Question 1

Critics of Texas's system for providing legal representation to poor people accused of crimes argue that _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​the rate of compensation provided to court-appointed attorneys is too low 
B) ​the quality of representation by court-appointed attorneys is low 
C) ​the performance of court-appointed attorneys is too low 
D) ​the state needs a system of public defenders 
E) ​all of these 
A) ​the rate of compensation provided to court-appointed attorneys is too low 
B) ​the quality of representation by court-appointed attorneys is low 
C) ​the performance of court-appointed attorneys is too low 
D) ​the state needs a system of public defenders 
E) ​all of these E

Question 2

​How are trial juries different from grand juries?

Accepted Answer

A) ​​Grand juries deal with civil cases, while trial juries deal with criminal cases. 
B) ​​​Grand juries exist mainly in rural areas, andtrial juries are usedmainly inurban areas. 
C) ​Grand juries determine whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime, whereas trial juries determine guilt or innocence. 
D) ​​​Trial juries decide guilt or innocence, and grand juries hear appeals. 
E) ​Grand jurieshave fewer members; otherwise, there is no difference between them and trial juries. 
A) ​​Grand juries deal with civil cases, while trial juries deal with criminal cases. 
B) ​​​Grand juries exist mainly in rural areas, andtrial juries are usedmainly inurban areas. 
C) ​Grand juries determine whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime, whereas trial juries determine guilt or innocence. 
D) ​​​Trial juries decide guilt or innocence, and grand juries hear appeals. 
E) ​Grand jurieshave fewer members; otherwise, there is no difference between them and trial juries. C

Question 3

Explain the difference between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction.

Accepted Answer

Original jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time. This means that the court has the power to conduct trials, receive evidence, and make decisions on the case. Appellate jurisdiction, on the other hand, refers to the authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts. In this case, the court does not conduct trials or receive new evidence, but rather reviews the legal procedures and decisions made in the lower court to determine if they were fair and in accordance with the law. In summary, original jurisdiction involves the initial hearing of a case, while appellate jurisdiction involves the review of decisions made in lower courts.

Question 4

Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 9 and 10): Discuss concerns about the use of the death penalty in Texas.Provide examples to support your arguments.

Accepted Answer

The use of the death penalty in Texas ha

Question 5

​Advisory opinions are important because they _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​save time and money for Texas officials as an alternative to going to court 
B) ​advise state and local governments on whether to release information 
C) ​deal with the legality of proposed government laws and actions 
D) ​are handed down by the attorney general 
E) all of these 
A) ​save time and money for Texas officials as an alternative to going to court 
B) ​advise state and local governments on whether to release information 
C) ​deal with the legality of proposed government laws and actions 
D) ​are handed down by the attorney general 
E) all of these

Question 6

Which judge may serve as a coroner to certify cause of death despite having no medical training?

Accepted Answer

A) municipal judge 
B) justice of the peace 
C) district judge 
D) county court at law judge 
E) Supreme Court justice 
A) municipal judge 
B) justice of the peace 
C) district judge 
D) county court at law judge 
E) Supreme Court justice

Question 7

​Studies show that the most important factor in predicting how a judge decide cases is the judge's _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​political party 
B) gender 
C) age 
D) socioeconomic status 
E) ​law school background 
A) ​political party 
B) gender 
C) age 
D) socioeconomic status 
E) ​law school background

Question 8

The mythical vision most Americans hold of judges sees them as all of these except _____.

Accepted Answer

A) incorruptible 
B) prejudiced 
C) objective 
D) impartial 
E) nonpolitical 
A) incorruptible 
B) prejudiced 
C) objective 
D) impartial 
E) nonpolitical

Question 9

​Which statements reflects the idea that judges in Texas are "above politics"?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Judges rely on neutral, impersonal criteria in making decisions. 
B) ​People are more likely to comply with decisions of judges if the judges are nonpolitical. 
C) ​Judges aremoved less by personal issues and are more outside influence than governors and legislators are. 
D) ​All of these statements apply. 
E) ​None of these statements apply. 
A) ​Judges rely on neutral, impersonal criteria in making decisions. 
B) ​People are more likely to comply with decisions of judges if the judges are nonpolitical. 
C) ​Judges aremoved less by personal issues and are more outside influence than governors and legislators are. 
D) ​All of these statements apply. 
E) ​None of these statements apply.

Question 10

​The Texas court structure has a number of weaknesses that prevent it from working effectively.Discuss three such weaknesses.

