Question 1

​Some states use nonpartisan elections to choose their judges.What is a nonpartisan election plan?​

Accepted Answer

A) ​the Texas plan for selecting judges 
B) ​the citizens vote for judges, but no party labels appear on the ballot 
C) ​where either the legislature or the governor appoints the judges 
D) ​a merit plan 
E) ​elections in which candidates run as Democrats or Republicans 
A) ​the Texas plan for selecting judges 
B) ​the citizens vote for judges, but no party labels appear on the ballot 
C) ​where either the legislature or the governor appoints the judges 
D) ​a merit plan 
E) ​elections in which candidates run as Democrats or Republicans

Question 2

​Which statement is not true regarding justice of the peace courts?

Accepted Answer

A) ​There are no constitutional or statutory qualifications for justice court judges, so only 6 percent of these judges are lawyers. 
B) ​Except for the largest counties, justices of the peace function as coroners despite having no medical training. 
C) ​They handle both civil and criminal matters. 
D) ​They have both original and appellate jurisdiction. 
E) ​All of these statementsare true. 
A) ​There are no constitutional or statutory qualifications for justice court judges, so only 6 percent of these judges are lawyers. 
B) ​Except for the largest counties, justices of the peace function as coroners despite having no medical training. 
C) ​They handle both civil and criminal matters. 
D) ​They have both original and appellate jurisdiction. 
E) ​All of these statementsare true.

Question 3

Lower-court trial juries consist of _____ members,whereas district court juries consist of _____ members.

Accepted Answer

A) 3; 9 
B) 6; 12 
C) 8; 15 
D) 9; 18 
E) 5; 10 
A) 3; 9 
B) 6; 12 
C) 8; 15 
D) 9; 18 
E) 5; 10

Question 4

District and appellate judges in Texas may be removed from office by _____.

Accepted Answer

A) impeachment after a vote of two-thirds majority in the legislature 
B) the attorney general 
C) removingtheir funding from the budget 
D) a statewide referendum 
E) the governor 
A) impeachment after a vote of two-thirds majority in the legislature 
B) the attorney general 
C) removingtheir funding from the budget 
D) a statewide referendum 
E) the governor

Question 5

​Felonies are _____,while misdemeanors are _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​criminal cases; civil cases 
B) ​serious crimes; minor crimes 
C) ​trial cases; appellate cases 
D) ​cases with attorneys present; cases where people represent themselves 
E) ​none of these 
A) ​criminal cases; civil cases 
B) ​serious crimes; minor crimes 
C) ​trial cases; appellate cases 
D) ​cases with attorneys present; cases where people represent themselves 
E) ​none of these

Question 6

​The term municipal courts refers to _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​courts that are run by city governments and have jurisdiction over city ordinances 
B) ​courts that answer to state district courts and handle felony criminal cases 
C) ​the county commissioners court 
D) ​courtsthat handle appeals 
E) justice of the peace courts 
A) ​courts that are run by city governments and have jurisdiction over city ordinances 
B) ​courts that answer to state district courts and handle felony criminal cases 
C) ​the county commissioners court 
D) ​courtsthat handle appeals 
E) justice of the peace courts

Question 7

​Explain what is meant by a "two supreme court" system.

Accepted Answer

A "two Supreme Court" system refers to a

Question 8

The Texas Fair Defense Act attempts to remedy the problem of unequal justice by establishing _____.

Accepted Answer

A) a public defender system in felony cases 
B) a strict code of conduct for attorneys 
C) limits on appeals in death penalty cases 
D) uniform sentencing guidelines 
E) an automatic appeals process for those convicted of crimes 
A) a public defender system in felony cases 
B) a strict code of conduct for attorneys 
C) limits on appeals in death penalty cases 
D) uniform sentencing guidelines 
E) an automatic appeals process for those convicted of crimes

Question 9

​Differentiate between grand juries and trial juries.How are their functions different?How are they chosen?

Accepted Answer

Grand juries and trial juries serve diff

Question 10

​What is the purpose of the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct?

