Question 1

What are the primary causes of legislative turnover in the Texas legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a thankless job that has low stature and popularity in the eyes of many Texans. 
B)  The year-long legislative sessions often have a negative effect on a legislator's family life. 
C)  The effects of redistricting, low pay, and personal costs of running for office make the position undesirable. 
D)  The vicious nature of politics in Austin disenfranchises legislators from seeking reelection. 
E)  The lack of benefits and responsibilities outside the legislature lead many not to return. 
A)  It is a thankless job that has low stature and popularity in the eyes of many Texans. 
B)  The year-long legislative sessions often have a negative effect on a legislator's family life. 
C)  The effects of redistricting, low pay, and personal costs of running for office make the position undesirable. 
D)  The vicious nature of politics in Austin disenfranchises legislators from seeking reelection. 
E)  The lack of benefits and responsibilities outside the legislature lead many not to return.

Question 2

Redistricting was harmonious in the 2003 session of the Texas legislature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

What is the most meaningful threat a governor can make to a legislator?

Accepted Answer

A)  The governor can threaten to not appoint the legislator's supporters to boards and commissions. 
B)  The governor can threaten to reveal evidence of a legislator's public misconduct. 
C)  The governor can threaten to veto legislation of importance to the legislator. 
D)  The governor can threaten call for a special session to reverse the legislator's legislation. 
E)  The governor can threaten to cut the legislators budget for staff and office expenses. 
A)  The governor can threaten to not appoint the legislator's supporters to boards and commissions. 
B)  The governor can threaten to reveal evidence of a legislator's public misconduct. 
C)  The governor can threaten to veto legislation of importance to the legislator. 
D)  The governor can threaten call for a special session to reverse the legislator's legislation. 
E)  The governor can threaten to cut the legislators budget for staff and office expenses.

Question 4

How has redistricting impacted the Texas state legislature? What significant changes have been made over the past century to ensure equality in representation?

Accepted Answer

Redistricting has had a significant impa

Question 5

Discuss the reason for the strong leadership roles played by the lieutenant governor and speaker in the Texas legislature.In what ways do they control the legislative agenda?

Accepted Answer

The lieutenant governor and speaker in t

Question 6

Why is the office of the lieutenant governor considered by some to be the most powerful office in Texas state government?

Accepted Answer

A)  This office is elected independently of the governor and can develop a dominant legislative role. 
B)  The lieutenant governor can appoint members to standing committees regardless of seniority. 
C)  This office, unlike the governor's, is protected from being charged with crimes while in office. 
D)  The Texas Constitution grants the lieutenant governor more authority than the governor. 
E)  This lieutenant governor has the sole power and responsibility to appoint statewide officials. 
A)  This office is elected independently of the governor and can develop a dominant legislative role. 
B)  The lieutenant governor can appoint members to standing committees regardless of seniority. 
C)  This office, unlike the governor's, is protected from being charged with crimes while in office. 
D)  The Texas Constitution grants the lieutenant governor more authority than the governor. 
E)  This lieutenant governor has the sole power and responsibility to appoint statewide officials.

Question 7

Outline the process by which a bill becomes a law in Texas, including a discussion of the critical stages in the process.Why do so few bills become laws?

Accepted Answer

In Texas, the process by which a bill be

Question 8

Frances Farenthold of Corpus Christi was often referred to as the "Den Mother of the Dirty Thirty," a bipartisan legislative group that challenged the power of the speaker during a major stock fraud scandal.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The speaker of the House is

Accepted Answer

A)  elected by the members of the House. 
B)  elected by members of the majority party in the House, with final approval by the Senate. 
C)  appointed by the governor. 
D)  held by the legislator who has the longest tenure serving in the House. 
E)  elected by a statewide popular election. 
A)  elected by the members of the House. 
B)  elected by members of the majority party in the House, with final approval by the Senate. 
C)  appointed by the governor. 
D)  held by the legislator who has the longest tenure serving in the House. 
E)  elected by a statewide popular election.

Question 10

At first reading, a bill is introduced, numbered, and then sent

Accepted Answer

A)  to a committee. 
B)  to the governor. 
C)  for a vote on the floor. 
D)  to the other chamber. 
E)  to a debate by the chamber. 
A)  to a committee. 
B)  to the governor. 
C)  for a vote on the floor. 
D)  to the other chamber. 
E)  to a debate by the chamber.

