Question 1

Regular sessions of the Texas legislature meet for

Accepted Answer

A)  140 days, in odd-numbered years. 
B)  150 days, every single year. 
C)  140 days in even-numbered years. 
D)  150 days, every four years. 
A)  140 days, in odd-numbered years. 
B)  150 days, every single year. 
C)  140 days in even-numbered years. 
D)  150 days, every four years.

Question 2

The number of senators in the Texas legislature is

Accepted Answer

A) 31. 
B) 40. 
C) 150. 
D) 400. 
A) 31. 
B) 40. 
C) 150. 
D) 400.

Question 3

Which of the following is not a power accorded to the lieutenant governor by the Texas Constitution or Senate rules?

Accepted Answer

A)  Voting on all bills before the Senate 
B)  Recognizing senators who wish to speak 
C)  Appointing the chairs of all Senate committees 
D)  Referring all bills to standing committees 
A)  Voting on all bills before the Senate 
B)  Recognizing senators who wish to speak 
C)  Appointing the chairs of all Senate committees 
D)  Referring all bills to standing committees

Question 4

To enact a law applying specifically to Collin county, the Texas legislature would pass a

Accepted Answer

A)  special bill. 
B)  local bill. 
C)  joint resolution. 
D)  concurrent resolution. 
A)  special bill. 
B)  local bill. 
C)  joint resolution. 
D)  concurrent resolution.

Question 5

A senator can attempt to delay or impede a bill's passage by speaking on the floor as long as physically possible, which is called

Accepted Answer

A)  filibustering. 
B)  gerrymandering. 
C)  invoking cloture. 
D)  senatorial privilege. 
A)  filibustering. 
B)  gerrymandering. 
C)  invoking cloture. 
D)  senatorial privilege.

Question 6

Educationally, most members of the Texas legislature have

Accepted Answer

A)  attended institutions of higher learning. 
B)  only completed high school. 
C)  received post-graduate degrees. 
D)  attended private, not public school. 
A)  attended institutions of higher learning. 
B)  only completed high school. 
C)  received post-graduate degrees. 
D)  attended private, not public school.

Question 7

The U.S. Supreme Court found in Reynolds v. Sims (1964) that

Accepted Answer

A)  legislative districts of bicameral state legislatures must have substantially equal populations. 
B)  only the lower house of state legislatures must have substantially equal populations. 
C)  all states must have bicameral legislatures. 
D)  some term limits for members of Congress violates the U.S. Constitution. 
A)  legislative districts of bicameral state legislatures must have substantially equal populations. 
B)  only the lower house of state legislatures must have substantially equal populations. 
C)  all states must have bicameral legislatures. 
D)  some term limits for members of Congress violates the U.S. Constitution.

Question 8

Describe the selection, duties, title, and tools of influence of the lieutenant governor in the legislative process. Explain why this position possesses considerable legislative power.

Accepted Answer

The lieutenant governor is an elected of

Question 9

After its first reading in the House of Representatives, a bill is

Accepted Answer

A)  debated and voted upon. 
B)  referred to the appropriate committee. 
C)  forwarded to the Senate for its action. 
D)  referred to the House Rules Committee. 
A)  debated and voted upon. 
B)  referred to the appropriate committee. 
C)  forwarded to the Senate for its action. 
D)  referred to the House Rules Committee.

Question 10

The primary function of the state auditor is to

Accepted Answer

A)  determine if there are sufficient funds to pay legislative appropriations. 
B)  determine if state funds have been spent by the state agencies in accordance with law. 
C)  determine how state revenues are to be invested. 
D)  authorize the payment from the Treasury to all persons with claims against the state. 
A)  determine if there are sufficient funds to pay legislative appropriations. 
B)  determine if state funds have been spent by the state agencies in accordance with law. 
C)  determine how state revenues are to be invested. 
D)  authorize the payment from the Treasury to all persons with claims against the state.

Question 11

Representatives occasionally engage in lengthy debates on bills, including bills that they do not oppose. This delaying action is called

Accepted Answer

A)  a filibuster. 
B)  cloture. 
C)  chubbing. 
D)  politics as usual. 
A)  a filibuster. 
B)  cloture. 
C)  chubbing. 
D)  politics as usual.

Question 12

A member of the Texas legislature would be immune from adverse judicial action if he

Accepted Answer

A)  libels a citizen during a speech at his hometown Rotary Club. 
B)  is arrested for intoxicated driving while the legislature is in session. 
C)  is arrested for causing an automobile accident during the session. 
D)  slanders in a speech during a legislative proceeding. 
A)  libels a citizen during a speech at his hometown Rotary Club. 
B)  is arrested for intoxicated driving while the legislature is in session. 
C)  is arrested for causing an automobile accident during the session. 
D)  slanders in a speech during a legislative proceeding.

Question 13

In Texas, the second 30 days of the legislative session are mainly reserved for

Accepted Answer

A)  any non-legislative duties. 
B)  introduction of new legislation. 
C)  action on concurrent resolutions. 
D)  standing committee action on bills. 
A)  any non-legislative duties. 
B)  introduction of new legislation. 
C)  action on concurrent resolutions. 
D)  standing committee action on bills.

Question 14

A two-thirds vote on the floor of the Texas Senate is required for any bill to be considered due to the use of a

Accepted Answer

A)  blocking bill. 
B)  discharge petition. 
C)  super quorum. 
D)  friendly filibuster. 
A)  blocking bill. 
B)  discharge petition. 
C)  super quorum. 
D)  friendly filibuster.

Question 15

Describe the various functions and duties of the Texas legislature. Identify those responsibilities that are unique to each chamber of the body. Identify any actions that must be initiated in one particular chamber.

