Question 1

Which of the following does NOT reflect a change in state legislatures in recent decades?

Accepted Answer

A) Higher salaries 
B) More effective committee systems 
C) Move toward longer annual sessions 
D) Growth of staff support 
E) Longer terms in office 
A) Higher salaries 
B) More effective committee systems 
C) Move toward longer annual sessions 
D) Growth of staff support 
E) Longer terms in office

Question 2

Which of the following states was among the earliest to enact term limits for state legislators?

Accepted Answer

A) Oklahoma 
B) Louisiana 
C) Nebraska 
D) Nevada 
E) Maine 
A) Oklahoma 
B) Louisiana 
C) Nebraska 
D) Nevada 
E) Maine

Question 3

What is an initiative? Identify two states that allow this process.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
An initiativ

Question 4

Lobbyists live by the rule that have neither permanent enemies, not permanent friends.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Drawing legislative district boundaries has always been controversial, in large part because redistricting decisions are made by partisan majorities in legislatures.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

On what basis has the U.S.Supreme Court put restraints on the implementation of majority-minority districts?

Accepted Answer

A) The resulting districts would become so geographically odd that representatives would not be able to easily travel through them. 
B) The resulting districts would favor Republican more than Democratic candidates. 
C) The resulting districts would favor Democratic more than Republican candidates. 
D) State legislatures would effectively remove independent or other third-party candidates from competition. 
E) Though state legislatures may take race into account, if it becomes the overriding motive in drawing districts then white voters' constitutional rights would be violated. 
A) The resulting districts would become so geographically odd that representatives would not be able to easily travel through them. 
B) The resulting districts would favor Republican more than Democratic candidates. 
C) The resulting districts would favor Democratic more than Republican candidates. 
D) State legislatures would effectively remove independent or other third-party candidates from competition. 
E) Though state legislatures may take race into account, if it becomes the overriding motive in drawing districts then white voters' constitutional rights would be violated.

Question 7

An initiative is a procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

What is a pay-to-play law?

Accepted Answer

A) one that prohibits company representatives from contributing to officials who could influence state contracts that would be important to the company 
B) one that limits the value of gifts to legislators to less than $200 per year 
C) one that requires lobbyists to pay an annual registration fee to gain access to legislators 
D) one that requires lobbyists to disclose who has contributed to their operation (in effect, who "paid" to "play") 
E) one that prohibits campaign contributions from the children and spouses of candidates 
A) one that prohibits company representatives from contributing to officials who could influence state contracts that would be important to the company 
B) one that limits the value of gifts to legislators to less than $200 per year 
C) one that requires lobbyists to pay an annual registration fee to gain access to legislators 
D) one that requires lobbyists to disclose who has contributed to their operation (in effect, who "paid" to "play") 
E) one that prohibits campaign contributions from the children and spouses of candidates

Question 9

The Supreme Court has held that redistricting ________.

Accepted Answer

A) must avoid diluting the voting strength of minorities 
B) must create majority-minority districts whenever possible 
C) cannot be based on any partisan considerations 
D) need only consider the one person, one vote principle 
E) can utilize minority status as an overriding motive 
A) must avoid diluting the voting strength of minorities 
B) must create majority-minority districts whenever possible 
C) cannot be based on any partisan considerations 
D) need only consider the one person, one vote principle 
E) can utilize minority status as an overriding motive

Question 10

Which of the following states have the most citizen-based legislatures?

Accepted Answer

A) California 
B) Wyoming 
C) New York 
D) Pennsylvania 
E) Michigan 
A) California 
B) Wyoming 
C) New York 
D) Pennsylvania 
E) Michigan

Question 11

In1962, a U.S.Supreme Court case determined that voters did have grounds to challenge legislative apportionment and that federal courts should consider such questions.Which of the following cases is applicable here?

Accepted Answer

A) Swann v.Charlotte-Mecklenberg 
B) Baker v.Carr 
C) Wesberry v.Sanders 
D) Reynolds v.Sims 
E) Brown v.Board of Education of Topeka 
A) Swann v.Charlotte-Mecklenberg 
B) Baker v.Carr 
C) Wesberry v.Sanders 
D) Reynolds v.Sims 
E) Brown v.Board of Education of Topeka

Question 12

________ calls for a waiting period before legislation goes into effect and allows voters to sign a petition requesting that the act be referred to the voters prior to going into effect.

Accepted Answer

A) Optional referendum 
B) Malapportionment 
C) Direct initiative 
D) Indirect initiative 
E) Mandatory referendum 
A) Optional referendum 
B) Malapportionment 
C) Direct initiative 
D) Indirect initiative 
E) Mandatory referendum

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a typical role or function of state legislators?

