Test 2 Flashcards
(100 cards)
1
Q
most court cases in Texas deal with…
A
controversies between individuals
2
Q
stare decisis means
A
to stand by that which was decided before
3
Q
why does the US have a dual court system?
A
the federal system of government
4
Q
the supreme law of the land is the…
A
US Constitution
5
Q
True or False. In jury trial cases, the jury determines the outcome or the case.
A
True
6
Q
What is the most important difference between trial and appellate courts?
A
deciding points of fact versus points of law
7
Q
JP courts in Texas can perform all of the following except:
A
hear traffic ticket appeals
8
Q
True or false. In appellate courts, the jury determines the outcome or the case on appeal.
A
False
9
Q
What are the two kinds of county courts?
A
Consititutional county courts and county courts at law
10
Q
In most states, which courts hear major criminal and civil cases?
A
all of these answers are correct
11
Q
Henderson county has how many district courts?
A
3
12
Q
In Texas, criminal appeals involving the death penalty are heard by
A
The court of criminal appeals
13
Q
What is the highest court for criminal cases in Texas?
A
The court of criminal appeals
14
Q
the merit system used to identify and select judges is also known as
A
The Missouri System
15
Q
How are trial court judges selected in Texas?
A
Partisan election
16
Q
The highest court in Texas for civil matter is
A
The Texas Supreme Court
17
Q
Most voters go the election booth with scant knowledge about the qualifications of judicial candidates and they often end up voting
A
By name familiarity
18
Q
In 1984, many incumbent democratic judges lost their seats in large urban counties to unknown republican challengers because of
A
straight ticket voting
19
Q
How many elections must a judge win prior to being seated on the bench under the Texas partisan election system?
A
2
20
Q
What amendment guarantees citizens in each state due process and equal protection of the law regardless of race, ethnicity or gender?
A
the 14th
21
Q
A judge in Texas may be removed from office by
A
all of these
22
Q
of the following, which is most likely to be appointed to his or her initial seat on the court in Texas?
A
a district court judge
23
Q
which method of judicial selection is a system left over from colonial america?
A
election by the legislature
24
Q
which method for removing judges for misconduct is used by the fewest states?
A
removal by the governor after the hearing
25
the american legal system is divided into 2 branches
civil and criminal
26
the jury that determines the guilt or innocence of a person is called the ______ jury.
petit
27
Texas uses _________ to review the facts and decide whether enough evidence exists to try cases
both grand juries and administrative hearings
28
The Texas government code allows jurisdiction to draw upon which source(s) for jury selection
both registered voters and licensed drivers
29
why do political candidates often use the "tough on criminals" campaign strategy?
It offends few voters
30
what is the "age of majority" in Texas with regards to civil and criminal responsibility before the law?
17
31
which state has the highest rate of incarceration?
Louisiana
32
In Texas as elsewhere, the criminal justice system should serve 3 broad purposes:
Rehabilitation, deterrence and punishment
33
What US supreme court case in 1972 outlawed the death penalty because it was unfairly applied to many crimes and because of the lack of safeguards in place in many states?
Furman v. Georgia
34
Free or reduced-fee legal representation is known as
pro bono
35
voter turnout in local government elections is ____________ turnouts in state elections.
less than
36
________ is the political principles that assigns different functions to different levels of government
federalism
37
Bexar county, Texas, is an example of which category of local government?
local-purpose
38
Municipalities are the most visible example of ___________ governments
general-purpose
39
For incorporation to proceed in Texas, first a minimum population of _________ citizens must be living within a two-square-mile area.
201
40
San Antonio wants to expand and add new territory to the city and broaden it's tax base by doing what with regard to the upscale subdivision that is in Bexar county and borders the city?
annexing it
41
Who is the mayor of Athens, Texas?
Jerry Don Vaught
42
If you selected any city in Texas at random, what governmental form would you most likely find?
council-manager
43
which of the following is one of the roles of the mayor in a council-manager form of government?
presiding officer of the council
44
Under the council-manager form of government, how is the city manager selected?
city council appointment
45
which of the following is a weakness of the council-manager form of city government?
ability of the city manager to manipulate information and control council decisions
46
The weak mayor's formal powers most resemble those of which other government official in Texas?
the governer
47
If you selected any city in Texas at random, what governmental form would you least likely find?
commission
48
Tolsa, Oklahoma, which is one of the last, larger cities to use the commission form of city government, gave what powers to the mayor in an attempt to correct some of the forms shortcomings?
