Question 1

Which of the following best describes an assigned counsel system?

Accepted Answer

A) It is a certification by a public prosecutor that there is evidence to justify bringing named individuals to trial. 
B) It is a formal written statement from a grand jury charging an individual with an offense. 
C) It is an arrangement whereby attorneys are provided for people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys. 
D) It is an arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys. 
E) It is a term used to describe work that lawyers do for which they receive no fees. 
A) It is a certification by a public prosecutor that there is evidence to justify bringing named individuals to trial. 
B) It is a formal written statement from a grand jury charging an individual with an offense. 
C) It is an arrangement whereby attorneys are provided for people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys. 
D) It is an arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys. 
E) It is a term used to describe work that lawyers do for which they receive no fees.

Question 2

Maria Price, a prosecutor, is an advocate of plea bargaining.Which of the following views is she most likely to endorse?

Accepted Answer

A) Plea bargaining is effective mainly because it forces defenders to give up their rights. 
B) Plea bargaining is ineffective because it consists of the most undesirable aspects of a trial. 
C) Although plea bargaining is popular with many people, it significantly increases the risk of losing. 
D) Since plea bargaining reduces the possibility of every case being tried, it denies justice to the less privileged. 
E) Plea bargaining is effective because it helps avoid long and drawn-out trials. 
A) Plea bargaining is effective mainly because it forces defenders to give up their rights. 
B) Plea bargaining is ineffective because it consists of the most undesirable aspects of a trial. 
C) Although plea bargaining is popular with many people, it significantly increases the risk of losing. 
D) Since plea bargaining reduces the possibility of every case being tried, it denies justice to the less privileged. 
E) Plea bargaining is effective because it helps avoid long and drawn-out trials.

Question 3

What are some of the policies adopted by various states to overcome the problem of juries being filled only with the unemployed, older people, single people, and others that were unable to be excused?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
Most states

Question 4

Jack has just been arrested for traffic violation, a misdemeanor.Which of the following courts is most likely to handle this type of offence?

Accepted Answer

A) appellate court 
B) trial court of general jurisdiction 
C) minor court of limited jurisdiction 
D) state supreme court 
E) federal supreme court 
A) appellate court 
B) trial court of general jurisdiction 
C) minor court of limited jurisdiction 
D) state supreme court 
E) federal supreme court

Question 5

Campaign spending in judicial elections has sharply declined in recent times; between 2000 and 2009, candidate fund-raising reduced significantly compared with the previous decade.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Plea bargaining allows prosecutors to ________.

Accepted Answer

A) prolong trials pertaining to civil disputes 
B) avoid the dilemma of either incurring the expense of going to trial with a losing case or appearing to provide no service whatsoever to their clients 
C) avoid long and drawn-out trials 
D) effect harsh punishments for crimes 
E) prolong criminal trials 
A) prolong trials pertaining to civil disputes 
B) avoid the dilemma of either incurring the expense of going to trial with a losing case or appearing to provide no service whatsoever to their clients 
C) avoid long and drawn-out trials 
D) effect harsh punishments for crimes 
E) prolong criminal trials

Question 7

In Brown v.Plata, the Court upheld a lower federal court holding that ________.

Accepted Answer

A) most of the prisoners incarcerated in California prisons were innocent 
B) the prisons in the state of Florida were overcrowded 
C) overcrowding in the California prison system violated prisoners' rights to adequate health care 
D) the "three-strikes-and you're-out" law is unconstitutional 
E) the death penalty was unconstitutional 
A) most of the prisoners incarcerated in California prisons were innocent 
B) the prisons in the state of Florida were overcrowded 
C) overcrowding in the California prison system violated prisoners' rights to adequate health care 
D) the "three-strikes-and you're-out" law is unconstitutional 
E) the death penalty was unconstitutional

Question 8

Most decisions of trial judges are reviewed by appellate courts and are hence, not considered final.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

James, a 16-year-old boy from California, has just committed a minor offence and is expected to appear before a magistrate.In which of the following courts is he most likely to appear?

Accepted Answer

A) supreme court 
B) criminal court 
C) juvenile court 
D) small claims court 
E) court of appeal 
A) supreme court 
B) criminal court 
C) juvenile court 
D) small claims court 
E) court of appeal

Question 10

Compare and contrast the different methods of selecting judges.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
Judges and a

Question 11

Several state legislatures are reconsidering the death penalty in light of the increased use of DNA evidence that has exonerated a number of individuals convicted of crimes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Briefly describe the assigned counsel system.What role does it play in the U.S.criminal justice system?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
Many defenda

Question 13

A defendant refers to ________.

Accepted Answer

A) a member of the grand jury 
B) a person accused of committing a crime 
C) an offender who has been placed in community supervision rather than in prison 
D) a habitual offender 
E) a person released after serving a prison term and subject to being returned to prison for rule violations or other offenses 
A) a member of the grand jury 
B) a person accused of committing a crime 
C) an offender who has been placed in community supervision rather than in prison 
D) a habitual offender 
E) a person released after serving a prison term and subject to being returned to prison for rule violations or other offenses

Question 14

An indictment is ________.

