Question 1

When compared to California legislators, those in Texas are paid a salary that is

Accepted Answer

A)  much better. 
B)  slightly higher. 
C)  much lower. 
D)  very similar. 
A)  much better. 
B)  slightly higher. 
C)  much lower. 
D)  very similar.

Question 2

The Texas House of Representatives consists of __________ members.

Accepted Answer

A)  31. 
B)  55. 
C)  150. 
D)  400. 
A)  31. 
B)  55. 
C)  150. 
D)  400.

Question 3

Attempting to delay or impede a bill's passage by holding the floor in debate is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  filibustering. 
B)  gerrymandering. 
C)  invoking cloture. 
D)  senatorial privilege. 
A)  filibustering. 
B)  gerrymandering. 
C)  invoking cloture. 
D)  senatorial privilege.

Question 4

House rules prohibit ghost voting. This practice involves representatives

Accepted Answer

A)  scaring another representatives into voting their way. 
B)  having another representative vote for them. 
C)  pressing the voting button for another representative. 
D)  not voting when present in the chamber. 
A)  scaring another representatives into voting their way. 
B)  having another representative vote for them. 
C)  pressing the voting button for another representative. 
D)  not voting when present in the chamber.

Question 5

The Legislative Black Caucus has been most concerned about

Accepted Answer

A)  highway construction. 
B)  the 2001 hate crimes law. 
C)  the state's general sales tax. 
D)  the issue of campaign financing. 
A)  highway construction. 
B)  the 2001 hate crimes law. 
C)  the state's general sales tax. 
D)  the issue of campaign financing.

Question 6

A member of the Texas legislature would be immune from adverse judicial action if he

Accepted Answer

A)  libels a citizen during a speech at his hometown Rotary Club. 
B)  is arrested for intoxicated driving while the legislature is in session. 
C)  is arrested for causing an automobile accident during the session. 
D)  slanders in a speech during a legislative proceeding. 
A)  libels a citizen during a speech at his hometown Rotary Club. 
B)  is arrested for intoxicated driving while the legislature is in session. 
C)  is arrested for causing an automobile accident during the session. 
D)  slanders in a speech during a legislative proceeding.

Question 7

The Texas legislature differs most from the U.S. Congress in that

Accepted Answer

A)  conference committees are never needed. 
B)  only the senate is elected directly by the people. 
C)  it meets in regular session for a very limited time. 
D)  all bills must pass both houses with identical language. 
A)  conference committees are never needed. 
B)  only the senate is elected directly by the people. 
C)  it meets in regular session for a very limited time. 
D)  all bills must pass both houses with identical language.

Question 8

Most of the governor's board and commission appointments to head state agencies must be submitted and approved by

Accepted Answer

A)  at least two-thirds of the Senate. 
B)  the relevant Senate committee. 
C)  a majority of the House of Representatives. 
D)  at least a simple majority vote of the senators. 
A)  at least two-thirds of the Senate. 
B)  the relevant Senate committee. 
C)  a majority of the House of Representatives. 
D)  at least a simple majority vote of the senators.

Question 9

Redistricting may be politically difficult for a legislator primarily because it may

Accepted Answer

A)  increase his political power. 
B)  lead to increased public scrutiny. 
C)  take away previous voter support. 
D)  cause voters to lose interest in future elections. 
A)  increase his political power. 
B)  lead to increased public scrutiny. 
C)  take away previous voter support. 
D)  cause voters to lose interest in future elections.

Question 10

Which of the following is a true statement regarding senators in the Texas legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  There are two from each state senate district. 
B)  They are limited to no more than two four-year terms. 
C)  They are limited to a total of ten years in office. 
D)  They all stand for election the year following redistricting. 
A)  There are two from each state senate district. 
B)  They are limited to no more than two four-year terms. 
C)  They are limited to a total of ten years in office. 
D)  They all stand for election the year following redistricting.

Question 11

Regular sessions of the Texas legislature meet for

Accepted Answer

A)  140 days, in odd-numbered years. 
B)  150 days, every single year. 
C)  140 days in even-numbered years. 
D)  150 days, every four years. 
A)  140 days, in odd-numbered years. 
B)  150 days, every single year. 
C)  140 days in even-numbered years. 
D)  150 days, every four years.

Question 12

In the Texas House, a committee that considers legislation and recommends whether it should or should not pass is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  procedural committee. 
B)  substantive (standing) committee. 
C)  interim committee. 
D)  joint (two-house) committee. 
A)  procedural committee. 
B)  substantive (standing) committee. 
C)  interim committee. 
D)  joint (two-house) committee.

Question 13

Legislative redistricting for both houses in Texas routinely occurs

Accepted Answer

A)  every even-numbered year. 
B)  every odd-numbered year. 
C)  the first odd-numbered year in a decade. 
D)  the first even-numbered years in a decade. 
A)  every even-numbered year. 
B)  every odd-numbered year. 
C)  the first odd-numbered year in a decade. 
D)  the first even-numbered years in a decade.

Question 14

The terms of office for members of the Texas legislature are

Accepted Answer

A)  Senate, four years; House of Representatives, two years; no term limits. 
B)  House of Representatives, four years; Senate, four years; two-term limit. 
C)  Senate, four years, two terms; House of Representatives, two years, four terms. 
D)  Senate, six years; House of Representatives, two years; no limit. 
A)  Senate, four years; House of Representatives, two years; no term limits. 
B)  House of Representatives, four years; Senate, four years; two-term limit. 
C)  Senate, four years, two terms; House of Representatives, two years, four terms. 
D)  Senate, six years; House of Representatives, two years; no limit.

