Deck 2: Policing in the American Context

Question 1

Explain how the frankpledge system is different from modern policing.

Answer 1

The frankpledge system makes a small group of people mutually responsible for each other's behavior.This is more of a private system which is very different from the modern concept which is more of a public matter.In the frankpledge system each individual has responsibility limited to certain persons,while modern police must respond to any situation involving any individual that occurs during their time on duty.Women and children were not involved in the frankpledge system,where police are responsible for all members of society.Modern police are also required to assist in matters that have human origins like fires,while this was not a responsibility of the older system.

Question 2

Which of these was a key effect,on police departments,of passage of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994?

A)Stricter penalties for violent crimes,keeping criminals off the streets longer
B)Broadened powers for law enforcement,resulting in more convictions
C)Longer penalties for first time offenders,dissuading juveniles from criminal activity
D)Increased funding through grants to local agencies,allowing additional hiring

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Pick one of the federal agencies discussed in this chapter and complete some outside additional research on that agency and create a 10 slide PowerPoint regarding key or interesting facts learned regarding this agency that were not addressed in this chapter.

Answer 3

Answers will vary

Question 4

Which is the best definition of democracy?

A)A form of government that vests supreme authority in the people
B)A form of government with elected officials who hold power
C)A form of government with a Congress
D)A form of government with an executive,legislative,and judicial branch

Question 5

Sir Robert Peel's 7th Principle of Policing states,"Police,at all times,should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full -time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence." Which policing system described in this chapter most closely matches this description? Do you think this description holds TRUE today? Why or why not?

Question 6

Most local governments,no matter what their form,include which element?

A)A council
B)A weak mayor
C)A strong mayor
D)A city manager

Question 7

All of the following may be tasks of the police commission EXCEPT which one?

A)Reviewing department rules and regulations
B)Shadowing officers to evaluate their performance
C)Investigating charges of department wrongdoing
D)Reviewing the chief's proposed budget

Question 8

All of these are ways that other government officials and agencies can affect law enforcement agencies EXCEPT with one?

A)Hiring and firing the police chief
B)Making funding decisions
C)Making decisions that affect the activities of officers on patrol
D)Disciplining a police officer

Question 9

Trace the history of the relationship of the police with politicians in America.

Question 10

Which of the following most typically happens immediately after booking?

A)Bringing the suspect before a grand jury
B)Placing the suspect in a holding cell
C)Giving the suspect a breathalyzer test
D)Having the suspect participate in a lineup

Question 11

What distinguishes dual federalism from federalism?

A)There are two centers of power,rather than one
B)There are more meetings between levels of government
C)Powers not vested in the federal government are left to the states
D)Powers must be strictly divided,rather than shared out as needed

Question 12

How does federalism help facilitate democracy?

A)The federal government funds state activities
B)It promotes participation at all levels of government
C)Federal and state governments share powers in certain areas
D)It divides the work of government among many agencies at many levels

Question 13

Under what circumstances is city council likely to approve a mayor's desire to fire the police chief without specific cause?

A)When the local government is of the strong-mayor type
B)When the replacement is known,so the department won't be leaderless
C)When a new mayoral administration is taking office
D)When the police chief is older than sixty

Question 14

Explain the changes that have taken place in the Texas Rangers since their inception.

Question 15

The fact that Americans disagree over whether eavesdropping on domestic phone conversations by federal antiterrorism investigators is necessary for security or a threat to democratic values demonstrates which "pillar" of democracy?

A)Social,economic,and political pluralism
B)Sovereignty of the people
C)Constitutional limits on government
D)Guarantee of basic human rights

Question 16

In jurisdictions in which a grand jury is used,police officers may be called upon to do which of the following?

A)Testify before the grand jury
B)Guard the suspect
C)Present charges before the grand jury
D)Search the suspect

Question 17

Which is a feature of federalism?

A)Government based on the consent of the governed
B)Social,economic,and political pluralism
C)Power divided between a centralized governing body and various constituent units
D)Values of tolerance,pragmatism,cooperation,and compromise

Question 18

Which of the following does NOT affect whether a trial is held?

A)The defendant's plea in response to the charges
B)The grand jury's decision to bring charges
C)The prosecutor's decision to bring charges
D)The severity of the charge,minor or serious

Question 19

How long is the typical tenure of a law enforcement administrator?

