Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

A)   1
B)   2
C)   3
D)   9
E)   13 C

Question 3

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 his 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. B

Question 4

In 1989, the League of United Latin American Citizens filed suit in federal court in an effort to change Texas's system of electing ________ at-large.

Accepted Answer

A)   county commissioners
B)   county judges
C)   state senators
D)   state district court judges
E)   state Board of Education members

Question 5

Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

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 7

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest court in the state for criminal cases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

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 10

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.

Question 11

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

Question 12

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 13

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

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

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

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 17

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.

Question 18

A merit election plan would

Accepted Answer

A)   completely eliminate the role of the voter.
B)   provide for an appointment process, and then when the term has been served, the judge would seek retention in a nonpartisan election with no opponents listed.
C)   provide for an appointment process, and then when the term has been served, the judge would seek election in a partisan election against other opponents.
D)   provide for an appointment process, life term, and removal by referendum.
E)   require no campaign fund-raising.

Question 19

Federal judges are

Accepted Answer

A)   appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
B)   appointed for seven years and then run for election.
C)   subject to judicial reprimand.
D)   strict constitutionalists.
E)   responsive to the electorate.

Question 20

An indictment is also known as a

Accepted Answer

A)   felony.
B)   true bill.
C)   guilty verdict.
D)   capital case.
E)   judgment.

Exam 9: The Texas Judiciary

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

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

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

In 1989, the League of United Latin American Citizens filed suit in federal court in an effort to change Texas's system of electing ________ at-large.

Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan.

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.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest court in the state for criminal cases.

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

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

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

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

What types of cases does the Texas Supreme Court hear?

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

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

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

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?

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

A merit election plan would

Federal judges are

An indictment is also known as a