Question 1

Generally, all of the following crimes fall under the definition of aggravated murder, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Aggravated murder typically includes circumstances that make the crime more heinous, such as the murder of a police officer, murder during the commission of another felony, or murder for hire. Murder in a state of affect (a highly emotional state) does not usually qualify as aggravated murder because it lacks the premeditation or specific aggravating factors that elevate a murder to aggravated murder.

Question 2

The definition of aggravated murder punishable by death _____ across jurisdictions.

Accepted Answer

The definition of aggravated murder and the criteria for it being punishable by death vary significantly across different jurisdictions, reflecting differences in legal codes and interpretations.

Question 3

Capital crimes under the federal law include all of the following crimes, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Possessing bomb-making material and instructions, while illegal and potentially subject to severe penalties, is not classified as a capital crime under federal law. Capital crimes are those eligible for the death penalty, such as treason, murder of a government official, and certain acts of terrorism, including using weapons of mass destruction like anthrax.

Question 4

In Gregg v. Georgia (1976), and in companion cases, the Supreme Court set up a series of reforms. These reforms are referred to as the:

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court in Gregg v. Georgia and companion cases established reforms known as the "guided discretion statutes," which aimed to provide a more structured and standardized approach for juries in death penalty cases to prevent arbitrary and discriminatory sentencing.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is B because the majority of states, the federal government, and the military do recognize the death penalty, but executions are relatively rare in the United States.

Question 6

In most countries with the death penalty other than the United States, the common methods of execution include all of the following, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Lethal injection is predominantly used in the United States and is less common in other countries that still practice the death penalty. Other methods such as hanging, shooting, and beheading are more widely used in various parts of the world.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

Following Gregg v. Georgia and its companion cases, all death sentences are subject to mandatory review by state supreme courts to ensure fairness and consistency in the application of the death penalty. This process is designed to prevent arbitrary and discriminatory sentencing.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Aggravated murder is the only crime listed that is punishable by death in the United States at the state level, excluding federal crimes. The death penalty is reserved for the most serious of crimes, and aggravated murder, involving circumstances that increase its severity, qualifies under this criterion in states that have the death penalty.

Question 9

It is often asserted that the majority of Americans ____ the death penalty. However, if people are asked to compare the death penalty with an alternative of life imprisonment, most respondents choose _____ as a more acceptable punishment.

Accepted Answer

When surveys ask Americans to choose between the death penalty and life imprisonment as a punishment for serious crimes, a majority often express support for the death penalty in general. However, when given a choice between the two options, many of these same individuals find life imprisonment to be a more acceptable form of punishment, indicating a nuanced perspective on the issue.

Question 10

Four of the states listed below account for over 50% of executions in the United States. Which one of them is responsible for more than a third of all U.S. executions since 1976?

Accepted Answer

Texas is responsible for more than a third of all U.S. executions since 1976, significantly outpacing other states in the use of the death penalty.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

While capital cases are indeed more expensive, the statement that money can be saved if a capital case defendant is eventually sentenced to life in prison is misleading. The costs incurred during the trial and appeals process are already substantial, regardless of the final sentence.

Question 12

Politicians and conservative talk show hosts often state that most Americans favor the death penalty. However, this assertion:

Accepted Answer

The assertion likely relies on survey data that does not present life imprisonment as an alternative option to the death penalty, which could influence respondents' preferences.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

Aggravating factors are circumstances that increase the severity or culpability of a criminal act, including a homicide, and can lead to harsher sentences such as the death penalty. Mitigating factors, in contrast, would reduce the severity of the sentence.

Question 14

Constitutional challenges regarding the death penalty have taken place in many states. In Furman v. Georgia (1972), the Supreme Court ruled that capital punishment was unconstitutional. Although this decision _____ the death penalty, it _____ how it was carried out.

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court's decision in Furman v. Georgia did not abolish the death penalty outright but criticized its arbitrary and discriminatory application, leading to a de facto moratorium until states revised their death penalty statutes.

Question 15

Three of the four forms of execution below are only used in the United States. Which one is used in other countries that administer the death penalty?

Accepted Answer

Hanging is a form of execution used in various countries around the world, not just in the United States. The electric chair, gas chamber, and lethal injection are primarily associated with the United States.

Question 16

More than 2,900 individuals are now on death row in the United States. It is most likely that the majority of them will:

Accepted Answer

The majority of individuals on death row in the United States are more likely to die of natural causes due to the lengthy appeals process and various legal challenges that can delay executions for many years, often decades.