Accepted Answer

A) fix state tax rates 
B) approving state appropriations 
C) impeaching and trying state officials 
D) proposing amendments to state constitutions 
E) administer public policy programs directly 
A) fix state tax rates 
B) approving state appropriations 
C) impeaching and trying state officials 
D) proposing amendments to state constitutions 
E) administer public policy programs directly

Question 14

Evaluate the role of committees in state legislatures.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
Every state

Question 15

The New Hampshire legislature has a House of Representatives and a Senate.This is an example of a(n) ________ legislature.

Accepted Answer

A) aristocratic 
B) frontbench 
C) unicameral 
D) unitary 
E) bicameral 
A) aristocratic 
B) frontbench 
C) unicameral 
D) unitary 
E) bicameral

Question 16

State legislative committees generally have more power than their national counterparts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

State representative Jane Doe personally believes that cigarette taxes should be increased.However, she votes against such an increase because the constituents of her tobacco-growing district oppose it.This is an example of a ________.

Accepted Answer

A) corporation 
B) delegate 
C) lobbyist 
D) gerrymandered 
E) trustee 
A) corporation 
B) delegate 
C) lobbyist 
D) gerrymandered 
E) trustee

Question 18

The underlying principle espoused by the Supreme Court in the Wesberry v.Sanders (1964) and Reynolds v.Sims (1964) rulings was ________.

Accepted Answer

A) that term limits undermine voter authority 
B) that political parties are private organizations 
C) that rural areas are inherently disadvantaged 
D) one person, one vote 
E) pay-as-you-go 
A) that term limits undermine voter authority 
B) that political parties are private organizations 
C) that rural areas are inherently disadvantaged 
D) one person, one vote 
E) pay-as-you-go

Question 19

The U.S.Constitution does not protect lobbying.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

What is malapportionment? When and how did the United States Supreme Court address the issue?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
Malapportion

Which of the following does NOT reflect a change in state legislatures in recent decades?

Which of the following states was among the earliest to enact term limits for state legislators?

What is an initiative? Identify two states that allow this process.

Lobbyists live by the rule that have neither permanent enemies, not permanent friends.

Drawing legislative district boundaries has always been controversial, in large part because redistricting decisions are made by partisan majorities in legislatures.

On what basis has the U.S.Supreme Court put restraints on the implementation of majority-minority districts?

An initiative is a procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution.

What is a pay-to-play law?

The Supreme Court has held that redistricting ________.

Which of the following states have the most citizen-based legislatures?

In1962, a U.S.Supreme Court case determined that voters did have grounds to challenge legislative apportionment and that federal courts should consider such questions.Which of the following cases is applicable here?

________ calls for a waiting period before legislation goes into effect and allows voters to sign a petition requesting that the act be referred to the voters prior to going into effect.

Which of the following is NOT a typical role or function of state legislators?

Evaluate the role of committees in state legislatures.

The New Hampshire legislature has a House of Representatives and a Senate.This is an example of a(n) ________ legislature.

State legislative committees generally have more power than their national counterparts.

State representative Jane Doe personally believes that cigarette taxes should be increased.However, she votes against such an increase because the constituents of her tobacco-growing district oppose it.This is an example of a ________.

The underlying principle espoused by the Supreme Court in the Wesberry v.Sanders (1964) and Reynolds v.Sims (1964) rulings was ________.

The U.S.Constitution does not protect lobbying.

What is malapportionment? When and how did the United States Supreme Court address the issue?

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 does NOT reflect a change in state legislatures in recent decades?

Which of the following states was among the earliest to enact term limits for state legislators?

What is an initiative? Identify two states that allow this process.

Lobbyists live by the rule that have neither permanent enemies, not permanent friends.

Drawing legislative district boundaries has always been controversial, in large part because redistricting decisions are made by partisan majorities in legislatures.

On what basis has the U.S.Supreme Court put restraints on the implementation of majority-minority districts?

An initiative is a procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution.

What is a pay-to-play law?

The Supreme Court has held that redistricting ________.

Which of the following states have the most citizen-based legislatures?

In1962, a U.S.Supreme Court case determined that voters did have grounds to challenge legislative apportionment and that federal courts should consider such questions.Which of the following cases is applicable here?

________ calls for a waiting period before legislation goes into effect and allows voters to sign a petition requesting that the act be referred to the voters prior to going into effect.

Which of the following is NOT a typical role or function of state legislators?

Evaluate the role of committees in state legislatures.

The New Hampshire legislature has a House of Representatives and a Senate.This is an example of a(n) ________ legislature.

State legislative committees generally have more power than their national counterparts.

State representative Jane Doe personally believes that cigarette taxes should be increased.However, she votes against such an increase because the constituents of her tobacco-growing district oppose it.This is an example of a ________.

The underlying principle espoused by the Supreme Court in the Wesberry v.Sanders (1964) and Reynolds v.Sims (1964) rulings was ________.

The U.S.Constitution does not protect lobbying.

What is malapportionment? When and how did the United States Supreme Court address the issue?

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