Question 1

If you violate a city ordinance in Texas, which type of court would most likely hear your case?

Accepted Answer

A)  a district court 
B)  a municipal court 
C)  a county court 
D)  a court of appeals 
E)  a justice of the peace court 
A)  a district court 
B)  a municipal court 
C)  a county court 
D)  a court of appeals 
E)  a justice of the peace court

Question 2

Describe the organization of the judicial branch in the state of Texas. What are the different kinds of courts in Texas and what are their specific functions? What makes the top appellate court(s) in Texas so different from that of the United States?

Accepted Answer

The judicial branch in the state of Texa

Question 3

The Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act

Accepted Answer

A)  limits the amount of campaign contributions a judicial candidate can receive from an individual donor. 
B)  compels judges to recuse themselves from any case involving someone who has contributed money to their campaigns. 
C)  restricts judicial advertising to radio and television ads. 
D)  forbids law firms or corporations from making donations. 
E)  allows individuals to donate as much money as they can to judicial candidates. 
A)  limits the amount of campaign contributions a judicial candidate can receive from an individual donor. 
B)  compels judges to recuse themselves from any case involving someone who has contributed money to their campaigns. 
C)  restricts judicial advertising to radio and television ads. 
D)  forbids law firms or corporations from making donations. 
E)  allows individuals to donate as much money as they can to judicial candidates.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about retention elections is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas currently uses retention elections for municipal court judges and justices of the peace. 
B)  A retention election requires at least one non-incumbent in the race. 
C)  A proposal for retention elections in the mid-1990s failed to pass. 
D)  In retention elections, judges are voted on by the Texas Senate. 
E)  In retention elections, judges must run against another judge from a different district. 
A)  Texas currently uses retention elections for municipal court judges and justices of the peace. 
B)  A retention election requires at least one non-incumbent in the race. 
C)  A proposal for retention elections in the mid-1990s failed to pass. 
D)  In retention elections, judges are voted on by the Texas Senate. 
E)  In retention elections, judges must run against another judge from a different district.

Question 5

Explain the method by which judges in Texas are selected. What is the most important factor in judicial elections in Texas? Why are judicial elections in Texas so often criticized?

Accepted Answer

In Texas, judges are selected through a

Question 6

Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

What is the standard of proof used for civil cases in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  The defendant must be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 
B)  The plaintiff must meet the preponderance of evidence. 
C)  The defendant must prove a reasonable chance of innocence. 
D)  The defendant must have contributed more to the judge's campaign than the plaintiff. 
E)  The plaintiff must meet the standard of reasonable doubt. 
A)  The defendant must be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 
B)  The plaintiff must meet the preponderance of evidence. 
C)  The defendant must prove a reasonable chance of innocence. 
D)  The defendant must have contributed more to the judge's campaign than the plaintiff. 
E)  The plaintiff must meet the standard of reasonable doubt.

Question 8

In Texas, trial lawyers tend to support

Accepted Answer

A)  Democratic judicial candidates. 
B)  Republican judicial candidates. 
C)  anti-death penalty judicial candidates. 
D)  pro-business judicial candidates. 
E)  pro-death penalty judicial candidates. 
A)  Democratic judicial candidates. 
B)  Republican judicial candidates. 
C)  anti-death penalty judicial candidates. 
D)  pro-business judicial candidates. 
E)  pro-death penalty judicial candidates.

Question 9

Why is it difficult for voters to learn about judicial candidates in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  Judicial candidates, by law, are prevented from actively campaigning for office. 
B)  Most judicial candidates fill their campaign literature with arcane legal analysis. 
C)  Voters are called upon to vote for too many different judicial races in a single election. 
D)  Most voters never go to court, so they have little knowledge upon which to base their decisions. 
E)  Judicial candidates do very little campaigning. 
A)  Judicial candidates, by law, are prevented from actively campaigning for office. 
B)  Most judicial candidates fill their campaign literature with arcane legal analysis. 
C)  Voters are called upon to vote for too many different judicial races in a single election. 
D)  Most voters never go to court, so they have little knowledge upon which to base their decisions. 
E)  Judicial candidates do very little campaigning.

