Question 1

In a typical state government, the highway commission falls under the executive branch.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

About how many times has the average state constitution been amended?

Accepted Answer

A) 3 
B) 1200 
C) 575 
D) 140 
E) 27 
A) 3 
B) 1200 
C) 575 
D) 140 
E) 27

Question 3

Unlike the federal constitution, most state constitutions

Accepted Answer

A) require only a single step to be amended. 
B) may not be amended. 
C) do not allow amendments to be proposed by the legislature. 
D) are amended on a regular basis. 
E) are less than 25 years old. 
A) require only a single step to be amended. 
B) may not be amended. 
C) do not allow amendments to be proposed by the legislature. 
D) are amended on a regular basis. 
E) are less than 25 years old.

Question 4

Alaska's and Hawaii's state constitutions were both ratified in 1959 (see Figure 22-2).

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

In states that allow constitutional initiative petitions, what percent of the population is required to sign a petition to successfully place a proposed amendment on the ballot?

Accepted Answer

A) 4% 
B) 15% 
C) 51% 
D) 50% 
E) It varies from state to state. 
A) 4% 
B) 15% 
C) 51% 
D) 50% 
E) It varies from state to state.

Question 6

In November 2008, Hawaiian voters faced another vote on whether or not to call a convention.Among the controversial issues on the table was same-sex marriage.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

What issue deadlocked the 1972 Texas constitutional convention after 17 months of deliberation?

Accepted Answer

A) The state's right-to-work law 
B) The question of separation of powers 
C) The question of whether the legislature would meet every year or every two years 
D) The state's educational funding 
E) Gun-ownership laws 
A) The state's right-to-work law 
B) The question of separation of powers 
C) The question of whether the legislature would meet every year or every two years 
D) The state's educational funding 
E) Gun-ownership laws

Question 8

When political parties play major roles in electing convention delegates, the result is likely to be one of major reform.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Constitutional conventions are likely to propose more serious changes to the constitution when delegates are selected

Accepted Answer

A) by political parties. 
B) by the state legislature. 
C) by the governor. 
D) by nonpartisan, multimember districts. 
E) by the U.S.Congress. 
A) by political parties. 
B) by the state legislature. 
C) by the governor. 
D) by nonpartisan, multimember districts. 
E) by the U.S.Congress.

Question 10

Compared to the U.S.Constitution, state constitutions tend to be longer.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

State constitutions differ from the national constitution in that they

Accepted Answer

A) do not create limitations on government. 
B) are unable to be amended. 
C) are not popular symbols. 
D) are not instruments of government. 
E) very rarely establish governments with three branches. 
A) do not create limitations on government. 
B) are unable to be amended. 
C) are not popular symbols. 
D) are not instruments of government. 
E) very rarely establish governments with three branches.

Question 12

The U.S.Constitution has been amended 37 times in its history.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

In recent history, voters have approved more legislature-proposed amendments than initiative-proposed amendments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

In the nineteenth century, _____________ state constitutional conventions were held.

Accepted Answer

A) 63 
B) 1 
C) 144 
D) 823 
E) 650 
A) 63 
B) 1 
C) 144 
D) 823 
E) 650

Question 15

In the twentieth century, _____________ state constitutional conventions were held.

Accepted Answer

A) 587 
B) 4 
C) 298 
D) 63 
E) 144 
A) 587 
B) 4 
C) 298 
D) 63 
E) 144

Question 16

The number of signatures required on constitutional initiative petitions

Accepted Answer

A) is set by federal law. 
B) varies by 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 by 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 17

Who said "What is the Constitution of the United States but that of Massachusetts, New York, and Maryland!"?

Accepted Answer

A) Jefferson Davis 
B) George Washington 
C) John Adams 
D) Thomas Jefferson 
E) Patrick Henry 
A) Jefferson Davis 
B) George Washington 
C) John Adams 
D) Thomas Jefferson 
E) Patrick Henry

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(n)

Accepted Answer

A) constitutional commission. 
B) convention commission. 
C) revision commission. 
D) change commission. 
E) amendment commission. 
A) constitutional commission. 
B) convention commission. 
C) revision commission. 
D) change commission. 
E) amendment commission.

Question 19

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 20

According to Figure 22-2, which states are among those that have the smallest number of amendments (25 or less)?

Accepted Answer

A) Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia 
B) Georgia, Florida, and Arizona 
C) Michigan, Illinois, and Montana 
D) Colorado, New York, and Wisconsin 
E) No states have fewer than 25 amendments 
A) Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia 
B) Georgia, Florida, and Arizona 
C) Michigan, Illinois, and Montana 
D) Colorado, New York, and Wisconsin 
E) No states have fewer than 25 amendments

Exam 22: State Constitutions

In a typical state government, the highway commission falls under the executive branch.

About how many times has the average state constitution been amended?

Unlike the federal constitution, most state constitutions

Alaska's and Hawaii's state constitutions were both ratified in 1959 (see Figure 22-2).

In states that allow constitutional initiative petitions, what percent of the population is required to sign a petition to successfully place a proposed amendment on the ballot?

In November 2008, Hawaiian voters faced another vote on whether or not to call a convention.Among the controversial issues on the table was same-sex marriage.

What issue deadlocked the 1972 Texas constitutional convention after 17 months of deliberation?

When political parties play major roles in electing convention delegates, the result is likely to be one of major reform.

Constitutional conventions are likely to propose more serious changes to the constitution when delegates are selected

Compared to the U.S.Constitution, state constitutions tend to be longer.

State constitutions differ from the national constitution in that they

The U.S.Constitution has been amended 37 times in its history.

In recent history, voters have approved more legislature-proposed amendments than initiative-proposed amendments.

In the nineteenth century, _____________ state constitutional conventions were held.

In the twentieth century, _____________ state constitutional conventions were held.

The number of signatures required on constitutional initiative petitions

Who said "What is the Constitution of the United States but that of Massachusetts, New York, and Maryland!"?

A state commission that recommends changes in the state constitution for action by the legislature and vote by the voters is called a(n)

The first state constitutions

According to Figure 22-2, which states are among those that have the smallest number of amendments (25 or less)?

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