Question 1

What is it called when a blue-ribbon committee selects judicial nominees who are then appointed by the governor and must finally run for retention in office?

Accepted Answer

A)  en banc selection 
B)  progressive reform selection 
C)  nonpartisan selection 
D)  merit selection 
E)  committee certification 
A)  en banc selection 
B)  progressive reform selection 
C)  nonpartisan selection 
D)  merit selection 
E)  committee certification

Question 2

In what year did we see the highest percentage of judges obtaining their positions initially through appointment at the trial court level?

Accepted Answer

A)  1984 
B)  1998 
C)  2003 
D)  2006 
E)  2011 
A)  1984 
B)  1998 
C)  2003 
D)  2006 
E)  2011

Question 3

The majority of the cases that justice of the peace judges hear are those regarding what?

Accepted Answer

A)  civil cases 
B)  traffic misdemeanors 
C)  death penalty cases 
D)  marriages 
E)  felony cases 
A)  civil cases 
B)  traffic misdemeanors 
C)  death penalty cases 
D)  marriages 
E)  felony cases

Question 4

How many states also have in place a campaign fairness act similar to that of Texas's Campaign Fairness Act?

Accepted Answer

A)  none; Texas is the only one. 
B)  two, Texas and California. 
C)  three, Texas, California, and New York. 
D)  thirteen; the majority of the southeast United States has supported this concept. 
E)  All fifty states have in place some version of a campaign fairness act. 
A)  none; Texas is the only one. 
B)  two, Texas and California. 
C)  three, Texas, California, and New York. 
D)  thirteen; the majority of the southeast United States has supported this concept. 
E)  All fifty states have in place some version of a campaign fairness act.

Question 5

Each incorporated town or city in Texas has a municipal court.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

What percentage of the 819 justices of the peace in Texas are non-lawyers?

Accepted Answer

A)  52 percent 
B)  74 percent 
C)  81 percent 
D)  87 percent 
E)  93 percent 
A)  52 percent 
B)  74 percent 
C)  81 percent 
D)  87 percent 
E)  93 percent

Question 7

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 a judge to recuse himself or herself from any case involving someone who has contributed money to his or her campaign. 
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 a judge to recuse himself or herself from any case involving someone who has contributed money to his or her campaign. 
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 8

Which of the following is not given as reasoning to support an alternative judicial selection system in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  timing of the elections 
B)  top-of-the-ticket voting 
C)  the defeat of incumbents 
D)  the importance of the party label 
E)  the "name game" 
A)  timing of the elections 
B)  top-of-the-ticket voting 
C)  the defeat of incumbents 
D)  the importance of the party label 
E)  the "name game"

Question 9

What is the most important type of case that the Texas Supreme Court handles?

Accepted Answer

A)  impeachment of public officials 
B)  a tort-law case 
C)  prison reform 
D)  a death penalty case 
E)  a bankruptcy case 
A)  impeachment of public officials 
B)  a tort-law case 
C)  prison reform 
D)  a death penalty case 
E)  a bankruptcy case

Question 10

Texas law restricts the number of judicial races during any single election cycle to no more than six.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Often county courts in Texas have jurisdiction over which matters?

Accepted Answer

A)  probate cases 
B)  more serious criminal misdemeanor offenses 
C)  civil cases where the amounts in dispute are relatively small 
D)  appellate cases from municipal courts or from justice of the peace courts 
E)  probate cases, serious criminal misdemeanors, and civil cases where the amounts in dispute are relatively small, and appellate cases of municipal or justice of the peace courts 
A)  probate cases 
B)  more serious criminal misdemeanor offenses 
C)  civil cases where the amounts in dispute are relatively small 
D)  appellate cases from municipal courts or from justice of the peace courts 
E)  probate cases, serious criminal misdemeanors, and civil cases where the amounts in dispute are relatively small, and appellate cases of municipal or justice of the peace courts

Question 12

Texas Supreme Court justices are elected for four-year terms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

What was the argument brought forward in the case of League of United Latin American Citizens v. Mattox in 1989?

