Question 1

Legislatures have been dubbed

Accepted Answer

A) the laboratories of democracy. 
B) the engines of democracy. 
C) growth machines. 
D) quorum seekers. 
A) the laboratories of democracy. 
B) the engines of democracy. 
C) growth machines. 
D) quorum seekers. B

Question 2

Multimember districts were once used as a means to

Accepted Answer

A) dilute minority voters' influence at the polls. 
B) reflect communities of interest,especially in rural areas. 
C) decrease the administrative costs of state legislatures. 
D) pack legislative districts with party members to win a majority of legislative seats. 
A) dilute minority voters' influence at the polls. 
B) reflect communities of interest,especially in rural areas. 
C) decrease the administrative costs of state legislatures. 
D) pack legislative districts with party members to win a majority of legislative seats. A

Question 3

Which of the following is true regarding women and minority state legislators?

Accepted Answer

A) African American and women legislators tend to be more interested in education and social welfare policies than their white counterparts. 
B) African American state legislators are less likely than white legislators to have started their political careers outside of government. 
C) Women and minority legislators often work against each other in the legislative arena. 
D) White legislators are less likely to have a pessimistic view of race relations than African American legislators. 
A) African American and women legislators tend to be more interested in education and social welfare policies than their white counterparts. 
B) African American state legislators are less likely than white legislators to have started their political careers outside of government. 
C) Women and minority legislators often work against each other in the legislative arena. 
D) White legislators are less likely to have a pessimistic view of race relations than African American legislators. A

Question 4

What do state lawmakers do to help solve the collective action problem?

Accepted Answer

A) Select political party leaders. 
B) Pass specific legislation outlawing the collective action problem. 
C) Sign a contract agreeing to mutually cooperate. 
D) Provide monetary incentives to their members to secure their votes. 
A) Select political party leaders. 
B) Pass specific legislation outlawing the collective action problem. 
C) Sign a contract agreeing to mutually cooperate. 
D) Provide monetary incentives to their members to secure their votes.

Question 5

What is the paradox regarding the competitiveness of state legislative elections?

Accepted Answer

A) At the aggregate level,state legislative elections appear to be extremely competitive,but at the district level they appear to be uncompetitive. 
B) When voters show majority support for one party,the other party remains in control. 
C) The competition is so great in state legislative elections that voter turnout is ultimately depressed on Election Day. 
D) Although a healthy democracy needs electoral competition,state legislative elections are extremely uncompetitive. 
A) At the aggregate level,state legislative elections appear to be extremely competitive,but at the district level they appear to be uncompetitive. 
B) When voters show majority support for one party,the other party remains in control. 
C) The competition is so great in state legislative elections that voter turnout is ultimately depressed on Election Day. 
D) Although a healthy democracy needs electoral competition,state legislative elections are extremely uncompetitive.

Question 6

The overall percentage of women in state legislatures

Accepted Answer

A) has declined steadily since 1971. 
B) nationally,today,is roughly 25 percent. 
C) indicates that women are represented in state legislatures equally across the states. 
D) is higher among Republicans than among Democrats. 
A) has declined steadily since 1971. 
B) nationally,today,is roughly 25 percent. 
C) indicates that women are represented in state legislatures equally across the states. 
D) is higher among Republicans than among Democrats.

Question 7

Two independent chambers,each having equal policy-making power,represent what type of legislature?

Accepted Answer

A) Dualistic-chamber 
B) Bicameral 
C) Multi-member 
D) Multi-chamber 
A) Dualistic-chamber 
B) Bicameral 
C) Multi-member 
D) Multi-chamber

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT true of the targeting electoral strategy utilized by legislative party leaders?

Accepted Answer

A) Leaders ensure that the minority party does not nominate qualified candidates. 
B) Leaders leverage their powerful positions to attract campaign contributions. 
C) Leaders specifically target competitive districts. 
D) Leaders hire and work closely with election consultants. 
A) Leaders ensure that the minority party does not nominate qualified candidates. 
B) Leaders leverage their powerful positions to attract campaign contributions. 
C) Leaders specifically target competitive districts. 
D) Leaders hire and work closely with election consultants.

