Question 1

The New Hampshire legislature has a House of Representatives and a Senate.Thus, it is an example of a _________________ legislature.

Accepted Answer

A) model 
B) divided 
C) bipartisan 
D) unitary 
E) bicameral 
A) model 
B) divided 
C) bipartisan 
D) unitary 
E) bicameral

Question 2

In legislatures that are less professionalized, party membership and interest-group pressure are more important to legislative outcomes than in those that are highly professionalized.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

When Georgia reapportioned its districts in 1960, the largest county (with a population of over half a million) had no more representation than three other counties (whose combined population was less than 7,000).

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

In comparison with the U.S.Congress, the

Accepted Answer

A) speakers in many state legislatures have more power. 
B) seniority systems in state legislatures are more closely followed. 
C) committees in state legislatures have greater power over bills. 
D) state legislatures have more professional staff. 
E) state legislatures have almost no role for partisanship. 
A) speakers in many state legislatures have more power. 
B) seniority systems in state legislatures are more closely followed. 
C) committees in state legislatures have greater power over bills. 
D) state legislatures have more professional staff. 
E) state legislatures have almost no role for partisanship.

Question 5

What is the etymology of the word "gerrymandering"?

Accepted Answer

A) It comes from an odd-shaped district (that resembled a salamander) in Massachusetts, redrawn when the governor's name was Gerry. 
B) It comes from a Creole word (from Louisiana) that means pandering to a particular group of people. 
C) It comes from an eighteenth-century slang term for an unpopular mandate, pioneered by an unscrupulous politician in South Carolina, named Gerry Sartain. 
D) It comes from an old British sailors' term that meant being unfairly treated by a ship's captain. 
E) Its etymology is unknown. 
A) It comes from an odd-shaped district (that resembled a salamander) in Massachusetts, redrawn when the governor's name was Gerry. 
B) It comes from a Creole word (from Louisiana) that means pandering to a particular group of people. 
C) It comes from an eighteenth-century slang term for an unpopular mandate, pioneered by an unscrupulous politician in South Carolina, named Gerry Sartain. 
D) It comes from an old British sailors' term that meant being unfairly treated by a ship's captain. 
E) Its etymology is unknown.

Question 6

Which state has its members of the state legislature chosen in nonpartisan elections?

Accepted Answer

A) Kentucky 
B) Nebraska 
C) Idaho 
D) Pennsylvania 
E) North Carolina 
A) Kentucky 
B) Nebraska 
C) Idaho 
D) Pennsylvania 
E) North Carolina

Question 7

State legislatures are increasingly turning to

Accepted Answer

A) consultation. 
B) rapport. 
C) folkways. 
D) professionalism. 
E) executive orders. 
A) consultation. 
B) rapport. 
C) folkways. 
D) professionalism. 
E) executive orders.

Question 8

Georgia does NOT have term limits for state legislators.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The right to lobby is protected under

Accepted Answer

A) federal statutes. 
B) local government charters. 
C) state statutes. 
D) the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the federal constitution and similar protections in state constitutions. 
E) gubernatorial order. 
A) federal statutes. 
B) local government charters. 
C) state statutes. 
D) the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the federal constitution and similar protections in state constitutions. 
E) gubernatorial order.

Question 10

A governor can allow a bill to become law by simply not signing it; it does not require a signature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and develop party policy is called a party caucus.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The committee system in state legislatures does NOT allow members to specialize in specificareas of governmental operations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Unlike the U.S.Congress, most state legislatures do NOT use a committee system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Which of the following statements about state legislative committees is correct?

Accepted Answer

A) They vary in power from state to state 
B) Their influence has decreased in all states in recent years 
C) They encourage members to generalize their experience rather than specialize 
D) They have few oversight responsibilities 
E) They rarely screen legislation before legislation is considered by the floor of legislative chambers 
A) They vary in power from state to state 
B) Their influence has decreased in all states in recent years 
C) They encourage members to generalize their experience rather than specialize 
D) They have few oversight responsibilities 
E) They rarely screen legislation before legislation is considered by the floor of legislative chambers

Question 15

If 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) _____________ district.

Accepted Answer

A) majority-minority 
B) black power 
C) Voting Rights Act 
D) affirmative action 
E) red 
A) majority-minority 
B) black power 
C) Voting Rights Act 
D) affirmative action 
E) red

Question 16

There are approximately 48,000 total state legislators across the 50 states.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

A referendum that calls for a waiting period before legislation goes into effect and allows voters to sign a petition requesting that the act be referred to the voters prior to going into effect is call a(n) _______________ referendum.

Accepted Answer

A) optional 
B) cooling-off 
C) direct 
D) deliberative 
E) mandatory 
A) optional 
B) cooling-off 
C) direct 
D) deliberative 
E) mandatory

Question 18

How many states do NOT have term limits for their members of the state legislature?

Accepted Answer

A) 15 
B) 25 
C) 44 
D) 35 
E) 8 
A) 15 
B) 25 
C) 44 
D) 35 
E) 8

Question 19

Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral legislature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

One of the major advantages of the committee system is that it

Accepted Answer

A) brokers power between the governor and the legislature. 
B) balances the interests of political parties. 
C) allows members to concentrate their energies on particular areas of governmental activities. 
D) allows legislators to ignore the preferences of their constituents. 
E) None of the above 
A) brokers power between the governor and the legislature. 
B) balances the interests of political parties. 
C) allows members to concentrate their energies on particular areas of governmental activities. 
D) allows legislators to ignore the preferences of their constituents. 
E) None of the above

Exam 24: State Legislatures

The New Hampshire legislature has a House of Representatives and a Senate.Thus, it is an example of a _________________ legislature.

In legislatures that are less professionalized, party membership and interest-group pressure are more important to legislative outcomes than in those that are highly professionalized.

When Georgia reapportioned its districts in 1960, the largest county (with a population of over half a million) had no more representation than three other counties (whose combined population was less than 7,000).

In comparison with the U.S.Congress, the

What is the etymology of the word "gerrymandering"?

Which state has its members of the state legislature chosen in nonpartisan elections?

State legislatures are increasingly turning to

Georgia does NOT have term limits for state legislators.

The right to lobby is protected under

A governor can allow a bill to become law by simply not signing it; it does not require a signature.

A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and develop party policy is called a party caucus.

The committee system in state legislatures does NOT allow members to specialize in specificareas of governmental operations.

Unlike the U.S.Congress, most state legislatures do NOT use a committee system.

Which of the following statements about state legislative committees is correct?

If 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) _____________ district.

There are approximately 48,000 total state legislators across the 50 states.

A referendum that calls for a waiting period before legislation goes into effect and allows voters to sign a petition requesting that the act be referred to the voters prior to going into effect is call a(n) _______________ referendum.

How many states do NOT have term limits for their members of the state legislature?

Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral legislature.

One of the major advantages of the committee system is that it

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