Question 1

In what way does the district attorney exercise considerable power in the criminal justice process?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because DAs are appointed by the governor, their work in the criminal justice system can be an extension of the governor's policy on crime. 
B)  The DA can postpone a criminal trial indefinitely at any time until the state can bring enough evidence to get a conviction. 
C)  The DA decides which cases to take to a grand jury for an indictment and whether to seek the maximum penalty for an offense. 
D)  Not only does the DA prosecute felonies, but they are also in charge of the state prisons within their district. 
E)  The DA can overrule a criminal case from a lower county court without it being appealed to the district court. 
A)  Because DAs are appointed by the governor, their work in the criminal justice system can be an extension of the governor's policy on crime. 
B)  The DA can postpone a criminal trial indefinitely at any time until the state can bring enough evidence to get a conviction. 
C)  The DA decides which cases to take to a grand jury for an indictment and whether to seek the maximum penalty for an offense. 
D)  Not only does the DA prosecute felonies, but they are also in charge of the state prisons within their district. 
E)  The DA can overrule a criminal case from a lower county court without it being appealed to the district court. C

Question 2

Cases reach the Texas Supreme Court primarily on

Accepted Answer

A)  petitions for review. 
B)  writs of mandamus. 
C)  petitions for acceptance. 
D)  writs of certiorari. 
E)  de novo writs. 
A)  petitions for review. 
B)  writs of mandamus. 
C)  petitions for acceptance. 
D)  writs of certiorari. 
E)  de novo writs. A

Question 3

In 1994, the Texas Supreme Court held that parents

Accepted Answer

A)  can educate their children at home. 
B)  must educate their children in either public or private schools. 
C)  are not required to educate their children. 
D)  are required to comply with all state public education rules. 
E)  committed a misdemeanor when they took their children out of school. 
A)  can educate their children at home. 
B)  must educate their children in either public or private schools. 
C)  are not required to educate their children. 
D)  are required to comply with all state public education rules. 
E)  committed a misdemeanor when they took their children out of school. A

Question 4

Most judges in Texas are

Accepted Answer

A)  appellate court justices. 
B)  justices of the peace. 
C)  county court justices. 
D)  district court justices. 
E)  municipal court justices. 
A)  appellate court justices. 
B)  justices of the peace. 
C)  county court justices. 
D)  district court justices. 
E)  municipal court justices.

Question 5

What effect did League of United Latin American Citizens et al.v.Mattox et al.have on the Texas judicial system?

Accepted Answer

A)  It resulted in a change in the selection process for district judges when the Fifth Circuit Court found that elections for the district could no longer be held countywide. 
B)  Though the case did not change the judicial system, the court did note that minority voting power is diluted in countywide elections and that it is an issue that must be addressed in the future. 
C)  Though the case was defeated in 1994, its five-year struggle led to more people advocating for different elections, and in 2000 through legislation, the goals of this case were achieved. 
D)  It resulted in sweeping changes to the selection process for district judges, but since the changes were implemented in 1994, they have failed to provide increased minority representation within the judiciary. 
E)  It changed nothing as partition affiliation was considered a more significant factor than ethnicity on judicial elections after five years of the case being argued, but it exposed the importance of the issue. 
A)  It resulted in a change in the selection process for district judges when the Fifth Circuit Court found that elections for the district could no longer be held countywide. 
B)  Though the case did not change the judicial system, the court did note that minority voting power is diluted in countywide elections and that it is an issue that must be addressed in the future. 
C)  Though the case was defeated in 1994, its five-year struggle led to more people advocating for different elections, and in 2000 through legislation, the goals of this case were achieved. 
D)  It resulted in sweeping changes to the selection process for district judges, but since the changes were implemented in 1994, they have failed to provide increased minority representation within the judiciary. 
E)  It changed nothing as partition affiliation was considered a more significant factor than ethnicity on judicial elections after five years of the case being argued, but it exposed the importance of the issue.

Question 6

A panel that reviews evidence submitted by prosecutors to determine whether to indict an individual with a criminal offense is called a grand jury.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Grand juries

Accepted Answer

A)  are each made up of twelve people selected by a district judge. 
B)  tend to over represent minority interests. 
C)  must issue an indictment or lower the charge to a misdemeanor. 
D)  must meet in public with an attorney present for the accused. 
E)  must have a unanimous decision in order to indict a defendant. 
A)  are each made up of twelve people selected by a district judge. 
B)  tend to over represent minority interests. 
C)  must issue an indictment or lower the charge to a misdemeanor. 
D)  must meet in public with an attorney present for the accused. 
E)  must have a unanimous decision in order to indict a defendant.