Question 11

In 2009, Democrats retook some of their lost seats in the House and joined with moderate Republicans to unseat ________ and replace him with

Accepted Answer

A)  consensus builder Bill Hobby; Bob Bullock. 
B)  autocratic Speaker Joe Strauss; Tom Craddick. 
C)  autocratic Speaker Tom Craddick; Joe Strauss. 
D)  consensus builder Bob Bullock; Tom Craddick. 
E)  autocratic Speaker Bob Bullock; Joe Strauss. 
A)  consensus builder Bill Hobby; Bob Bullock. 
B)  autocratic Speaker Joe Strauss; Tom Craddick. 
C)  autocratic Speaker Tom Craddick; Joe Strauss. 
D)  consensus builder Bob Bullock; Tom Craddick. 
E)  autocratic Speaker Bob Bullock; Joe Strauss.

Question 12

The most important power of the speaker and lieutenant governor is

Accepted Answer

A)  their control of the scheduling of third readings. 
B)  the appointment of House and Senate committee members. 
C)  certifying the vote on bills that pass. 
D)  signing bills in the governor's absence. 
E)  the appointment of Texas state board and commission members. 
A)  their control of the scheduling of third readings. 
B)  the appointment of House and Senate committee members. 
C)  certifying the vote on bills that pass. 
D)  signing bills in the governor's absence. 
E)  the appointment of Texas state board and commission members.

Question 13

What influences a Texas lawmaker's decision making? Are the needs of the constituents the most important consideration?

Accepted Answer

Texas lawmakers are influenced by a vari

Question 14

The growth and development of the legislative staff reflects

Accepted Answer

A)  a growing commitment to be free of lobbyists. 
B)  a reduction in the influence of the presiding officers. 
C)  an emerging professionalism in lawmaking. 
D)  the attempt by the legislature to address scandalous issues. 
E)  a bloated bureaucracy that needs to be trimmed down. 
A)  a growing commitment to be free of lobbyists. 
B)  a reduction in the influence of the presiding officers. 
C)  an emerging professionalism in lawmaking. 
D)  the attempt by the legislature to address scandalous issues. 
E)  a bloated bureaucracy that needs to be trimmed down.

Question 15

The wishes of constituents are most likely to be considered by legislators when

Accepted Answer

A)  they receive a few letters from loud agitators in their district. 
B)  there is a groundswell of dominant opinions from their district. 
C)  there is a calamity that causes much stress in their district. 
D)  there is a groundswell of mixed opinions from their district. 
E)  a few voice their concerns over the phone to their district office. 
A)  they receive a few letters from loud agitators in their district. 
B)  there is a groundswell of dominant opinions from their district. 
C)  there is a calamity that causes much stress in their district. 
D)  there is a groundswell of mixed opinions from their district. 
E)  a few voice their concerns over the phone to their district office.

Question 16

A bill can be considered by the full chamber after it wins committee approval on the

Accepted Answer

A)  consent of the other chamber. 
B)  second reading. 
C)  consent of the standing committee. 
D)  third reading. 
E)  consent of the presiding officer. 
A)  consent of the other chamber. 
B)  second reading. 
C)  consent of the standing committee. 
D)  third reading. 
E)  consent of the presiding officer.

Question 17

Legislators' decisions are influenced by

Accepted Answer

A)  constituents, national opinion, and lobbyists. 
B)  interest groups, constituents, and opinion polls. 
C)  the media, opinion polls, and national opinions. 
D)  constituents, interest groups, and the media. 
E)  the media, national opinions, and opinion polls. 
A)  constituents, national opinion, and lobbyists. 
B)  interest groups, constituents, and opinion polls. 
C)  the media, opinion polls, and national opinions. 
D)  constituents, interest groups, and the media. 
E)  the media, national opinions, and opinion polls.

Question 18

Institutionalization is illustrated by the decreased tenure of the legislative membership, changing career and leadership patterns, a lower workload, and the emergence of partisan divisions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Laws made in Texas go through different processes than those followed by the U.S.Congress.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

How did the fallout from the Sharpstown stock fraud scandal immediately impact the Texas legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  The House moved to limit the speaker's power through a modified seniority system for committee appointments. 
B)  Through a public referendum, it was voted that appropriations bills could no longer originate from the Senate. 
C)  An executive order was issued by the governor to force all legislators to reveal their personal stock holdings. 
D)  The judiciary stepped in and put forth a rule that all legislation concerning the banks had to go through the Texas comptroller. 
E)  The governor created a special board comprised of bank industry experts and federal auditors to oversee every bill concerning banks and insurance. 
A)  The House moved to limit the speaker's power through a modified seniority system for committee appointments. 
B)  Through a public referendum, it was voted that appropriations bills could no longer originate from the Senate. 
C)  An executive order was issued by the governor to force all legislators to reveal their personal stock holdings. 
D)  The judiciary stepped in and put forth a rule that all legislation concerning the banks had to go through the Texas comptroller. 
E)  The governor created a special board comprised of bank industry experts and federal auditors to oversee every bill concerning banks and insurance.