budget authority
49
The commission form of city government served as a transition from the
weak mayor form to the council-manager form
50
system where all the voters in the city elect the mayor and all the city council members
at-large election system
51
all of the following are at-large election systems except
at-large multiple places
52
system where the city is divided into election districts and only the voters voting in that district elects the council member from that district
single-member district
53
what change was noted when cities in Texas were forced to change to SMD for at least some city council seats?
substantial increase in minority city council members
54
what voting system is preferred by voting rights activists as a means of increasing minority representation?
preferential voting
55
San Antonio ran slates of candidates using a "nonpartisan organization" known as the
good government league
56
Municipal elections in Texas are technically ____________ elections
nonpartisan
57
who is the county judge in Henderson County?
Richard Sanders
58
Voter turnout in City of Austin municipal elections is usually about
10 percent
59
what is the oldest type of local government, adapted from a British unit of government, that is used in the United States?
county
60
What is the composition of the county commissioners court?
a county judge and 4 county commissioners
61
Whose responsibility is it to oversee the collection and disbursement of county funds?
county auditor
62
in smaller counties, state law allows the sheriff to act as
the tax assessor/collector
63
county government was designed to meet the needs of and provide services to a(n) _______ population
rural
64
What authority do state and city governments have that in counties is quite limited
ordinance
65
the primary source of revenue for counties is
property tax
66
one suggestion for reform of county government that has been frequently made over the past 70 years involves
home rule
67
the authority to establish and maintain a free public school system is contained in which article of the Texas constitution?
Article 7
68
A recent survey indicated that the least common type of political participation is
attending an organized protest
69
_________ refers to taking part in activities related to governance
political participation
70
an individual who is an active voter but avoids the combat and controversy of partisan campaigns is which type of political activist?
communalist
71
John is upset that the power company is planning to build several wind turbines on the property next to his home. He writes letters to his elected representative in the local newspaper, voicing his displeasure with the project. According to Verba and Nie, what type of political participation is John demonstrating?
parochial participant
72
What is the voter participation measure used most often by political scientists?
percentage of voting-age population
73
Same-day voter registration results in _____ turnout
greater
74
what is the limiting factor for using VEP to measure voter participation for previous election cycles?
VEP data is not universally available
75
Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding "same-day" voter registration?
it promotes higher voter turnout
76
Of the following, which are not considered part of the voting population using VAP?
minors
77
Which of the 3 measures for voter turnout consistently shows the higher figures?
percentage of registered voters who voted
78
Which of the 3 measures for voter turnout consistently shows the lower figures?
percentage of VAP who voted
79
In Texas, how long prior to an election must you register in order to be eligible to vote?
30 days
80
The expansion of political participation in the southern US states has come about largely because of
federal government intervention
81
if the post office in Texas is unable to deliver a voter registration card, it will be returned to the voter registrar, and
the voter will need to re-register in order to vote in future elections
82
Why was Texas's 2011 voter ID law rejected by the US Justice Department?
because the data Texas provided demonstrated minorities would be adversely affected.
83
the national voter registrar act is also known as the
motor voter act
84
the states history of redistricting access to voting is very much keeping with its
traditionalistic political culture
85
Which group was the primary target of the poll tax?
Low income white farmers
86
Texas had a(n) __________ system which kept minorities from voting
annual registration
87
which group in Texas has typically voted at the lowest rate?
Asians
88
Which state does not limit the voting rights of persons convicted of a felony?
Vermont
89
In Texas, if you were convicted of a felony or on ______, you cannot vote.
probation or parole
90
Which of the following helps increase voter turnout in an election
all of these answers are correct
91
which of the following elections would typically have higher voter turnout?
general election
92
True or False. Lack or party competition in Texas tributes to our overall lower voter turnout
True.
93
The Texas Constitution allows cities and school boards to cancel elections if..
all races are uncontested
94
Wednesday is the most common day for elections in the United States. True or False
False
95
Which of the following is a rational reason for why some people choose not to vote?
satisfaction with the status quo
96
what is the most common form of political participation?
voting
97
In a recent survey of Texas adults, approximately _____ of respondents reported encouraging others to vote for a particular candidate
half
98
with the growth of the internet, what has become one of the easiest ways to participate in politics?
making financial contributions
99
the least popular form of political participation in Texas is
volunteering to work for a political campaign
100
__________ refers to the sense or shared purpose and values that social connection promotes.
social capital
