Question 1

Which of the following statements is true about state legislatures?

Accepted Answer

A) They did not exist prior to the ratification of the U.S.Constitution. 
B) They generally had very little power in the 1770s. 
C) They no longer play a meaningful role in state politics. 
D) They existed well before the creation of the Continental Congress. 
E) They are appointed by the U.S.Congress. 
A) They did not exist prior to the ratification of the U.S.Constitution. 
B) They generally had very little power in the 1770s. 
C) They no longer play a meaningful role in state politics. 
D) They existed well before the creation of the Continental Congress. 
E) They are appointed by the U.S.Congress. D

Question 2

Gatekeeping power is ________.

Accepted Answer

A) a statutory or constitutional restriction on the number of terms in office a state legislator may serve 
B) the power exercised by committees to prevent proposals from being considered or passed by the entire chamber 
C) an attempt to influence the decisions of public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact 
D) the action of a state legislature or other body in redrawing legislative electoral district lines 
E) the authorized power of a president to reject legislation passed by the Congress 
A) a statutory or constitutional restriction on the number of terms in office a state legislator may serve 
B) the power exercised by committees to prevent proposals from being considered or passed by the entire chamber 
C) an attempt to influence the decisions of public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact 
D) the action of a state legislature or other body in redrawing legislative electoral district lines 
E) the authorized power of a president to reject legislation passed by the Congress B

Question 3

Define redistricting.Evaluate the process of redistricting.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
Redistricting is the action of a state legislature or other body in redrawing legislative electoral district lines.About a dozen states delegate these responsibilities to independent redistricting or reapportionment commissions.In Alaska, the governor's office draws the legislative districts.Most legislatures consider these once-a-decade responsibilities so important, however, that they are unwilling to turn over control of the task to anybody else.
Drawing legislative district boundaries has always been controversial, in large part because redistricting decisions are made by partisan majorities in legislatures.The highly political nature of the undertaking is usually reflected in the results.It is the political equivalent," says one observer, "of moving the left field fence for a right-handed pull hitter.By changing the boundaries, redistricting helps some, hurts others-and leaves just about everyone else scrambling."

Question 4

In comparison with the U.S.Congress, the ________.

Accepted Answer

A) speakers in many state legislatures have more power 
B) seniority systems in state legislatures are more closely followed 
C) committees in state legislatures have greater power over bills 
D) state legislatures have more professional staff 
E) state legislatures have almost no role for partisanship 
A) speakers in many state legislatures have more power 
B) seniority systems in state legislatures are more closely followed 
C) committees in state legislatures have greater power over bills 
D) state legislatures have more professional staff 
E) state legislatures have almost no role for partisanship

Question 5

Committees serve as the major access point for state legislatures for citizens, interest groups, and lobbyists.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral legislature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Part time legislation allowed people to go back to their original occupations after serving the term.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

________ is a procedure whereby a certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters.

Accepted Answer

A) Referendum 
B) Grassroots campaign 
C) Gatekeeping 
D) Lobbying 
E) Initiative 
A) Referendum 
B) Grassroots campaign 
C) Gatekeeping 
D) Lobbying 
E) Initiative

Question 9

A legislative district created to include a majority of minority voters is called an affirmative action district.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The right to lobby is secured by the ________.

Accepted Answer

A) First and Fifth Amendments 
B) First and Fourteenth Amendments 
C) Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments 
D) Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments 
E) Fourteenth and Sixteenth Amendments 
A) First and Fifth Amendments 
B) First and Fourteenth Amendments 
C) Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments 
D) Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments 
E) Fourteenth and Sixteenth Amendments

Question 11

With the exception to Wyoming, when states draw their districts, they may allow ________ percent deviation between legislative districts.

Accepted Answer

A) no more than 4 
B) no more than 5 
C) no more than 10 
D) no more than 12 
E) no more than 15 
A) no more than 4 
B) no more than 5 
C) no more than 10 
D) no more than 12 
E) no more than 15

Question 12

One of the major advantages of the committee system is that it ________.

Accepted Answer

A) brokers power between the governor and the legislature 
B) balances the interests of political parties 
C) allows members to concentrate their energies on particular areas of governmental activities 
D) allows legislators to ignore the preferences of their constituents 
E) forces everybody to showcase their expertise in all aspects of state government 
A) brokers power between the governor and the legislature 
B) balances the interests of political parties 
C) allows members to concentrate their energies on particular areas of governmental activities 
D) allows legislators to ignore the preferences of their constituents 
E) forces everybody to showcase their expertise in all aspects of state government

Question 13

Which of the following represents a rule that lobbyists live by?

Accepted Answer

A) better to support the loser than the wrong winner 
B) misleading information is the best kind 
C) always create permanent allies 
D) it's easier to kill a bill than to pass it 
E) today's opponent is tomorrow's opponent 
A) better to support the loser than the wrong winner 
B) misleading information is the best kind 
C) always create permanent allies 
D) it's easier to kill a bill than to pass it 
E) today's opponent is tomorrow's opponent

Question 14

In all states, lobbyists must register with the state and sometimes, pay an annual fee.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The committee system in state legislatures generally allows members to concentrate their energies on specific areas of governmental operations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Define malapportionment.Identify the U.S.Supreme Court's rulings regarding its constitutionality.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
As a result

Question 17

Define redistricting.Who is responsible for redistricting in the states?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
Redistrictin

Question 18

In Baker v.Carr (1962), the Supreme Court ruled that ________.

