Question 1

The Texas Supreme Court and the court of criminal appeals have appellate jurisdiction.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

Which court in Texas has automatic jurisdiction over all death penalty cases?

Accepted Answer

A)  the court of criminal appeals 
B)  the supreme court 
C)  the district court 
D)  the justice of the peace court 
E)  the court of civil appeals 
A)  the court of criminal appeals 
B)  the supreme court 
C)  the district court 
D)  the justice of the peace court 
E)  the court of civil appeals A

Question 3

Approximately ______ of Texas appellate judges are women.

Accepted Answer

A)  15 percent 
B)  20 percent 
C)  40 percent 
D)  53 percent 
E)  67 percent 
A)  15 percent 
B)  20 percent 
C)  40 percent 
D)  53 percent 
E)  67 percent C

Question 4

Approximately how many justice of the peace courts exist in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  4 
B)  175 
C)  500 
D)  800 
E)  2,000 
A)  4 
B)  175 
C)  500 
D)  800 
E)  2,000

Question 5

In 1996, the voters of Texas chose to adopt the merit selection of judges.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following substitutes was not presented as an alternative means of judicial selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  increased levels of experience to serve on the bench 
B)  an appoint-elect-retain process 
C)  appellate vacancies filled by gubernatorial appointment with senatorial confirmation, followed by nonpartisan and retention elections 
D)  merit selection 
E)  open primary elections followed by general nonpartisan retention elections 
A)  increased levels of experience to serve on the bench 
B)  an appoint-elect-retain process 
C)  appellate vacancies filled by gubernatorial appointment with senatorial confirmation, followed by nonpartisan and retention elections 
D)  merit selection 
E)  open primary elections followed by general nonpartisan retention elections

Question 7

According to a recent increase in campaign contribution limitations, in what situation must a judge recuse himself or herself from a case?

Accepted Answer

A)  in situations in which a judge receives campaign contributions from a party to a lawsuit 
B)  in situations in which a relative of the accused party has contributed to the judge's campaign 
C)  in situations in which judges have been at campaign fund-raisers with the party to a lawsuit 
D)  in situations in which the lawyer has been involved in fund-raising with the party to a lawsuit 
E)  in situations in which a judge receives campaign contributions from a party's lawyer 
A)  in situations in which a judge receives campaign contributions from a party to a lawsuit 
B)  in situations in which a relative of the accused party has contributed to the judge's campaign 
C)  in situations in which judges have been at campaign fund-raisers with the party to a lawsuit 
D)  in situations in which the lawyer has been involved in fund-raising with the party to a lawsuit 
E)  in situations in which a judge receives campaign contributions from a party's lawyer

Question 8

Which judicial candidate race is considered the most expensive, where candidates are likely to raise over $1 million?

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas Supreme Court 
B)  Texas court of criminal appeals 
C)  Texas appellate courts 
D)  Texas district courts 
E)  Texas justice of the peace courts 
A)  Texas Supreme Court 
B)  Texas court of criminal appeals 
C)  Texas appellate courts 
D)  Texas district courts 
E)  Texas justice of the peace courts

Question 9

Reformers that have suggested lengthening judicial terms of office can explain that this action may create which of the following results?

Accepted Answer

A)  more election contests 
B)  more need for campaign money 
C)  less of a chance for defeat of incumbents 
D)  more involvement of judges in politics 
E)  less need for top-of-the-ticket voting 
A)  more election contests 
B)  more need for campaign money 
C)  less of a chance for defeat of incumbents 
D)  more involvement of judges in politics 
E)  less need for top-of-the-ticket voting

Question 10

What was the ruling of the Fifth Circuit federal court of appeals in 1993 in the case of League of United Latin American Citizens v. Mattox?

Accepted Answer

A)  Inability to raise appropriate funds caused the lack of minority representation in judicial elections. 
B)  Party affiliation of minority candidates explained the failure or success in judicial elections. 
C)  Minority status explained the lack of ability to succeed in judicial elections; therefore, the Texas selection process was unconstitutional. 
D)  The low numbers of law school graduates amongst minority races, particularly Hispanic law school graduates, led directly to the failure of minority candidates in judicial elections. 
E)  Smaller districts must be drawn in order to further allow minority judicial candidates to have a better hope of being elected to those positions. 
A)  Inability to raise appropriate funds caused the lack of minority representation in judicial elections. 
B)  Party affiliation of minority candidates explained the failure or success in judicial elections. 
C)  Minority status explained the lack of ability to succeed in judicial elections; therefore, the Texas selection process was unconstitutional. 
D)  The low numbers of law school graduates amongst minority races, particularly Hispanic law school graduates, led directly to the failure of minority candidates in judicial elections. 
E)  Smaller districts must be drawn in order to further allow minority judicial candidates to have a better hope of being elected to those positions.

Question 11

What is the major difference between campaigns of civil court judges versus criminal court judges?

Accepted Answer

A)  The number of candidates is greater in civil court judicial campaigns. 
B)  The amount of money involved is much greater for civil court judicial campaigns. 
C)  The publicity of civil court judicial campaigns is much more significant. 
D)  The racial representation of candidates is more varied in civil court judicial campaigns. 
E)  The public is much more involved in criminal court judicial campaigns. 
A)  The number of candidates is greater in civil court judicial campaigns. 
B)  The amount of money involved is much greater for civil court judicial campaigns. 
C)  The publicity of civil court judicial campaigns is much more significant. 
D)  The racial representation of candidates is more varied in civil court judicial campaigns. 
E)  The public is much more involved in criminal court judicial campaigns.

