PSCI 2306 Exam 3 Questions with Correct Answers Latest Version 2025
Civil Law - Answers Laws regulating
interactions between
individuals; violations
of these laws are
called torts
Criminal Law - Answers Laws prohibiting
behavior the
government has
determined to be
harmful to society;
violations of these
laws are called crimes
Administrative Laws - Answers law established by the
bureaucracy, on behalf
of Congress
- Detailed rules and
regulations
- Created through the
rulemaking process
Statutory law - Answers laws
passed by a state or
federal (Congress)
legislature
- Reflect the will of the
,people
- Can address virtually any
kind of behavior
- Tell us how to behave
Constitutional Laws - Answers - law
stated in the Constitution or in
the body of judicial decisions
about the meaning of the
Constitution
- Establishes powers and
limitations of government
institutions
- Explain how government
institutions are supposed to
interact
- Provides guarantees for
citizens' basic rights
Original Jurisdiction - Answers - authority of a court to hear a case first
Appellate Jurisdiction - Answers the authority of a court to review
decisions made by lower courts
Structure and size of federal courts - Answers 1: US District Courts
(94 of them) Trial Courts
2: US Courts of Appeal
(12 Circuit Courts) Appellate
Courts
, 3: Supreme Court of the United
States Last Resort
Structure and size of Texas courts - Answers 1) Local Trial Courts
2) County Courts
3) District Courts
4) Courts of Appeal
5) Courts of Last Resort (2)
Texas Supreme Court
Court of Criminal Appeals
Texas state Judges - Answers In Texas all judges except for municipal judges are
elected in partisan elections.
• Most municipal judges are appointed
• District judges, county-level judges, and justices
of the peace serve for 4-year terms
• Appellate judges (includes Supreme Court and
Court of Criminal Appeals) serve for 6-year terms
Not very competitive
- Many run uncontested
- High rates of incumbency
• Low turnout (unless there's another election)
• Low information
• Prioritizes accountability over independence
Federal Judges - Answers All federal judges are appointed by the United States President, and must be
confirmed by the U.S. Senate, including the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. This lesson explains the
process of selecting federal judges and their tenure once selected.
Different than supreme court justices
Civil Law - Answers Laws regulating
interactions between
individuals; violations
of these laws are
called torts
Criminal Law - Answers Laws prohibiting
behavior the
government has
determined to be
harmful to society;
violations of these
laws are called crimes
Administrative Laws - Answers law established by the
bureaucracy, on behalf
of Congress
- Detailed rules and
regulations
- Created through the
rulemaking process
Statutory law - Answers laws
passed by a state or
federal (Congress)
legislature
- Reflect the will of the
,people
- Can address virtually any
kind of behavior
- Tell us how to behave
Constitutional Laws - Answers - law
stated in the Constitution or in
the body of judicial decisions
about the meaning of the
Constitution
- Establishes powers and
limitations of government
institutions
- Explain how government
institutions are supposed to
interact
- Provides guarantees for
citizens' basic rights
Original Jurisdiction - Answers - authority of a court to hear a case first
Appellate Jurisdiction - Answers the authority of a court to review
decisions made by lower courts
Structure and size of federal courts - Answers 1: US District Courts
(94 of them) Trial Courts
2: US Courts of Appeal
(12 Circuit Courts) Appellate
Courts
, 3: Supreme Court of the United
States Last Resort
Structure and size of Texas courts - Answers 1) Local Trial Courts
2) County Courts
3) District Courts
4) Courts of Appeal
5) Courts of Last Resort (2)
Texas Supreme Court
Court of Criminal Appeals
Texas state Judges - Answers In Texas all judges except for municipal judges are
elected in partisan elections.
• Most municipal judges are appointed
• District judges, county-level judges, and justices
of the peace serve for 4-year terms
• Appellate judges (includes Supreme Court and
Court of Criminal Appeals) serve for 6-year terms
Not very competitive
- Many run uncontested
- High rates of incumbency
• Low turnout (unless there's another election)
• Low information
• Prioritizes accountability over independence
Federal Judges - Answers All federal judges are appointed by the United States President, and must be
confirmed by the U.S. Senate, including the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. This lesson explains the
process of selecting federal judges and their tenure once selected.
Different than supreme court justices
