Question 1

Which of the following is an advantage that plea bargaining offers to defense attorneys?

Accepted Answer

A) It enables defense attorneys to clear their clients of blame completely. 
B) It helps reduce conviction rates. 
C) It allows defense attorneys to prolong criminal trials. 
D) It enables defense attorneys to serve less-privileged clients better. 
E) It provides defense attorneys with an opportunity to make more money. 
A) It enables defense attorneys to clear their clients of blame completely. 
B) It helps reduce conviction rates. 
C) It allows defense attorneys to prolong criminal trials. 
D) It enables defense attorneys to serve less-privileged clients better. 
E) It provides defense attorneys with an opportunity to make more money. E

Question 2

Jonathan has been convicted of his third felony in a state with "three-strikes-and-you're-out" laws.He is most likely to be sentenced to ________.

Accepted Answer

A) 10 to 15 years in prison with parole 
B) five years in prison without parole 
C) capital punishment 
D) life imprisonment 
E) rigorous imprisonment for three years 
A) 10 to 15 years in prison with parole 
B) five years in prison without parole 
C) capital punishment 
D) life imprisonment 
E) rigorous imprisonment for three years D

Question 3

Parolees are offenders the courts have placed in community supervision rather than in prison.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

Since jury trials take more time than bench trials and also cost more, some states use juries of fewer than the standard 12 people for some criminal trials.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What are some of the informal processes that play a role in identifying good candidates for judgeships?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
In addition

Question 6

Original jurisdiction is defined as ________.

Accepted Answer

A) the power of a court to determine whether a law or government regulation is consistent with the state constitution or U.S.Constitution 
B) the authority of a court to annul a death sentence 
C) the authority of a court to hear a case "in the first instance" 
D) the power of an appellate court to review the decision made by a superior court 
E) the authority of an appellate court to overturn the decision of the superior court 
A) the power of a court to determine whether a law or government regulation is consistent with the state constitution or U.S.Constitution 
B) the authority of a court to annul a death sentence 
C) the authority of a court to hear a case "in the first instance" 
D) the power of an appellate court to review the decision made by a superior court 
E) the authority of an appellate court to overturn the decision of the superior court

Question 7

Briefly explain how some states help voters by providing them with a more balanced picture during retention elections for judges?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
To provide a

Question 8

What are some of the measures that states are considering in order to reduce the prison inmate population?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
The high cos

Question 9

A prosecutor is less likely to be criticized for dropping a case because of insufficient evidence than for filing a charge and failing to get a conviction.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

What are the three types of state courts and what are their primary responsibilities?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
The state co

Question 11

________ refers to a serious crime, the penalty for which can range from imprisonment in a penitentiary for more than a year to death.

Accepted Answer

A) A misdemeanor 
B) Tort 
C) A felony 
D) Conspiracy 
E) Attempted larceny 
A) A misdemeanor 
B) Tort 
C) A felony 
D) Conspiracy 
E) Attempted larceny

Question 12

When choosing judges for state courts in a federal system, there is a great tension between the goals of ________.

Accepted Answer

A) criminal judges and civil judges 
B) rationality and ethics 
C) the government and judiciary 
D) an executive branch and judiciary 
E) accountability and independence 
A) criminal judges and civil judges 
B) rationality and ethics 
C) the government and judiciary 
D) an executive branch and judiciary 
E) accountability and independence

Question 13

Which of the following consists of eligible adult citizens from outside the legal profession that decides on the outcome of a case?

Accepted Answer

A) prosecutors 
B) defense counsels 
C) public defenders 
D) juries 
E) judges 
A) prosecutors 
B) defense counsels 
C) public defenders 
D) juries 
E) judges

Question 14

The ultimate sentence available for a crime in the United States is life without the possibility of parole.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which of the following best describes minor courts of limited jurisdiction?

Accepted Answer

A) They are the courts that handle misdemeanors, traffic cases, and civil suits involving small amounts of money. 
B) They are the courts that administer common and criminal law. 
C) They are the courts that administer estates and handle matters related to wills. 
D) They are the courts that review decisions of trial courts. 
E) They are the courts that administer equity and statutory law. 
A) They are the courts that handle misdemeanors, traffic cases, and civil suits involving small amounts of money. 
B) They are the courts that administer common and criminal law. 
C) They are the courts that administer estates and handle matters related to wills. 
D) They are the courts that review decisions of trial courts. 
E) They are the courts that administer equity and statutory law.

Question 16

In an attempt to reduce costs, some states have been using ________, turning over the responsibility for operating prisons to nongovernmental firms on a contractual basis.

Accepted Answer

A) due process 
B) privatization 
C) plea bargaining 
D) the assigned counsel system 
E) pro bono 
A) due process 
B) privatization 
C) plea bargaining 
D) the assigned counsel system 
E) pro bono

Question 17

Which of the following is true with regard to state courts in the light of the recession that began in 2008?

