Texas Government 2306 Chapter 5

The highest percentage of Texas inmates are of what major group?

African Americans

In most states, which courts hear major criminal and civil cases?

All of the Above (District etc)

In Texas, appellate courts do specifically what?

Appellate courts decide points of law, not points of fact.

In the merit systems, appointed judges rarely lose retention elections mainly because of what?

Appointive judges do not run against anyone

In Texas, criminal appeals involving the death penalty are heard by what court?

Court of Criminal Appeals

Most court cases in Texas deal with what kind of issues?

Courts evaluate individual disputes that arise in cases that parties file with them

How are courts different from legislatures?

Courts may not appear to be political in their decision making, even though judges' decisions might be affected by political considerations (They differ in the way they make decisions)

What is the highest court for criminal cases in Texas?

Criminal court appeals

A murder case would most likely first be tried in what kind of court ?

District courts

Which method of judicial selection is a system left over from colonial America?

Election by legislator

Texas uses what to review the facts and decide whether enough evidence exists to try cases?

Grand juries and Administrative hearings

The merit system used to identify and select judges is also know as?

Missouri system

In terms of responsiveness and competency, judges appointed by governors are typically of what kind

More corporate and less responsive to the public

The Frontlines program entitled "Justice for Sale" highlighted how justices of Texas's supreme court had received money in donations. How much was donated?

More than 9 million

Considering all Texas judges, what judges are not selected on partisan election basis?

Municipal court

Who is most likely to be appointed as a judge to his or her initial seat on the court in Texas?

Municipal court judge

Most voters go to the election booth with scant knowledge about the qualifications of judicial candidates, and they often end up voting based on what ?

Name familiarity

What is the primary attribute voters use to select judges?

Name familiarity

Which method of judicial selection leads to the highest degree of judicial responsiveness?

Non Partisan election

Across all fifty states, the most common method for selecting trial court judges is ?

Partisan election

Which method of judicial selection leads to the lowest degree of judicial independence?

Partisan election

Which method of judicial selection leads to the lowest degree of judicial responsiveness?

Partisan election

The Texas Government Code allows jurisdictions to draw upon which source(s) for jury selection?

Registered voters and licensed drivers

Which method for removing judges for misconduct is used by the fewest states?

Removal by governor after hearing

The highest number of states courts use this method for selecting judges.

The Merit system

What kind of court is the justice of the peace?

magistrate court

The strict procedural rules that govern courts does what?

confine their decisions to the specifics of the cases before them, and maintain the appearance of objectivity.

What are the two kinds of county courts ?

constitutional county courts and county courts at law

According to figure 5.2 what is the most common way of selecting Appellate court judges?

merit system

Judges must base their decisions only on the federal and state constitutions, statues, and earlier court decisions. This concept is called...?

objectivity

How are supreme court judges selected in Texas?

partisan election

How are trial court judges selected in Texas?

partisan election

What is the most important difference between trial and appellate courts?

deciding points of fact versus points of law

In 2014, Texas's incarceration rate was how high as compared to the rest of the nation?

fifth

Why does the U.S. have a dual court system?

the federal system of government

The lowest number of states select judges through what method?

Legislative Appointment

As of 2016, what percentage of all Texas judges are female?

34% (one third)

If a court makes a ruling based on a previous ruling from another court, this is an example of the principle known as...?

Stare decisis

In 1984, many incumbent Democratic judges lost their seats in large urban counties to unknown Republican challengers because of what motive?

Straight ticket voting

What U.S. Constitutional Amendment guarantees citizens in each state due process and equal protection of the law regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender?

The 14th amendment

Why do political candidates often use the "tough on criminals" campaign strategy?

They play it safe to not offend many citizens

According to a 2006 Texans for Public Justice study, the Texas Supreme Court does what in its effort to hear cases filed by large contributors?

They were 7 and a half times more likely to hear cases filed by contributors of 100k, and 10 times more likely from contributors of 250k