Question 1

What is meant by party unity, and in what states is it typically found?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
Party unity

Question 2

Generally, the court system has reversed part or all of discriminatory direct-democracy initiatives that were voted in by the electorate, but this puts the courts in the odd position of actually opposing a majority vote.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

________ refers to whether the job of a state legislator is interesting and involved enough that members of the legislature treat it as a full-time occupation.

Accepted Answer

A) Malapportionment 
B) Gatekeeping 
C) Legislative professionalism 
D) Legal positivism 
E) Gerrymandering 
A) Malapportionment 
B) Gatekeeping 
C) Legislative professionalism 
D) Legal positivism 
E) Gerrymandering

Question 4

Jerry Smith is a state legislator who believes that he should mirror the views of his district's constituents even if he holds divergent views.This is an example of a ________.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

Legislators who view themselves as ________ would vote independently based on their judgment of the circumstances.

Accepted Answer

A) authoritarian 
B) delegates 
C) lobbyists 
D) proletariat 
E) trustees 
A) authoritarian 
B) delegates 
C) lobbyists 
D) proletariat 
E) trustees

Question 6

Though they perform generally the same functions, state legislative committees vary in power and influence from state to state.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The two sources of influence for lobbyists are ________.

Accepted Answer

A) information and campaign resources 
B) financing meals and trips 
C) veto and logrolling 
D) bribery and diplomacy 
E) free riding and gerrymandering 
A) information and campaign resources 
B) financing meals and trips 
C) veto and logrolling 
D) bribery and diplomacy 
E) free riding and gerrymandering

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

A) Coercion 
B) Gerrymandering 
C) Referendum 
D) Malapportionment 
E) Redistricting 
A) Coercion 
B) Gerrymandering 
C) Referendum 
D) Malapportionment 
E) Redistricting

Question 9

State legislators act as ombudsmen.Discuss.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
State legisl

Question 10

The "direct democracy" movement began ________.

Accepted Answer

A) in the South during the Civil War 
B) with populist reformers in Utah in 1900 
C) in California when proposed by Governor Ronald Reagan 
D) in Maine and Michigan in 1908, 
E) in Massachusetts in the 1990s 
A) in the South during the Civil War 
B) with populist reformers in Utah in 1900 
C) in California when proposed by Governor Ronald Reagan 
D) in Maine and Michigan in 1908, 
E) in Massachusetts in the 1990s

Question 11

What are the strengths and weaknesses of direct legislation? How do they compare with the strengths and weaknesses of a professional legislature?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response would be:
Many states

Question 12

In some states, the directive initiative applies only to constitutional amendments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true of the state legislators?

Accepted Answer

A) A typical state legislator should not have an origin of birth in another state. 
B) The 2012 elections resulted in Democratic control of 27 states and Republic control in 19 states. 
C) Lawyers form the largest occupational group in state legislators. 
D) The number of women legislators has increased over the last few years. 
E) All state legislative elections are contested, especially in smaller, one party states and in the South. 
A) A typical state legislator should not have an origin of birth in another state. 
B) The 2012 elections resulted in Democratic control of 27 states and Republic control in 19 states. 
C) Lawyers form the largest occupational group in state legislators. 
D) The number of women legislators has increased over the last few years. 
E) All state legislative elections are contested, especially in smaller, one party states and in the South.

Question 14

State legislators have drawn a district in the city of Everytown such that 54% of the district residents are African-Americans, this is an example of a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

A) majority-minority district 
B) bicameral legislature 
C) referendum 
D) initiative 
E) unicameral legislature 
A) majority-minority district 
B) bicameral legislature 
C) referendum 
D) initiative 
E) unicameral legislature

Question 15

When legislative districts have unequal populations it is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

A) logrolling 
B) gatekeeping 
C) malapportionment 
D) redistricting 
E) gerrymandering 
A) logrolling 
B) gatekeeping 
C) malapportionment 
D) redistricting 
E) gerrymandering

Question 16

A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches is known as a lobbyist.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Which of the following represents redistricting?

Accepted Answer

A) when a party that has been in power in a particular district for a significant period of time is turned out of office 
B) when legislative district lines are redrawn to keep up with population shifts in order to keep them as equal as possible 
C) when the federal government orders a state to increase (or decrease) its number of districts to reflect population increases or decreases 
D) when a voter moves from one state congressional district to another and must change his or her voter registration 
E) when constituents in a particular district are so unhappy with their representatives that they demand a special election (similar to a recall or a referendum) 
A) when a party that has been in power in a particular district for a significant period of time is turned out of office 
B) when legislative district lines are redrawn to keep up with population shifts in order to keep them as equal as possible 
C) when the federal government orders a state to increase (or decrease) its number of districts to reflect population increases or decreases 
D) when a voter moves from one state congressional district to another and must change his or her voter registration 
E) when constituents in a particular district are so unhappy with their representatives that they demand a special election (similar to a recall or a referendum)

Question 18

To address shortcomings, state legislatures in recent decades have ________.