Accepted Answer

A) Several state judges had suspended trying criminal cases to clear backlogs. 
B) The constitutional right to a speedy trial was suspended in most states. 
C) Funding cuts to state courts resulted in slowing down the justice system, especially regarding criminal cases. 
D) Funding cuts to state courts resulted in slowing down the justice system, especially regarding civil cases. 
E) Overall, only five states have actually reduced funding for their state court systems in 2011. 
A) Several state judges had suspended trying criminal cases to clear backlogs. 
B) The constitutional right to a speedy trial was suspended in most states. 
C) Funding cuts to state courts resulted in slowing down the justice system, especially regarding criminal cases. 
D) Funding cuts to state courts resulted in slowing down the justice system, especially regarding civil cases. 
E) Overall, only five states have actually reduced funding for their state court systems in 2011.

Question 18

Chief prosecutors are subject to strict supervision by state authorities and are accountable to them.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which of the following countries has the highest prison population in the world?

Accepted Answer

A) The United Kingdom 
B) The United States 
C) China 
D) Brazil 
E) South Africa 
A) The United Kingdom 
B) The United States 
C) China 
D) Brazil 
E) South Africa

Question 20

In the context of judicial selection systems, judges and attorneys tend to prefer ________.

Accepted Answer

A) merit selection plans 
B) appointment by the governor 
C) appointment by the senate 
D) election 
E) nomination 
A) merit selection plans 
B) appointment by the governor 
C) appointment by the senate 
D) election 
E) nomination

Which of the following is an advantage that plea bargaining offers to defense attorneys?

Jonathan has been convicted of his third felony in a state with "three-strikes-and-you're-out" laws.He is most likely to be sentenced to ________.

Parolees are offenders the courts have placed in community supervision rather than in prison.

Since jury trials take more time than bench trials and also cost more, some states use juries of fewer than the standard 12 people for some criminal trials.

What are some of the informal processes that play a role in identifying good candidates for judgeships?

Original jurisdiction is defined as ________.

Briefly explain how some states help voters by providing them with a more balanced picture during retention elections for judges?

What are some of the measures that states are considering in order to reduce the prison inmate population?

A prosecutor is less likely to be criticized for dropping a case because of insufficient evidence than for filing a charge and failing to get a conviction.

What are the three types of state courts and what are their primary responsibilities?

________ refers to a serious crime, the penalty for which can range from imprisonment in a penitentiary for more than a year to death.

When choosing judges for state courts in a federal system, there is a great tension between the goals of ________.

Which of the following consists of eligible adult citizens from outside the legal profession that decides on the outcome of a case?

The ultimate sentence available for a crime in the United States is life without the possibility of parole.

Which of the following best describes minor courts of limited jurisdiction?

In an attempt to reduce costs, some states have been using ________, turning over the responsibility for operating prisons to nongovernmental firms on a contractual basis.

Which of the following is true with regard to state courts in the light of the recession that began in 2008?

Chief prosecutors are subject to strict supervision by state authorities and are accountable to them.

Which of the following countries has the highest prison population in the world?

In the context of judicial selection systems, judges and attorneys tend to prefer ________.

State and Local Politics

American Federalism

State Constitutions: Charters or Straightjackets

Parties and Elections in the States

State Legislatures

State Governors

Local Governments and Metropolitics

Making State and Local Policy

People and Money in State and Local Governments

Filters

Exam 7: Judges and the Justice in the States

Which of the following is an advantage that plea bargaining offers to defense attorneys?

Jonathan has been convicted of his third felony in a state with "three-strikes-and-you're-out" laws.He is most likely to be sentenced to ________.

Parolees are offenders the courts have placed in community supervision rather than in prison.

Since jury trials take more time than bench trials and also cost more, some states use juries of fewer than the standard 12 people for some criminal trials.

What are some of the informal processes that play a role in identifying good candidates for judgeships?

Original jurisdiction is defined as ________.

Briefly explain how some states help voters by providing them with a more balanced picture during retention elections for judges?

What are some of the measures that states are considering in order to reduce the prison inmate population?

A prosecutor is less likely to be criticized for dropping a case because of insufficient evidence than for filing a charge and failing to get a conviction.

What are the three types of state courts and what are their primary responsibilities?

________ refers to a serious crime, the penalty for which can range from imprisonment in a penitentiary for more than a year to death.

When choosing judges for state courts in a federal system, there is a great tension between the goals of ________.

Which of the following consists of eligible adult citizens from outside the legal profession that decides on the outcome of a case?

The ultimate sentence available for a crime in the United States is life without the possibility of parole.

Which of the following best describes minor courts of limited jurisdiction?

In an attempt to reduce costs, some states have been using ________, turning over the responsibility for operating prisons to nongovernmental firms on a contractual basis.

Which of the following is true with regard to state courts in the light of the recession that began in 2008?

Chief prosecutors are subject to strict supervision by state authorities and are accountable to them.

Which of the following countries has the highest prison population in the world?

In the context of judicial selection systems, judges and attorneys tend to prefer ________.

State and Local Politics

American Federalism

State Constitutions: Charters or Straightjackets

Parties and Elections in the States

State Legislatures

State Governors

Local Governments and Metropolitics

Making State and Local Policy

People and Money in State and Local Governments

Filters