Question 15

Which of the following statements is true regarding the Texas legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  It does not recognize the party affiliation of its members. 
B)  It has no party organization-not even informal caucuses. 
C)  It is dominated by the Democratic Party, with no Republican influence. 
D)  It has Democratic and Republican caucuses that are increasingly important. 
A)  It does not recognize the party affiliation of its members. 
B)  It has no party organization-not even informal caucuses. 
C)  It is dominated by the Democratic Party, with no Republican influence. 
D)  It has Democratic and Republican caucuses that are increasingly important.

Question 16

In Texas, elections under single-member districts increase the probability that

Accepted Answer

A)  black or Hispanic candidates will be elected. 
B)  whites will continue to dominate elections. 
C)  election campaign costs will increase. 
D)  sitting incumbents will be defeated. 
A)  black or Hispanic candidates will be elected. 
B)  whites will continue to dominate elections. 
C)  election campaign costs will increase. 
D)  sitting incumbents will be defeated.

Question 17

On its first reading in the House of Representatives, a bill is then

Accepted Answer

A)  debated and voted upon. 
B)  referred to the appropriate committee. 
C)  forwarded to the Senate for its action. 
D)  referred to the House Rules Committee. 
A)  debated and voted upon. 
B)  referred to the appropriate committee. 
C)  forwarded to the Senate for its action. 
D)  referred to the House Rules Committee.

Question 18

Which of the following statements characterizes the membership of the Texas legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  Anglo men dominate the Texas legislature. 
B)  Hispanic men dominate the Texas House. 
C)  African Americans dominate the Texas Senate. 
D)  Anglo women dominate both the House and Senate. 
A)  Anglo men dominate the Texas legislature. 
B)  Hispanic men dominate the Texas House. 
C)  African Americans dominate the Texas Senate. 
D)  Anglo women dominate both the House and Senate.

Question 19

Rules relating to the operations of the Texas Senate would be dealt with in a

Accepted Answer

A)  simple resolution. 
B)  concurrent resolution. 
C)  joint resolution. 
D)  appropriations bill. 
A)  simple resolution. 
B)  concurrent resolution. 
C)  joint resolution. 
D)  appropriations bill.

Question 20

The U.S. Supreme Court found in Reynolds v. Sims (1964) that

Accepted Answer

A)  legislative districts of bicameral state legislatures must have equal populations. 
B)  only the lower house of state legislatures must have equal populations. 
C)  all states must have bicameral legislatures. 
D)  state term limits for members of Congress violates the U.S. Constitution. 
A)  legislative districts of bicameral state legislatures must have equal populations. 
B)  only the lower house of state legislatures must have equal populations. 
C)  all states must have bicameral legislatures. 
D)  state term limits for members of Congress violates the U.S. Constitution.

When compared to California legislators, those in Texas are paid a salary that is

The Texas House of Representatives consists of __________ members.

Attempting to delay or impede a bill's passage by holding the floor in debate is referred to as

House rules prohibit ghost voting. This practice involves representatives

The Legislative Black Caucus has been most concerned about

A member of the Texas legislature would be immune from adverse judicial action if he

The Texas legislature differs most from the U.S. Congress in that

Most of the governor's board and commission appointments to head state agencies must be submitted and approved by

Redistricting may be politically difficult for a legislator primarily because it may

Which of the following is a true statement regarding senators in the Texas legislature?

Regular sessions of the Texas legislature meet for

In the Texas House, a committee that considers legislation and recommends whether it should or should not pass is called a(n)

Legislative redistricting for both houses in Texas routinely occurs

The terms of office for members of the Texas legislature are

Which of the following statements is true regarding the Texas legislature?

In Texas, elections under single-member districts increase the probability that

On its first reading in the House of Representatives, a bill is then

Which of the following statements characterizes the membership of the Texas legislature?

Rules relating to the operations of the Texas Senate would be dealt with in a

The U.S. Supreme Court found in Reynolds v. Sims (1964) that

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Local Governments

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Politics of Interest Groups

The Executive

Public Policy and Administration

Laws, Courts, and Justice

Finance and Fiscal Policy

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Exam 7: The Legislature

When compared to California legislators, those in Texas are paid a salary that is

The Texas House of Representatives consists of __________ members.

Attempting to delay or impede a bill's passage by holding the floor in debate is referred to as

House rules prohibit ghost voting. This practice involves representatives

The Legislative Black Caucus has been most concerned about

A member of the Texas legislature would be immune from adverse judicial action if he

The Texas legislature differs most from the U.S. Congress in that

Most of the governor's board and commission appointments to head state agencies must be submitted and approved by

Redistricting may be politically difficult for a legislator primarily because it may

Which of the following is a true statement regarding senators in the Texas legislature?

Regular sessions of the Texas legislature meet for

In the Texas House, a committee that considers legislation and recommends whether it should or should not pass is called a(n)

Legislative redistricting for both houses in Texas routinely occurs

The terms of office for members of the Texas legislature are

Which of the following statements is true regarding the Texas legislature?

In Texas, elections under single-member districts increase the probability that

On its first reading in the House of Representatives, a bill is then

Which of the following statements characterizes the membership of the Texas legislature?

Rules relating to the operations of the Texas Senate would be dealt with in a

The U.S. Supreme Court found in Reynolds v. Sims (1964) that

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Local Governments

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Politics of Interest Groups

The Executive

Public Policy and Administration

Laws, Courts, and Justice

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Filters