Question 1

The Supreme Court has held that redistricting

Accepted Answer

A) can consider the underrepresentation of race. 
B) can consider the underrepresentation of ethnicity and race. 
C) cannot be based primarily on race. 
D) cannot be based primarily on gender. 
E) can never permit the creation of majority-minority districts. 
A) can consider the underrepresentation of race. 
B) can consider the underrepresentation of ethnicity and race. 
C) cannot be based primarily on race. 
D) cannot be based primarily on gender. 
E) can never permit the creation of majority-minority districts.

Question 2

A legislature with two chambers is called a bifurcated legislature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

A legislative district created to include a majority of minority voters is a(n) _____________ district.

Accepted Answer

A) incumbent advantage 
B) affirmative action 
C) malapportioned 
D) majority-minority 
E) reverse discrimination 
A) incumbent advantage 
B) affirmative action 
C) malapportioned 
D) majority-minority 
E) reverse discrimination

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

In 2008, what is the national average percentage of women in state legislatures?

Accepted Answer

A) 5% 
B) 12% 
C) 14% 
D) 24% 
E) 33% 
A) 5% 
B) 12% 
C) 14% 
D) 24% 
E) 33%

Question 7

How many states give citizens the right to create legislation through the initiative petition?

Accepted Answer

A) 10 
B) 12 
C) 24 
D) 32 
E) 50 
A) 10 
B) 12 
C) 24 
D) 32 
E) 50

Question 8

Who or what are the major financial backers of most incumbent legislators?

Accepted Answer

A) PACs 
B) Lobbyists 
C) State party organizations 
D) Interest groups 
E) None of the above 
A) PACs 
B) Lobbyists 
C) State party organizations 
D) Interest groups 
E) None of the above

Question 9

Gerrymandering is the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

When legislative districts have unequal populations it is known as

Accepted Answer

A) improper districting. 
B) imbalanced influence. 
C) malapportionment. 
D) redistricting. 
E) gerrymandering. 
A) improper districting. 
B) imbalanced influence. 
C) malapportionment. 
D) redistricting. 
E) gerrymandering.

Question 11

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) None of the above 
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) None of the above

Question 12

Who or what usually has the greatest influence on legislators?

Accepted Answer

A) Lobbyists 
B) PACs 
C) Special-interest groups 
D) Constituents 
E) Their party 
A) Lobbyists 
B) PACs 
C) Special-interest groups 
D) Constituents 
E) Their party

Question 13

Despite recent lobbyist-related scandals, bribery is NOT a widespread problem in most states.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

In states with professional legislators, what is the average compensation per year?

Accepted Answer

A) About $16,000 
B) About $35,000 
C) About $50,000 
D) About $60,000 
E) About $70,000 
A) About $16,000 
B) About $35,000 
C) About $50,000 
D) About $60,000 
E) About $70,000

Question 15

What state is considered a leader in e-government technology because of its fully equipped "public access room" making it easy for citizens to lobby state legislators?

Accepted Answer

A) Hawaii 
B) Virginia 
C) Montana 
D) Massachusetts 
E) New York 
A) Hawaii 
B) Virginia 
C) Montana 
D) Massachusetts 
E) New York

Question 16

What is the job that most state legislators hold (in addition to their jobs as legislators)?

Accepted Answer

A) Attorney 
B) Business owner 
C) Farmer/rancher 
D) Teacher 
E) "Other or none reported" 
A) Attorney 
B) Business owner 
C) Farmer/rancher 
D) Teacher 
E) "Other or none reported"

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

A) The Progressive reformers who promoted direct democracy in the nineteenth century were overly idealistic. 
B) The instruments of direct democracy are more likely to be used by special interests than by citizen activists. 
C) The wording of direct legislation can often be confusing and written in such as 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 Progressive reformers who promoted direct democracy in the nineteenth century were overly idealistic. 
B) The instruments of direct democracy are more likely to be used by special interests than by citizen activists. 
C) The wording of direct legislation can often be confusing and written in such as 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 18

Which state does NOT have a bicameral legislature?

Accepted Answer

A) Alaska 
B) New Hampshire 
C) Alabama 
D) Louisiana 
E) Nebraska 
A) Alaska 
B) New Hampshire 
C) Alabama 
D) Louisiana 
E) Nebraska

Question 19

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 20

What is the purpose of the National Conference of State Legislatures?

Accepted Answer

A) To lobby for state legislatures at the national level 
B) To act as a sort of clearinghouse for new ideas to be shared between state legislators 
C) To determine which political spin will work best for election strategies 
D) To assist in organizing grassroots campaigns 
E) To coordinate lobbying efforts between state and federal legislators 
A) To lobby for state legislatures at the national level 
B) To act as a sort of clearinghouse for new ideas to be shared between state legislators 
C) To determine which political spin will work best for election strategies 
D) To assist in organizing grassroots campaigns 
E) To coordinate lobbying efforts between state and federal legislators

Exam 24: State Legislatures

The Supreme Court has held that redistricting

A legislature with two chambers is called a bifurcated legislature.

A legislative district created to include a majority of minority voters is a(n) _____________ district.

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

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

In 2008, what is the national average percentage of women in state legislatures?

How many states give citizens the right to create legislation through the initiative petition?

Who or what are the major financial backers of most incumbent legislators?

Gerrymandering is the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent.

When legislative districts have unequal populations it is known as

What is a pay-to-play law?

Who or what usually has the greatest influence on legislators?

Despite recent lobbyist-related scandals, bribery is NOT a widespread problem in most states.

In states with professional legislators, what is the average compensation per year?

What state is considered a leader in e-government technology because of its fully equipped "public access room" making it easy for citizens to lobby state legislators?

What is the job that most state legislators hold (in addition to their jobs as legislators)?

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

Which state does NOT have a bicameral legislature?

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

What is the purpose of the National Conference of State Legislatures?

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