What are the primary causes of legislative turnover in the Texas legislature?

Redistricting was harmonious in the 2003 session of the Texas legislature.

What is the most meaningful threat a governor can make to a legislator?

How has redistricting impacted the Texas state legislature? What significant changes have been made over the past century to ensure equality in representation?

Discuss the reason for the strong leadership roles played by the lieutenant governor and speaker in the Texas legislature.In what ways do they control the legislative agenda?

Why is the office of the lieutenant governor considered by some to be the most powerful office in Texas state government?

Outline the process by which a bill becomes a law in Texas, including a discussion of the critical stages in the process.Why do so few bills become laws?

Frances Farenthold of Corpus Christi was often referred to as the "Den Mother of the Dirty Thirty," a bipartisan legislative group that challenged the power of the speaker during a major stock fraud scandal.

The speaker of the House is

At first reading, a bill is introduced, numbered, and then sent

In 2009, Democrats retook some of their lost seats in the House and joined with moderate Republicans to unseat ________ and replace him with

The most important power of the speaker and lieutenant governor is

What influences a Texas lawmaker's decision making? Are the needs of the constituents the most important consideration?

The growth and development of the legislative staff reflects

The wishes of constituents are most likely to be considered by legislators when

A bill can be considered by the full chamber after it wins committee approval on the

Legislators' decisions are influenced by

Institutionalization is illustrated by the decreased tenure of the legislative membership, changing career and leadership patterns, a lower workload, and the emergence of partisan divisions.

Laws made in Texas go through different processes than those followed by the U.S.Congress.

How did the fallout from the Sharpstown stock fraud scandal immediately impact the Texas legislature?

The social and economic milieu of texas politics

The texas constitution

Intergovernmental relationships

Interest groups and political power in texas

The mass media in texas politics

The party system in

Elections, campaigns, and political behavior

The texas executive

The bureaucracy and policy implementation

The judicial system in texas

Local government in texas: cities, towns, counties, and special districts

Contemporary public policy issues in texas

Filters

Exam 8: The texas legislature

What are the primary causes of legislative turnover in the Texas legislature?

Redistricting was harmonious in the 2003 session of the Texas legislature.

What is the most meaningful threat a governor can make to a legislator?

How has redistricting impacted the Texas state legislature? What significant changes have been made over the past century to ensure equality in representation?

Discuss the reason for the strong leadership roles played by the lieutenant governor and speaker in the Texas legislature.In what ways do they control the legislative agenda?

Why is the office of the lieutenant governor considered by some to be the most powerful office in Texas state government?

Outline the process by which a bill becomes a law in Texas, including a discussion of the critical stages in the process.Why do so few bills become laws?

Frances Farenthold of Corpus Christi was often referred to as the "Den Mother of the Dirty Thirty," a bipartisan legislative group that challenged the power of the speaker during a major stock fraud scandal.

The speaker of the House is

At first reading, a bill is introduced, numbered, and then sent

In 2009, Democrats retook some of their lost seats in the House and joined with moderate Republicans to unseat ________ and replace him with

The most important power of the speaker and lieutenant governor is

What influences a Texas lawmaker's decision making? Are the needs of the constituents the most important consideration?

The growth and development of the legislative staff reflects

The wishes of constituents are most likely to be considered by legislators when

A bill can be considered by the full chamber after it wins committee approval on the

Legislators' decisions are influenced by

Institutionalization is illustrated by the decreased tenure of the legislative membership, changing career and leadership patterns, a lower workload, and the emergence of partisan divisions.

Laws made in Texas go through different processes than those followed by the U.S.Congress.

How did the fallout from the Sharpstown stock fraud scandal immediately impact the Texas legislature?

The social and economic milieu of texas politics

The texas constitution

Intergovernmental relationships

Interest groups and political power in texas

The mass media in texas politics

The party system in

Elections, campaigns, and political behavior

The texas executive

The bureaucracy and policy implementation

The judicial system in texas

Local government in texas: cities, towns, counties, and special districts

Contemporary public policy issues in texas

Filters