Question 1

Which of the following is NOT among the various ways listed in the text that state judges have implemented new judicial federalism?

Accepted Answer

A) Requiring state legislatures to provide better schools for children in poor neighborhoods 
B) Requiring state legislatures to build low-income housing 
C) Requiring state legislatures to provide public financing for poor women's abortions 
D) Requiring state legislatures to regulate businesses to protect the environment 
E) Requiring state legislatures to abandon federal No Child Left Behind legislation 
A) Requiring state legislatures to provide better schools for children in poor neighborhoods 
B) Requiring state legislatures to build low-income housing 
C) Requiring state legislatures to provide public financing for poor women's abortions 
D) Requiring state legislatures to regulate businesses to protect the environment 
E) Requiring state legislatures to abandon federal No Child Left Behind legislation

Question 2

Compared to the federal constitution, state constitutions are generally

Accepted Answer

A) nonbinding. 
B) less likely to have provisions on elections. 
C) amended more often. 
D) less cluttered with detail. 
E) much shorter. 
A) nonbinding. 
B) less likely to have provisions on elections. 
C) amended more often. 
D) less cluttered with detail. 
E) much shorter.

Question 3

Which state has a permanent Constitutional Revision Commission?

Accepted Answer

A) Minnesota 
B) Florida 
C) Utah 
D) Massachusetts 
E) Georgia 
A) Minnesota 
B) Florida 
C) Utah 
D) Massachusetts 
E) Georgia

Question 4

What is a constitutional initiative petition?

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 pressure 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 pressure 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 5

In Michigan's 2006 vote on Proposition 2 to ban public institutions from using affirmative action, which of the following groups offered the greatest support for the amendment?

Accepted Answer

A) White females 
B) Minority males 
C) White males 
D) Minority females 
E) None of the above 
A) White females 
B) Minority males 
C) White males 
D) Minority females 
E) None of the above

Question 6

The constitutional initiative petition was one of the many reforms resulting from the Progressive Movement.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following was NOT approved by Rhode Island voters in the 1986 vote on constitutional amendments?

Accepted Answer

A) A ban on abortions or public funding for them 
B) A provision to strengthen free speech 
C) A provision strengthening due process 
D) A provision expanding fishing rights and shore access 
E) A provision strengthening equal protection rights 
A) A ban on abortions or public funding for them 
B) A provision to strengthen free speech 
C) A provision strengthening due process 
D) A provision expanding fishing rights and shore access 
E) A provision strengthening equal protection rights

Question 8

Alabama has the longest constitution of any American state.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

After a constitutional convention has been authorized, the next step is to elect

Accepted Answer

A) local committees. 
B) delegates. 
C) a board of supervision. 
D) a Court of Review. 
E) legislators. 
A) local committees. 
B) delegates. 
C) a board of supervision. 
D) a Court of Review. 
E) legislators.

Question 10

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 11

How many constitutions has Alabama had?

Accepted Answer

A) 10 
B) 4 
C) 1 
D) 6 
E) 15 
A) 10 
B) 4 
C) 1 
D) 6 
E) 15

Question 12

Michigan's 2006 proposed constitutional amendment to ban public institutions from using affirmative action

Accepted Answer

A) was narrowly defeated in a popular vote. 
B) was determined by the U.S.Supreme Court to be unconstitutional in 2007. 
C) was approved by the state legislature without a popular vote. 
D) has still not been put to the public for a vote. 
E) was approved by the voters of the state. 
A) was narrowly defeated in a popular vote. 
B) was determined by the U.S.Supreme Court to be unconstitutional in 2007. 
C) was approved by the state legislature without a popular vote. 
D) has still not been put to the public for a vote. 
E) was approved by the voters of the state.

Question 13

How often does Missouri require its legislature to submit the question of a convention to the voters?

