POLI 203 - Final Exam 2025 Questions
and Answers
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? - ANSWER✔✔-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? - ANSWER✔✔-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?" - ANSWER✔✔-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. -
ANSWER✔✔-True
The states of __________ and _________ established death penalty systems with mandatory death
sentencing schemes. The Supreme Court ruled that these systems were unconstitutional. -
ANSWER✔✔-North Carolina and Louisiana
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,Which of the following statements most accurately describes the "guilt" phase (the first trial) in the
bifurcated trial process?
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. - ANSWER✔✔-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? - ANSWER✔✔-1990's
What regions of the country have the highest homicide rates? - ANSWER✔✔-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
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, C. False instructions to the jury
D. Evidence of general pro-prosecution bias associated with death qualification. - ANSWER✔✔-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: - ANSWER✔✔-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.
In what case did the Supreme Court ignore statistical evidence demonstrating disproportionate death
sentencing based on the race of the offender and the victim? - ANSWER✔✔-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"? - ANSWER✔✔-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. - ANSWER✔✔-True
In the wake of a homicide, the death penalty is most likely to be imposed if the victim is a
______________. - ANSWER✔✔-White female
What group did the Court decide was ineligible for the death penalty in Atkins v. Virginia (2002)? -
ANSWER✔✔-Those with severe intellectual deficiencies.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
and Answers
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? - ANSWER✔✔-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? - ANSWER✔✔-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?" - ANSWER✔✔-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. -
ANSWER✔✔-True
The states of __________ and _________ established death penalty systems with mandatory death
sentencing schemes. The Supreme Court ruled that these systems were unconstitutional. -
ANSWER✔✔-North Carolina and Louisiana
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Which of the following statements most accurately describes the "guilt" phase (the first trial) in the
bifurcated trial process?
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. - ANSWER✔✔-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? - ANSWER✔✔-1990's
What regions of the country have the highest homicide rates? - ANSWER✔✔-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
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, C. False instructions to the jury
D. Evidence of general pro-prosecution bias associated with death qualification. - ANSWER✔✔-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: - ANSWER✔✔-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.
In what case did the Supreme Court ignore statistical evidence demonstrating disproportionate death
sentencing based on the race of the offender and the victim? - ANSWER✔✔-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"? - ANSWER✔✔-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. - ANSWER✔✔-True
In the wake of a homicide, the death penalty is most likely to be imposed if the victim is a
______________. - ANSWER✔✔-White female
What group did the Court decide was ineligible for the death penalty in Atkins v. Virginia (2002)? -
ANSWER✔✔-Those with severe intellectual deficiencies.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
