This week completes our look at the branches of Texas Government. We read through Article 5 of the Texas Supreme Court and take a walk through the criminal justice process in the state.
Here are the study guide questions for the Texas Constitutional Judiciary:
- What specific courts are established in the Texas Constitution?
- Be able to answer basic facts about them, as well as who is able to hold judicial office in the state.
- Which are appellate courts? Which are trial courts?
- What institutions exist to oversee the behavior of judges in the state?
- Which positions in the judiciary are elected?
- What role does the legislature and executive have in the judicial process?
- What types of state courts exist in the local area?
- Be familiar with district courts.
- What is the difference between a regular - generalized - court and a special district court?
- What does the Constitution say about the judicial districting process?
And here are the study guide questions for the section on the criminal justice system:
- What is a good definition for criminal justice?
- What types of laws exist? What is a felony and a misdemeanor? How many exist?
- What helps explain why some things are criminalized from time to time?
- What does each branch of government so in the criminal justice system?
- Be able to explain the basic design of the law enforcement system in the state.
- How is law enforcement organized at the state, county and city level?
- What roles do different judges play in the criminal justice process?
- What is a grand and petite jury? What is a jury pool? What is voi dire?
- What general issues are involved in the jury process?
- What is a plea bargain?
- What relationship does the legal profession have with the criminal justice system?
