Question 1

As a result of new judicial federalism, ________.

Accepted Answer

A) federal courts have restricted states' bills of rights 
B) state courts have used their state bill of rights to provide more protection than found in the U.S.Bill of Rights 
C) state courts have restricted the use of their state bill of rights 
D) state courts have looked for ways to circumvent the protections offered under the U.S.Bill of Rights 
E) the Supreme Court has used the federal Bill of Rights to provide more protection than found in the bill of rights of several states 
A) federal courts have restricted states' bills of rights 
B) state courts have used their state bill of rights to provide more protection than found in the U.S.Bill of Rights 
C) state courts have restricted the use of their state bill of rights 
D) state courts have looked for ways to circumvent the protections offered under the U.S.Bill of Rights 
E) the Supreme Court has used the federal Bill of Rights to provide more protection than found in the bill of rights of several states

Question 2

Outline the processes used to amend state constitutions.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
Amendments t

Question 3

Which of the following best describes typical state constitutions?

Accepted Answer

A) They exactly reproduce the U.S.Bill of Rights. 
B) They do not include preambles. 
C) They are subject only to the broad limitations of the U.S.Constitution. 
D) They do not include a specific separation of powers. 
E) They do not address judicial review. 
A) They exactly reproduce the U.S.Bill of Rights. 
B) They do not include preambles. 
C) They are subject only to the broad limitations of the U.S.Constitution. 
D) They do not include a specific separation of powers. 
E) They do not address judicial review.

Question 4

The South Dakota Constitution declares that providing hail insurance is a public purpose and authorizes the legislature to levy a tax to do so.The Alabama Constitution authorizes the legislature to indemnify peanut farmers for losses incurred as a result of Aspergillus flavus (a fungus) and freeze damage in peanuts.These examples illustrate the fact that ________.

Accepted Answer

A) state constitutions are flexible and can be tailored to the actual needs of citizens 
B) the process by which the U.S.Constitution is amended should be relaxed so that it can be more reflective of issues confronting citizens in the present 
C) many state constitutions deal with issues that would be more properly addressed by legislation 
D) farmers' interests are not addressed in the U.S.Constitution 
E) state constitutions must protect the interests of different groups of citizens by giving them special privileges 
A) state constitutions are flexible and can be tailored to the actual needs of citizens 
B) the process by which the U.S.Constitution is amended should be relaxed so that it can be more reflective of issues confronting citizens in the present 
C) many state constitutions deal with issues that would be more properly addressed by legislation 
D) farmers' interests are not addressed in the U.S.Constitution 
E) state constitutions must protect the interests of different groups of citizens by giving them special privileges

Question 5

A legislature may appoint a revision commission to make recommendations for constitutional change that have no force until acted on by the legislature and approved by the voters, except in the state of ________.

Accepted Answer

A) Minnesota 
B) Massachusetts 
C) Louisiana 
D) Florida 
E) Texas 
A) Minnesota 
B) Massachusetts 
C) Louisiana 
D) Florida 
E) Texas

Question 6

What was the result of the vote in Texas in 1975 on the new proposed constitutional amendments?

Accepted Answer

A) The new constitution was approved by a 2-to-1 margin. 
B) The new constitution was defeated by a 2-to-1 margin. 
C) The proposed new constitution was so controversial it never came to a vote. 
D) The new constitution was approved by a 4-to-1 margin. 
E) The new constitution was defeated by a 4-to-1 margin. 
A) The new constitution was approved by a 2-to-1 margin. 
B) The new constitution was defeated by a 2-to-1 margin. 
C) The proposed new constitution was so controversial it never came to a vote. 
D) The new constitution was approved by a 4-to-1 margin. 
E) The new constitution was defeated by a 4-to-1 margin.

Question 7

The first state constitutions were outgrowths of the U.S.Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

What is the difference between revising a constitution and amending it?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
The distinct

Question 9

Which of the following is true about constitutional initiative petitions?

