Deck 9: The Legal System

Question 1

Why is plea bargaining sometimes used in the US legal system?

A) So that the state will exercise mercy on the defendant
B) Because it avoids a prison sentence for the accused
C) Because it enables the accused to escape the death penalty.
D) Because the defendant will be granted bail
E) So that the defendant can avoid the heaviest penalties

Answer 1

E
Explanation: Most may be true in a limited number of cases but the most common reason is E. It can also sometimes save the state considerable money by avoiding a costly trial.

Question 2

Against which of the following does the 1791 Bill of Rights protect citizens?

A) Imprisonment without just cause
B) The death penalty
C) Charges of treason
D) Charges of sedition
E) Excessive fines

Answer 2

A,E
Explanation: Despite offering what appear to be clearly laid out protections, the courts have to interpret the Bill of Rights and individual amendments in individual court cases.

Question 3

What is meant by "common law"?

A) Laws made by the Congress
B) Laws adopted from England
C) Laws approved by the president
D) Laws made by the Supreme Court
E) Laws made by judges

Answer 3

E
Explanation: Common law originates in decisions of judges, who generally decide matters by adopting principles of law and decisions (precedents) from previous rulings in similar cases.

Question 4

What % of cases are heard by federal courts?

A) 2 percent
B) 12 percent
C) 22 percent
D) 32 percent
E) 42 percent

Question 5

How can Supreme Court decisions be overruled?

A) By the president
B) By the Chief Justice
C) Congress could legislate
D) The Court could reverse its decision
E) By the Attorney General

Question 6

Which amendment is invoked by those opposed to restrictions on gun ownership?

A) The Second Amendment
B) The Fifth Amendment
C) The First Amendment
D) The Thirteenth Amendment
E) The Nineteenth Amendment

Question 7

What is "impeachment"?

A) A reward offered by Congress
B) An honor conferred by the president
C) Financial compensation offered to the victim of a crime
D) The dismissal of a Presidential cabinet member
E) Trial in the Senate for gross misconduct

Question 8

What percentage of white Americans express significant confidence in American law enforcement?

A) 0 percent
B) 19 percent
C) 56 percent
D) 65 percent
E) 79 percent

Question 9

Under what circumstances is it common for a lawyer to receive a contingency fee?

A) When the client dies during the trial
B) When being paid by results in a civil injury case
C) When the client has absconded
D) When a client is unable to be in court on a particular day
E) When a client has been acquitted

Question 10

Which type of offence dominates the statistics?

A) Sex crimes
B) Firearms offences
C) Property crime
D) Murders
E) Gun crimes

Question 11

Which age group is the most criminally inclined?

A) Ten to 14
B) 12 - 16
C) 15 - 19
D) 17 -23
E) 25 - 31

Question 12

Which US state carries out the most executions?

A) California
B) Connecticut
C) New York
D) Texas
E) Utah

Question 13

What percentage of US citizens support the death penalty for murder?

A) 16 percent
B) 23 percent
C) 41 percent
D) 54 percent
E) 62 percent

Question 14

In which branch of the government is the Department of Justice?

A) Executive
B) Homeland Security
C) Judiciary
D) Legislative
E) None as it is independent

Question 15

Why is law such an important part of American life?

Question 16

Examine the arguments for and against either the death penalty or gun control.

Question 17

In what areas and through which mechanisms are federal legal institutions able to override laws and legal decisions made at state level?

Question 18

Explain the historical concept of "impeachment"? Does this concept have any continuing relevance in recent US history? Discuss recent examples of impeachments case in their social and political context.