Accepted Answer

A) Every year 
B) Every other year, when the legislature convenes 
C) Every five years 
D) Every ten years 
E) Every twenty years 
A) Every year 
B) Every other year, when the legislature convenes 
C) Every five years 
D) Every ten years 
E) Every twenty years

Question 14

In November 2008, Hawaiian voters faced another vote on whether or not to call a convention.Among the controversial issues on the table were

Accepted Answer

A) native Hawaiians' rights. 
B) same-sex marriage. 
C) term limits. 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above 
A) native Hawaiians' rights. 
B) same-sex marriage. 
C) term limits. 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above

Question 15

Your text identifies three states that have used the revision commission procedure to bring about important changes to their constitutions.Which states have done so?

Accepted Answer

A) Florida, Virginia, and Louisiana 
B) Utah, Virginia, and Florida 
C) Georgia, Virginia, and Utah 
D) Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire 
E) Louisiana, Florida, and Massachusetts 
A) Florida, Virginia, and Louisiana 
B) Utah, Virginia, and Florida 
C) Georgia, Virginia, and Utah 
D) Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire 
E) Louisiana, Florida, and Massachusetts

Question 16

The primary issue in Rhode Island's effort to revise its constitution in 2003 and 2004 was

Accepted Answer

A) civil rights. 
B) compensation of state legislators. 
C) separation of powers. 
D) voter eligibility. 
E) fishing access. 
A) civil rights. 
B) compensation of state legislators. 
C) separation of powers. 
D) voter eligibility. 
E) fishing access.

Question 17

What is the age of the average state constitution?

Accepted Answer

A) more than 100 years 
B) less than 30 years 
C) about 60 years 
D) about 75 years 
E) about 50 years 
A) more than 100 years 
B) less than 30 years 
C) about 60 years 
D) about 75 years 
E) about 50 years

Question 18

The only state in which changes recommended by a revision commission do carry weight without being acted on by the legislature and approved by the voters is

Accepted Answer

A) California. 
B) Florida. 
C) Ohio. 
D) Pennsylvania. 
E) North Carolina. 
A) California. 
B) Florida. 
C) Ohio. 
D) Pennsylvania. 
E) North Carolina.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT listed in the text as an area of focus for recent constitutional amendment initiatives?

Accepted Answer

A) Gay rights 
B) Tort liability 
C) Affirmative action 
D) Immigrant rights 
E) Women's rights 
A) Gay rights 
B) Tort liability 
C) Affirmative action 
D) Immigrant rights 
E) Women's rights

Question 20

Texas conservatives saw no reason to change the 1876 constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 22: State Constitutions

Which of the following is NOT among the various ways listed in the text that state judges have implemented new judicial federalism?

Compared to the federal constitution, state constitutions are generally

Which state has a permanent Constitutional Revision Commission?

What is a constitutional initiative petition?

In Michigan's 2006 vote on Proposition 2 to ban public institutions from using affirmative action, which of the following groups offered the greatest support for the amendment?

The constitutional initiative petition was one of the many reforms resulting from the Progressive Movement.

Which of the following was NOT approved by Rhode Island voters in the 1986 vote on constitutional amendments?

Alabama has the longest constitution of any American state.

After a constitutional convention has been authorized, the next step is to elect

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.

How many constitutions has Alabama had?

Michigan's 2006 proposed constitutional amendment to ban public institutions from using affirmative action

How often does Missouri require its legislature to submit the question of a convention to the voters?

In November 2008, Hawaiian voters faced another vote on whether or not to call a convention.Among the controversial issues on the table were

Your text identifies three states that have used the revision commission procedure to bring about important changes to their constitutions.Which states have done so?

The primary issue in Rhode Island's effort to revise its constitution in 2003 and 2004 was

What is the age of the average state constitution?

The only state in which changes recommended by a revision commission do carry weight without being acted on by the legislature and approved by the voters is

Which of the following is NOT listed in the text as an area of focus for recent constitutional amendment initiatives?

Texas conservatives saw no reason to change the 1876 constitution.

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