Accepted Answer

A) become appointed rather than elected bodies 
B) adopted internal reforms 
C) significantly decreased staff support 
D) increased their reliance on campaign funding from lobbyists 
E) increased the duration of terms in office 
A) become appointed rather than elected bodies 
B) adopted internal reforms 
C) significantly decreased staff support 
D) increased their reliance on campaign funding from lobbyists 
E) increased the duration of terms in office

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT among the criticisms of direct democracy?

Accepted Answer

A) The Progressives were overly idealistic that these mechanisms would be free from manipulations. 
B) It leaves voters with insufficient information to make informed choices. 
C) The wording of direct legislation can often be confusing and written in such a way as to affect a specific result. 
D) The initiative process can be used to target minorities. 
E) It is used when citizens feel their legislature is unresponsive. 
A) The Progressives were overly idealistic that these mechanisms would be free from manipulations. 
B) It leaves voters with insufficient information to make informed choices. 
C) The wording of direct legislation can often be confusing and written in such a way as to affect a specific result. 
D) The initiative process can be used to target minorities. 
E) It is used when citizens feel their legislature is unresponsive.

Question 20

________ refers to engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.

Accepted Answer

A) Gerrymandering 
B) Gatekeeping 
C) Lobbying 
D) Redistricting 
E) Malapportionment 
A) Gerrymandering 
B) Gatekeeping 
C) Lobbying 
D) Redistricting 
E) Malapportionment

What is meant by party unity, and in what states is it typically found?

Generally, the court system has reversed part or all of discriminatory direct-democracy initiatives that were voted in by the electorate, but this puts the courts in the odd position of actually opposing a majority vote.

________ refers to whether the job of a state legislator is interesting and involved enough that members of the legislature treat it as a full-time occupation.

Jerry Smith is a state legislator who believes that he should mirror the views of his district's constituents even if he holds divergent views.This is an example of a ________.

Legislators who view themselves as ________ would vote independently based on their judgment of the circumstances.

Though they perform generally the same functions, state legislative committees vary in power and influence from state to state.

The two sources of influence for lobbyists are ________.

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

State legislators act as ombudsmen.Discuss.

The "direct democracy" movement began ________.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of direct legislation? How do they compare with the strengths and weaknesses of a professional legislature?

In some states, the directive initiative applies only to constitutional amendments.

Which of the following statements is true of the state legislators?

State legislators have drawn a district in the city of Everytown such that 54% of the district residents are African-Americans, this is an example of a(n) ________.

When legislative districts have unequal populations it is known as ________.

A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches is known as a lobbyist.

Which of the following represents redistricting?

To address shortcomings, state legislatures in recent decades have ________.

Which of the following is NOT among the criticisms of direct democracy?

________ refers to engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.

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

What is meant by party unity, and in what states is it typically found?

Generally, the court system has reversed part or all of discriminatory direct-democracy initiatives that were voted in by the electorate, but this puts the courts in the odd position of actually opposing a majority vote.

________ refers to whether the job of a state legislator is interesting and involved enough that members of the legislature treat it as a full-time occupation.

Jerry Smith is a state legislator who believes that he should mirror the views of his district's constituents even if he holds divergent views.This is an example of a ________.

Legislators who view themselves as ________ would vote independently based on their judgment of the circumstances.

Though they perform generally the same functions, state legislative committees vary in power and influence from state to state.

The two sources of influence for lobbyists are ________.

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

State legislators act as ombudsmen.Discuss.

The "direct democracy" movement began ________.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of direct legislation? How do they compare with the strengths and weaknesses of a professional legislature?

In some states, the directive initiative applies only to constitutional amendments.

Which of the following statements is true of the state legislators?

State legislators have drawn a district in the city of Everytown such that 54% of the district residents are African-Americans, this is an example of a(n) ________.

When legislative districts have unequal populations it is known as ________.

A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches is known as a lobbyist.

Which of the following represents redistricting?

To address shortcomings, state legislatures in recent decades have ________.

Which of the following is NOT among the criticisms of direct democracy?

________ refers to engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.

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