Question 1

Which of the following is a negative effect of term limits?

Accepted Answer

A) There is an increased chance that inexperienced state lawmakers will find themselves in positions they don't fully understand. 
B) When state legislators are inexperienced, it may discourage cooperation between them. 
C) Since lobbyists' and bureaucrats' terms are not limited, power may shift to those groups and away from inexperienced legislators. 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above 
A) There is an increased chance that inexperienced state lawmakers will find themselves in positions they don't fully understand. 
B) When state legislators are inexperienced, it may discourage cooperation between them. 
C) Since lobbyists' and bureaucrats' terms are not limited, power may shift to those groups and away from inexperienced legislators. 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above

Question 2

The two sources of influence of lobbyists are

Accepted Answer

A) information and campaign support. 
B) meals and trips. 
C) threats and rewards. 
D) bribery and arm twisting. 
E) strategies and tactics. 
A) information and campaign support. 
B) meals and trips. 
C) threats and rewards. 
D) bribery and arm twisting. 
E) strategies and tactics.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a function or activity of state legislatures?

Accepted Answer

A) Modifying and approving budgets 
B) Representing local views at the state level 
C) Performing constituency service 
D) Making laws 
E) Altering the U.S.Constitution 
A) Modifying and approving budgets 
B) Representing local views at the state level 
C) Performing constituency service 
D) Making laws 
E) Altering the U.S.Constitution

Question 5

In what state did the state supreme court strike down term limits only to have the state's voters reinstate them four years later?

Accepted Answer

A) Massachusetts 
B) Nebraska 
C) Oregon 
D) Washington 
E) Wyoming 
A) Massachusetts 
B) Nebraska 
C) Oregon 
D) Washington 
E) Wyoming

Question 6

What functions do state legislatures perform within the larger federal system?

Accepted Answer

A) Ratifying proposed U.S.Constitutional amendments 
B) Calling for constitutional conventions to amend the U.S.Constitution 
C) Approving interstate compacts 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above 
A) Ratifying proposed U.S.Constitutional amendments 
B) Calling for constitutional conventions to amend the U.S.Constitution 
C) Approving interstate compacts 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above

Question 7

What is 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 8

The committee system in state legislatures generally allows members to concentrate their energies on specific areas of governmental operations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

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 10

What is the U.S.Supreme Court's stated standard by which to judge what would make a gerrymander unconstitutional?

Accepted Answer

A) If the resulting district deviates in population from other districts by more than 10% 
B) If it privileges white voters over minority voters 
C) If it is so oddly drawn that it seems to resemble the spokes on a bicycle wheel 
D) If it privileges one party over another 
E) There is no stated standard 
A) If the resulting district deviates in population from other districts by more than 10% 
B) If it privileges white voters over minority voters 
C) If it is so oddly drawn that it seems to resemble the spokes on a bicycle wheel 
D) If it privileges one party over another 
E) There is no stated standard

Question 11

Usually the greatest influence on legislators is

Accepted Answer

A) interest groups. 
B) their constituents. 
C) political parties. 
D) governors. 
E) delegates. 
A) interest groups. 
B) their constituents. 
C) political parties. 
D) governors. 
E) delegates.

Question 12

Which of the following is one of the two rules by which lobbyists live?

Accepted Answer

A) Better to support the loser than the wrong winner 
B) Misleading information is the best kind 
C) Always create permanent allies 
D) It's easier to kill a bill than to pass it 
E) Today's opponent is tomorrow's opponent 
A) Better to support the loser than the wrong winner 
B) Misleading information is the best kind 
C) Always create permanent allies 
D) It's easier to kill a bill than to pass it 
E) Today's opponent is tomorrow's opponent

Question 13

Committees tend to be more influential in the state legislatures of the least populous states.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

How is Nevada unique in its term limits for state legislators?

Accepted Answer

A) It has a unicameral legislature. 
B) Special elections required some shifting of the dates on which term limits were applied to some offices. 
C) Its term-limit laws cannot be applied to legislators who were elected in the same year that term limits were passed. 
D) It limits only state house members, not state senators. 
E) It limits only state senators, not state house members. 
A) It has a unicameral legislature. 
B) Special elections required some shifting of the dates on which term limits were applied to some offices. 
C) Its term-limit laws cannot be applied to legislators who were elected in the same year that term limits were passed. 
D) It limits only state house members, not state senators. 
E) It limits only state senators, not state house members.

Question 15

In most states, redistricting is done by

Accepted Answer

A) nonpartisan redistricting committees. 
B) governors. 
C) state legislatures. 
D) independent districting commissions. 
E) the state judiciary. 
A) nonpartisan redistricting committees. 
B) governors. 
C) state legislatures. 
D) independent districting commissions. 
E) the state judiciary.

Question 16

A procedure whereby a certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) referendum. 
B) grassroots campaign. 
C) general election. 
D) lobbying effort. 
E) initiative. 
A) referendum. 
B) grassroots campaign. 
C) general election. 
D) lobbying effort. 
E) initiative.

Question 17

Which of the following states allows referendum but NOT initiative?

Accepted Answer

A) Georgia 
B) New Mexico 
C) Wyoming 
D) Maine 
E) Colorado 
A) Georgia 
B) New Mexico 
C) Wyoming 
D) Maine 
E) Colorado

Question 18

The proportion of state legislators who are farmers has risen significantly in recent years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

As of 2006, approximately 41% of all state legislators were women.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

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) with the inclusion by the framers of the U.S.Constitution of a constitutional provision allowing for referendums on constitutional amendments. 
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) with the inclusion by the framers of the U.S.Constitution of a constitutional provision allowing for referendums on constitutional amendments. 
E) in Massachusetts in the 1990s.

Exam 24: State Legislatures

Which of the following is a negative effect of term limits?

The two sources of influence of lobbyists are

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

Which of the following is NOT a function or activity of state legislatures?

In what state did the state supreme court strike down term limits only to have the state's voters reinstate them four years later?

What functions do state legislatures perform within the larger federal system?

What is redistricting?

The committee system in state legislatures generally allows members to concentrate their energies on specific areas of governmental operations.

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.

What is the U.S.Supreme Court's stated standard by which to judge what would make a gerrymander unconstitutional?

Usually the greatest influence on legislators is

Which of the following is one of the two rules by which lobbyists live?

Committees tend to be more influential in the state legislatures of the least populous states.

How is Nevada unique in its term limits for state legislators?

In most states, redistricting is done by

A procedure whereby a certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters is called a(n)

Which of the following states allows referendum but NOT initiative?

The proportion of state legislators who are farmers has risen significantly in recent years.

As of 2006, approximately 41% of all state legislators were women.

The "direct democracy" movement began

Constitutional Democracy

Constitutional Foundations

American Federalism

Political Culture and Ideology

The US political Landscape

Political Parties

Public Opinion, Participation, and Voting

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and US politics

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Policy

Making Economic Policy

Making Social Policy

Making Foreign Defense Policy

State and Local Politics

State Constitutions

Parties and Elections in the States

State Governors

Judges and Justice in the States

Local Governments and Metropolitics

Making State and Local Policy

Staffing and Financing State and Local Governments

Filters