Accepted Answer

A) ​to hear complaints against judges and determine whether to censure, reprimand, or recommend their removal 
B) ​to impeach judges 
C) ​to disbar judges and attorneys 
D) ​to indict judges for criminal wrongdoing 
E) ​all of these 
A) ​to hear complaints against judges and determine whether to censure, reprimand, or recommend their removal 
B) ​to impeach judges 
C) ​to disbar judges and attorneys 
D) ​to indict judges for criminal wrongdoing 
E) ​all of these

Question 11

The appellate courts in Texas operate without _____.

Accepted Answer

A) presentation of factual evidence in a case 
B) political considerations 
C) juries 
D) arguments of legal counsel 
E) written records 
A) presentation of factual evidence in a case 
B) political considerations 
C) juries 
D) arguments of legal counsel 
E) written records

Question 12

The most publicized advisory opinion issued in recent years by the attorney general dealt with _____.

Accepted Answer

A) abortion 
B) affirmative action 
C) school prayer 
D) eminent domain 
E) campaign finance 
A) abortion 
B) affirmative action 
C) school prayer 
D) eminent domain 
E) campaign finance

Question 13

Discuss classical notionsregarding whether judges should be "politicians in black robes." Explain why,in modern times,these classical notions of judges being "above politics" express an impractical idealism.

Accepted Answer

Classical notions regarding whether judg

Question 14

​State district judges in Texas are selected by _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​single-member district election 
B) ​at-large election 
C) ​statewide election 
D) ​gubernatorial appointment 
E) ​appointment by county judges 
A) ​single-member district election 
B) ​at-large election 
C) ​statewide election 
D) ​gubernatorial appointment 
E) ​appointment by county judges

Question 15

Which of these was a concern in the conviction and execution of Cameron Todd Willingham?

Accepted Answer

A) The conviction was based on "junk science" in the area of arson detection. 
B) The conviction relied on evidence supplied by a jail-house informant who was promised a reduced sentence. 
C) The execution raised questions about whether an innocent man was put to death. 
D) All of these were concerns. 
E) None of these was a concern. 
A) The conviction was based on "junk science" in the area of arson detection. 
B) The conviction relied on evidence supplied by a jail-house informant who was promised a reduced sentence. 
C) The execution raised questions about whether an innocent man was put to death. 
D) All of these were concerns. 
E) None of these was a concern.

Question 16

Which of these courts have no civil jurisdiction and deal mainly with violations of traffic laws?

Accepted Answer

A) municipal courts 
B) justice of the peace courts 
C) county courts at law 
D) constitutional county courts 
E) district courts 
A) municipal courts 
B) justice of the peace courts 
C) county courts at law 
D) constitutional county courts 
E) district courts

Question 17

The structure of Texas's highest appellate courts is unique,as only Texas and Oklahoma organize their courts in this manner.What makes the structure so unusual?

Accepted Answer

A) Cases from district and county courts are combinedinto one appellate system. 
B) The highest appellate jurisdiction is splitbetween two courts, one civil and one criminal. 
C) There is no supreme court. 
D) Appellate judges are appointed. 
E) The courts operate on the same biennial schedule as the legislature. 
A) Cases from district and county courts are combinedinto one appellate system. 
B) The highest appellate jurisdiction is splitbetween two courts, one civil and one criminal. 
C) There is no supreme court. 
D) Appellate judges are appointed. 
E) The courts operate on the same biennial schedule as the legislature.

Question 18

When an accused person enters a plea of guilty after negotiating a lesser charge,it is known as a _____.

Accepted Answer

A) good deal 
B) plea bargain 
C) common plea 
D) raw deal 
E) hung jury 
A) good deal 
B) plea bargain 
C) common plea 
D) raw deal 
E) hung jury

Question 19

In Texas,all judges except municipal judges are _____.

Accepted Answer

A) appointed by the governor 
B) chosen in partisan elections 
C) chosen in nonpartisan elections 
D) elected by the legislature 
E) selected according to a merit plan 
A) appointed by the governor 
B) chosen in partisan elections 
C) chosen in nonpartisan elections 
D) elected by the legislature 
E) selected according to a merit plan

Question 20

Critics of the judicial selection process in Texas argue that _____.

