Deck 17: Section 2: The Death Penalty

Question 1

Even though a number of states, the federal government, and the military still recognize the death penalty, executions are relatively _____ in the United States.

A) common
B) rare
C) uncontroversial
D) difficult to sentence

Answer 1

rare

Question 2

During the process of death qualification, if a potential juror _____, he or she is excluded from serving on a capital jury.

A) is unwilling to consider execution as a punishment
B) had previously been a victim of a violent crime
C) had witnessed a violent death before
D) has any close relatives who died of unnatural causes

Answer 2

is unwilling to consider execution as a punishment

Question 3

Mitigating factors in capital cases are characteristics that make:

A) sure the death penalty will be fast and painless.
B) the need for execution clear.
C) a case for humane execution.
D) execution less appropriate.

Answer 3

execution less appropriate.

Question 4

Different factors come into play during the sentencing phase of a homicide case such as whether the sentence should be death or life in prison with no hope of parole. Circumstances that support the death sentence are called:

A) mitigating factors.
B) aggravating factors.
C) proof of mental disease.
D) degree of conviction.

Question 5

In the reforms set forth in Gregg v. Georgia, defendants on trial for capital murder ought to be tried by juries in:

A) one phase.
B) two phases.
C) three phases.
D) some of the cases.

Question 6

The definition of aggravated murder _____ across jurisdictions.

A) is consistent
B) varies
C) overlaps with other types of crimes
D) is not universally recognized

Question 7

In terms of frequency, it is noted in the text that fewer than _____ of murderers are executed.

A) 1%
B) 3%
C) 5%
D) 10%

Question 8

In Atkins v. Virginia (2002), the end of execution of convicted criminals deemed _____ was established.

A) mentally retarded
B) insane
C) to suffer from personality disorder
D) disadvantaged

Question 9

In Gregg v. Georgia, and in companion cases, the Supreme Court set up a series of reforms. These reforms are referred to as:

A) formal edicts.
B) recommendation statutes.
C) guided discretion statutes.
D) state laws.

Question 10

In the parts of the world that still recognize the death penalty, the methods of execution often include hanging and shooting, as well as:

A) beheading.
B) lethal injection.
C) the gas chamber.
D) being drawn and quartered.

Question 11

A defendant is deemed "guilty" or "not guilty" during _____ of a capital murder trial.

A) phase one
B) phase two
C) the early part
D) the final days

Question 12

The death-qualification process inquires about a jury member's willingness to consider execution in a trial. According to the text, the actual death-qualification process is often:

A) confusing.
B) inclusive.
C) consensus-building.
D) biasing.

Question 13

In Roper v. Simmons (2005), the Court ruled against juveniles being executed because they are inherently:

A) more impulsive than adults.
B) less impulsive than adults.
C) more culpable than adults.
D) less culpable than adults.

Question 14

In Kennedy v. Louisiana (2008), the Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty should not be applied to rapists, even to child rapists, unless:

A) the child was under 3 years of age.
B) the rape was an incest.
C) the child dies.
D) the child was seriously injured.

Question 15

Following Gregg v. Georgia and its companion cases, all death sentences are:

A) upheld.
B) considered unconstitutional.
C) deemed appropriate.
D) reviewed by state supreme courts.

Question 16

Constitutional challenges regarding the death penalty have taken place in many states. In Furman v. Georgia, the Supreme Court ruled that capital punishment was unconstitutional. Although the decision handed down did not _____ the death penalty, it _____ how it was carried it out.

A) abolish; modified
B) strongly support; encouraged
C) abolish; couldn't put any restrictions on
D) carry out; affirmed

Question 17

Excluding federal crimes, the only crime punishable by death is:

A) incest.
B) manslaughter.
C) aggravated murder.
D) aggravated rape.

Question 18

When it comes to the financial cost of the death penalty, the following is NOT true:

A) Maintaining the death penalty is far more expensive than abandoning it.
B) States could save huge amounts of money by abolishing the death penalty.
C) Money can be saved if a capital case defendant is eventually sentenced to life in prison.
D) Capital cases are more expensive at every stage of the legal process.

Question 19

More than 3,000 individuals are now on death row in the United States. It is most likely that the majority of them will:

A) be executed.
B) die of injuries sustained in prison.
C) die from lethal injection.
D) die of natural causes.

Question 20

The majority of democracies in the Western hemisphere do not recognize the death penalty. The United States, however, still does. In fact, _____ states have the death penalty.

A) 11
B) 23
C) 32
D) 45

Question 21

The purpose of the death penalty is seen as deterrence. However, many studies in the United States, as well as in other countries, have found _____ evidence to support the idea that capital punishment decreases the murder rate.

A) some
B) convincing
C) no clear
D) a great deal of

Question 22

Research shows that jurors find instructions given to them by the courts in capital murder trials difficult to understand and often confusing. As a result, their decisions are often influenced by:

A) what the judge wants to hear.
B) prejudice and racial bias.
C) the defense attorney's view.
D) the climate in the courtroom.

Question 23

According to the text, the race of the victim is possibly more important than the race of the defendant when it comes to sentencing. Research has shown that if the victim is white, the prosecution is more than _____ as likely to recommend the death penalty.

A) twice
B) three times
C) four times
D) five times

Question 24

Research by Lynch and Haney (2000) using identical cases but varying the race of the victim and the offender, found the following. When the defendant was black and the victim was white, _____ of mock jurors recommended a death sentence. When the defendant was white and the victim was black, _____ of mock jurors recommended a death sentence.

A) 34%; 5%
B) 44%; 60%
C) 54%; 40%
D) 64%; 80%

Question 25

Interestingly, there appears to be a tendency for an increase in murders for a short while following an execution. As with the preponderance of violence seen in the media, there may be desensitization to killing. This phenomenon is referred to as the _____ effect.

A) copycat
B) replication
C) simulation
D) brutalization

Question 26

Evidence of racial discrimination is most clear in cases involving:

A) murder.
B) assault.
C) drug dealing.
D) rape.

Question 27

Blacks who kill Whites are _____ likely to be charged with capital murder compared with Blacks who kill Blacks.

A) much more
B) much less
C) about equally as
D) not very

Question 28

Interestingly, research shows that, when mock jurors understand the instructions, there is no difference in the rate of death penalty recommendations based on race or ethnicity. However, when jurors do not fully comprehend the instructions, there is a clear bias against:

A) Black defendants.
B) White defendants.
C) Latino defendants.
D) Muslim defendants.

Question 29

Research on the possibility of errors in death penalty cases has examined every capital case in the United States over a 22-year period (Liebman et al., 2000). It was found that _____ of death sentences were reversed because of serious errors during trial.

A) 28%
B) 48%
C) 68%
D) 88%

Question 30

Regarding sentencing, Ellsworth and Mauro (1998, p. 720) stated that: "a person denied housing or employment has _____ protection from racial discrimination than a person whose life is at stake."

A) less
B) no less
C) more
D) no more