A)Short
B)Medium
C)Long
D)Very long

Question 20

Which document ensures that the government of the United States cannot go too far without answering to the people?

A)The U.S.Constitution
B)The Bill of Rights
C)The Fourth Amendment
D)The Fifth Amendment

Question 21

The IUPA is more a lobbying organization than a professional association.

Question 22

Which of the following is a significant difference between the convening of a grand jury and a criminal trial?

A)Police officers do not testify before grand juries
B)The prosecutor has no role in a grand jury investigation
C)Suspects are not present and cannot offer testimony in their defense
D)Testimony presented before a grand jury cannot be used at the trial

Question 23

Federalism has resulted in a unified law enforcement system for the United States.

Question 24

Which of these is NOT a phase in the criminal justice process?

A)The arrest phase
B)The pretrial phase
C)The trial phase
D)The after trial phase

Question 25

Membership in the National Black Police Association is not open to officers who are not African-American.

Question 26

The International Union of Police Associations (IUPA)is more accurately described as a lobbying organization than as a professional organization.

Question 27

Which police organization has the mission of promoting "global and cultural friendship among peace officer"?

A)International Association of Chiefs of Police
B)National Black Police Association
C)International Union of Police Association
D)International Police Association

Question 28

Under what conditions does a prosecutor decide to bring charges against a suspect?

A)If the crime is severe enough to warrant it
B)If the evidence is persuasive enough to be compelling
C)If the community is disturbed enough to demand justice
D)If the suspect is likely enough to plead guilty

Question 29

All media coverage is inadequate when it comes to portrayals of the police.

Question 30

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)has a research center that conducts police-related research and posts the results,usually online.

Question 31

Citizens can influence law enforcement organizations through the political process.

Question 32

If the Constitution does not specifically vest a power in the states,it automatically belongs to the federal government.

Question 33

Citizens can influence law enforcement by all three branches of government.

Question 34

For every 4,000 to 5,000 citizens,there is roughly one sworn law enforcement officer.

Question 35

By far,the most significant environmental factor in law enforcement is the community.

Question 36

Which best describes the role of a public information officer?

A)A police department's spokesman,responsible for fielding media inquires
B)A police department's public relations person,responsible for department image
C)A police department's representative on the board of a news organization
D)A police department's specialist hired by media outlet

Question 37

Law enforcement cannot protect citizens without their support.

Question 38

Minority rights are one of the features of democracy.

Question 39

City councils are supposed to be apolitical.

Question 40

Police must meet specific legal requirements before they can enter a private residence.

Question 41

A confederation differs from a federalist system in having no ________ governing authority.

Question 42

Tensions in the relationships between levels of law enforcement (federal,state,and local)can result in tensions over jurisdiction known as ________ wars.

Question 43

A key difference between the council-manager form of local government and the mayor council form lies in whether or not they have a(n)________ manager.

Question 44

The second phase of the criminal justice system is the pretrial phase.

Question 45

The elements of the organizational environment for the police include the community,government agencies,other police and criminal justice agencies,and the ________.

Question 46

If a defendant pleads guilty,then a ________ is not necessary.

Question 47

In a large city,the executive body that sets policy for and oversees a police department is the police ________.

Question 48

Police officers work more closely with corrections officials than with prosecutors.

Question 49

A third of the population does not view the police favorably,and a significant percentage of that third is composed of ________.

Question 50

To fully describe the American government,one must refer both to the fact that it is a democracy and also mention that its government structure is characterized by ________.

Question 51

The branch of government that influences the police through decisions that "trickle down" is the ________ branch.

Question 52

Achieving a balance between simple reporting facts,on the one hand,and putting a "spin" on facts to create a desired impression is called ________ discipline.

Question 53

The investigating officers are involved in the sentencing phase of the criminal justice system.

Question 54

The blurring of one's professional mission is known as mission ________.

Question 55

Depending on the local form of government,the city council,the city manager,or the ________ may have authority over city operations including,to a greater or lesser,extent,the police department.

Question 56

Probation officers and parole officers are two types of ________ officials.

Question 57

The branch of government that influences the police through grant funding is the ________ branch.

Question 58

Controlling the presentation of information in order to achieve a desired public perception is known as ________ management.

Question 59

Peace officers may assist prosecutors as investigators.

Question 60

Police are least involved in the phase of the criminal justice system that takes place after the trial.