Question 9

A quorum is

Accepted Answer

A) the minimum number of legislative members needed to conduct official business. 
B) the overruling of a governor's veto by a legislature. 
C) the minimum number of legislative members needed to stop a filibuster. 
D) a partisan advantage when gerrymandering legislative districts. 
A) the minimum number of legislative members needed to conduct official business. 
B) the overruling of a governor's veto by a legislature. 
C) the minimum number of legislative members needed to stop a filibuster. 
D) a partisan advantage when gerrymandering legislative districts.

Question 10

In 2010,which political party made historical gains in terms of its share of legislative seats?

Accepted Answer

A) Democratic 
B) Republican 
C) Green 
D) Libertarian 
A) Democratic 
B) Republican 
C) Green 
D) Libertarian

Question 11

Democratic state lawmakers are twice as likely to be

Accepted Answer

A) investment bankers than their Republican counterparts. 
B) female than their Republican counterparts. 
C) elected in Northeastern states than in Southern states. 
D) defeated by Independent and Third Party candidates today than they were a century ago. 
A) investment bankers than their Republican counterparts. 
B) female than their Republican counterparts. 
C) elected in Northeastern states than in Southern states. 
D) defeated by Independent and Third Party candidates today than they were a century ago.

Question 12

Discuss the merits and pitfalls of legislative term limits.Would your state legislature be better (or worse)with (or without)term limits? How?

Accepted Answer

Legislative term limits have both merits

Question 13

One of the main reasons individuals run for state legislature is

Accepted Answer

A) better working conditions. 
B) a boost in salary. 
C) plain ambition. 
D) fame and eventual fortune. 
A) better working conditions. 
B) a boost in salary. 
C) plain ambition. 
D) fame and eventual fortune.

Question 14

When it comes to gerrymandering of legislative districts,what have the courts ruled regarding the question of race and ethnicity? Have these decisions increased the representation of minorities in state legislatures?

Accepted Answer

The United States courts, particularly t

Question 15

Which of the following is the main source of bill ideas?

Accepted Answer

A) Media 
B) Constituents 
C) Lobbyists 
D) Legislators 
A) Media 
B) Constituents 
C) Lobbyists 
D) Legislators

Question 16

State legislative elections

Accepted Answer

A) are usually an important consideration for most voters on Election Day. 
B) rely heavily on paid advertising on TV and radio. 
C) are usually overshadowed by "up the ticket" races for Congress,governor,and president. 
D) tend to be extremely competitive at the district level. 
A) are usually an important consideration for most voters on Election Day. 
B) rely heavily on paid advertising on TV and radio. 
C) are usually overshadowed by "up the ticket" races for Congress,governor,and president. 
D) tend to be extremely competitive at the district level.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT true regarding state legislative majorities?

Accepted Answer

A) A party whose members control 51 percent of the seats or more will have disproportionately more control over legislative decisions than the other party. 
B) Gaining a majority in a chamber is the "Holy Grail" of parties in state legislatures. 
C) If the majority party wants to paint its chamber polka dot,it can. 
D) Frequently,the minority party is able to crack the majority party,creating a coalition government. 
A) A party whose members control 51 percent of the seats or more will have disproportionately more control over legislative decisions than the other party. 
B) Gaining a majority in a chamber is the "Holy Grail" of parties in state legislatures. 
C) If the majority party wants to paint its chamber polka dot,it can. 
D) Frequently,the minority party is able to crack the majority party,creating a coalition government.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a basic duty of the state legislature?

Accepted Answer

A) Oversee the activities of the federal judiciary. 
B) Create and revise state laws. 
C) Oversee the executive branch's implementation of the state's laws 
D) Represent the interests of the state's citizens before the state government. 
A) Oversee the activities of the federal judiciary. 
B) Create and revise state laws. 
C) Oversee the executive branch's implementation of the state's laws 
D) Represent the interests of the state's citizens before the state government.

