Question 1

In a criminal case, when a jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict and the judge must declare a mistrial,

Accepted Answer

A)  the prosecution has to seek a new trial with another jury or drop the charges. 
B)  the case is automatically dropped and the defendant is released. 
C)  the jury is relived of its duty and the judge continues to hear the case alone. 
D)  the case then proceeds to an appellate level court. 
E)  the case is put on hold for two months to allow the prosecution to gather new evidence. 
A)  the prosecution has to seek a new trial with another jury or drop the charges. 
B)  the case is automatically dropped and the defendant is released. 
C)  the jury is relived of its duty and the judge continues to hear the case alone. 
D)  the case then proceeds to an appellate level court. 
E)  the case is put on hold for two months to allow the prosecution to gather new evidence.

Question 2

Some courts have only original jurisdiction, meaning they can only try cases heard for the second time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Describe the jury system in Texas.Include the types of juries, their duties, and requirements for eligibility.

Accepted Answer

The jury system in Texas consists of two

Question 4

More than ________ of all litigation is based on state laws or local ordinances.

Accepted Answer

A)  95 percent 
B)  85 percent 
C)  75 percent 
D)  65 percent 
E)  55 percent 
A)  95 percent 
B)  85 percent 
C)  75 percent 
D)  65 percent 
E)  55 percent

Question 5

Civil lawsuits, which can be brought under numerous statutes, involve conflicts between two or more parties.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Why did Supreme Court Chief Justice John L.Hill resign from the court in 1988?

Accepted Answer

A)  After placing the critical vote that declared a recent health care law unconstitutional, the Senate sought to remove Hill, but he preempted them by resigning. 
B)  He resigned in a sign of protest at the sanctioning of fellow justices Ray and Kilgarlin, who Hill believed to be innocent. 
C)  He sought to lobby as a private citizen for merit selection of judges, which the legislature had previously ignored. 
D)  He was dismayed by the court's propensity for conservative activism and felt that he had little power within the Supreme Court. 
E)  The legislature was planning to vote on campaign finance limits for the judicial branch and, in a sign of protest at the legislature expanding its powers, resigned to launch a civil suit. 
A)  After placing the critical vote that declared a recent health care law unconstitutional, the Senate sought to remove Hill, but he preempted them by resigning. 
B)  He resigned in a sign of protest at the sanctioning of fellow justices Ray and Kilgarlin, who Hill believed to be innocent. 
C)  He sought to lobby as a private citizen for merit selection of judges, which the legislature had previously ignored. 
D)  He was dismayed by the court's propensity for conservative activism and felt that he had little power within the Supreme Court. 
E)  The legislature was planning to vote on campaign finance limits for the judicial branch and, in a sign of protest at the legislature expanding its powers, resigned to launch a civil suit.

Question 7

What was the result of the Texas Supreme Court ruling in the 1989 Edgewood school case?

Accepted Answer

A)  It ordered basic changes in the financing of public K-12 education in order to provide more equity between rich and poor school districts. 
B)  It ruled that the then existing school finance law was legal and valid, as it upheld the constitutional requirement for an efficient education system. 
C)  It ordered an increase in hiring of minorities through a quota system that would allow for greater diversity among school staff. 
D)  It ruled that public K-12 schools could no longer allow prayer or discussion of religion in a classroom as it violated the principle of separation of church and state. 
E)  It ordered that all classrooms in public K-12 schools must have flags of both the United States and Texas on display and that the Pledge of Allegiance be recited every day. 
A)  It ordered basic changes in the financing of public K-12 education in order to provide more equity between rich and poor school districts. 
B)  It ruled that the then existing school finance law was legal and valid, as it upheld the constitutional requirement for an efficient education system. 
C)  It ordered an increase in hiring of minorities through a quota system that would allow for greater diversity among school staff. 
D)  It ruled that public K-12 schools could no longer allow prayer or discussion of religion in a classroom as it violated the principle of separation of church and state. 
E)  It ordered that all classrooms in public K-12 schools must have flags of both the United States and Texas on display and that the Pledge of Allegiance be recited every day.