Accepted Answer

A)  Countywide election of judges in Texas diluted the strength of minority voters and violated the Voting Rights Act. 
B)  Statewide election of Texas Supreme Court judges weakened the ability of Hispanic voters. 
C)  Citywide election of mayors was racially detrimental to minorities and violated the Voting Rights Act. 
D)  Countywide election of county commissioners was racially biased and therefore weakened the strength of minority representation in those positions. 
E)  Legislative redistricting in the state of Texas was so racially biased that it violated the Voting Rights Act. 
A)  Countywide election of judges in Texas diluted the strength of minority voters and violated the Voting Rights Act. 
B)  Statewide election of Texas Supreme Court judges weakened the ability of Hispanic voters. 
C)  Citywide election of mayors was racially detrimental to minorities and violated the Voting Rights Act. 
D)  Countywide election of county commissioners was racially biased and therefore weakened the strength of minority representation in those positions. 
E)  Legislative redistricting in the state of Texas was so racially biased that it violated the Voting Rights Act.

Question 14

Like the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court has nine justices, including one chief justice.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Voting Rights Act applies to state judicial elections.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Texas politics has always been a heated topic, but none more so than in the area of judicial politics. Explain and discuss the partisan nature and the political aspects to judicial selection. Why is the system so partisan? How does campaign finance play a role? What is the name game?

Accepted Answer

Judicial politics in Texas is indeed a h

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT an example of general jurisdiction under a Texas district court?

Accepted Answer

A)  felony 
B)  election contest 
C)  civil lawsuit 
D)  divorce 
E)  family law matters 
A)  felony 
B)  election contest 
C)  civil lawsuit 
D)  divorce 
E)  family law matters

What is it called when a blue-ribbon committee selects judicial nominees who are then appointed by the governor and must finally run for retention in office?

In what year did we see the highest percentage of judges obtaining their positions initially through appointment at the trial court level?

The majority of the cases that justice of the peace judges hear are those regarding what?

How many states also have in place a campaign fairness act similar to that of Texas's Campaign Fairness Act?

Each incorporated town or city in Texas has a municipal court.

What percentage of the 819 justices of the peace in Texas are non-lawyers?

The Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act

Which of the following is not given as reasoning to support an alternative judicial selection system in Texas?

What is the most important type of case that the Texas Supreme Court handles?

Texas law restricts the number of judicial races during any single election cycle to no more than six.

Often county courts in Texas have jurisdiction over which matters?

Texas Supreme Court justices are elected for four-year terms.

What was the argument brought forward in the case of League of United Latin American Citizens v. Mattox in 1989?

Like the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court has nine justices, including one chief justice.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Voting Rights Act applies to state judicial elections.

Texas politics has always been a heated topic, but none more so than in the area of judicial politics. Explain and discuss the partisan nature and the political aspects to judicial selection. Why is the system so partisan? How does campaign finance play a role? What is the name game?

Which of the following is NOT an example of general jurisdiction under a Texas district court?

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

What is it called when a blue-ribbon committee selects judicial nominees who are then appointed by the governor and must finally run for retention in office?

In what year did we see the highest percentage of judges obtaining their positions initially through appointment at the trial court level?

The majority of the cases that justice of the peace judges hear are those regarding what?

How many states also have in place a campaign fairness act similar to that of Texas's Campaign Fairness Act?

Each incorporated town or city in Texas has a municipal court.

What percentage of the 819 justices of the peace in Texas are non-lawyers?

The Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act

Which of the following is not given as reasoning to support an alternative judicial selection system in Texas?

What is the most important type of case that the Texas Supreme Court handles?

Texas law restricts the number of judicial races during any single election cycle to no more than six.

Often county courts in Texas have jurisdiction over which matters?

Texas Supreme Court justices are elected for four-year terms.

What was the argument brought forward in the case of League of United Latin American Citizens v. Mattox in 1989?

Like the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court has nine justices, including one chief justice.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Voting Rights Act applies to state judicial elections.

Texas politics has always been a heated topic, but none more so than in the area of judicial politics. Explain and discuss the partisan nature and the political aspects to judicial selection. Why is the system so partisan? How does campaign finance play a role? What is the name game?

Which of the following is NOT an example of general jurisdiction under a Texas district court?

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