POLI 203 Final EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% score (Newest 2025)
In what case did the Supreme Court ignore statistical
evidence demonstrating disproportionate death sentencing
based on the race of the offender and the victim?
A. Coker v. Georgia (1977)
B. Kennedy v. Louisiana (2008)
C. Jurek v. Texas (1976)
D. Atkins v. Virginia (2002)
E. McCleskey v. Kemp (1987) - Correct Answers ✅E.
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"?
A. That the egregiousness of the crimes committed does not
predict who gets a death sentence.
B. That death sentences are consistent across the judicial
district in the state.
C. That the race of the defendant has no effect on who gets a
death sentence.
D. That the race of the victim is unrelated to who gets a
death sentence.
E. That the vast majority of death sentences are overturned
on appeal. - Correct Answers ✅A. That the egregiousness
of the crimes committed does not predict who gets a death
sentence.
,POLI 203 Final EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% score (Newest 2025)
T or F: There is little difference in the rate of homicide per
population in executing and non-executing states. - Correct
Answers ✅True
In the wake of a homicide, the death penalty is most likely to
be imposed if the victim is a ______________.
A. White female.
B. White male.
C. Black female.
D. Black male. - Correct Answers ✅A. White female
What group did the Court decide was ineligible for the death
penalty in Atkins v. Virginia (2002)?
A. Those under 18.
B. Those with severe intellectual deficiencies.
C. Non-citizens.
D. Those with no previous criminal record.
E. Those with severe mental illness. - Correct Answers ✅B.
Those with severe intellectual deficiencies.
If ______________ were a state it would rank second in
executions after Texas.
A. Oklahoma County, OK (Oklahoma City).
B. Harris County, TX (Houston).
,POLI 203 Final EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% score (Newest 2025)
C. Travis County, TX (Austin).
D. Dallas County, TX (Dallas).
E. Bexar County, TX (San Antonio). - Correct Answers ✅B.
Harris County, TX (Houston)
T or F: There is a strong correlation between high homicide
rates and high execution rates - Correct Answers ✅False
Why are death sentences geographically concentrated,
according to the book and lecture?
A. Some jurisdictions weigh aggravators more heavily than
mitigators.
B. Some jurisdictions are more likely to seek death.
C. Some jurisdictions have higher homicide rates leading to
more death sentences.
D. Some jurisdictions have higher public support for the
death penalty leading to more death sentences. - Correct
Answers ✅B. 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.
C. Heinousness.
, POLI 203 Final EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% score (Newest 2025)
D. Crime committed for pecuniary gain.
E. Defendant criminal history. - Correct Answers ✅E.
Defendant criminal history
The Supreme Court in _________ ruled that the right to life
found in the state's bill of rights does not extend to those
sentenced to death?
A. Nebraska
B. Tennessee
C. Iowa
D. Kansas
E. Georgia - Correct Answers ✅D. Kansas
______________ has been the most common method of
execution in U.S. history (from colonial times to the present).
A. Hanging
B. Electrocution
C. Lethal injection
D. Firing squad
E. Lethal gas - Correct Answers ✅A. Hanging
______________ and ______________ fought a fierce battle over
whether alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) would
be used to execute inmates, as neither wanted his new
electrical system to be thought of as dangerous.
ANSWERS 100% score (Newest 2025)
In what case did the Supreme Court ignore statistical
evidence demonstrating disproportionate death sentencing
based on the race of the offender and the victim?
A. Coker v. Georgia (1977)
B. Kennedy v. Louisiana (2008)
C. Jurek v. Texas (1976)
D. Atkins v. Virginia (2002)
E. McCleskey v. Kemp (1987) - Correct Answers ✅E.
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"?
A. That the egregiousness of the crimes committed does not
predict who gets a death sentence.
B. That death sentences are consistent across the judicial
district in the state.
C. That the race of the defendant has no effect on who gets a
death sentence.
D. That the race of the victim is unrelated to who gets a
death sentence.
E. That the vast majority of death sentences are overturned
on appeal. - Correct Answers ✅A. That the egregiousness
of the crimes committed does not predict who gets a death
sentence.
,POLI 203 Final EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% score (Newest 2025)
T or F: There is little difference in the rate of homicide per
population in executing and non-executing states. - Correct
Answers ✅True
In the wake of a homicide, the death penalty is most likely to
be imposed if the victim is a ______________.
A. White female.
B. White male.
C. Black female.
D. Black male. - Correct Answers ✅A. White female
What group did the Court decide was ineligible for the death
penalty in Atkins v. Virginia (2002)?
A. Those under 18.
B. Those with severe intellectual deficiencies.
C. Non-citizens.
D. Those with no previous criminal record.
E. Those with severe mental illness. - Correct Answers ✅B.
Those with severe intellectual deficiencies.
If ______________ were a state it would rank second in
executions after Texas.
A. Oklahoma County, OK (Oklahoma City).
B. Harris County, TX (Houston).
,POLI 203 Final EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% score (Newest 2025)
C. Travis County, TX (Austin).
D. Dallas County, TX (Dallas).
E. Bexar County, TX (San Antonio). - Correct Answers ✅B.
Harris County, TX (Houston)
T or F: There is a strong correlation between high homicide
rates and high execution rates - Correct Answers ✅False
Why are death sentences geographically concentrated,
according to the book and lecture?
A. Some jurisdictions weigh aggravators more heavily than
mitigators.
B. Some jurisdictions are more likely to seek death.
C. Some jurisdictions have higher homicide rates leading to
more death sentences.
D. Some jurisdictions have higher public support for the
death penalty leading to more death sentences. - Correct
Answers ✅B. 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.
C. Heinousness.
, POLI 203 Final EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% score (Newest 2025)
D. Crime committed for pecuniary gain.
E. Defendant criminal history. - Correct Answers ✅E.
Defendant criminal history
The Supreme Court in _________ ruled that the right to life
found in the state's bill of rights does not extend to those
sentenced to death?
A. Nebraska
B. Tennessee
C. Iowa
D. Kansas
E. Georgia - Correct Answers ✅D. Kansas
______________ has been the most common method of
execution in U.S. history (from colonial times to the present).
A. Hanging
B. Electrocution
C. Lethal injection
D. Firing squad
E. Lethal gas - Correct Answers ✅A. Hanging
______________ and ______________ fought a fierce battle over
whether alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) would
be used to execute inmates, as neither wanted his new
electrical system to be thought of as dangerous.