Accepted Answer

A) judges' reliance on campaign contributions compromises their independence 
B) partisan elections permit judges to be corrupted by campaign contributions 
C) public financing of judicial campaigns would help to eliminate the idea that judges are controlled by special interests 
D) all of these 
E) none of these 
A) judges' reliance on campaign contributions compromises their independence 
B) partisan elections permit judges to be corrupted by campaign contributions 
C) public financing of judicial campaigns would help to eliminate the idea that judges are controlled by special interests 
D) all of these 
E) none of these

Some states use nonpartisan elections to choose their judges.What is a nonpartisan election plan?

Which statement is not true regarding justice of the peace courts?

Lower-court trial juries consist of _ members,whereas district court juries consist of _ members.

District and appellate judges in Texas may be removed from office by _____.

Felonies are _,while misdemeanors are _.

The term municipal courts refers to _____.

Explain what is meant by a "two supreme court" system.

The Texas Fair Defense Act attempts to remedy the problem of unequal justice by establishing _____.

Differentiate between grand juries and trial juries.How are their functions different?How are they chosen?

What is the purpose of the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct?

The appellate courts in Texas operate without _____.

The most publicized advisory opinion issued in recent years by the attorney general dealt with _____.

Discuss classical notionsregarding whether judges should be "politicians in black robes." Explain why,in modern times,these classical notions of judges being "above politics" express an impractical idealism.

State district judges in Texas are selected by _____.

Which of these was a concern in the conviction and execution of Cameron Todd Willingham?

Which of these courts have no civil jurisdiction and deal mainly with violations of traffic laws?

The structure of Texas's highest appellate courts is unique,as only Texas and Oklahoma organize their courts in this manner.What makes the structure so unusual?

When an accused person enters a plea of guilty after negotiating a lesser charge,it is known as a _____.

In Texas,all judges except municipal judges are _____.

Critics of the judicial selection process in Texas argue that _____.

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

​Some states use nonpartisan elections to choose their judges.What is a nonpartisan election plan?​

​Which statement is not true regarding justice of the peace courts?

Lower-court trial juries consist of _____ members,whereas district court juries consist of _____ members.

District and appellate judges in Texas may be removed from office by _____.

​Felonies are _____,while misdemeanors are _____.

​The term municipal courts refers to _____.

​Explain what is meant by a "two supreme court" system.

The Texas Fair Defense Act attempts to remedy the problem of unequal justice by establishing _____.

​Differentiate between grand juries and trial juries.How are their functions different?How are they chosen?

​What is the purpose of the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct?

The appellate courts in Texas operate without _____.

The most publicized advisory opinion issued in recent years by the attorney general dealt with _____.

Discuss classical notionsregarding whether judges should be "politicians in black robes." Explain why,in modern times,these classical notions of judges being "above politics" express an impractical idealism.

​State district judges in Texas are selected by _____.

Which of these was a concern in the conviction and execution of Cameron Todd Willingham?

Which of these courts have no civil jurisdiction and deal mainly with violations of traffic laws?

The structure of Texas's highest appellate courts is unique,as only Texas and Oklahoma organize their courts in this manner.What makes the structure so unusual?

When an accused person enters a plea of guilty after negotiating a lesser charge,it is known as a _____.

In Texas,all judges except municipal judges are _____.

Critics of the judicial selection process in Texas argue that _____.

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

Some states use nonpartisan elections to choose their judges.What is a nonpartisan election plan?

Which statement is not true regarding justice of the peace courts?

Lower-court trial juries consist of _ members,whereas district court juries consist of _ members.

Felonies are _,while misdemeanors are _.

The term municipal courts refers to _____.

Explain what is meant by a "two supreme court" system.

Differentiate between grand juries and trial juries.How are their functions different?How are they chosen?

What is the purpose of the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct?

State district judges in Texas are selected by _____.