Question 8

Under both the U.S.and Texas Constitutions, a person charged with a crime is presumed

Accepted Answer

A)  guilty until proven innocent by an appointed attorney. 
B)  innocent until the state can prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to a judge or jury. 
C)  innocent until the state can prove reasonable guilt to a judge or jury. 
D)  guilty until the defendant convinces a jury of innocence beyond a shadow of doubt. 
E)  innocent until the federal government can prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 
A)  guilty until proven innocent by an appointed attorney. 
B)  innocent until the state can prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to a judge or jury. 
C)  innocent until the state can prove reasonable guilt to a judge or jury. 
D)  guilty until the defendant convinces a jury of innocence beyond a shadow of doubt. 
E)  innocent until the federal government can prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Question 9

Briefly discuss how large campaign contributions can potentially negatively influence the judicial system.What steps have been taken to remove their influence?

Accepted Answer

Large campaign contributions can potenti

Question 10

At the highest appellate level, Texas has a bifurcated court system that sends criminal and civil cases to the same court.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Chief Justice Hill resigned from the Texas Supreme Court to lobby for changing the method of selecting judges in Texas.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Why did the U.S.Supreme Court halt executions in all states in 1972?

Accepted Answer

A)  Capital punishment was halted for three months as the Supreme Court investigated the legality of it when the U.S. signed a UN humanitarian charter the same year. 
B)  It declared capital punishment unconstitutional as it violated the constitutional prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment because it could be applied in a discriminatory fashion. 
C)  Earlier that year, Congress had passed legislation banning the death penalty, and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld it following a lengthy court battle. 
D)  A five-month moratorium was placed on the death penalty after it was revealed that in the previous year fifty-six people were wrongly executed following the discovery of new evidence 
E)  It declared that several execution methods were cruel and unjust, and banned the death penalty until lethal injection was introduced in all states that had capital punishment. 
A)  Capital punishment was halted for three months as the Supreme Court investigated the legality of it when the U.S. signed a UN humanitarian charter the same year. 
B)  It declared capital punishment unconstitutional as it violated the constitutional prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment because it could be applied in a discriminatory fashion. 
C)  Earlier that year, Congress had passed legislation banning the death penalty, and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld it following a lengthy court battle. 
D)  A five-month moratorium was placed on the death penalty after it was revealed that in the previous year fifty-six people were wrongly executed following the discovery of new evidence 
E)  It declared that several execution methods were cruel and unjust, and banned the death penalty until lethal injection was introduced in all states that had capital punishment.

Question 13

The federal judiciary has ordered sweeping improvements in

Accepted Answer

A)  the state highway system. 
B)  the allocation of state holidays. 
C)  the state prison system. 
D)  the state constitution. 
E)  the state environmental agency. 
A)  the state highway system. 
B)  the allocation of state holidays. 
C)  the state prison system. 
D)  the state constitution. 
E)  the state environmental agency.

Question 14

The primary trial court in Texas is the county court.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Civil lawsuits involve conflict

Accepted Answer

A)  where a misdemeanor has been committed. 
B)  where a felony has been committed. 
C)  between two or more parties. 
D)  between the accused and the state. 
E)  between married persons. 
A)  where a misdemeanor has been committed. 
B)  where a felony has been committed. 
C)  between two or more parties. 
D)  between the accused and the state. 
E)  between married persons.

Question 16

Justice of the peace courts

Accepted Answer

A)  have original civil jurisdiction, de novo criminal jurisdiction, and serve as small claims courts. 
B)  have original criminal jurisdiction but not civil jurisdiction, and serve as coroners. 
C)  function as small claims courts, serve as coroners, and have de novo jurisdiction. 
D)  have original civil and criminal jurisdiction, and function as small claims courts. 
E)  serve as coroners, function as small claims courts, but have no other jurisdiction. 
A)  have original civil jurisdiction, de novo criminal jurisdiction, and serve as small claims courts. 
B)  have original criminal jurisdiction but not civil jurisdiction, and serve as coroners. 
C)  function as small claims courts, serve as coroners, and have de novo jurisdiction. 
D)  have original civil and criminal jurisdiction, and function as small claims courts. 
E)  serve as coroners, function as small claims courts, but have no other jurisdiction.

