Question 1

A citizen-initiated ballot petition is the most common way for proposing an amendment to a state constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

All states permit their legislatures to propose constitutional amendments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

When state judges rely on their own state constitutions to protect rights beyond those required by the U.S.Constitution, they do so at no risk of political backlash.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Rhode Island's constitution calls for voters to be asked every 10 years if they want to convene a constitutional convention.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Florida and Utah both have atypical constitutional revision commissions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Subject only to the broad limitations of the U.S.Constitution, the people of each state are free to create whatever kind of republican government they wish.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The U.S.Supreme Court and the U.S.Constitution set the ceiling, not the floor, for the protection of rights.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

A constitutional initiative petition is a device that permits voters to place specific amendments to a state constitution on the ballot.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

A constitutional initiative petition is ________.

Accepted Answer

A) a way in which voters may place a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot by petition 
B) a way in which political action committees can unite in order to pressurize state legislators to put a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot 
C) a way in which a governor can bypass the legislature and appeal directly to the people to petition their legislative representatives to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot 
D) a way in which members of the judiciary can, by a majority signing a petition, place a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot 
E) a defunct, nineteenth-century political device 
A) a way in which voters may place a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot by petition 
B) a way in which political action committees can unite in order to pressurize state legislators to put a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot 
C) a way in which a governor can bypass the legislature and appeal directly to the people to petition their legislative representatives to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot 
D) a way in which members of the judiciary can, by a majority signing a petition, place a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot 
E) a defunct, nineteenth-century political device

Question 10

Texas conservatives saw no reason to change the 1876 constitution, when the vote on the new constitution was conducted in November, 1975.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Define and explain the new judicial federalism.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
Amendments a

Question 12

Compare the extent of amendment the federal and state constitutions are subjected to.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
Unlike the f

Question 13

California's Proposition 13, which was adopted in 1978, ________.

Accepted Answer

A) forbade the state government from collecting income tax 
B) limited the state government's right to raise property taxes 
C) amended the state constitution to abolish the use of constitutional initiative petitions 
D) was ruled to be unconstitutional by the U.S.Supreme Court in 1981 
E) was proposed by the state legislature 
A) forbade the state government from collecting income tax 
B) limited the state government's right to raise property taxes 
C) amended the state constitution to abolish the use of constitutional initiative petitions 
D) was ruled to be unconstitutional by the U.S.Supreme Court in 1981 
E) was proposed by the state legislature

Question 14

In 1986, how many of the 14 proposed amendments to Rhode Island's constitution were approved by voters?

Accepted Answer

A) all 14 
B) 12 
C) 8 
D) 5 
E) 2 
A) all 14 
B) 12 
C) 8 
D) 5 
E) 2

Question 15

In which of the following states must a proposed constitutional amendment be passed in two separate elections?

Accepted Answer

A) Minnesota 
B) Delaware 
C) Nevada 
D) Florida 
E) New Hampshire 
A) Minnesota 
B) Delaware 
C) Nevada 
D) Florida 
E) New Hampshire

Question 16

The goal of an initiative petition is always passage of the proposed amendment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

What effect does the elaborate detail found in most state constitutions tend to have?

Accepted Answer

A) There is little requirement for constitutional amendment and revision. 
B) Appointed administrative positions in the state are less accountable to the state legislature. 
C) Political action is constricted within a constitutional straitjacket. 
D) There is less possibility of federal preemption of state law. 
E) State constitutions make the federal constitution seem obsolete. 
A) There is little requirement for constitutional amendment and revision. 
B) Appointed administrative positions in the state are less accountable to the state legislature. 
C) Political action is constricted within a constitutional straitjacket. 
D) There is less possibility of federal preemption of state law. 
E) State constitutions make the federal constitution seem obsolete.

Question 18

A state commission that recommends changes in the state constitution for action by the legislature and vote by the voters is called a constitutional change commission.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

In which two states is a supermajority in a referendum necessary for the passage of a constitutional amendment?

