now used by most states 
B)  by relying more on pretrial settlements and plea bargaining 
C)  by creating stricter appeal regulations to lower the possibility of appeals 
D)  by appointing new trial court judges and expanding the appellate court system

Question 5

Incorporating elements of gubernatorial appointment and elective systems, _______ attempts to provide a mechanism for appointing qualified candidates to the bench while permitting the public to evaluate a judge's performance through the ballot box.

Accepted Answer

A)  legislative election 
B)  popular election 
C)  gerrymandering 
D)  the merit plan 
A)  legislative election 
B)  popular election 
C)  gerrymandering 
D)  the merit plan

Question 6

What are the three steps in the Missouri Plan for judicial selection?

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, review by a commission on judicial appointments, and selection by the governor 
C)  selection of at least two candidates nominated by the state bar association, approval by the governor, and a runoff election 
D)  nomination by a bipartisan commission, appointment by the governor, and 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, review by a commission on judicial appointments, and selection by the governor 
C)  selection of at least two candidates nominated by the state bar association, approval by the governor, and a runoff election 
D)  nomination by a bipartisan commission, appointment by the governor, and periodic retention elections by the voters

Question 7

In most states where judges are elected, judges can accept campaign contributions from attorneys and political action committees.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Electing judges is unique to the United Sates; it is virtually unknown in the rest of the world.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

There are five methods by which judges are selected. Discuss which method is best, in your opinion. Why? What are the drawbacks to this method?

Accepted Answer

The answer of There are five methods by which judges...

Question 10

Tort reform refers to the policy goal of reducing

Accepted Answer

A)  the number personal injury cases and the subsequent awards. 
B)  the number of liability and personal injury cases but not size of the subsequent awards. 
C)  drug sentencing by providing counseling rather than prison sentences. 
D)  recidivism among violent offenders. 
A)  the number personal injury cases and the subsequent awards. 
B)  the number of liability and personal injury cases but not size of the subsequent awards. 
C)  drug sentencing by providing counseling rather than prison sentences. 
D)  recidivism among violent offenders.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Judicial performance evaluation (JPE) is a process of evaluating judges involving

Accepted Answer

A)  newspaper reporters who cover the courts' running polls on best and worst judges. 
B)  judiciary committees of state legislatures rating 10 percent of each of the state's judges each year. 
C)  confidential surveys of attorneys, court professionals, witnesses, jurors, and other court professionals. 
D)  a panel of five judges from neighboring states providing a peer review of judges' decision-making qualities. 
A)  newspaper reporters who cover the courts' running polls on best and worst judges. 
B)  judiciary committees of state legislatures rating 10 percent of each of the state's judges each year. 
C)  confidential surveys of attorneys, court professionals, witnesses, jurors, and other court professionals. 
D)  a panel of five judges from neighboring states providing a peer review of judges' decision-making qualities.

Question 13

A judge's party identification, political ideology, prior careers, religion, age, and sex (the judge's personal characteristics) very rarely affect the way a judge decides cases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The aim of unified court systems is to make the work of the courts more efficient, saving time and money and avoiding confusion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

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 16

Most state courts are part of the two-tier system. The two tiers are

Accepted Answer

A)  trial and appellate courts. 
B)  trial and general jurisdiction courts. 
C)  appellate and supreme courts. 
D)  trial and district courts. 
A)  trial and appellate courts. 
B)  trial and general jurisdiction courts. 
C)  appellate and supreme courts. 
D)  trial and district courts.

Question 17

Courts and judges are often accused of "making law." Do they and, if so, why? Is this judicial activism or merely the proper role of a court as the final arbiter of disputes?

Accepted Answer

Courts and judges are often accused of "

Question 18

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.

Which of the following forms of elections was adopted in the Jacksonian era as a way to create a judiciary answerable to the voters?

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.

State court rulings on issues such as school finance, prison overcrowding, and treatment of the mentally ill have severely affected state budgets as the courts seldom factor in the related fiscal impacts of their decisions.

According to the text, how can the issue of heavy caseloads in state court systems be solved?

Incorporating elements of gubernatorial appointment and elective systems, _______ attempts to provide a mechanism for appointing qualified candidates to the bench while permitting the public to evaluate a judge's performance through the ballot box.

What are the three steps in the Missouri Plan for judicial selection?

In most states where judges are elected, judges can accept campaign contributions from attorneys and political action committees.

Electing judges is unique to the United Sates; it is virtually unknown in the rest of the world.

There are five methods by which judges are selected. Discuss which method is best, in your opinion. Why? What are the drawbacks to this method?

Tort reform refers to the policy goal of reducing

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

Judicial performance evaluation (JPE) is a process of evaluating judges involving

A judge's party identification, political ideology, prior careers, religion, age, and sex (the judge's personal characteristics) very rarely affect the way a judge decides cases.

The aim of unified court systems is to make the work of the courts more efficient, saving time and money and avoiding confusion.

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

Most state courts are part of the two-tier system. The two tiers are

Courts and judges are often accused of "making law." Do they and, if so, why? Is this judicial activism or merely the proper role of a court as the final arbiter of disputes?

The term judicial activism implies that judges are

New Directions for State and Local Governments

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Exam 9: The Judiciary

Which of the following forms of elections was adopted in the Jacksonian era as a way to create a judiciary answerable to the voters?

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.

State court rulings on issues such as school finance, prison overcrowding, and treatment of the mentally ill have severely affected state budgets as the courts seldom factor in the related fiscal impacts of their decisions.

According to the text, how can the issue of heavy caseloads in state court systems be solved?

Incorporating elements of gubernatorial appointment and elective systems, _______ attempts to provide a mechanism for appointing qualified candidates to the bench while permitting the public to evaluate a judge's performance through the ballot box.

What are the three steps in the Missouri Plan for judicial selection?

In most states where judges are elected, judges can accept campaign contributions from attorneys and political action committees.

Electing judges is unique to the United Sates; it is virtually unknown in the rest of the world.

There are five methods by which judges are selected. Discuss which method is best, in your opinion. Why? What are the drawbacks to this method?

Tort reform refers to the policy goal of reducing

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

Judicial performance evaluation (JPE) is a process of evaluating judges involving

A judge's party identification, political ideology, prior careers, religion, age, and sex (the judge's personal characteristics) very rarely affect the way a judge decides cases.

The aim of unified court systems is to make the work of the courts more efficient, saving time and money and avoiding confusion.

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

Most state courts are part of the two-tier system. The two tiers are

Courts and judges are often accused of "making law." Do they and, if so, why? Is this judicial activism or merely the proper role of a court as the final arbiter of disputes?

The term judicial activism implies that judges are

New Directions for State and Local Governments

Federalism and the States

State Constitutions

Citizen Participation and Elections

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Campaigns

State Legislatures

Governors

Public Administration: Budgeting and Service Delivery

State Local Relations

Local Government: Structure and Leadership

Taxing and Spending

Filters