POLI 203 Final Exam Questions &
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? - ANSWERSIn 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? - ANSWERSAn 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?" - ANSWERSThat 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. - ANSWERSTrue
The states of __________ and _________ established death penalty systems with mandatory
death sentencing schemes. The Supreme Court ruled that these systems were unconstitutional.
- ANSWERSNorth Carolina and Louisiana
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. - ANSWERSC. 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? - ANSWERS1990's
What regions of the country have the highest homicide rates? - ANSWERSThe 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. - ANSWERSA.
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: - ANSWERSAt 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? - ANSWERSMcCleskey 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"? - ANSWERSThat 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. - ANSWERSTrue
In the wake of a homicide, the death penalty is most likely to be imposed if the victim is a
______________. - ANSWERSWhite female
What group did the Court decide was ineligible for the death penalty in Atkins v. Virginia
(2002)? - ANSWERSThose with severe intellectual deficiencies.
If ______________ were a state it would rank second in executions after Texas. -
ANSWERSHarris County, TX (Houston).
True or False: There is a strong correlation between high homicide rates and high execution
rates - ANSWERSFalse
Why are death sentences geographically concentrated, according to the book and lecture? -
ANSWERSSome 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.
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? - ANSWERSIn 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? - ANSWERSAn 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?" - ANSWERSThat 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. - ANSWERSTrue
The states of __________ and _________ established death penalty systems with mandatory
death sentencing schemes. The Supreme Court ruled that these systems were unconstitutional.
- ANSWERSNorth Carolina and Louisiana
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. - ANSWERSC. 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? - ANSWERS1990's
What regions of the country have the highest homicide rates? - ANSWERSThe 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. - ANSWERSA.
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: - ANSWERSAt 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? - ANSWERSMcCleskey 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"? - ANSWERSThat 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. - ANSWERSTrue
In the wake of a homicide, the death penalty is most likely to be imposed if the victim is a
______________. - ANSWERSWhite female
What group did the Court decide was ineligible for the death penalty in Atkins v. Virginia
(2002)? - ANSWERSThose with severe intellectual deficiencies.
If ______________ were a state it would rank second in executions after Texas. -
ANSWERSHarris County, TX (Houston).
True or False: There is a strong correlation between high homicide rates and high execution
rates - ANSWERSFalse
Why are death sentences geographically concentrated, according to the book and lecture? -
ANSWERSSome 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.