Accepted Answer

A) Minnesota and Delaware 
B) California and Utah 
C) Nevada and 
D) Virginia and Louisiana 
E) New Hampshire and Florida 
A) Minnesota and Delaware 
B) California and Utah 
C) Nevada and 
D) Virginia and Louisiana 
E) New Hampshire and Florida

Question 20

What triggered the trend toward new judicial federalism in the 1970s?

Accepted Answer

A) the growing conservatism of the U.S.Supreme Court 
B) the reluctance of state courts to abide by the rulings of the U.S.Supreme Court 
C) federal laws affecting public education, such as busing 
D) the failure to ratify the federal Equal Rights Amendment 
E) Jimmy Carter's election as president 
A) the growing conservatism of the U.S.Supreme Court 
B) the reluctance of state courts to abide by the rulings of the U.S.Supreme Court 
C) federal laws affecting public education, such as busing 
D) the failure to ratify the federal Equal Rights Amendment 
E) Jimmy Carter's election as president

A citizen-initiated ballot petition is the most common way for proposing an amendment to a state constitution.

All states permit their legislatures to propose constitutional amendments.

When state judges rely on their own state constitutions to protect rights beyond those required by the U.S.Constitution, they do so at no risk of political backlash.

Rhode Island's constitution calls for voters to be asked every 10 years if they want to convene a constitutional convention.

Florida and Utah both have atypical constitutional revision commissions.

Subject only to the broad limitations of the U.S.Constitution, the people of each state are free to create whatever kind of republican government they wish.

The U.S.Supreme Court and the U.S.Constitution set the ceiling, not the floor, for the protection of rights.

A constitutional initiative petition is a device that permits voters to place specific amendments to a state constitution on the ballot.

A constitutional initiative petition is ________.

Texas conservatives saw no reason to change the 1876 constitution, when the vote on the new constitution was conducted in November, 1975.

Define and explain the new judicial federalism.

Compare the extent of amendment the federal and state constitutions are subjected to.

California's Proposition 13, which was adopted in 1978, ________.

In 1986, how many of the 14 proposed amendments to Rhode Island's constitution were approved by voters?

In which of the following states must a proposed constitutional amendment be passed in two separate elections?

The goal of an initiative petition is always passage of the proposed amendment.

What effect does the elaborate detail found in most state constitutions tend to have?

A state commission that recommends changes in the state constitution for action by the legislature and vote by the voters is called a constitutional change commission.

In which two states is a supermajority in a referendum necessary for the passage of a constitutional amendment?

What triggered the trend toward new judicial federalism in the 1970s?

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

Exam 3: State Constitutions: Charters or Straightjackets

A citizen-initiated ballot petition is the most common way for proposing an amendment to a state constitution.

All states permit their legislatures to propose constitutional amendments.

When state judges rely on their own state constitutions to protect rights beyond those required by the U.S.Constitution, they do so at no risk of political backlash.

Rhode Island's constitution calls for voters to be asked every 10 years if they want to convene a constitutional convention.

Florida and Utah both have atypical constitutional revision commissions.

Subject only to the broad limitations of the U.S.Constitution, the people of each state are free to create whatever kind of republican government they wish.

The U.S.Supreme Court and the U.S.Constitution set the ceiling, not the floor, for the protection of rights.

A constitutional initiative petition is a device that permits voters to place specific amendments to a state constitution on the ballot.

A constitutional initiative petition is ________.

Texas conservatives saw no reason to change the 1876 constitution, when the vote on the new constitution was conducted in November, 1975.

Define and explain the new judicial federalism.

Compare the extent of amendment the federal and state constitutions are subjected to.

California's Proposition 13, which was adopted in 1978, ________.

In 1986, how many of the 14 proposed amendments to Rhode Island's constitution were approved by voters?

In which of the following states must a proposed constitutional amendment be passed in two separate elections?

The goal of an initiative petition is always passage of the proposed amendment.

What effect does the elaborate detail found in most state constitutions tend to have?

A state commission that recommends changes in the state constitution for action by the legislature and vote by the voters is called a constitutional change commission.

In which two states is a supermajority in a referendum necessary for the passage of a constitutional amendment?

What triggered the trend toward new judicial federalism in the 1970s?

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