Question 8

The Texas Supreme Court is the court of last resort for all cases in the state of Texas.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

A 1999 study suggested that business-related litigants had been the big winners in cases before the Texas Supreme Court during the previous four years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The Court of Criminal Appeals

Accepted Answer

A)  hears both criminal and civil cases. 
B)  has fifteen justices. 
C)  hears only criminal cases. 
D)  hears only civil cases. 
E)  has only three justices. 
A)  hears both criminal and civil cases. 
B)  has fifteen justices. 
C)  hears only criminal cases. 
D)  hears only civil cases. 
E)  has only three justices.

Question 11

People accused of ________ may not waive their right to a jury trial, even if they believe it would be to their advantage to have their case decided by a judge.

Accepted Answer

A)  sexual assault or rape 
B)  kidnapping 
C)  capital murder 
D)  treason 
E)  manslaughter 
A)  sexual assault or rape 
B)  kidnapping 
C)  capital murder 
D)  treason 
E)  manslaughter

Question 12

Legislation enacted in 1987 aimed at bringing about tort reform attempted

Accepted Answer

A)  to put some limits on personal injury lawsuits and damage judgments entered by the courts. 
B)  to place limits on campaign contributions that could be donated to judges by corporations. 
C)  to put limits on the number of years a judge could serve in a particular court. 
D)  to place some limits on noncustodial penalties facing those convicted of nonviolent crime. 
E)  to increase the amount of transparency concerning the appointment of judges in district courts. 
A)  to put some limits on personal injury lawsuits and damage judgments entered by the courts. 
B)  to place limits on campaign contributions that could be donated to judges by corporations. 
C)  to put limits on the number of years a judge could serve in a particular court. 
D)  to place some limits on noncustodial penalties facing those convicted of nonviolent crime. 
E)  to increase the amount of transparency concerning the appointment of judges in district courts.

Question 13

Briefly outline the structure of the Texas judicial system.Where are there overlapping jurisdictions?

Accepted Answer

The Texas judicial system is structured

Question 14

The Texas judiciary, particularly in urban areas, has become overloaded by

Accepted Answer

A)  civil cases. 
B)  criminal cases. 
C)  both civil and criminal cases equally. 
D)  cases tried de novo. 
E)  appellate cases. 
A)  civil cases. 
B)  criminal cases. 
C)  both civil and criminal cases equally. 
D)  cases tried de novo. 
E)  appellate cases.

Question 15

When a case reaches an appellate court, it is

Accepted Answer

A)  brought before a judge and jury where it is then handled in the same way that the lower court handled the case. 
B)  reviewed by a council of judges who in consultation with the lower court judge decide the case based on the consensus of liberal and conservative judges. 
C)  brought before a judge and jury; the jury does not decide whether a person is guilty but provides an opinion to help the judge decide. 
D)  reviewed by a judge who examines the procedures of the lower courts and then starts a de novo trial. 
E)  reviewed by a judge who determines if the lower courts conformed to constitutional and statutory law. 
A)  brought before a judge and jury where it is then handled in the same way that the lower court handled the case. 
B)  reviewed by a council of judges who in consultation with the lower court judge decide the case based on the consensus of liberal and conservative judges. 
C)  brought before a judge and jury; the jury does not decide whether a person is guilty but provides an opinion to help the judge decide. 
D)  reviewed by a judge who examines the procedures of the lower courts and then starts a de novo trial. 
E)  reviewed by a judge who determines if the lower courts conformed to constitutional and statutory law.

Question 16

Why did Texas create constitutional county courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  They were created to deal with constitutional issues that affected state government and persons at the county level. 
B)  They were created by the legislature over the years to supplement the statutory county courts, in the process assuming responsibility over criminal cases. 
C)  They were created by the Texas Constitution to serve the needs of the sparsely populated rural society that existed in Texas then. 
D)  They were created by legislative order in 1954 to relieve the pressure from justice of the peace and municipal courts that had become overburdened with cases. 
E)  They were created to provide a judicial branch at the county level in every county when Texas reorganized its counties in the early 1900s. 
A)  They were created to deal with constitutional issues that affected state government and persons at the county level. 
B)  They were created by the legislature over the years to supplement the statutory county courts, in the process assuming responsibility over criminal cases. 
C)  They were created by the Texas Constitution to serve the needs of the sparsely populated rural society that existed in Texas then. 
D)  They were created by legislative order in 1954 to relieve the pressure from justice of the peace and municipal courts that had become overburdened with cases. 
E)  They were created to provide a judicial branch at the county level in every county when Texas reorganized its counties in the early 1900s.