Question 10

A(n) ______ case is one that calls for the death penalty.

Accepted Answer

A)  Eighth Amendment 
B)  probate 
C)  exclusionary 
D)  capital 
E)  statutory 
A)  Eighth Amendment 
B)  probate 
C)  exclusionary 
D)  capital 
E)  statutory

Question 11

The most common route to a criminal conviction is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  bench trial. 
B)  jury trial. 
C)  plea bargain between the defendant and the state. 
D)  indictment from a grand jury. 
E)  plea bargain between the defendant and the plaintiff. 
A)  bench trial. 
B)  jury trial. 
C)  plea bargain between the defendant and the state. 
D)  indictment from a grand jury. 
E)  plea bargain between the defendant and the plaintiff.

Question 12

Statutory probate courts are designed to

Accepted Answer

A)  assist in issues concerning the dispersion of property of deceased persons. 
B)  try civil cases involving real estate disputes. 
C)  speed up adjudication on matters relating to personal bankruptcy. 
D)  try criminal cases for those violating probation. 
E)  assist in issues concerning child-custody cases. 
A)  assist in issues concerning the dispersion of property of deceased persons. 
B)  try civil cases involving real estate disputes. 
C)  speed up adjudication on matters relating to personal bankruptcy. 
D)  try criminal cases for those violating probation. 
E)  assist in issues concerning child-custody cases.

Question 13

Which of the following is not an explanation for why Texas has one of the most controversial death penalty systems in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  Almost no death penalty case has been overturned by the court of criminal appeals. 
B)  The court-appointed lawyers whom the state provides to defendants have often been subpar. 
C)  There are racial and ethnic disparities in who receives the death penalty and who does not. 
D)  Texas has led the nation in the number of executions since 1976. 
E)  Since 1977, the electric chair has been the means for execution in Texas. 
A)  Almost no death penalty case has been overturned by the court of criminal appeals. 
B)  The court-appointed lawyers whom the state provides to defendants have often been subpar. 
C)  There are racial and ethnic disparities in who receives the death penalty and who does not. 
D)  Texas has led the nation in the number of executions since 1976. 
E)  Since 1977, the electric chair has been the means for execution in Texas.

Question 14

Justice of the peace courts handle which kind of disputes?

Accepted Answer

A)  small claims 
B)  felonies 
C)  city ordinance violations 
D)  bankruptcy cases 
E)  disposition of property of deceased persons 
A)  small claims 
B)  felonies 
C)  city ordinance violations 
D)  bankruptcy cases 
E)  disposition of property of deceased persons

Question 15

Disputes between private individuals over their relationships, responsibilities, and obligations are the topic of

Accepted Answer

A)  criminal law. 
B)  civil law. 
C)  statutory law. 
D)  ordinances. 
E)  contract law. 
A)  criminal law. 
B)  civil law. 
C)  statutory law. 
D)  ordinances. 
E)  contract law.

Exam 25: The Texas Judiciary

If you violate a city ordinance in Texas, which type of court would most likely hear your case?

Describe the organization of the judicial branch in the state of Texas. What are the different kinds of courts in Texas and what are their specific functions? What makes the top appellate court(s) in Texas so different from that of the United States?

The Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act

Which of the following statements about retention elections is correct?

Explain the method by which judges in Texas are selected. What is the most important factor in judicial elections in Texas? Why are judicial elections in Texas so often criticized?

Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan.

What is the standard of proof used for civil cases in Texas?

In Texas, trial lawyers tend to support

Why is it difficult for voters to learn about judicial candidates in Texas?

A(n) ______ case is one that calls for the death penalty.

The most common route to a criminal conviction is a(n)

Statutory probate courts are designed to

Which of the following is not an explanation for why Texas has one of the most controversial death penalty systems in the United States?

Justice of the peace courts handle which kind of disputes?

Disputes between private individuals over their relationships, responsibilities, and obligations are the topic of

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