Question 17

The authority of a court to try or resolve a civil lawsuit or a felony prosecution being heard for the first time is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  appellate jurisdiction. 
B)  original jurisdiction. 
C)  supreme jurisdiction. 
D)  bifurcated jurisdiction. 
E)  de novo jurisdiction. 
A)  appellate jurisdiction. 
B)  original jurisdiction. 
C)  supreme jurisdiction. 
D)  bifurcated jurisdiction. 
E)  de novo jurisdiction.

Question 18

________ is considered the most serious crime in Texas.

Accepted Answer

A)  Capital murder 
B)  Murder one 
C)  First-degree murder 
D)  Capital rape 
E)  Capital manslaughter 
A)  Capital murder 
B)  Murder one 
C)  First-degree murder 
D)  Capital rape 
E)  Capital manslaughter

Question 19

The state judiciary has traditionally had more influence than the federal courts in shaping public policy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The Texas ________ must try to balance the constitutional rights of convicts against the public welfare.

Accepted Answer

A)  Court of Appeals 
B)  Court of Criminal Appeals 
C)  Supreme Court 
D)  district courts 
E)  state courts 
A)  Court of Appeals 
B)  Court of Criminal Appeals 
C)  Supreme Court 
D)  district courts 
E)  state courts

In what way does the district attorney exercise considerable power in the criminal justice process?

Cases reach the Texas Supreme Court primarily on

In 1994, the Texas Supreme Court held that parents

Most judges in Texas are

What effect did League of United Latin American Citizens et al.v.Mattox et al.have on the Texas judicial system?

A panel that reviews evidence submitted by prosecutors to determine whether to indict an individual with a criminal offense is called a grand jury.

Grand juries

Under both the U.S.and Texas Constitutions, a person charged with a crime is presumed

Briefly discuss how large campaign contributions can potentially negatively influence the judicial system.What steps have been taken to remove their influence?

At the highest appellate level, Texas has a bifurcated court system that sends criminal and civil cases to the same court.

Chief Justice Hill resigned from the Texas Supreme Court to lobby for changing the method of selecting judges in Texas.

Why did the U.S.Supreme Court halt executions in all states in 1972?

The federal judiciary has ordered sweeping improvements in

The primary trial court in Texas is the county court.

Civil lawsuits involve conflict

Justice of the peace courts

The authority of a court to try or resolve a civil lawsuit or a felony prosecution being heard for the first time is known as

________ is considered the most serious crime in Texas.

The state judiciary has traditionally had more influence than the federal courts in shaping public policy.

The Texas ________ must try to balance the constitutional rights of convicts against the public welfare.

The social and economic milieu of texas politics

The texas constitution

Intergovernmental relationships

Interest groups and political power in texas

The mass media in texas politics

The party system in

Elections, campaigns, and political behavior

The texas legislature

The texas executive

The bureaucracy and policy implementation

Local government in texas: cities, towns, counties, and special districts

Contemporary public policy issues in texas

Filters

Exam 11: The judicial system in texas

In what way does the district attorney exercise considerable power in the criminal justice process?

Cases reach the Texas Supreme Court primarily on

In 1994, the Texas Supreme Court held that parents

Most judges in Texas are

What effect did League of United Latin American Citizens et al.v.Mattox et al.have on the Texas judicial system?

A panel that reviews evidence submitted by prosecutors to determine whether to indict an individual with a criminal offense is called a grand jury.

Grand juries

Under both the U.S.and Texas Constitutions, a person charged with a crime is presumed

Briefly discuss how large campaign contributions can potentially negatively influence the judicial system.What steps have been taken to remove their influence?

At the highest appellate level, Texas has a bifurcated court system that sends criminal and civil cases to the same court.

Chief Justice Hill resigned from the Texas Supreme Court to lobby for changing the method of selecting judges in Texas.

Why did the U.S.Supreme Court halt executions in all states in 1972?

The federal judiciary has ordered sweeping improvements in

The primary trial court in Texas is the county court.

Civil lawsuits involve conflict

Justice of the peace courts

The authority of a court to try or resolve a civil lawsuit or a felony prosecution being heard for the first time is known as

________ is considered the most serious crime in Texas.

The state judiciary has traditionally had more influence than the federal courts in shaping public policy.

The Texas ________ must try to balance the constitutional rights of convicts against the public welfare.

The social and economic milieu of texas politics

The texas constitution

Intergovernmental relationships

Interest groups and political power in texas

The mass media in texas politics

The party system in

Elections, campaigns, and political behavior

The texas legislature

The texas executive

The bureaucracy and policy implementation

Local government in texas: cities, towns, counties, and special districts

Contemporary public policy issues in texas

Filters