Criminal law questions
QUESTION 1
In the absence of a confession, mens rea is usually proven by circumstantial evidence
True
False
QUESTION 2
In the absence of a confession, intent must generally be proven by __________ evidence.
A. peremptory
B. exclusive
C. referential
D. circumstantial
QUESTION 3
The objective determination that the defendant’s act triggered a chain of events that ended as the bad result is called the
A. cause in fact
B. negligent cause
C. subsequent cause
D. total cause
QUESTION 4
Different levels of blameworthiness are indicated by different types of intent.
True
False
QUESTION 5
Fault that requires a “bad mind” in the actor is called
A. objective fault
B. subjective fault
C. no fault
D. concurrent fault
QUESTION 6
Liability without fault or in the absence of mens rea is called:
A. strict liability
B. harm causation
C. offending behavior
D. wanton liability
QUESTION 7
In strict liability cases, the prosecution has to prove only that the defendants committed a
A. voluntary act that caused the harm
B. voluntary civil act that caused harm
C. voluntary criminal act that caused harm
D. voluntary mistake that caused harm
QUESTION 8
General intent is the intent to…
A. commit a criminal act
B. cause harm
C. make the act cause the harm
D. have the mens rea
QUESTION 9
The mental element of a crime is called the:
A. mens rea
B. harm
C. actus reus
D. concurrence
QUESTION 10
Intent to commit a criminal act as defined in a statute is called
A. general intent
B. personal intent
C. blameless intent
D. negligent intent
QUESTION 11
Which of the following is not a type of culpability in the Model Penal Code?
A. purpose
B. knowledge
C. negligence
D. willfulness
QUESTION 12
What is the ONLY crime defined in the US Constitution?
A. murder
B. rape
C. treason
D. forgery
QUESTION 13
Another term for a criminal act is
A. mens rea
B. actus reus
C. de novo
D. pro bono
QUESTION 14
What is the only direct evidence of a defendant’s mens rea?
A. a confession
B. a motive
C. a signed statement
D. polygraph examination
QUESTION 15
Mistake is a defense whenever the mistake prevents the formation of any fault-based
A. prejudice
B. hate
C. animus
D. mens rea
QUESTION 16
Factual cause is also known as which of the folowing?
A. “but for” cause
B. legal cause
C. proximate cause
D. intervening cause
QUESTION 17
Proximate cause is a subjective question of fairness that appeals to the jury’s sense of:
A. justice
B. duty
C. fairness
D. guilt
QUESTION 18
Recklessness requires awareness of substantial and unjustifiable risks.
True
False
QUESTION 19
Ignorance of facts and law _____________ create a reasonable doubt that the prosecution has proved the element of criminal intent.
A. can
B. cannot
C. always
D. never
QUESTION 20
Mens rea translated means “evil state of mind.”
True
False