Accepted Answer

There are several weaknesses in the Texa

Question 11

Justices of the peace in Texas may be responsible for _____.

Accepted Answer

A) adjudicating DWI cases 
B) probating wills 
C) issuing indictments 
D) hearing appeals from municipal courts 
E) acting as small claims courts 
A) adjudicating DWI cases 
B) probating wills 
C) issuing indictments 
D) hearing appeals from municipal courts 
E) acting as small claims courts

Question 12

Which statement is not an accurate characterization of crime and punishment in Texas​?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Courts in Texas are badly overcrowded. 
B) ​Prisons in Texas are badly overcrowded. 
C) ​Texans have reported feeling safer as the crime rate has gone down over the last decade. 
D) ​Despite the crime rate going down over the last decade, Texas still has a high rate of street crime. 
E) ​The focus on plea bargains puts criminals back on the streets more quickly. 
A) ​Courts in Texas are badly overcrowded. 
B) ​Prisons in Texas are badly overcrowded. 
C) ​Texans have reported feeling safer as the crime rate has gone down over the last decade. 
D) ​Despite the crime rate going down over the last decade, Texas still has a high rate of street crime. 
E) ​The focus on plea bargains puts criminals back on the streets more quickly.

Question 13

​Which of these is not a concern about the structure of the Texas court system?

Accepted Answer

A) ​There is duplication of jurisdiction. 
B) ​It lacks standardization from county to county. 
C) ​Not all courts keep records of their proceedings. 
D) ​The structure is subject to the attorney general's control. 
E) ​It is essentially the same today as it was under the Republic of Texas. 
A) ​There is duplication of jurisdiction. 
B) ​It lacks standardization from county to county. 
C) ​Not all courts keep records of their proceedings. 
D) ​The structure is subject to the attorney general's control. 
E) ​It is essentially the same today as it was under the Republic of Texas.

Question 14

Explain how judges in Texas are selected.Discuss the pros and cons of the Texas method of selection.

Accepted Answer

In Texas, judges are selected through a

Question 15

​Whichphrase reflects the idea that judges in Texas are "political"?

Accepted Answer

A) judicial interpretations 
B) ​being elected officeholders in Texas 
C) representing different political parties, ideologies, and personal philosophies 
D) all of these 
E) ​none of these 
A) judicial interpretations 
B) ​being elected officeholders in Texas 
C) representing different political parties, ideologies, and personal philosophies 
D) all of these 
E) ​none of these

Question 16

In Texas,the legislature and agencies of the executive branch commonly seek the advice of the_____ regarding the constitutionality of legislative proposals,rules,and procedures.

Accepted Answer

A) State Bar of Texas 
B) Texas Supreme Court 
C) governor 
D) attorney general 
E) TexasLegislative Counsel 
A) State Bar of Texas 
B) Texas Supreme Court 
C) governor 
D) attorney general 
E) TexasLegislative Counsel

Question 17

Discuss the factors that account for charges of unequal justice in Texas and give examples.Explain how the state has acted to try to mitigate those problems.

Accepted Answer

There are several factors that account f

Question 18

When considering the overall quality of justice in Texas,the text concludes​ that _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​the quality of legal representation by court-appointed attorneys is often poor 
B) ​poor and minority defendants probably have a greater chance of being incarcerated and executed 
C) ​minority judges are underrepresented in the state district courts 
D) ​there are numerous examples of people who have been convicted of crimes only to have later advances in investigative science prove them innocent 
E) ​all of these 
A) ​the quality of legal representation by court-appointed attorneys is often poor 
B) ​poor and minority defendants probably have a greater chance of being incarcerated and executed 
C) ​minority judges are underrepresented in the state district courts 
D) ​there are numerous examples of people who have been convicted of crimes only to have later advances in investigative science prove them innocent 
E) ​all of these

Question 19

The cases of Ben Salazar,Kevin Byrd,Roy Wayne Criner,and Josiah Sutton illustrate that _____.

Accepted Answer

A) wealthy defendants have a greater chance of being incarcerated 
B) innocent people have been convicted of crimes and sentenced to prison 
C) the judicial process always works 
D) citizens can have confidence that only the guilty are convicted 
E) only defendants with criminal records are sentenced to death 
A) wealthy defendants have a greater chance of being incarcerated 
B) innocent people have been convicted of crimes and sentenced to prison 
C) the judicial process always works 
D) citizens can have confidence that only the guilty are convicted 
E) only defendants with criminal records are sentenced to death

Question 20

Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 2 and 9): Discuss the impact of the Texas Constitution on the present-day structure of the Texas court system.Explain the resulting problems.

