Question 1

Municipal courts have jurisdiction over

Accepted Answer

A)  class A misdemeanors that are violations of federal law committed within the city limits. 
B)  violations of city ordinances. 
C)  traffic violations outside the city. 
D)  third-degree felonies committed within the city limits. 
E)  awarding damages in civil cases. 
A)  class A misdemeanors that are violations of federal law committed within the city limits. 
B)  violations of city ordinances. 
C)  traffic violations outside the city. 
D)  third-degree felonies committed within the city limits. 
E)  awarding damages in civil cases.

Question 2

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 3

According to the Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, what dollar amount is a law firm limited to when donating to any statewide judicial candidate?

Accepted Answer

A)  $100,000 
B)  $75,000 
C)  $30,000 
D)  $10,000 
E)  $5,000 
A)  $100,000 
B)  $75,000 
C)  $30,000 
D)  $10,000 
E)  $5,000

Question 4

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 running mates 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 running mates 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 5

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 6

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 7

The method by which Texas judges get to the bench is only one method of judicial selection. Describe some of the alternative means of appointing or electing state judges. What has Texas done to ameliorate some of the problems with judicial elections?

Accepted Answer

In addition to the method of judicial se

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the requirement(s) necessary to be a judge of the Texas Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  35 years of age 
B)  citizen of the United States and a resident of Texas 
C)  practicing lawyer or judge for at least 10 years 
D)  natural-born Texas state resident 
E)  35 years of age, citizen of the United States, resident of Texas, practicing attorney or judge for at least 10 years 
A)  35 years of age 
B)  citizen of the United States and a resident of Texas 
C)  practicing lawyer or judge for at least 10 years 
D)  natural-born Texas state resident 
E)  35 years of age, citizen of the United States, resident of Texas, practicing attorney or judge for at least 10 years

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

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 11

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

Question 12

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 13

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

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 14

What is the most important role the governor of Texas plays in the judicial process?

Accepted Answer

A)  The governor has the power to permanently appoint all municipal court judges. 
B)  The governor has the power to limit the jurisdiction of the appellate courts. 
C)  The governor has the power to appoint judges to fill any vacancies on the bench for the time period before elections are held. 
D)  The governor has the power to add additional judges to the appellate courts whenever there is a six-month backlog in cases. 
E)  The governor appoints all members to the Texas Supreme Court. 
A)  The governor has the power to permanently appoint all municipal court judges. 
B)  The governor has the power to limit the jurisdiction of the appellate courts. 
C)  The governor has the power to appoint judges to fill any vacancies on the bench for the time period before elections are held. 
D)  The governor has the power to add additional judges to the appellate courts whenever there is a six-month backlog in cases. 
E)  The governor appoints all members to the Texas Supreme Court.

Question 15

In the early to mid-1980s, the court tended to be sympathetic to the plaintiffs' position in tort cases, but by the late 1980s this changed. Which of the following is NOT a reason for the change?

Accepted Answer

A)  More justices began to be elected who favored the defendants in civil lawsuits. 
B)  Republican justices began to be elected. 
C)  The wave of incoming justices were more conservative than many of the previous justices, who were Democratic. 
D)  Interest groups that were harmed by the pro-plaintiff tendencies of the court began to organize, raising and spending money for elected justices sympathetic to their perspectives. 
E)  The Reagan era placed a financial cap on what a plaintiff could be awarded from a case. 
A)  More justices began to be elected who favored the defendants in civil lawsuits. 
B)  Republican justices began to be elected. 
C)  The wave of incoming justices were more conservative than many of the previous justices, who were Democratic. 
D)  Interest groups that were harmed by the pro-plaintiff tendencies of the court began to organize, raising and spending money for elected justices sympathetic to their perspectives. 
E)  The Reagan era placed a financial cap on what a plaintiff could be awarded from a case.

Question 16

One big difference in the campaigns of civil court judges versus criminal court judges is the amount of money involved.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Does the high number of judicial seats that citizens are asked to vote for have a chilling effect on an informed electorate?

Accepted Answer

The question of whether the high number

Question 18

Currently, there are 15 statutory probate court judges.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

In Texas, all judges EXCEPT municipal judges are

Accepted Answer

A)  appointed by the governor. 
B)  chosen in partisan elections. 
C)  chosen in nonpartisan elections. 
D)  elected by the legislature. 
E)  selected according to a merit plan. 
A)  appointed by the governor. 
B)  chosen in partisan elections. 
C)  chosen in nonpartisan elections. 
D)  elected by the legislature. 
E)  selected according to a merit plan.

Question 20

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.

Municipal courts have jurisdiction over

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

According to the Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, what dollar amount is a law firm limited to when donating to any statewide judicial candidate?

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

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

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

The method by which Texas judges get to the bench is only one method of judicial selection. Describe some of the alternative means of appointing or electing state judges. What has Texas done to ameliorate some of the problems with judicial elections?

Which of the following best describes the requirement(s) necessary to be a judge of the Texas Supreme Court?

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

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

Justice of the peace courts handle which kind of disputes?

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

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

What is the most important role the governor of Texas plays in the judicial process?

In the early to mid-1980s, the court tended to be sympathetic to the plaintiffs' position in tort cases, but by the late 1980s this changed. Which of the following is NOT a reason for the change?

One big difference in the campaigns of civil court judges versus criminal court judges is the amount of money involved.

Does the high number of judicial seats that citizens are asked to vote for have a chilling effect on an informed electorate?

Currently, there are 15 statutory probate court judges.

In Texas, all judges EXCEPT municipal judges are

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

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

Local Government in Texas

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Crime and Corrections Policy in Texas

Filters

Exam 9: The Texas Judiciary

Municipal courts have jurisdiction over

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

According to the Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, what dollar amount is a law firm limited to when donating to any statewide judicial candidate?

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

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

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

The method by which Texas judges get to the bench is only one method of judicial selection. Describe some of the alternative means of appointing or electing state judges. What has Texas done to ameliorate some of the problems with judicial elections?

Which of the following best describes the requirement(s) necessary to be a judge of the Texas Supreme Court?

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

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

Justice of the peace courts handle which kind of disputes?

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

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

What is the most important role the governor of Texas plays in the judicial process?

In the early to mid-1980s, the court tended to be sympathetic to the plaintiffs' position in tort cases, but by the late 1980s this changed. Which of the following is NOT a reason for the change?

One big difference in the campaigns of civil court judges versus criminal court judges is the amount of money involved.

Does the high number of judicial seats that citizens are asked to vote for have a chilling effect on an informed electorate?

Currently, there are 15 statutory probate court judges.

In Texas, all judges EXCEPT municipal judges are

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

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

Local Government in Texas

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Crime and Corrections Policy in Texas

Filters