Question 1

The process of creatively designing a legislative district, usually to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party in power is called

Accepted Answer

A) redistricting. 
B) gerrymandering. 
C) reapportionment. 
D) malapportionment. 
A) redistricting. 
B) gerrymandering. 
C) reapportionment. 
D) malapportionment. B

Question 2

As of 2015, women make up over 50 percent of all legislators.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

New Hampshire has the largest state legislature, with 400 members.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

Reapportionment is the reallocation of seats in a legislative assembly.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The result of Baker v. Carr (1962)and Reynolds v. Sims (1964)was the fundamental concept

Accepted Answer

A) that legislatures were to be more responsive to state problems and therefore to meet a minimum of four months a year. 
B) of controls on lobbyists, who otherwise disrupted the business of the legislatures. 
C) of "one person, one vote," which led to the redistricting of legislative seats based on equity. 
D) of "one person, one vote," which prevented redistricting for political purposes. 
A) that legislatures were to be more responsive to state problems and therefore to meet a minimum of four months a year. 
B) of controls on lobbyists, who otherwise disrupted the business of the legislatures. 
C) of "one person, one vote," which led to the redistricting of legislative seats based on equity. 
D) of "one person, one vote," which prevented redistricting for political purposes.

Question 6

By requiring the governor to obtain legislative approval of budget cutbacks in the event of a revenue shortfall, some states have

Accepted Answer

A) increased legislative power relative to gubernatorial power. 
B) increased bureaucratic power relative to gubernatorial power. 
C) increased gubernatorial power relative to legislative power. 
D) reduced the overall power of state government relative to interest groups. 
A) increased legislative power relative to gubernatorial power. 
B) increased bureaucratic power relative to gubernatorial power. 
C) increased gubernatorial power relative to legislative power. 
D) reduced the overall power of state government relative to interest groups.

Question 7

A unicameral structure in the legislature is

Accepted Answer

A) considered less efficient, but it represents the traditional legislative form in this country. 
B) composed of a single chamber; only Iowa has such a legislative body. 
C) composed of a single chamber; only Nebraska has such a legislative body. 
D) a two-house structure. 
A) considered less efficient, but it represents the traditional legislative form in this country. 
B) composed of a single chamber; only Iowa has such a legislative body. 
C) composed of a single chamber; only Nebraska has such a legislative body. 
D) a two-house structure.

Question 8

Legislatures engage in three principal functions: policy making, representation, and oversight.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Sunset laws are statutes that

Accepted Answer

A) set automatic expiration dates for specified agencies and other organizations. 
B) require the legislature to end the session on a particular date. 
C) reduce the power of committee chairs in the agenda-setting role. 
D) end the legislative veto. 
A) set automatic expiration dates for specified agencies and other organizations. 
B) require the legislature to end the session on a particular date. 
C) reduce the power of committee chairs in the agenda-setting role. 
D) end the legislative veto.

Question 10

Discuss the three major functions of legislatures. Of the three, which do you consider most important? Why?

Accepted Answer

The three major functions of legislature

Question 11

Legislative bodies have both formal and informal leaders who

Accepted Answer

A) make the legislature run smoothly and accomplish its work. 
B) block the legislative initiatives of the bureaucracy. 
C) write all new legislation. 
D) perform only the housekeeping tasks of the legislatures, leaving substantive matters to the committee chairs. 
A) make the legislature run smoothly and accomplish its work. 
B) block the legislative initiatives of the bureaucracy. 
C) write all new legislation. 
D) perform only the housekeeping tasks of the legislatures, leaving substantive matters to the committee chairs.

Question 12

During the 1970s, fundamental reforms occurred throughout the country because state legislatures sought to increase their capacity and become more professional.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Discuss how state legislatures "reinvented themselves"; that is, what changes have occurred since the 1960s that have made many state legislatures more professional and capable of handling their duties?

Accepted Answer

Since the 1960s, state legislatures have

Question 14

Term limits were expected to produce all but which of the following results?

Accepted Answer

A) Increase the proportion of first-term legislators in any given session. 
B) End the domination of a chamber by powerful, entrenched veteran legislators. 
C) Reduce pay and shorten the legislative session. 
D) Shift power from the legislature to the governor and to lobbyists. 
A) Increase the proportion of first-term legislators in any given session. 
B) End the domination of a chamber by powerful, entrenched veteran legislators. 
C) Reduce pay and shorten the legislative session. 
D) Shift power from the legislature to the governor and to lobbyists.

Question 15

With all their institutional improvement, legislatures continue to struggle with their public image.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Following the 2015 elections, state legislatures exhibited which of the following characteristics?

Accepted Answer

A) About fifty percent of all legislators were women. 
B) Democrats held 43 percent of the seats while Republicans held 56 percent. 
C) Legislatures were less racially and ethnically diverse then they were in the previous decade. 
D) The legal profession accounted for about fifty percent of all legislators. 
A) About fifty percent of all legislators were women. 
B) Democrats held 43 percent of the seats while Republicans held 56 percent. 
C) Legislatures were less racially and ethnically diverse then they were in the previous decade. 
D) The legal profession accounted for about fifty percent of all legislators.

Question 17

Ideally, legislatures should be functional, accountable, informed, independent, and representative (the acronym is FAIIR).

