Question 1

What percentage of the state judges nationwide are white?

Accepted Answer

A)  65 percent 
B)  71 percent 
C)  83 percent 
D)  87 percent 
E)  92 percent

Question 2

The Texas Supreme Court and court of criminal appeals have appellate jurisdiction, which means they have the authority to do what?

Accepted Answer

A)  hear all cases from across the state regardless of reasoning 
B)  review the decisions of lower courts to determine whether legal principles and court procedures were followed correctly 
C)  review the abilities of lower court justices 
D)  suspend habeas corpus 
E)  review the decisions of national courts to determine whether court procedures were followed correctly

Question 3

Texas justices of the peace do not have to be lawyers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

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.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

The Texas Supreme Court has jurisdiction over the automatic appeals in all death penalty cases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Appeals at the level of the court of appeals are typically heard by panels of how many justices?

Accepted Answer

A)  one 
B)  two 
C)  three 
D)  nine 
E)  thirteen

Question 8

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

Question 9

Why does it typically cost more money to win a seat on the Texas Supreme Court than a seat on the Texas court of criminal appeals?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Texas legislature has placed a strict cap on the spending for the criminal appeals court election campaigns. 
B)  There are few interest groups that contribute money to the criminal appeals court candidates' campaigns, which keeps down the costs of the election. 
C)  Judges running for the criminal appeals court do not have to be elected in a statewide election. 
D)  Fewer people are interested in the court of criminal appeals. 
E)  There are more positions available on the criminal appeals court, so the seats are not as coveted.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

What types of cases does the Texas Supreme Court hear?

Accepted Answer

A)  civil appeals 
B)  appeals on civil and criminal cases 
C)  both trial and appeals in tort-law cases 
D)  final appeals on all civil and death penalty cases 
E)  any cases it chooses to hear

Question 12

What is the most important part of a judicial candidate's campaign in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  party affiliation 
B)  professional and personal qualifications 
C)  name recognition with the voters 
D)  rating by the American Bar Association 
E)  campaign financing

Question 13

Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

In what year were there no Democratic representatives in the Texas Supreme Court races because the Republican candidates were so strong?

Accepted Answer

A)  1982 
B)  1988 
C)  1994 
D)  1996 
E)  2000

Question 15

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

Question 16

Which of the following supported the amendment proposed by Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock to update the countywide election process?

Accepted Answer

A)  Governor George W. Bush 
B)  Hispanic voters 
C)  the business community 
D)  African American voters 
E)  the Republican Party

Question 17

Describe the organization of the judicial branch in 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 answer of Describe the organization of the judicial branch...

Question 18

There are ______ courts of appeals in Texas, with ______ justices serving those courts.

Accepted Answer

A)  9; 80 
B)  14; 80 
C)  14; 453 
D)  453; 453 
E)  915; 1,490

Question 19

In ______, the first woman to serve as a Texas state judge was appointed.

Accepted Answer

A)  1887 
B)  1902 
C)  1935 
D)  1967 
E)  1985

Question 20

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

The answer of The method by which Texas judges get...

Exam 9: The Texas Judiciary

What percentage of the state judges nationwide are white?

The Texas Supreme Court and court of criminal appeals have appellate jurisdiction, which means they have the authority to do what?

Texas justices of the peace do not have to be lawyers.

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

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

The Texas Supreme Court has jurisdiction over the automatic appeals in all death penalty cases.

Appeals at the level of the court of appeals are typically heard by panels of how many justices?

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

Why does it typically cost more money to win a seat on the Texas Supreme Court than a seat on the Texas court of criminal appeals?

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

What types of cases does the Texas Supreme Court hear?

What is the most important part of a judicial candidate's campaign in Texas?

Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan.

In what year were there no Democratic representatives in the Texas Supreme Court races because the Republican candidates were so strong?

Justice of the peace courts handle which kind of disputes?

Which of the following supported the amendment proposed by Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock to update the countywide election process?

Describe the organization of the judicial branch in 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?

There are courts of appeals in Texas, with justices serving those courts.

In ______, the first woman to serve as a Texas state judge was appointed.

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?