Accepted Answer

The Texas Legislature is responsible for

Question 16

Which of the following groups dominates the membership of the Texas legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  Anglo Protestant men 
B)  Hispanic Catholic men 
C)  African American Protestant men 
D)  Anglo Catholic women 
A)  Anglo Protestant men 
B)  Hispanic Catholic men 
C)  African American Protestant men 
D)  Anglo Catholic women

Question 17

Which of the following is not correct regarding the lieutenant governor of Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  He or she is chosen by direct popular vote. 
B)  He or she is the presiding officer of the Texas Senate. 
C)  He or she is first in line of succession to fill a governorship vacancy. 
D)  He or she receives a constitutional salary of $46,000 per year. 
A)  He or she is chosen by direct popular vote. 
B)  He or she is the presiding officer of the Texas Senate. 
C)  He or she is first in line of succession to fill a governorship vacancy. 
D)  He or she receives a constitutional salary of $46,000 per year.

Question 18

The redistricting practice of drawing legislative districts to favor one group or party is called

Accepted Answer

A)  electioneering. 
B)  packing. 
C)  gerrymandering. 
D)  filibustering. 
A)  electioneering. 
B)  packing. 
C)  gerrymandering. 
D)  filibustering.

Question 19

The federal court case that applied the doctrine of "one-man, one-vote" to Texas was

Accepted Answer

A)  Reynolds v. Sims (1964). 
B)  Lells v. Kavenaugh (1991). 
C)  Kilgarlin v. Martin (1965). 
D)  Ruiz v. Estelle (1980). 
A)  Reynolds v. Sims (1964). 
B)  Lells v. Kavenaugh (1991). 
C)  Kilgarlin v. Martin (1965). 
D)  Ruiz v. Estelle (1980).

Question 20

When an amendment to the U.S. Constitution is proposed by Congress, the Texas legislature may vote for ratification using

Accepted Answer

A)  simple resolution passed by a two-thirds vote in both chambers. 
B)  joint resolution requiring a simple majority vote in each body. 
C)  joint resolution passed by both houses and a popular referendum. 
D)  concurrent resolution passed by a three-fifths vote and signed by the governor. 
A)  simple resolution passed by a two-thirds vote in both chambers. 
B)  joint resolution requiring a simple majority vote in each body. 
C)  joint resolution passed by both houses and a popular referendum. 
D)  concurrent resolution passed by a three-fifths vote and signed by the governor.

Regular sessions of the Texas legislature meet for

The number of senators in the Texas legislature is

Which of the following is not a power accorded to the lieutenant governor by the Texas Constitution or Senate rules?

To enact a law applying specifically to Collin county, the Texas legislature would pass a

A senator can attempt to delay or impede a bill's passage by speaking on the floor as long as physically possible, which is called

Educationally, most members of the Texas legislature have

The U.S. Supreme Court found in Reynolds v. Sims (1964) that

Describe the selection, duties, title, and tools of influence of the lieutenant governor in the legislative process. Explain why this position possesses considerable legislative power.

After its first reading in the House of Representatives, a bill is

The primary function of the state auditor is to

Representatives occasionally engage in lengthy debates on bills, including bills that they do not oppose. This delaying action is called

A member of the Texas legislature would be immune from adverse judicial action if he

In Texas, the second 30 days of the legislative session are mainly reserved for

A two-thirds vote on the floor of the Texas Senate is required for any bill to be considered due to the use of a

Describe the various functions and duties of the Texas legislature. Identify those responsibilities that are unique to each chamber of the body. Identify any actions that must be initiated in one particular chamber.

Which of the following groups dominates the membership of the Texas legislature?

Which of the following is not correct regarding the lieutenant governor of Texas?

The redistricting practice of drawing legislative districts to favor one group or party is called

The federal court case that applied the doctrine of "one-man, one-vote" to Texas was

When an amendment to the U.S. Constitution is proposed by Congress, the Texas legislature may vote for ratification using

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Local Governments

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Politics in Texas

The Politics of Interest Groups

The Executive Branch

Public Policy and Administration

The Judicial Branch

The Criminal Justice System

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Filters

Exam 8: The Legislative Branch

Regular sessions of the Texas legislature meet for

The number of senators in the Texas legislature is

Which of the following is not a power accorded to the lieutenant governor by the Texas Constitution or Senate rules?

To enact a law applying specifically to Collin county, the Texas legislature would pass a

A senator can attempt to delay or impede a bill's passage by speaking on the floor as long as physically possible, which is called

Educationally, most members of the Texas legislature have

The U.S. Supreme Court found in Reynolds v. Sims (1964) that

Describe the selection, duties, title, and tools of influence of the lieutenant governor in the legislative process. Explain why this position possesses considerable legislative power.

After its first reading in the House of Representatives, a bill is

The primary function of the state auditor is to

Representatives occasionally engage in lengthy debates on bills, including bills that they do not oppose. This delaying action is called

A member of the Texas legislature would be immune from adverse judicial action if he

In Texas, the second 30 days of the legislative session are mainly reserved for

A two-thirds vote on the floor of the Texas Senate is required for any bill to be considered due to the use of a

Describe the various functions and duties of the Texas legislature. Identify those responsibilities that are unique to each chamber of the body. Identify any actions that must be initiated in one particular chamber.

Which of the following groups dominates the membership of the Texas legislature?

Which of the following is not correct regarding the lieutenant governor of Texas?

The redistricting practice of drawing legislative districts to favor one group or party is called

The federal court case that applied the doctrine of "one-man, one-vote" to Texas was

When an amendment to the U.S. Constitution is proposed by Congress, the Texas legislature may vote for ratification using

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Local Governments

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Politics in Texas

The Politics of Interest Groups

The Executive Branch

Public Policy and Administration

The Judicial Branch

The Criminal Justice System

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Filters