Accepted Answer

A) They tend to be used for controversial issues. 
B) They are approved at higher rates than are amendments proposed by state legislatures. 
C) They are currently not permitted in any U.S.state. 
D) They typically do not bring about any organized opposition. 
E) They have consistently been ruled as being unconstitutional by the U.S.Supreme Court. 
A) They tend to be used for controversial issues. 
B) They are approved at higher rates than are amendments proposed by state legislatures. 
C) They are currently not permitted in any U.S.state. 
D) They typically do not bring about any organized opposition. 
E) They have consistently been ruled as being unconstitutional by the U.S.Supreme Court.

Question 10

The first state constitutions ________.

Accepted Answer

A) were outgrowths of colonial charters 
B) were all patterned after the U.S.Constitution 
C) have all been replaced by new constitutions 
D) were viewed as inadequate by the framers of the U.S.Constitution 
E) all required formal approval by the U.S.Congress to go into effect 
A) were outgrowths of colonial charters 
B) were all patterned after the U.S.Constitution 
C) have all been replaced by new constitutions 
D) were viewed as inadequate by the framers of the U.S.Constitution 
E) all required formal approval by the U.S.Congress to go into effect

Question 11

The most recent Alabama constitution was adopted in ________.

Accepted Answer

A) 2004 
B) 1778 
C) 1865 
D) 1993 
E) 1902 
A) 2004 
B) 1778 
C) 1865 
D) 1993 
E) 1902

Question 12

Which of the following was NOT a result of the 1978 Hawaii constitutional convention and vote?

Accepted Answer

A) a two-term limit for the governor and lieutenant governor 
B) the legalization of marijuana 
C) more open primaries 
D) partial public funding for election campaigns 
E) spending limits 
A) a two-term limit for the governor and lieutenant governor 
B) the legalization of marijuana 
C) more open primaries 
D) partial public funding for election campaigns 
E) spending limits

Question 13

The number of signatures required on constitutional initiative petitions ________.

Accepted Answer

A) is set by federal law 
B) varies from state to state 
C) is typically not specified 
D) is determined by the U.S.Supreme Court 
E) is independently negotiated by state legislatures and governors for each petition 
A) is set by federal law 
B) varies from state to state 
C) is typically not specified 
D) is determined by the U.S.Supreme Court 
E) is independently negotiated by state legislatures and governors for each petition

Question 14

Define and briefly explain judicial interpretation.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
Judicial int

Question 15

In 2004, an amendment to eliminate language in Alabama's constitution that requires segregated schools and a poll tax was _______.

Accepted Answer

A) narrowly defeated 
B) overwhelmingly defeated 
C) narrowly approved 
D) overwhelmingly approved 
E) never put on the ballot; it did not make it through the legislature 
A) narrowly defeated 
B) overwhelmingly defeated 
C) narrowly approved 
D) overwhelmingly approved 
E) never put on the ballot; it did not make it through the legislature

Question 16

In 2004, which of the following arguments was put forward against eliminating language in the Alabama Constitution that required segregated schools and poll taxes?

Accepted Answer

A) It would lead to over-crowding of public schools and higher student-to-teacher ratios. 
B) It would result in a right to a public education, thus opening the door to higher taxes in order to increase school spending. 
C) It proposed fundamental changes to the constitution but lacked a thorough voter education campaign. 
D) There was no genuine driving force behind the proposal as most voters were apathetic about the issue. 
E) The proposal was put forward by narrow-based groups who lacked broad support for their views. 
A) It would lead to over-crowding of public schools and higher student-to-teacher ratios. 
B) It would result in a right to a public education, thus opening the door to higher taxes in order to increase school spending. 
C) It proposed fundamental changes to the constitution but lacked a thorough voter education campaign. 
D) There was no genuine driving force behind the proposal as most voters were apathetic about the issue. 
E) The proposal was put forward by narrow-based groups who lacked broad support for their views.

Question 17

A device that permits voters to place specific amendments to a state constitution on the ballot by petition is called a ________.

Accepted Answer

A) plebiscite 
B) home rule charter 
C) constitutional convention 
D) constitutional initiative petition 
E) revision commission 
A) plebiscite 
B) home rule charter 
C) constitutional convention 
D) constitutional initiative petition 
E) revision commission

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT true about amendments proposed by constitutional initiative petitions?