Accepted Answer

A) a certification by a public prosecutor that there is evidence to justify bringing named individuals to trial 
B) a formal written statement from a grand jury charging an individual with an offense 
C) an arrangement whereby attorneys are provided for people accused of crimes that are unable to hire their own attorneys 
D) an arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes that are unable to hire their own attorneys 
E) a term used to describe work that lawyers do for which they receive no fees 
A) a certification by a public prosecutor that there is evidence to justify bringing named individuals to trial 
B) a formal written statement from a grand jury charging an individual with an offense 
C) an arrangement whereby attorneys are provided for people accused of crimes that are unable to hire their own attorneys 
D) an arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes that are unable to hire their own attorneys 
E) a term used to describe work that lawyers do for which they receive no fees

Question 15

What is true of sentencing?

Accepted Answer

A) Indeterminate sentencing is considerably rare in the United States with only two states actually using it. 
B) Habitual offender laws prescribe a mandatory life sentence after two felony convictions. 
C) Typically, judges do not set sentences. 
D) Judges enjoy considerable discretion in sentencing, and they frequently give different sentences to defendants convicted of the same crime. 
E) Retribution is the primary goal of contemporary sentencing. 
A) Indeterminate sentencing is considerably rare in the United States with only two states actually using it. 
B) Habitual offender laws prescribe a mandatory life sentence after two felony convictions. 
C) Typically, judges do not set sentences. 
D) Judges enjoy considerable discretion in sentencing, and they frequently give different sentences to defendants convicted of the same crime. 
E) Retribution is the primary goal of contemporary sentencing.

Question 16

In a plea bargain, the prosecution offers to reduce the seriousness of the charge and/or sentence if the defendant will enter a plea of guilty to a lesser crime.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The selection of citizens as jurors is limited to professionals working in the justice department.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

According to critics of plea bargaining, the practice forces defendants to give up their rights.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

List a few important characteristics of state judges.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
State courts

Question 20

Plea bargaining is less attractive to defense attorneys as it does not allow them to make more money.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Which of the following best describes an assigned counsel system?

Maria Price, a prosecutor, is an advocate of plea bargaining.Which of the following views is she most likely to endorse?

What are some of the policies adopted by various states to overcome the problem of juries being filled only with the unemployed, older people, single people, and others that were unable to be excused?

Jack has just been arrested for traffic violation, a misdemeanor.Which of the following courts is most likely to handle this type of offence?

Campaign spending in judicial elections has sharply declined in recent times; between 2000 and 2009, candidate fund-raising reduced significantly compared with the previous decade.

Plea bargaining allows prosecutors to ________.

In Brown v.Plata, the Court upheld a lower federal court holding that ________.

Most decisions of trial judges are reviewed by appellate courts and are hence, not considered final.

James, a 16-year-old boy from California, has just committed a minor offence and is expected to appear before a magistrate.In which of the following courts is he most likely to appear?

Compare and contrast the different methods of selecting judges.

Several state legislatures are reconsidering the death penalty in light of the increased use of DNA evidence that has exonerated a number of individuals convicted of crimes.

Briefly describe the assigned counsel system.What role does it play in the U.S.criminal justice system?

A defendant refers to ________.

An indictment is ________.

What is true of sentencing?

In a plea bargain, the prosecution offers to reduce the seriousness of the charge and/or sentence if the defendant will enter a plea of guilty to a lesser crime.

The selection of citizens as jurors is limited to professionals working in the justice department.

According to critics of plea bargaining, the practice forces defendants to give up their rights.

List a few important characteristics of state judges.

Plea bargaining is less attractive to defense attorneys as it does not allow them to make more money.

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 best describes an assigned counsel system?

Maria Price, a prosecutor, is an advocate of plea bargaining.Which of the following views is she most likely to endorse?

What are some of the policies adopted by various states to overcome the problem of juries being filled only with the unemployed, older people, single people, and others that were unable to be excused?

Jack has just been arrested for traffic violation, a misdemeanor.Which of the following courts is most likely to handle this type of offence?

Campaign spending in judicial elections has sharply declined in recent times; between 2000 and 2009, candidate fund-raising reduced significantly compared with the previous decade.

Plea bargaining allows prosecutors to ________.

In Brown v.Plata, the Court upheld a lower federal court holding that ________.

Most decisions of trial judges are reviewed by appellate courts and are hence, not considered final.

James, a 16-year-old boy from California, has just committed a minor offence and is expected to appear before a magistrate.In which of the following courts is he most likely to appear?

Compare and contrast the different methods of selecting judges.

Several state legislatures are reconsidering the death penalty in light of the increased use of DNA evidence that has exonerated a number of individuals convicted of crimes.

Briefly describe the assigned counsel system.What role does it play in the U.S.criminal justice system?

A defendant refers to ________.

An indictment is ________.

What is true of sentencing?

In a plea bargain, the prosecution offers to reduce the seriousness of the charge and/or sentence if the defendant will enter a plea of guilty to a lesser crime.

The selection of citizens as jurors is limited to professionals working in the justice department.

According to critics of plea bargaining, the practice forces defendants to give up their rights.

List a few important characteristics of state judges.

Plea bargaining is less attractive to defense attorneys as it does not allow them to make more money.

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