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Unlike the U.S. Congress, committees do less work in state legislatures as the power is held by the top leadership.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

In Vieth v. Jubelirer (2004), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that

Accepted Answer

A) states must include minority districts to ensure minority representation. 
B) race cannot be considered in drawing district maps. 
C) reliance on partisan considerations is an appropriate redistricting option. 
D) Georgia had failed to include enough minority districts to pass court scrutiny. 
A) states must include minority districts to ensure minority representation. 
B) race cannot be considered in drawing district maps. 
C) reliance on partisan considerations is an appropriate redistricting option. 
D) Georgia had failed to include enough minority districts to pass court scrutiny.

Question 20

Explain the effects of the decisions in Baker v. Carr (1962)and Reynolds v. Sims (1964)in terms of the types of legislators elected to the state legislatures and their influence in policy outcomes since their rulings over 50 years ago.

Accepted Answer

The decisions in Baker v. Carr (1962) an

The process of creatively designing a legislative district, usually to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party in power is called

As of 2015, women make up over 50 percent of all legislators.

New Hampshire has the largest state legislature, with 400 members.

Reapportionment is the reallocation of seats in a legislative assembly.

The result of Baker v. Carr (1962)and Reynolds v. Sims (1964)was the fundamental concept

By requiring the governor to obtain legislative approval of budget cutbacks in the event of a revenue shortfall, some states have

A unicameral structure in the legislature is

Legislatures engage in three principal functions: policy making, representation, and oversight.

Sunset laws are statutes that

Discuss the three major functions of legislatures. Of the three, which do you consider most important? Why?

Legislative bodies have both formal and informal leaders who

During the 1970s, fundamental reforms occurred throughout the country because state legislatures sought to increase their capacity and become more professional.

Discuss how state legislatures "reinvented themselves"; that is, what changes have occurred since the 1960s that have made many state legislatures more professional and capable of handling their duties?

Term limits were expected to produce all but which of the following results?

With all their institutional improvement, legislatures continue to struggle with their public image.

Following the 2015 elections, state legislatures exhibited which of the following characteristics?

Ideally, legislatures should be functional, accountable, informed, independent, and representative (the acronym is FAIIR).

Unlike the U.S. Congress, committees do less work in state legislatures as the power is held by the top leadership.

In Vieth v. Jubelirer (2004), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that

Explain the effects of the decisions in Baker v. Carr (1962)and Reynolds v. Sims (1964)in terms of the types of legislators elected to the state legislatures and their influence in policy outcomes since their rulings over 50 years ago.

New Directions for State and Local Governments

Federalism and the States: Sorting Out Roles and Responsibilities

State Constitutions: the Fundamental Rules of State Government

Citizen Participation and Elections

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Campaigns

Governors: Power, Politics and Executive Leadership

Public Administration: Budgeting and Service Delivery

The Judiciary: Independence Vs Accountability

The Structure of Local Government

Local Leadership and Governance

State Local Relations

Taxing and Spending

Economic Development

Education Policy: Reading, Writing and Reform

Criminal Justice: Cops and Corrections

Social Welfare and Health Care Policy: Addressing Poverty and Sickness

Environmental Policy

Filters

Exam 6: State Legislatures

The process of creatively designing a legislative district, usually to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party in power is called

As of 2015, women make up over 50 percent of all legislators.

New Hampshire has the largest state legislature, with 400 members.

Reapportionment is the reallocation of seats in a legislative assembly.

The result of Baker v. Carr (1962)and Reynolds v. Sims (1964)was the fundamental concept

By requiring the governor to obtain legislative approval of budget cutbacks in the event of a revenue shortfall, some states have

A unicameral structure in the legislature is

Legislatures engage in three principal functions: policy making, representation, and oversight.

Sunset laws are statutes that

Discuss the three major functions of legislatures. Of the three, which do you consider most important? Why?

Legislative bodies have both formal and informal leaders who

During the 1970s, fundamental reforms occurred throughout the country because state legislatures sought to increase their capacity and become more professional.

Discuss how state legislatures "reinvented themselves"; that is, what changes have occurred since the 1960s that have made many state legislatures more professional and capable of handling their duties?

Term limits were expected to produce all but which of the following results?

With all their institutional improvement, legislatures continue to struggle with their public image.

Following the 2015 elections, state legislatures exhibited which of the following characteristics?

Ideally, legislatures should be functional, accountable, informed, independent, and representative (the acronym is FAIIR).

Unlike the U.S. Congress, committees do less work in state legislatures as the power is held by the top leadership.

In Vieth v. Jubelirer (2004), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that

Explain the effects of the decisions in Baker v. Carr (1962)and Reynolds v. Sims (1964)in terms of the types of legislators elected to the state legislatures and their influence in policy outcomes since their rulings over 50 years ago.

New Directions for State and Local Governments

Federalism and the States: Sorting Out Roles and Responsibilities

State Constitutions: the Fundamental Rules of State Government

Citizen Participation and Elections

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Campaigns

Governors: Power, Politics and Executive Leadership

Public Administration: Budgeting and Service Delivery

The Judiciary: Independence Vs Accountability

The Structure of Local Government

Local Leadership and Governance

State Local Relations

Taxing and Spending

Economic Development

Education Policy: Reading, Writing and Reform

Criminal Justice: Cops and Corrections

Social Welfare and Health Care Policy: Addressing Poverty and Sickness

Environmental Policy

Filters