Overview of the Courts Flashcards
What is Common Law?
The principals, customs, and rules developed in England and early American history that provide the foundation for our judicial system.
In which branch of the government is the police department?
Executive
What is the Bill of Rights?
The first 10 amendments of the US Constitution
What is a civil case?
A case that deals with the private rights of individuals
What is jurisdiction?
Legal authority and power over certain types of cases and certain geographical locations
Who writes the Rules of Judicial Education for municipal judges?
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
What kind of courts are municipal courts?
Statutory courts
What is a home-rule city?
A city that has a least 5,000 in population and has adopted a home-rule charter
What is municipal court subject matter jurisdiction?
Only fine-only offenses that may also include any sanction that does not include confinement
The idea that government should operate under a set of written laws, rather than the rule of a single person is:
Rule of Law
True/False:
City ordinance violations may be filed in either the municipal court or the justice of the peace court.
False
True/False
The municipal court has concurrent jurisdiction with justice of the peace courts over fine-only state law offenses.
True
True/False
Since municipal courts operate at the city level of government, they do not have to follow the statutes of rules passed at the state and feral levels.
False
True/False
City managers may establish traffic revenue quotas as part of evaluating the court’s performance.
False
True/False
Municipal Courts have jurisdiction over civil cases.
True
True/False
In order of a city to pass an ordinance to create Municipal Court of Record they must have a population of at least 10,000 people.
False
True/False
The Texas Attorney General is the Chief Legal Office in Texas.
True
True/False
The State Comptroller of Public Accounts is prohibited by law from assisting Municipal Courts with questions relating to state court costs.
False
Define Jurisdiction
The power given the court by a constitution or legislative body to hear and decide cases.
What are the two highest appellate courts in Texas?
The Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Explain the difference between a civil and criminal case
