MISSOURI POST TEST STUDY GUIDE
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 STUDY GUIDE
WITH SOLVED QUESTIONS
◉ Preponderance of evidence. Answer: The amount of information
needed to decide in favor of a party in a civil suit. It consists of more
than fifty percent of the believable evidence in favor of the party's suit or
defense. One more fact than the other party has established.
◉ Proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Answer: The amount of information
needed to convict a person of a crime. It is enough evidence to eliminate
all reasonable objections to the prosecution's case against a suspect. It is
not absolute proof, but it is more than probable cause.
◉ Summons. Answer: Papers requiring you to appear in civil or criminal
court.
◉ Bill of Rights. Answer: First 10 amendments of the constitution that
guarantees rights to all U.S. citizens.
◉ Exceptions to the First Amendment. Answer: Obscenities, fighting
words, commercial speech, defamation: slander (spoken) or libel
(written), incendiary speech, and time, place, and manner restrictions on
speech.
,◉ Nexus. Answer: Connection
◉ Amendments typically applied to LEO's. Answer: 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th,
and 8th
◉ 4th Amendment. Answer: Citizens are protected against unreasonable
searches and seizures against their person, property, and papers.
◉ 5th Amendment. Answer: Protection against self-incrimination and
double jeopardy. Can not hold a person without presentment or
indictment of a grand jury.
◉ 6th Amendment. Answer: Right to a speedy and public trial. Right to
face accuser. Right to have counsel.
◉ 8th Amendment. Answer: Right not to have excessive bail, unjust
fines, or unjust punishment.
◉ 14th Amendment. Answer: Establishes primacy of federal government
over state government. U.S. citizen first.
◉ Branches of the Government. Answer: Legislative, Executive, Judicial
, ◉ Branch of government LEO's a part of. Answer: Executive, but
evidence is part of the judicial
◉ Exclusionary Rule. Answer: Any evidence which is obtained illegally
must be excluded from trial.
◉ Booking process. Answer: An administrative process which records
pedigree information and inventory of personal belongings is authorized.
This is not subject to Miranda.
◉ Twenty-Four Hour Rule. Answer: Statute that requires a suspect in
custody be released after twenty-four hours if no warrant is issued.
◉ Chain of Custody. Answer: Documenting a seized item's whereabouts
from seizure until introduction into court.
◉ Best Evidence Rule. Answer: States that the original of a piece of
documentary evidence must be entered as evidence, unless the original is
lost or destroyed through no fault of the party offering it.
◉ Exceptions to the Exclusionary Rule. Answer: Impeachment,
Independent Source, Inevitable Discovery, and Good Faith
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 STUDY GUIDE
WITH SOLVED QUESTIONS
◉ Preponderance of evidence. Answer: The amount of information
needed to decide in favor of a party in a civil suit. It consists of more
than fifty percent of the believable evidence in favor of the party's suit or
defense. One more fact than the other party has established.
◉ Proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Answer: The amount of information
needed to convict a person of a crime. It is enough evidence to eliminate
all reasonable objections to the prosecution's case against a suspect. It is
not absolute proof, but it is more than probable cause.
◉ Summons. Answer: Papers requiring you to appear in civil or criminal
court.
◉ Bill of Rights. Answer: First 10 amendments of the constitution that
guarantees rights to all U.S. citizens.
◉ Exceptions to the First Amendment. Answer: Obscenities, fighting
words, commercial speech, defamation: slander (spoken) or libel
(written), incendiary speech, and time, place, and manner restrictions on
speech.
,◉ Nexus. Answer: Connection
◉ Amendments typically applied to LEO's. Answer: 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th,
and 8th
◉ 4th Amendment. Answer: Citizens are protected against unreasonable
searches and seizures against their person, property, and papers.
◉ 5th Amendment. Answer: Protection against self-incrimination and
double jeopardy. Can not hold a person without presentment or
indictment of a grand jury.
◉ 6th Amendment. Answer: Right to a speedy and public trial. Right to
face accuser. Right to have counsel.
◉ 8th Amendment. Answer: Right not to have excessive bail, unjust
fines, or unjust punishment.
◉ 14th Amendment. Answer: Establishes primacy of federal government
over state government. U.S. citizen first.
◉ Branches of the Government. Answer: Legislative, Executive, Judicial
, ◉ Branch of government LEO's a part of. Answer: Executive, but
evidence is part of the judicial
◉ Exclusionary Rule. Answer: Any evidence which is obtained illegally
must be excluded from trial.
◉ Booking process. Answer: An administrative process which records
pedigree information and inventory of personal belongings is authorized.
This is not subject to Miranda.
◉ Twenty-Four Hour Rule. Answer: Statute that requires a suspect in
custody be released after twenty-four hours if no warrant is issued.
◉ Chain of Custody. Answer: Documenting a seized item's whereabouts
from seizure until introduction into court.
◉ Best Evidence Rule. Answer: States that the original of a piece of
documentary evidence must be entered as evidence, unless the original is
lost or destroyed through no fault of the party offering it.
◉ Exceptions to the Exclusionary Rule. Answer: Impeachment,
Independent Source, Inevitable Discovery, and Good Faith
