Govt Chapt. 9 Quiz

Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan. True False

False

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

False

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

False

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

True

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

True

Appeals at the level of the court of appeals are typically heard by panels of how many justices? a. 2 b. 1 c. 9 d. 3 e. 13

d. 3

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. a. state district court judges b. state Board of Education members c. county commissioners d. county judges e. state senators

d. county judges

A person who files a civil lawsuit against another party is called a a. defendant. b. prosecutor. c. juror. d. plaintiff. e. lawyer.

d. plaintiff.

Since the late 1980s, the Texas Supreme Court has a. moved toward a more common-law approach to tort reform. b. moved toward a more conservative approach to torts. c. chosen to hear fewer tort-law cases. d. taken a more pro-business direction. e. grown more liberal in its tort-law decisions

d. taken a more pro-business direction

According to the Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, what dollar amount is a law firm limited to when donating to any statewide judicial candidate? a. $10,000 b. $100,000 c. $75,000 d. $5,000 e. $30,000

e. $30,000

Each county has at least how many district courts? a. 2 b. 14 c. 15 d. 10 e. 1

e. 1

Each incorporated town or city in Texas has a municipal court. True False

True

In Texas, the county judge presides over the county court. True False

True

Which of the following best describes the requirement(s) necessary to be a judge of the Texas Supreme Court? a. 35 years of age, citizen of the United States, resident of Texas, practicing attorney or judge for at least 10 years b. citizen of the United States and a resident of Texas c. 35 years of age d. natural-born Texas state resident e. practicing lawyer or judge for at least 10 years

a. 35 years of age, citizen of the United States, resident of Texas, practicing attorney or judge for at least 10 years

The major trial courts in Texas are a. district courts. b. federal courts. c. municipal courts. d. courts of appeals. e. county courts.

a. district courts.

Justice of the peace courts handle which kind of disputes? a. small claims b. dispositions of property of deceased persons c. felonies d. bankruptcy cases e. city ordinance violations

a. small claims

All of the following factors created support for alternative judicial selection systems EXCEPT a. the media. b. the importance of party label. c. top-of-the-ticket voting. d. the "name game." e. the role of money in judicial races.

a. the media.

According to the Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, what dollar amount is an individual limited to when donating to a statewide judicial candidate? a. $75,000 b. $5,000 c. $10,000 d. $100,000 e. $30,000

b. $5,000

Federal judges are a. subject to judicial reprimand. b. appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. c. responsive to the electorate. d. appointed for seven years and then run for election. e. strict constitutionalists.

b. appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

The Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act a. restricts judicial advertising to radio and television ads. b. forbids law firms or corporations from making donations. c. limits the amount of campaign contributions a judicial candidate can receive from an individual donor. d. compels a judge to recuse himself or herself from any case involving someone who has contributed money to his or her campaign. e. allows individuals to donate as much money as they can to judicial candidates.

c. limits the amount of campaign contributions a judicial candidate can receive from an individual donor.

A merit election plan would a. provide for an appointment process, life term, and removal by referendum. b. require no campaign fund-raising. c. 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. d. completely eliminate the role of the voter. e. 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.

c. 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.

Municipal courts have jurisdiction over a. third-degree felonies committed within the city limits. b. class A misdemeanors that are violations of federal law committed within the city limits. c. violations of city ordinances. d. awarding damages in civil cases. e. traffic violations outside the city.

c. violations of city ordinances.

What is the particular problem in Texas judicial elections known as the "name game"? a. Judicial candidates sometimes make up colorful nicknames, like "Hang 'Em High" Johnson, that serve as free advertisements for their judging beliefs. b. Voters will often vote for a candidate by looking at his or his party affiliation, not his or her name. c. Voters will often vote for a candidate whose name is listed first on the ballot. d. Only big-name candidates can raise enough campaign contributions. e. Many voters will vote for a judicial candidate whose name they are familiar with, even if they know nothing about the candidate.

e. Many voters will vote for a judicial candidate whose name they are familiar with, even if they know nothing about the candidate.

What types of cases does the Texas Supreme Court hear? a. both trial and appeals in tort-law cases b. appeals on civil and criminal cases c. final appeals on all civil and death penalty cases d. any cases it chooses to hear e. civil appeals

e. civil appeals

Which court hears appeals from justices of the peace and from municipal courts? a. district court b. probate court c. appeals court d. the county commissioner e. county court at law

e. county court at law