Ch.1 An Overview Of The American Legal System Full Test Bank

CHAPTER 1

Multiple-Choice Questions

1. The order maintenance function of police work is based on
   1. Robert Peel’s Nine Principles of Policing.
   2. Hammurabi’s code.
   3. U.S. Constitution.
   4. Aristotle’s Virtues and Vices.
2. Police law enforcement involves any activity that is governed by a jurisdiction’s
   1. Enforcement code.
   2. Administrative code.
   3. Criminal code.
   4. Safety code.
3. Order maintenance by the police most significantly impacts citizens because it affects their
   1. Property value.
   2. Quality of life.
   3. Criminal liability.
   4. Social behavior.
4. The largest segment of U.S. police responsibilities is given to
   1. Local police agencies.
   2. State police agencies.
   3. Federal police agencies.
   4. Specialized police task forces.
5. There are more than ________ local police departments in the United States.
   1. 59,250.
   2. 44,600.
   3. 31,000.
   4. 12,500.
6. One of the primary functions of courts is to
   1. Engage in arbitration.
   2. Resolve interpersonal disputes.
   3. Enforce the law.
   4. Maintain order.
7. The majority of court responsibility exists at the ____________ level.
   1. Local.
   2. State.
   3. Federal.
   4. Appellate.
8. The sentencing principle that strives to prepare released offenders to return to society as changed individuals who are capable of obeying the law is
   1. Deterrence.
   2. Reintegration.
   3. Retribution.
   4. Incapacitation.
9. The corrections system is responsible for supervising
   1. Individuals in prisons.
   2. Individuals on parole.
   3. Individuals on probation.
   4. All of the above.
   5. None of the above.
10. The agency responsible for operating federal prison facilities is the
    1. U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
    2. Corrections Corporation of America.
    3. Federal Correctional Authority.
    4. Superintendent of Prisons.
11. The judicial branch of government is created by Article ____ of the U.S. Constitution.
    1. I.
    2. II.
    3. III.
    4. IV.
12. Which of the following is not a power granted to the legislative branch of government?
    1. Borrow money.
    2. Appoint high-level executive officials.
    3. Establish post offices.
    4. Establish and support armies.
13. Which of the following is not a power granted to the judicial branch of government?
    1. Create courts inferior to the Supreme Court.
    2. Review state court decisions.
    3. Review the actions of state governments.
    4. Review the actions of the federal government.
14. The legal authority granted to courts to hear cases defines
    1. Comity.
    2. Default judgment.
    3. Separation of powers.
    4. Jurisdiction.
15. A situation in which one government defers to the interests of another is known as
    1. Comity.
    2. Federalism.
    3. Separation of powers.
    4. Exercise of sovereignty.
16. The primary distinction in a court’s subject-matter jurisdiction is whether the court hears ________________ or _________________ matters.
    1. Procedural or substantive.
    2. Original or appellate.
    3. Law or equity.
    4. Civil or criminal.
17. The courts known as inferior courts are
    1. Courts of limited jurisdiction.
    2. Courts of general jurisdiction.
    3. Courts of appellate jurisdiction.
    4. Administrative courts.
18. In courts of appellate jurisdiction, cases are decided by
    1. A jury.
    2. One judge.
    3. A panel of judges.
    4. A magistrate.
19. The primary relief that equity can provide to parties comes in the form of
    1. Damages.
    2. Criminal sentencing.
    3. Fines and fees.
    4. Injunctions.
20. The system of justice in which the judge and prosecutor assist in gathering evidence against the defendant is a(n) ____________________ system of justice.
    1. Adversarial.
    2. Inquisitional.
    3. Zero-sum.
    4. Oppositional.

True/False Questions

1. Within the criminal justice system the courts account for nearly half of the justice expenditures nationwide.

a. True

b. False

2. Law enforcement is the function most often associated with the police.

a. True

b. False

3. The primary reason police agencies were created was for order maintenance.

a. True

b. False

4. Nationwide there are about 6,000 sheriff’s offices.

a. True

b. False

5. Most of the prison inmates in the United States are held at the state level.

a. True

b. False

6. Having three distinct, coequal branches of government is described by the doctrine of separation of powers.

a. True

b. False

7. The separation of powers doctrine by level of government is known as checks and balances.

a. True

b. False

8. The geographical jurisdiction in which courts hold legal authority is known as venue.

a. True

b. False

9. The states of Oklahoma and Texas have divided courts of last resort.

a. True

b. False

10. The Anglo-American system of justice is known as an accusatory or inquisitional system.

a. True

b. False

True/False Answer Key

1. b

2. a

3. a

4. b

5. a

6. a

7. b

8. a

9. a

10. b

Essay Questions

1. Describe the avenues that are available through the court system for a party that has been unsuccessful in a court of original jurisdiction. In your answer, include a discussion of who will hear the case and what matters can be considered.

2. Explain the distinctions between limited and general trial jurisdiction.

3. The United States has one of the most decentralized justice systems in the world. Explain this statement and what function(s) this fulfills in our society.

4. Is an adversarial or inquisitional justice system most effective for bringing about the goal of justice? Explain your reasoning.

5. Explain the concept of federalism and what impact this has on the distribution and balance of power in the United States.

Matching Questions

1. These have narrow jurisdictions, many of which have been redefined or expanded since the 9/11 attacks.
2. Says that an injured party has the right to retaliate for the injury received.
3. Sheriff’s offices are an example of ___________.
4. Says a person who committed a crime should be punished for his or her own benefit and does not assume that the punishment will have an effect on others.
5. Is in charge of highway patrol.
6. Provides a remedy when the law is unable to do so.
7. Says that a person who committed a crime should be punished to discourage others from violating the same law.
8. The power of a court to hear a case.
9. Strives to make offenders into productive members of society.
10. The separation of powers by different government levels.