Question 1

Municipal courts in the Texas court system have jurisdiction over all of the following areas EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  city ordinances. 
B)  Class C misdemeanors. 
C)  search and arrest warrants. 
D)  traffic violations. 
E)  appeals. 
A)  city ordinances. 
B)  Class C misdemeanors. 
C)  search and arrest warrants. 
D)  traffic violations. 
E)  appeals.

Question 2

The majority of justice of the peace judges have a credentialed background in law.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Appealing a case to the federal courts of appeal when all justices will hear the case, rather than the typical panel of three, is referred to as hearing a case ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  on merit selection 
B)  based on the preponderance of the evidence 
C)  en banc 
D)  stare decisis 
E)  per curiam 
A)  on merit selection 
B)  based on the preponderance of the evidence 
C)  en banc 
D)  stare decisis 
E)  per curiam

Question 4

Which of the following is not a major criticism of the method of judicial selection in Texas today?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is overly partisan. 
B)  The need to raise campaign contributions compromises the independence of the judges. 
C)  Too often voters know nothing about the judicial candidates for whom they are voting. 
D)  In many cases ballots can be overloaded with judicial elections, making them complicated. 
E)  The governor has too much power in judicial selection. 
A)  It is overly partisan. 
B)  The need to raise campaign contributions compromises the independence of the judges. 
C)  Too often voters know nothing about the judicial candidates for whom they are voting. 
D)  In many cases ballots can be overloaded with judicial elections, making them complicated. 
E)  The governor has too much power in judicial selection.

Question 5

Currently, there are fifteen statutory probate court judges.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

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 7

Why was partisanship in Texas judicial elections not an issue until 1978?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was the year judicial elections shifted from nonpartisan to partisan. 
B)  It was the first year the Texas Constitution permitted candidates to announce their party affiliations. 
C)  Up until that time, Texas was essentially a one-party state. 
D)  Even though they could, candidates typically ran without using party labels up until 1978. 
E)  It was the first year a third-party candidate won a seat in a Texas judicial election. 
A)  It was the year judicial elections shifted from nonpartisan to partisan. 
B)  It was the first year the Texas Constitution permitted candidates to announce their party affiliations. 
C)  Up until that time, Texas was essentially a one-party state. 
D)  Even though they could, candidates typically ran without using party labels up until 1978. 
E)  It was the first year a third-party candidate won a seat in a Texas judicial election.

Question 8

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 9

Which individual presides over the county courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  justice of the peace 
B)  district mayor 
C)  county judge 
D)  city mayor 
E)  Texas governor 
A)  justice of the peace 
B)  district mayor 
C)  county judge 
D)  city mayor 
E)  Texas governor

Question 10

Since the late 1980s, in what direction has the Texas Supreme Court moved regarding civil cases?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Texas Supreme Court has grown more liberal in its tort-law decisions. 
B)  Texas has moved toward a more conservative approach to torts. 
C)  The Texas Supreme Court has taken a more pro-business direction. 
D)  The Texas Supreme Court is moving toward a more common-law approach to tort reform. 
E)  The Texas Supreme Court is choosing to hear fewer tort-law cases. 
A)  The Texas Supreme Court has grown more liberal in its tort-law decisions. 
B)  Texas has moved toward a more conservative approach to torts. 
C)  The Texas Supreme Court has taken a more pro-business direction. 
D)  The Texas Supreme Court is moving toward a more common-law approach to tort reform. 
E)  The Texas Supreme Court is choosing to hear fewer tort-law cases.

Question 11

Each county has at least how many district courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  one 
B)  two 
C)  ten 
D)  fourteen 
E)  fifteen 
A)  one 
B)  two 
C)  ten 
D)  fourteen 
E)  fifteen

Question 12

Between 1980 and 1985, judicial candidates in Texas made a mass change in their campaign strategies. What was that change?

Accepted Answer

A)  Candidates began fund-raising at a much more vigorous level. 
B)  Candidates began running with a running mate to increase their chances of victory. 
C)  Candidates began selecting a party to align with, unlike previously when they ran as nonpartisan candidates. 
D)  Candidates began making a switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. 
E)  Candidates began recruiting assistance from the Texas governor and U.S. president. 
A)  Candidates began fund-raising at a much more vigorous level. 
B)  Candidates began running with a running mate to increase their chances of victory. 
C)  Candidates began selecting a party to align with, unlike previously when they ran as nonpartisan candidates. 
D)  Candidates began making a switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. 
E)  Candidates began recruiting assistance from the Texas governor and U.S. president.

Question 13

The majority of cases in municipal courts involve

Accepted Answer

A)  family law. 
B)  traffic and parking violations. 
C)  civil cases, especially torts. 
D)  felony crimes. 
E)  city ordinances. 
A)  family law. 
B)  traffic and parking violations. 
C)  civil cases, especially torts. 
D)  felony crimes. 
E)  city ordinances.

Question 14

One of the biggest controversies concerning the method of judicial selection in Texas is that there may be conflicts of interest when judges must hear cases determining the financial interests of persons who have donated to their campaigns.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Courts that can review matters relating to the disposition of property of deceased persons are referred to as what?

Accepted Answer

A)  district courts 
B)  statutory county courts 
C)  constitutional county courts 
D)  statutory probate courts 
E)  justice of the peace courts 
A)  district courts 
B)  statutory county courts 
C)  constitutional county courts 
D)  statutory probate courts 
E)  justice of the peace courts

Question 16

A large concern over transitioning to strict nonpartisan elections is that candidates would deal with what problem?