Accepted Answer

The Texas Constitution has had a signifi

Critics of Texas's system for providing legal representation to poor people accused of crimes argue that _____.

How are trial juries different from grand juries?

Explain the difference between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction.

Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 9 and 10): Discuss concerns about the use of the death penalty in Texas.Provide examples to support your arguments.

Advisory opinions are important because they _____.

Which judge may serve as a coroner to certify cause of death despite having no medical training?

Studies show that the most important factor in predicting how a judge decide cases is the judge's _____.

The mythical vision most Americans hold of judges sees them as all of these except _____.

Which statements reflects the idea that judges in Texas are "above politics"?

The Texas court structure has a number of weaknesses that prevent it from working effectively.Discuss three such weaknesses.

Justices of the peace in Texas may be responsible for _____.

Which statement is not an accurate characterization of crime and punishment in Texas?

Which of these is not a concern about the structure of the Texas court system?

Explain how judges in Texas are selected.Discuss the pros and cons of the Texas method of selection.

Whichphrase reflects the idea that judges in Texas are "political"?

In Texas,the legislature and agencies of the executive branch commonly seek the advice of the_____ regarding the constitutionality of legislative proposals,rules,and procedures.

Discuss the factors that account for charges of unequal justice in Texas and give examples.Explain how the state has acted to try to mitigate those problems.

When considering the overall quality of justice in Texas,the text concludes that _____.

The cases of Ben Salazar,Kevin Byrd,Roy Wayne Criner,and Josiah Sutton illustrate that _____.

Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 2 and 9): Discuss the impact of the Texas Constitution on the present-day structure of the Texas court system.Explain the resulting problems.

The Context of Texas Politics

The Constitutional Setting

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Voting,campaigns,and Elections

The Texas Legislature

The Governor

The Administrative State

The Substance of Justice

Local Government

The State Economy and the Financing of State Government

Public Policy: People

Public Policy: Resources

Filters

Exam 9: The Judiciary

Critics of Texas's system for providing legal representation to poor people accused of crimes argue that _____.

​How are trial juries different from grand juries?

Explain the difference between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction.

Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 9 and 10): Discuss concerns about the use of the death penalty in Texas.Provide examples to support your arguments.

​Advisory opinions are important because they _____.

Which judge may serve as a coroner to certify cause of death despite having no medical training?

​Studies show that the most important factor in predicting how a judge decide cases is the judge's _____.

The mythical vision most Americans hold of judges sees them as all of these except _____.

​Which statements reflects the idea that judges in Texas are "above politics"?

​The Texas court structure has a number of weaknesses that prevent it from working effectively.Discuss three such weaknesses.

Justices of the peace in Texas may be responsible for _____.

Which statement is not an accurate characterization of crime and punishment in Texas​?

​Which of these is not a concern about the structure of the Texas court system?

Explain how judges in Texas are selected.Discuss the pros and cons of the Texas method of selection.

​Whichphrase reflects the idea that judges in Texas are "political"?

In Texas,the legislature and agencies of the executive branch commonly seek the advice of the_____ regarding the constitutionality of legislative proposals,rules,and procedures.

Discuss the factors that account for charges of unequal justice in Texas and give examples.Explain how the state has acted to try to mitigate those problems.

When considering the overall quality of justice in Texas,the text concludes​ that _____.

The cases of Ben Salazar,Kevin Byrd,Roy Wayne Criner,and Josiah Sutton illustrate that _____.

Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 2 and 9): Discuss the impact of the Texas Constitution on the present-day structure of the Texas court system.Explain the resulting problems.

The Context of Texas Politics

The Constitutional Setting

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Voting,campaigns,and Elections

The Texas Legislature

The Governor

The Administrative State

The Substance of Justice

Local Government

The State Economy and the Financing of State Government

Public Policy: People

Public Policy: Resources

Filters

How are trial juries different from grand juries?

Advisory opinions are important because they _____.

Studies show that the most important factor in predicting how a judge decide cases is the judge's _____.

Which statements reflects the idea that judges in Texas are "above politics"?

The Texas court structure has a number of weaknesses that prevent it from working effectively.Discuss three such weaknesses.

Which statement is not an accurate characterization of crime and punishment in Texas?

Which of these is not a concern about the structure of the Texas court system?

Whichphrase reflects the idea that judges in Texas are "political"?

When considering the overall quality of justice in Texas,the text concludes that _____.