Accepted Answer

A) They tend to be used for controversial issues. 
B) They tend to bring about organized opposition. 
C) In recent years, they have been approved more often than those proposed by legislatures. 
D) They are often proposed by narrow-based groups. 
E) They are sometimes introduced with the real purpose of launching educational campaigns. 
A) They tend to be used for controversial issues. 
B) They tend to bring about organized opposition. 
C) In recent years, they have been approved more often than those proposed by legislatures. 
D) They are often proposed by narrow-based groups. 
E) They are sometimes introduced with the real purpose of launching educational campaigns.

Question 19

Which state's bill of rights predates the national bill of rights?

Accepted Answer

A) Virginia 
B) Arkansas 
C) Wisconsin 
D) Ohio 
E) Texas 
A) Virginia 
B) Arkansas 
C) Wisconsin 
D) Ohio 
E) Texas

Question 20

Briefly explain the roles of legislative proposals and revision commissions in amending state constitutions.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
All states p

As a result of new judicial federalism, ________.

Outline the processes used to amend state constitutions.

Which of the following best describes typical state constitutions?

A legislature may appoint a revision commission to make recommendations for constitutional change that have no force until acted on by the legislature and approved by the voters, except in the state of ________.

What was the result of the vote in Texas in 1975 on the new proposed constitutional amendments?

The first state constitutions were outgrowths of the U.S.Constitution.

What is the difference between revising a constitution and amending it?

Which of the following is true about constitutional initiative petitions?

The first state constitutions ________.

The most recent Alabama constitution was adopted in ________.

Which of the following was NOT a result of the 1978 Hawaii constitutional convention and vote?

The number of signatures required on constitutional initiative petitions ________.

Define and briefly explain judicial interpretation.

In 2004, an amendment to eliminate language in Alabama's constitution that requires segregated schools and a poll tax was _______.

In 2004, which of the following arguments was put forward against eliminating language in the Alabama Constitution that required segregated schools and poll taxes?

A device that permits voters to place specific amendments to a state constitution on the ballot by petition is called a ________.

Which of the following is NOT true about amendments proposed by constitutional initiative petitions?

Which state's bill of rights predates the national bill of rights?

Briefly explain the roles of legislative proposals and revision commissions in amending state constitutions.

State and Local Politics

American Federalism

Parties and Elections in the States

State Legislatures

State Governors

Judges and the Justice in the States

Local Governments and Metropolitics

Making State and Local Policy

People and Money in State and Local Governments

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Exam 3: State Constitutions: Charters or Straightjackets

As a result of new judicial federalism, ________.

Outline the processes used to amend state constitutions.

Which of the following best describes typical state constitutions?

A legislature may appoint a revision commission to make recommendations for constitutional change that have no force until acted on by the legislature and approved by the voters, except in the state of ________.

What was the result of the vote in Texas in 1975 on the new proposed constitutional amendments?

The first state constitutions were outgrowths of the U.S.Constitution.

What is the difference between revising a constitution and amending it?

Which of the following is true about constitutional initiative petitions?

The first state constitutions ________.

The most recent Alabama constitution was adopted in ________.

Which of the following was NOT a result of the 1978 Hawaii constitutional convention and vote?

The number of signatures required on constitutional initiative petitions ________.

Define and briefly explain judicial interpretation.

In 2004, an amendment to eliminate language in Alabama's constitution that requires segregated schools and a poll tax was _______.

In 2004, which of the following arguments was put forward against eliminating language in the Alabama Constitution that required segregated schools and poll taxes?

A device that permits voters to place specific amendments to a state constitution on the ballot by petition is called a ________.

Which of the following is NOT true about amendments proposed by constitutional initiative petitions?

Which state's bill of rights predates the national bill of rights?

Briefly explain the roles of legislative proposals and revision commissions in amending state constitutions.

State and Local Politics

American Federalism

Parties and Elections in the States

State Legislatures

State Governors

Judges and the Justice in the States

Local Governments and Metropolitics

Making State and Local Policy

People and Money in State and Local Governments

Filters