Question 17

________ typically handle cases concerning things such as traffic tickets.

Accepted Answer

A)  The county court-at-law and municipal courts 
B)  Municipal and statutory county courts 
C)  Justice of the peace and municipal courts 
D)  Constitutional and statutory courts 
E)  Justice of the peace and district courts 
A)  The county court-at-law and municipal courts 
B)  Municipal and statutory county courts 
C)  Justice of the peace and municipal courts 
D)  Constitutional and statutory courts 
E)  Justice of the peace and district courts

Question 18

How do federal courts have a major effect on Texas government policies and criminal justice?

Accepted Answer

Federal courts have a significant impact

Question 19

A plea bargain results when the defendant negotiates

Accepted Answer

A)  a reduction in his sentence with his defense attorneys. 
B)  directly with the judge in the case. 
C)  a reduction in his sentence with the prosecutors. 
D)  a reduction in his sentence with the Texas Supreme Court. 
E)  a reduction in his sentence with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. 
A)  a reduction in his sentence with his defense attorneys. 
B)  directly with the judge in the case. 
C)  a reduction in his sentence with the prosecutors. 
D)  a reduction in his sentence with the Texas Supreme Court. 
E)  a reduction in his sentence with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Question 20

Throughout much of its history, the Texas ________ has been accused of excessive concern for legal technicalities that benefit convicted criminals.

Accepted Answer

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

In a criminal case, when a jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict and the judge must declare a mistrial,

Some courts have only original jurisdiction, meaning they can only try cases heard for the second time.

Describe the jury system in Texas.Include the types of juries, their duties, and requirements for eligibility.

More than ________ of all litigation is based on state laws or local ordinances.

Civil lawsuits, which can be brought under numerous statutes, involve conflicts between two or more parties.

Why did Supreme Court Chief Justice John L.Hill resign from the court in 1988?

What was the result of the Texas Supreme Court ruling in the 1989 Edgewood school case?

The Texas Supreme Court is the court of last resort for all cases in the state of Texas.

A 1999 study suggested that business-related litigants had been the big winners in cases before the Texas Supreme Court during the previous four years.

The Court of Criminal Appeals

People accused of ________ may not waive their right to a jury trial, even if they believe it would be to their advantage to have their case decided by a judge.

Legislation enacted in 1987 aimed at bringing about tort reform attempted

Briefly outline the structure of the Texas judicial system.Where are there overlapping jurisdictions?

The Texas judiciary, particularly in urban areas, has become overloaded by

When a case reaches an appellate court, it is

Why did Texas create constitutional county courts?

________ typically handle cases concerning things such as traffic tickets.

How do federal courts have a major effect on Texas government policies and criminal justice?

A plea bargain results when the defendant negotiates

Throughout much of its history, the Texas ________ has been accused of excessive concern for legal technicalities that benefit convicted criminals.

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 a criminal case, when a jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict and the judge must declare a mistrial,

Some courts have only original jurisdiction, meaning they can only try cases heard for the second time.

Describe the jury system in Texas.Include the types of juries, their duties, and requirements for eligibility.

More than ________ of all litigation is based on state laws or local ordinances.

Civil lawsuits, which can be brought under numerous statutes, involve conflicts between two or more parties.

Why did Supreme Court Chief Justice John L.Hill resign from the court in 1988?

What was the result of the Texas Supreme Court ruling in the 1989 Edgewood school case?

The Texas Supreme Court is the court of last resort for all cases in the state of Texas.

A 1999 study suggested that business-related litigants had been the big winners in cases before the Texas Supreme Court during the previous four years.

The Court of Criminal Appeals

People accused of ________ may not waive their right to a jury trial, even if they believe it would be to their advantage to have their case decided by a judge.

Legislation enacted in 1987 aimed at bringing about tort reform attempted

Briefly outline the structure of the Texas judicial system.Where are there overlapping jurisdictions?

The Texas judiciary, particularly in urban areas, has become overloaded by

When a case reaches an appellate court, it is

Why did Texas create constitutional county courts?

________ typically handle cases concerning things such as traffic tickets.

How do federal courts have a major effect on Texas government policies and criminal justice?

A plea bargain results when the defendant negotiates

Throughout much of its history, the Texas ________ has been accused of excessive concern for legal technicalities that benefit convicted criminals.

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