Accepted Answer

A) state legislatures could be malapportioned as long as the most populous district had no more than twice as many residents as the least populous district 
B) voters have standing to challenge legislative apportionment 
C) majority-minority districts were unconstitutional 
D) apportionment cannot be on the basis of regions or geography in state legislatures 
E) it is legal to take race and ethnicity into consideration when redistricting 
A) state legislatures could be malapportioned as long as the most populous district had no more than twice as many residents as the least populous district 
B) voters have standing to challenge legislative apportionment 
C) majority-minority districts were unconstitutional 
D) apportionment cannot be on the basis of regions or geography in state legislatures 
E) it is legal to take race and ethnicity into consideration when redistricting

Question 19

State senator Janet Dempsey votes in favor of allowing casinos in her state.Although a majority of her constituents are against this decision, she argues that it is way to increase state revenues.In this situation, the senator considers herself as a ________.

Accepted Answer

A) delegate 
B) trustee 
C) pluralist 
D) lobbyist 
E) authoritarian 
A) delegate 
B) trustee 
C) pluralist 
D) lobbyist 
E) authoritarian

Question 20

How is Nevada unique in its term limits for state legislators?

Accepted Answer

A) It has a unicameral legislature. 
B) Special elections required a change of dates on which term limits were applied to some offices. 
C) Its term-limit laws cannot be applied to legislators who were elected in the same year that term limits were passed. 
D) It limits only state house members, not state senators. 
E) It limits only state senators, not state house members. 
A) It has a unicameral legislature. 
B) Special elections required a change of dates on which term limits were applied to some offices. 
C) Its term-limit laws cannot be applied to legislators who were elected in the same year that term limits were passed. 
D) It limits only state house members, not state senators. 
E) It limits only state senators, not state house members.

Which of the following statements is true about state legislatures?

Gatekeeping power is ________.

Define redistricting.Evaluate the process of redistricting.

In comparison with the U.S.Congress, the ________.

Committees serve as the major access point for state legislatures for citizens, interest groups, and lobbyists.

Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral legislature.

Part time legislation allowed people to go back to their original occupations after serving the term.

________ is a procedure whereby a certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters.

A legislative district created to include a majority of minority voters is called an affirmative action district.

The right to lobby is secured by the ________.

With the exception to Wyoming, when states draw their districts, they may allow ________ percent deviation between legislative districts.

One of the major advantages of the committee system is that it ________.

Which of the following represents a rule that lobbyists live by?

In all states, lobbyists must register with the state and sometimes, pay an annual fee.

The committee system in state legislatures generally allows members to concentrate their energies on specific areas of governmental operations.

Define malapportionment.Identify the U.S.Supreme Court's rulings regarding its constitutionality.

Define redistricting.Who is responsible for redistricting in the states?

In Baker v.Carr (1962), the Supreme Court ruled that ________.

State senator Janet Dempsey votes in favor of allowing casinos in her state.Although a majority of her constituents are against this decision, she argues that it is way to increase state revenues.In this situation, the senator considers herself as a ________.

How is Nevada unique in its term limits for state legislators?

State and Local Politics

American Federalism

State Constitutions: Charters or Straightjackets

Parties and Elections in the States

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 5: State Legislatures

Which of the following statements is true about state legislatures?

Gatekeeping power is ________.

Define redistricting.Evaluate the process of redistricting.

In comparison with the U.S.Congress, the ________.

Committees serve as the major access point for state legislatures for citizens, interest groups, and lobbyists.

Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral legislature.

Part time legislation allowed people to go back to their original occupations after serving the term.

________ is a procedure whereby a certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters.

A legislative district created to include a majority of minority voters is called an affirmative action district.

The right to lobby is secured by the ________.

With the exception to Wyoming, when states draw their districts, they may allow ________ percent deviation between legislative districts.

One of the major advantages of the committee system is that it ________.

Which of the following represents a rule that lobbyists live by?

In all states, lobbyists must register with the state and sometimes, pay an annual fee.

The committee system in state legislatures generally allows members to concentrate their energies on specific areas of governmental operations.

Define malapportionment.Identify the U.S.Supreme Court's rulings regarding its constitutionality.

Define redistricting.Who is responsible for redistricting in the states?

In Baker v.Carr (1962), the Supreme Court ruled that ________.

State senator Janet Dempsey votes in favor of allowing casinos in her state.Although a majority of her constituents are against this decision, she argues that it is way to increase state revenues.In this situation, the senator considers herself as a ________.

How is Nevada unique in its term limits for state legislators?

State and Local Politics

American Federalism

State Constitutions: Charters or Straightjackets

Parties and Elections in the States

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