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POLI 203 Final Exam Questions And
Answers 100% Pass
How does the death penalty system established in Texas after Furman (1972) and ruled
constitutional by the Supreme Court in Jurek v. Texas (1976) differ from those established in
other states? - ANS In Texas, juries consider a set of "special circumstances," including
"future dangerousness" when deciding on the death sentencing. Other states follow a system
of mitigating and aggravating factors in considering death sentencing.
What is the Marshall Hypothesis? - ANS An argument, made by Justice Marshall positing that
support for the death penalty would decrease if the public had greater knowledge of the facts
surrounding the death penalty.
What makes a jury "death qualified?" - ANS That members of the jury are willing to consider
the possibility of sentencing a person to death
True or False: The nation's homicide "hot spots" are NOT where the executions are
concentrated. - ANS True
The states of __________ and _________ established death penalty systems with mandatory
death sentencing schemes. The Supreme Court ruled that these systems were unconstitutional.
- ANS North Carolina and Louisiana
Which of the following statements most accurately describes the "guilt" phase (the first trial) in
the bifurcated trial process?
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A. The burden of proof is on the defendant to convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that
they did not commit the crime.
B. The burden of proof is on the defendant to convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that
even if they committed the crime, they do not deserve a death sentence.
C. The burden of proof is on the state to convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that the
defendant committed the crime.
D. The burden of proof is on the state to convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that
there is a preponderance of evidence that the defendant is among the worst of the worst and
therefore deserves death. - ANS C. The burden of proof is on the state to convince the jury
beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime.
In which decade did homicides peak in the United States? - ANS 1990's
What regions of the country have the highest homicide rates? - ANS The Mississippi Delta
and the Mid-Atlantic Corridor
Select all that apply: Which of the following are grounds for appealing a death sentence ruling?
A. Suppressed or newly discovered evidence
B. Ineffective assistance of counsel
C. False instructions to the jury
D. Evidence of general pro-prosecution bias associated with death qualification. - ANS A.
Suppressed or newly discovered evidence
B. Ineffective assistance of counsel
C. False instructions to the jury
In the modern era (post-Gregg, 1976), capital prosecutions occur: - ANS At the discretion of
the district attorney, when a capital eligible homicide has occurred and the DA informs the
court that they intend to seek death.
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In what case did the Supreme Court ignore statistical evidence demonstrating disproportionate
death sentencing based on the race of the offender and the victim? - ANS McCleskey v.
Kemp (1987)
What was the central finding from the 2014 study by John Donahue titled "An Empirical
Evaluation of the of the Connecticut Death Penalty since 1973"? - ANS That the
egregiousness of the crimes committed does not predict who gets a death sentence.
True or False: There is little difference in the rate of homicide per population in executing and
non-executing states. - ANS True
In the wake of a homicide, the death penalty is most likely to be imposed if the victim is a
______________. - ANS White female
What group did the Court decide was ineligible for the death penalty in Atkins v. Virginia
(2002)? - ANS Those with severe intellectual deficiencies.
If ______________ were a state it would rank second in executions after Texas. - ANS Harris
County, TX (Houston).
True or False: There is a strong correlation between high homicide rates and high execution
rates - ANS False
Why are death sentences geographically concentrated, according to the book and lecture? -
ANS Some jurisdictions are more likely to seek death.
Which of the following is the most common aggravating circumstance across states in the US?
A. Criminal sexual conduct.
B. Risk to many.
POLI 203 Final Exam Questions And
Answers 100% Pass
How does the death penalty system established in Texas after Furman (1972) and ruled
constitutional by the Supreme Court in Jurek v. Texas (1976) differ from those established in
other states? - ANS In Texas, juries consider a set of "special circumstances," including
"future dangerousness" when deciding on the death sentencing. Other states follow a system
of mitigating and aggravating factors in considering death sentencing.
What is the Marshall Hypothesis? - ANS An argument, made by Justice Marshall positing that
support for the death penalty would decrease if the public had greater knowledge of the facts
surrounding the death penalty.
What makes a jury "death qualified?" - ANS That members of the jury are willing to consider
the possibility of sentencing a person to death
True or False: The nation's homicide "hot spots" are NOT where the executions are
concentrated. - ANS True
The states of __________ and _________ established death penalty systems with mandatory
death sentencing schemes. The Supreme Court ruled that these systems were unconstitutional.
- ANS North Carolina and Louisiana
Which of the following statements most accurately describes the "guilt" phase (the first trial) in
the bifurcated trial process?
, ©EVERLY 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
A. The burden of proof is on the defendant to convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that
they did not commit the crime.
B. The burden of proof is on the defendant to convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that
even if they committed the crime, they do not deserve a death sentence.
C. The burden of proof is on the state to convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that the
defendant committed the crime.
D. The burden of proof is on the state to convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that
there is a preponderance of evidence that the defendant is among the worst of the worst and
therefore deserves death. - ANS C. The burden of proof is on the state to convince the jury
beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime.
In which decade did homicides peak in the United States? - ANS 1990's
What regions of the country have the highest homicide rates? - ANS The Mississippi Delta
and the Mid-Atlantic Corridor
Select all that apply: Which of the following are grounds for appealing a death sentence ruling?
A. Suppressed or newly discovered evidence
B. Ineffective assistance of counsel
C. False instructions to the jury
D. Evidence of general pro-prosecution bias associated with death qualification. - ANS A.
Suppressed or newly discovered evidence
B. Ineffective assistance of counsel
C. False instructions to the jury
In the modern era (post-Gregg, 1976), capital prosecutions occur: - ANS At the discretion of
the district attorney, when a capital eligible homicide has occurred and the DA informs the
court that they intend to seek death.
, ©EVERLY 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
In what case did the Supreme Court ignore statistical evidence demonstrating disproportionate
death sentencing based on the race of the offender and the victim? - ANS McCleskey v.
Kemp (1987)
What was the central finding from the 2014 study by John Donahue titled "An Empirical
Evaluation of the of the Connecticut Death Penalty since 1973"? - ANS That the
egregiousness of the crimes committed does not predict who gets a death sentence.
True or False: There is little difference in the rate of homicide per population in executing and
non-executing states. - ANS True
In the wake of a homicide, the death penalty is most likely to be imposed if the victim is a
______________. - ANS White female
What group did the Court decide was ineligible for the death penalty in Atkins v. Virginia
(2002)? - ANS Those with severe intellectual deficiencies.
If ______________ were a state it would rank second in executions after Texas. - ANS Harris
County, TX (Houston).
True or False: There is a strong correlation between high homicide rates and high execution
rates - ANS False
Why are death sentences geographically concentrated, according to the book and lecture? -
ANS Some jurisdictions are more likely to seek death.
Which of the following is the most common aggravating circumstance across states in the US?
A. Criminal sexual conduct.
B. Risk to many.
