Question 1

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 courtF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

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.F) C) and E)
G) D) and E)

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

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 hearF) None of the above
G) A) and E)

Question 6

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 membersF) B) and C)
G) A) and D)

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

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.F) C) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 10

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 11

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 correctlyF) B) and D)
G) C) and D)

Question 12

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.F) A) and D)
G) D) and E)

Question 13

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 14

Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 16

An indictment is also known as a

Accepted Answer

A)   felony.
B)   true bill.
C)   guilty verdict.
D)   capital case.
E)   judgment.F) A) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 17

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.F) B) and D)
G) C) and D)

Question 18

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 appealsF) A) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 19

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)   13F) B) and E)
G) D) and E) C

Question 20

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.F) B) and C)
G) C) and D) B

Exam 9: The Texas Judiciary

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What types of cases does the Texas Supreme Court hear?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Federal judges are

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedFalse

An indictment is also known as a

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A merit election plan would

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedC

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

Correct AnswerverifiedB

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False

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C

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B