Question 17

In the reforms set forth in Gregg v. Georgia (1976), defendants on trial for capital murder must be tried by juries in:

Accepted Answer

In Gregg v. Georgia (1976), the Supreme Court mandated a bifurcated trial process for capital murder cases, consisting of two phases: the guilt phase and the penalty phase. This was to ensure a fair and thorough consideration of both the defendant's guilt and the appropriate punishment.

Question 18

Maintaining the death penalty is _____ than abandoning it. The costs of the death penalty are _____ if the defendant is eventually sentenced to life in prison.

Accepted Answer

Maintaining the death penalty is generally more expensive than abandoning it due to the costs associated with lengthy legal processes, appeals, and maintaining death row facilities. These costs are incurred even if the defendant is eventually sentenced to life in prison, as the legal expenses up to that point have already been spent.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Fewer than 1% of murderers are executed in the United States, reflecting the rarity of the death penalty's application relative to the number of homicides committed.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Phase one of a capital murder trial is where the determination of guilt or innocence is made.

Quiz 17: The Death Penalty

Generally, all of the following crimes fall under the definition of aggravated murder, EXCEPT:

The definition of aggravated murder punishable by death _____ across jurisdictions.

Capital crimes under the federal law include all of the following crimes, EXCEPT:

In Gregg v. Georgia (1976) , and in companion cases, the Supreme Court set up a series of reforms. These reforms are referred to as the:

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

In most countries with the death penalty other than the United States, the common methods of execution include all of the following, EXCEPT:

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

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

It is often asserted that the majority of Americans the death penalty. However, if people are asked to compare the death penalty with an alternative of life imprisonment, most respondents choose _ as a more acceptable punishment.

Four of the states listed below account for over 50% of executions in the United States. Which one of them is responsible for more than a third of all U.S. executions since 1976?

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

Politicians and conservative talk show hosts often state that most Americans favor the death penalty. However, this assertion:

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

Constitutional challenges regarding the death penalty have taken place in many states. In Furman v. Georgia (1972) , the Supreme Court ruled that capital punishment was unconstitutional. Although this decision _ the death penalty, it _ how it was carried out.

Three of the four forms of execution below are only used in the United States. Which one is used in other countries that administer the death penalty?

More than 2,900 individuals are now on death row in the United States. It is most likely that the majority of them will:

In the reforms set forth in Gregg v. Georgia (1976) , defendants on trial for capital murder must be tried by juries in:

Maintaining the death penalty is _ than abandoning it. The costs of the death penalty are _ if the defendant is eventually sentenced to life in prison.

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

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

Quiz 17: The Death Penalty

Generally, all of the following crimes fall under the definition of aggravated murder, EXCEPT:

The definition of aggravated murder punishable by death _____ across jurisdictions.

Capital crimes under the federal law include all of the following crimes, EXCEPT:

In Gregg v. Georgia (1976) , and in companion cases, the Supreme Court set up a series of reforms. These reforms are referred to as the:

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

In most countries with the death penalty other than the United States, the common methods of execution include all of the following, EXCEPT:

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

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

It is often asserted that the majority of Americans ____ the death penalty. However, if people are asked to compare the death penalty with an alternative of life imprisonment, most respondents choose _____ as a more acceptable punishment.

Four of the states listed below account for over 50% of executions in the United States. Which one of them is responsible for more than a third of all U.S. executions since 1976?

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

Politicians and conservative talk show hosts often state that most Americans favor the death penalty. However, this assertion:

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

Constitutional challenges regarding the death penalty have taken place in many states. In Furman v. Georgia (1972) , the Supreme Court ruled that capital punishment was unconstitutional. Although this decision _____ the death penalty, it _____ how it was carried out.

Three of the four forms of execution below are only used in the United States. Which one is used in other countries that administer the death penalty?

More than 2,900 individuals are now on death row in the United States. It is most likely that the majority of them will:

In the reforms set forth in Gregg v. Georgia (1976) , defendants on trial for capital murder must be tried by juries in:

Maintaining the death penalty is _____ than abandoning it. The costs of the death penalty are _____ if the defendant is eventually sentenced to life in prison.

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

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

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

It is often asserted that the majority of Americans the death penalty. However, if people are asked to compare the death penalty with an alternative of life imprisonment, most respondents choose _ as a more acceptable punishment.

Constitutional challenges regarding the death penalty have taken place in many states. In Furman v. Georgia (1972) , the Supreme Court ruled that capital punishment was unconstitutional. Although this decision _ the death penalty, it _ how it was carried out.

Maintaining the death penalty is _ than abandoning it. The costs of the death penalty are _ if the defendant is eventually sentenced to life in prison.