Question 19

What is the most important predictor of how a legislator will vote on bills?

Accepted Answer

A) General ideology 
B) Party affiliation 
C) Committee jurisdiction 
D) Personal feelings 
A) General ideology 
B) Party affiliation 
C) Committee jurisdiction 
D) Personal feelings

Question 20

Which legislator is considered to be the most powerful in a state Senate?

Accepted Answer

A) Joint-committee chair 
B) Rank-and-file commander 
C) Majority party leader 
D) Lieutenant Governor 
A) Joint-committee chair 
B) Rank-and-file commander 
C) Majority party leader 
D) Lieutenant Governor

Legislatures have been dubbed

Multimember districts were once used as a means to

Which of the following is true regarding women and minority state legislators?

What do state lawmakers do to help solve the collective action problem?

What is the paradox regarding the competitiveness of state legislative elections?

The overall percentage of women in state legislatures

Two independent chambers,each having equal policy-making power,represent what type of legislature?

Which of the following is NOT true of the targeting electoral strategy utilized by legislative party leaders?

A quorum is

In 2010,which political party made historical gains in terms of its share of legislative seats?

Democratic state lawmakers are twice as likely to be

Discuss the merits and pitfalls of legislative term limits.Would your state legislature be better (or worse)with (or without)term limits? How?

One of the main reasons individuals run for state legislature is

When it comes to gerrymandering of legislative districts,what have the courts ruled regarding the question of race and ethnicity? Have these decisions increased the representation of minorities in state legislatures?

Which of the following is the main source of bill ideas?

State legislative elections

Which of the following is NOT true regarding state legislative majorities?

Which of the following is NOT a basic duty of the state legislature?

What is the most important predictor of how a legislator will vote on bills?

Which legislator is considered to be the most powerful in a state Senate?

Introduction to State and Local Politics

Federalism: State and Local Politics Within a Federal System

Participation,elections,and Representation

State and Local Direct Democracy

Political Parties

Interest Groups

Governors and the State Bureaucracy

State Courts and the Criminal Justice System

Fiscal Policy

The Structure of Local Governments

Local Land Use and Environmental Politics

Morality Policy

Social Welfare and Health Care Policy

Education Policy

Filters

Exam 7: State Legislatures

Legislatures have been dubbed

Multimember districts were once used as a means to

Which of the following is true regarding women and minority state legislators?

What do state lawmakers do to help solve the collective action problem?

What is the paradox regarding the competitiveness of state legislative elections?

The overall percentage of women in state legislatures

Two independent chambers,each having equal policy-making power,represent what type of legislature?

Which of the following is NOT true of the targeting electoral strategy utilized by legislative party leaders?

A quorum is

In 2010,which political party made historical gains in terms of its share of legislative seats?

Democratic state lawmakers are twice as likely to be

Discuss the merits and pitfalls of legislative term limits.Would your state legislature be better (or worse)with (or without)term limits? How?

One of the main reasons individuals run for state legislature is

When it comes to gerrymandering of legislative districts,what have the courts ruled regarding the question of race and ethnicity? Have these decisions increased the representation of minorities in state legislatures?

Which of the following is the main source of bill ideas?

State legislative elections

Which of the following is NOT true regarding state legislative majorities?

Which of the following is NOT a basic duty of the state legislature?

What is the most important predictor of how a legislator will vote on bills?

Which legislator is considered to be the most powerful in a state Senate?

Introduction to State and Local Politics

Federalism: State and Local Politics Within a Federal System

Participation,elections,and Representation

State and Local Direct Democracy

Political Parties

Interest Groups

Governors and the State Bureaucracy

State Courts and the Criminal Justice System

Fiscal Policy

The Structure of Local Governments

Local Land Use and Environmental Politics

Morality Policy

Social Welfare and Health Care Policy

Education Policy

Filters