Question 12

Which of the following is not a reason, listed by the text, that there are few minority judges in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  One must be a lawyer to be a judge, and there are few minority lawyers in Texas. 
B)  Judicial districts are often quite large, and minority voters rarely make up a majority in these districts. 
C)  Minority voters tend to be Democrats and the Republican Party currently dominates Texas elections. 
D)  White voters participate in countywide elections more than minority voters. 
E)  Minority candidates tend to be outspent by white candidates. 
A)  One must be a lawyer to be a judge, and there are few minority lawyers in Texas. 
B)  Judicial districts are often quite large, and minority voters rarely make up a majority in these districts. 
C)  Minority voters tend to be Democrats and the Republican Party currently dominates Texas elections. 
D)  White voters participate in countywide elections more than minority voters. 
E)  Minority candidates tend to be outspent by white candidates.

Question 13

A common benefit in elections is having a positive party label to support candidates through the elections and into victory. What is this benefit referred to as?

Accepted Answer

A)  the name-game benefit 
B)  recognition election 
C)  the partisan effect 
D)  the political bias benefit 
E)  the top-of-the-ticket effect 
A)  the name-game benefit 
B)  recognition election 
C)  the partisan effect 
D)  the political bias benefit 
E)  the top-of-the-ticket effect

Question 14

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 15

A recent Texas poll found that _____ percent of judges felt that campaign contributions had at least some influence on judicial decisions.

Accepted Answer

A)  68 
B)  83 
C)  86 
D)  92 
E)  99 
A)  68 
B)  83 
C)  86 
D)  92 
E)  99

Question 16

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, the Texas Senate votes for judges. 
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, the Texas Senate votes for judges. 
E)  In retention elections, judges must run against another judge from a different district.

Question 17

Texas law restricts the amount of money a judicial candidate may receive from donors.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

In Texas, appellate court judges are elected, but the governor appoints trial judges to six-year terms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Less than 20 percent of all judges in Texas are Hispanic.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

A study showed that retention elections lead to the defeat for the incumbent in ______ percent of instances.

Accepted Answer

A) 1.6 
B) 3.7 
C) 5.3 
D) 8.1 
E) 10.8 
A) 1.6 
B) 3.7 
C) 5.3 
D) 8.1 
E) 10.8

The Texas Supreme Court and the court of criminal appeals have appellate jurisdiction.

Which court in Texas has automatic jurisdiction over all death penalty cases?

Approximately ______ of Texas appellate judges are women.

Approximately how many justice of the peace courts exist in Texas?

In 1996, the voters of Texas chose to adopt the merit selection of judges.

Which of the following substitutes was not presented as an alternative means of judicial selection?

According to a recent increase in campaign contribution limitations, in what situation must a judge recuse himself or herself from a case?

Which judicial candidate race is considered the most expensive, where candidates are likely to raise over $1 million?

Reformers that have suggested lengthening judicial terms of office can explain that this action may create which of the following results?

What was the ruling of the Fifth Circuit federal court of appeals in 1993 in the case of League of United Latin American Citizens v. Mattox?

What is the major difference between campaigns of civil court judges versus criminal court judges?

Which of the following is not a reason, listed by the text, that there are few minority judges in Texas?

A common benefit in elections is having a positive party label to support candidates through the elections and into victory. What is this benefit referred to as?

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?

A recent Texas poll found that _____ percent of judges felt that campaign contributions had at least some influence on judicial decisions.

Which of the following statements about retention elections is correct?

Texas law restricts the amount of money a judicial candidate may receive from donors.

In Texas, appellate court judges are elected, but the governor appoints trial judges to six-year terms.

Less than 20 percent of all judges in Texas are Hispanic.

A study showed that retention elections lead to the defeat for the incumbent in ______ percent of instances.

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

Texas and the Nation

The Texas Constitution

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

Crime and Corrections Policy

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Local Government in Texas

Filters

Exam 9: The Texas Judiciary

The Texas Supreme Court and the court of criminal appeals have appellate jurisdiction.

Which court in Texas has automatic jurisdiction over all death penalty cases?

Approximately ______ of Texas appellate judges are women.

Approximately how many justice of the peace courts exist in Texas?

In 1996, the voters of Texas chose to adopt the merit selection of judges.

Which of the following substitutes was not presented as an alternative means of judicial selection?

According to a recent increase in campaign contribution limitations, in what situation must a judge recuse himself or herself from a case?

Which judicial candidate race is considered the most expensive, where candidates are likely to raise over $1 million?

Reformers that have suggested lengthening judicial terms of office can explain that this action may create which of the following results?

What was the ruling of the Fifth Circuit federal court of appeals in 1993 in the case of League of United Latin American Citizens v. Mattox?

What is the major difference between campaigns of civil court judges versus criminal court judges?

Which of the following is not a reason, listed by the text, that there are few minority judges in Texas?

A common benefit in elections is having a positive party label to support candidates through the elections and into victory. What is this benefit referred to as?

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?

A recent Texas poll found that _____ percent of judges felt that campaign contributions had at least some influence on judicial decisions.

Which of the following statements about retention elections is correct?

Texas law restricts the amount of money a judicial candidate may receive from donors.

In Texas, appellate court judges are elected, but the governor appoints trial judges to six-year terms.

Less than 20 percent of all judges in Texas are Hispanic.

A study showed that retention elections lead to the defeat for the incumbent in ______ percent of instances.

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

Texas and the Nation

The Texas Constitution

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

Crime and Corrections Policy

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Local Government in Texas

Filters