Accepted Answer

A)  the need to align with political parties even more significantly 
B)  the burden of distancing themselves from political parties, which would be too significant and would cause friction within the parties 
C)  campaigning would now be more vigorous and therefore biased to those of younger ages 
D)  campaigning would require significantly higher amounts of money 
E)  lack of recognition by the voters 
A)  the need to align with political parties even more significantly 
B)  the burden of distancing themselves from political parties, which would be too significant and would cause friction within the parties 
C)  campaigning would now be more vigorous and therefore biased to those of younger ages 
D)  campaigning would require significantly higher amounts of money 
E)  lack of recognition by the voters

Question 17

The main trial courts in Texas are called:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

Which of the following is not a part of the "appoint-elect-retain" concept to judicial elections?

Accepted Answer

A)  The governor appoints a judge. 
B)  The state senate confirms with two-thirds approval of the members. 
C)  The governor-appointed nominee does not assume office until confirmed by the senate. 
D)  The nominee goes through a vetting process to confirm his or her ability to fill the position. 
E)  The judge runs in a contested nonpartisan election and subsequent retention elections. 
A)  The governor appoints a judge. 
B)  The state senate confirms with two-thirds approval of the members. 
C)  The governor-appointed nominee does not assume office until confirmed by the senate. 
D)  The nominee goes through a vetting process to confirm his or her ability to fill the position. 
E)  The judge runs in a contested nonpartisan election and subsequent retention elections.

Question 19

What is the particular problem in Texas judicial elections known as the "name game"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Voters will often vote for a candidate by looking at her or his party affiliation, not his or her name. 
B)  Many voters will vote for a judicial candidate whose name they are familiar with, even if they know nothing about the candidate. 
C)  Judicial candidates sometimes make up colorful nicknames, like "Hang 'Em High" Johnson, that serve as free advertisements for their judging beliefs. 
D)  Only big-name candidates can raise enough campaign contributions. 
E)  Voters will often vote for a candidate whose name is listed first on the ballot. 
A)  Voters will often vote for a candidate by looking at her or his party affiliation, not his or her name. 
B)  Many voters will vote for a judicial candidate whose name they are familiar with, even if they know nothing about the candidate. 
C)  Judicial candidates sometimes make up colorful nicknames, like "Hang 'Em High" Johnson, that serve as free advertisements for their judging beliefs. 
D)  Only big-name candidates can raise enough campaign contributions. 
E)  Voters will often vote for a candidate whose name is listed first on the ballot.

Question 20

Minority representation across the judicial branch is less than that of the U.S. population, but this is particularly true in Texas. Why is minority representation so low? What efforts have been made to remedy this situation? Is there a solution to increasing representation from a variety of Texans?

Accepted Answer

Minority representation across the judic

Municipal courts in the Texas court system have jurisdiction over all of the following areas EXCEPT

The majority of justice of the peace judges have a credentialed background in law.

Appealing a case to the federal courts of appeal when all justices will hear the case, rather than the typical panel of three, is referred to as hearing a case ______.

Which of the following is not a major criticism of the method of judicial selection in Texas today?

Currently, there are fifteen statutory probate court judges.

In Texas, trial lawyers tend to support

Why was partisanship in Texas judicial elections not an issue until 1978?

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

Which individual presides over the county courts?

Since the late 1980s, in what direction has the Texas Supreme Court moved regarding civil cases?

Each county has at least how many district courts?

Between 1980 and 1985, judicial candidates in Texas made a mass change in their campaign strategies. What was that change?

The majority of cases in municipal courts involve

One of the biggest controversies concerning the method of judicial selection in Texas is that there may be conflicts of interest when judges must hear cases determining the financial interests of persons who have donated to their campaigns.

Courts that can review matters relating to the disposition of property of deceased persons are referred to as what?

A large concern over transitioning to strict nonpartisan elections is that candidates would deal with what problem?

The main trial courts in Texas are called:

Which of the following is not a part of the "appoint-elect-retain" concept to judicial elections?

What is the particular problem in Texas judicial elections known as the "name game"?

Minority representation across the judicial branch is less than that of the U.S. population, but this is particularly true in Texas. Why is minority representation so low? What efforts have been made to remedy this situation? Is there a solution to increasing representation from a variety of Texans?

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

Municipal courts in the Texas court system have jurisdiction over all of the following areas EXCEPT

The majority of justice of the peace judges have a credentialed background in law.

Appealing a case to the federal courts of appeal when all justices will hear the case, rather than the typical panel of three, is referred to as hearing a case ______.

Which of the following is not a major criticism of the method of judicial selection in Texas today?

Currently, there are fifteen statutory probate court judges.

In Texas, trial lawyers tend to support

Why was partisanship in Texas judicial elections not an issue until 1978?

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

Which individual presides over the county courts?

Since the late 1980s, in what direction has the Texas Supreme Court moved regarding civil cases?

Each county has at least how many district courts?

Between 1980 and 1985, judicial candidates in Texas made a mass change in their campaign strategies. What was that change?

The majority of cases in municipal courts involve

One of the biggest controversies concerning the method of judicial selection in Texas is that there may be conflicts of interest when judges must hear cases determining the financial interests of persons who have donated to their campaigns.

Courts that can review matters relating to the disposition of property of deceased persons are referred to as what?

A large concern over transitioning to strict nonpartisan elections is that candidates would deal with what problem?

The main trial courts in Texas are called:

Which of the following is not a part of the "appoint-elect-retain" concept to judicial elections?

What is the particular problem in Texas judicial elections known as the "name game"?

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