Deck 1: An Overview of the American Legal System

Question 1

The order maintenance function of police work is based on

A) Robert Peel's Nine Principles of Policing.
B) Hammurabi's code.
C) U.S. Constitution.
D) Aristotle's Virtues and Vices.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Police law enforcement involves any activity that is governed by a jurisdiction's

A) Enforcement code.
B) Administrative code.
C) Criminal code.
D) Safety code.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Order maintenance by the police most significantly impacts citizens because it affects their

A) Property value.
B) Quality of life.
C) Criminal liability.
D) Social behavior.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The largest segment of U.S. police responsibilities is given to

A) Local police agencies.
B) State police agencies.
C) Federal police agencies.
D) Specialized police task forces.

Question 5

There are more than ________ local police departments in the United States.

A) 59,250.
B) 44,600.
C) 31,000.
D) 12,500.

Question 6

One of the primary functions of courts is to

A) Engage in arbitration.
B) Resolve interpersonal disputes.
C) Enforce the law.
D) Maintain order.

Question 7

The majority of court responsibility exists at the ____________ level.

A) Local.
B) State.
C) Federal.
D) Appellate.

Question 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

A) Deterrence.
B) Reintegration.
C) Retribution.
D) Incapacitation.

Question 9

The corrections system is responsible for supervising

A) Individuals in prisons.
B) Individuals on parole.
C) Individuals on probation.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

Question 10

The agency responsible for operating federal prison facilities is the

A) U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
B) Corrections Corporation of America.
C) Federal Correctional Authority.
D) Superintendent of Prisons.

Question 11

The judicial branch of government is created by Article ____ of the U.S. Constitution.

A) I.
B) II.
C) III.
D) IV.

Question 12

Which of the following is not a power granted to the legislative branch of government?

A) Borrow money.
B) Appoint high-level executive officials.
C) Establish post offices.
D) Establish and support armies.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a power granted to the judicial branch of government?

A) Create courts inferior to the Supreme Court.
B) Review state court decisions.
C) Review the actions of state governments.
D) Review the actions of the federal government.

Question 14

The legal authority granted to courts to hear cases defines

A) Comity.
B) Default judgment.
C) Separation of powers.
D) Jurisdiction.

Question 15

A situation in which one government defers to the interests of another is known as

A) Comity.
B) Federalism.
C) Separation of powers.
D) Exercise of sovereignty.

Question 16

The primary distinction in a court's subject-matter jurisdiction is whether the court hears ________________ or _________________ matters.

A) Procedural or substantive.
B) Original or appellate.
C) Law or equity.
D) Civil or criminal.

Question 17

The courts known as inferior courts are

A) Courts of limited jurisdiction.
B) Courts of general jurisdiction.
C) Courts of appellate jurisdiction.
D) Administrative courts.

Question 18

In courts of appellate jurisdiction, cases are decided by

A) A jury.
B) One judge.
C) A panel of judges.
D) A magistrate.

Question 19

The primary relief that equity can provide to parties comes in the form of

A) Damages.
B) Criminal sentencing.
C) Fines and fees.
D) Injunctions.

Question 20

The system of justice in which the judge and prosecutor assist in gathering evidence against the defendant is a(n) ____________________ system of justice.

A) Adversarial.
B) Inquisitional.
C) Zero-sum.
D) Oppositional.

Question 21

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

Question 22

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

Question 23

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

Question 24

Nationwide there are about 6,000 sheriff's offices.

Question 25

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

Question 26

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

Question 27

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

Question 28

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

Question 29

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

Question 30

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

Question 31

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.

Question 32

Explain the distinctions between limited and general trial jurisdiction.

Question 33

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.

Question 34

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

Question 35

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

Question 36

These have narrow jurisdictions, many of which have been redefined or expanded since the 9/11 attacks.

A) Federalism
B) Jurisdiction
C) Equity
D) General deterrence
E) Specific deterrence
F) Rehabilitation
G) Retribution
H) Local police agencies
I) State police agencies
J) Federal police agencies

Question 37

Says that an injured party has the right to retaliate for the injury received.

A) Federalism
B) Jurisdiction
C) Equity
D) General deterrence
E) Specific deterrence
F) Rehabilitation
G) Retribution
H) Local police agencies
I) State police agencies
J) Federal police agencies

Question 38

Sheriff's offices are an example of ___________.

A) Federalism
B) Jurisdiction
C) Equity
D) General deterrence
E) Specific deterrence
F) Rehabilitation
G) Retribution
H) Local police agencies
I) State police agencies
J) Federal police agencies

Question 39

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.

A) Federalism
B) Jurisdiction
C) Equity
D) General deterrence
E) Specific deterrence
F) Rehabilitation
G) Retribution
H) Local police agencies
I) State police agencies
J) Federal police agencies

Question 40

Is in charge of highway patrol.

A) Federalism
B) Jurisdiction
C) Equity
D) General deterrence
E) Specific deterrence
F) Rehabilitation
G) Retribution
H) Local police agencies
I) State police agencies
J) Federal police agencies

Question 41

Provides a remedy when the law is unable to do so.

A) Federalism
B) Jurisdiction
C) Equity
D) General deterrence
E) Specific deterrence
F) Rehabilitation
G) Retribution
H) Local police agencies
I) State police agencies
J) Federal police agencies

Question 42

Says that a person who committed a crime should be punished to discourage others from violating the same law.

A) Federalism
B) Jurisdiction
C) Equity
D) General deterrence
E) Specific deterrence
F) Rehabilitation
G) Retribution
H) Local police agencies
I) State police agencies
J) Federal police agencies

Question 43

The power of a court to hear a case.

A) Federalism
B) Jurisdiction
C) Equity
D) General deterrence
E) Specific deterrence
F) Rehabilitation
G) Retribution
H) Local police agencies
I) State police agencies
J) Federal police agencies

Question 44

Strives to make offenders into productive members of society.

A) Federalism
B) Jurisdiction
C) Equity
D) General deterrence
E) Specific deterrence
F) Rehabilitation
G) Retribution
H) Local police agencies
I) State police agencies
J) Federal police agencies

Question 45

The separation of powers by different government levels.

A) Federalism
B) Jurisdiction
C) Equity
D) General deterrence
E) Specific deterrence
F) Rehabilitation
G) Retribution
H) Local police agencies
I) State police agencies
J) Federal police agencies