Question 1

The state budget is the most important bill enacted by the legislature because it indicates how much money there is to spend during the session.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

A bill is ________ after a successful third reading in the originating chamber.

Accepted Answer

A)  sent to the opposite chamber 
B)  brought before debate on the floor 
C)  sent to the governor 
D)  brought before the presiding officer for approval 
E)  sent to committee one last time 
A)  sent to the opposite chamber 
B)  brought before debate on the floor 
C)  sent to the governor 
D)  brought before the presiding officer for approval 
E)  sent to committee one last time

Question 3

Because the overriding consideration for most lawmakers is to get reelected, the interests of which source are most important in leading them to a decision on how to vote?

Accepted Answer

A)  Campaign contributors are vital to a legislator so care must be taken not to alienate them. 
B)  They must carefully balance the interests of a variety of groups to ensure continued support. 
C)  The political party to which the legislator is a member of can make or break a legislator's career. 
D)  Legislators represent the people who put their faith in a legislator's personal convictions. 
E)  A legislator's senior colleagues are the biggest influence on how they will vote. 
A)  Campaign contributors are vital to a legislator so care must be taken not to alienate them. 
B)  They must carefully balance the interests of a variety of groups to ensure continued support. 
C)  The political party to which the legislator is a member of can make or break a legislator's career. 
D)  Legislators represent the people who put their faith in a legislator's personal convictions. 
E)  A legislator's senior colleagues are the biggest influence on how they will vote.

Question 4

An opportunistic legislator

Accepted Answer

A)  spends endless hours developing programs and are turned to often for advice. 
B)  tends to contribute little in terms of legislation and have little influence over others. 
C)  pursues issues to produce personal or political benefits. 
D)  tends to enjoy the perks of the office more than actual legislating. 
E)  is more interested in scoring political points through outrageous behavior than legislating. 
A)  spends endless hours developing programs and are turned to often for advice. 
B)  tends to contribute little in terms of legislation and have little influence over others. 
C)  pursues issues to produce personal or political benefits. 
D)  tends to enjoy the perks of the office more than actual legislating. 
E)  is more interested in scoring political points through outrageous behavior than legislating.

Question 5

Why did Democratic legislators leave Texas in 2003 while the legislature was in session? Do you believe this was a fair tactic? Defend your answer.

Accepted Answer

Democratic legislators left Texas in 200

Question 6

Legislators receive retirement benefits that are almost triple the amount of their original legislative pay.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Trace the changes in partisanship of the Texas legislature from Democratic to Republican dominance. Why is partisanship increasing? Provide specific examples.

Accepted Answer

The partisanship of the Texas legislatur

Question 8

Most legislators are honest, hard-working individuals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Of the 5,796 bills introduced during the 2011 regular session, only about ________ finally passed both chambers.

Accepted Answer

A)  1,400 
B)  2,500 
C)  3,700 
D)  4,100 
E)  5,200 
A)  1,400 
B)  2,500 
C)  3,700 
D)  4,100 
E)  5,200

Question 10

To bring a bill to the floor of the Senate for debate requires

Accepted Answer

A)  the permission of the senior member of the majority party. 
B)  a two-thirds approval vote by the Senate. 
C)  a three-fourths approval vote by the House. 
D)  the approval of the chair of the committee that considered the bill. 
E)  the approval of the Calendars Committee. 
A)  the permission of the senior member of the majority party. 
B)  a two-thirds approval vote by the Senate. 
C)  a three-fourths approval vote by the House. 
D)  the approval of the chair of the committee that considered the bill. 
E)  the approval of the Calendars Committee.

Question 11

The legislative rules and the heavy volume of bills considered ________ enables lawmakers to sneak major, controversial proposals into law by adding little noticed amendments to other bills.

Accepted Answer

A)  never 
B)  sometimes 
C)  always 
D)  once each session 
E)  by no means 
A)  never 
B)  sometimes 
C)  always 
D)  once each session 
E)  by no means

Question 12

In 2003, Democrats still controlled both houses of the Texas legislature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The legislative process is designed to institutionalize

Accepted Answer

A)  conflict. 
B)  duels. 
C)  relationships. 
D)  change. 
E)  statutes. 
A)  conflict. 
B)  duels. 
C)  relationships. 
D)  change. 
E)  statutes.

Question 14

During the third reading, a bill may be amended by

Accepted Answer

A)  four-fifths approval. 
B)  three-fourths approval. 
C)  two-thirds approval. 
D)  three-fifths approval. 
E)  majority approval. 
A)  four-fifths approval. 
B)  three-fourths approval. 
C)  two-thirds approval. 
D)  three-fifths approval. 
E)  majority approval.

Question 15

Equality in redistricting finally arrived in Texas as a result of state court intervention in 1975.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

In recent years, the legislature has increasingly become dominated by business owners and attorneys because

Accepted Answer

A)  new qualifications for one to serve in the legislature require a postgraduate degree. 
B)  low legislative pay and increasing demands on time preclude many salaried people from serving. 
C)  voters believe that people with these backgrounds are best fit to serve in the legislature. 
D)  they more often than not have the money required to file for candidacy. 
E)  doctors and educators, who once dominated the legislature, have shown a declining interest. 
A)  new qualifications for one to serve in the legislature require a postgraduate degree. 
B)  low legislative pay and increasing demands on time preclude many salaried people from serving. 
C)  voters believe that people with these backgrounds are best fit to serve in the legislature. 
D)  they more often than not have the money required to file for candidacy. 
E)  doctors and educators, who once dominated the legislature, have shown a declining interest.

Question 17

Today, Texas is the country's second most populous state and is more than 80 percent urban.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

In 2011, about 5,700 pieces of legislation were introduced during the regular legislative session.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Why has there traditionally been no formal division along party lines or a formal system of choosing floor leaders in the Texas legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  The powers of the presiding officers and the longtime Democratic-controlled system did not produce a leadership structure comparable to that of the U.S. Congress. 
B)  Though membership in the legislature includes Republicans and Democrats, the delegation of power has not been typically done in a partisan fashion. 
C)  Legislative rules concerning the appointing of floor leaders was removed in the early twentieth century to reduce partisanship. 
D)  The powers of the governor over the legislature and longtime Democratic-controlled system did not produce a leadership structure comparable to that of the U.S. Congress. 
E)  Though membership in the legislature includes Republicans and Democrats, the delegation of power has been left to the whim of the presiding officers, which varies greatly. 
A)  The powers of the presiding officers and the longtime Democratic-controlled system did not produce a leadership structure comparable to that of the U.S. Congress. 
B)  Though membership in the legislature includes Republicans and Democrats, the delegation of power has not been typically done in a partisan fashion. 
C)  Legislative rules concerning the appointing of floor leaders was removed in the early twentieth century to reduce partisanship. 
D)  The powers of the governor over the legislature and longtime Democratic-controlled system did not produce a leadership structure comparable to that of the U.S. Congress. 
E)  Though membership in the legislature includes Republicans and Democrats, the delegation of power has been left to the whim of the presiding officers, which varies greatly.

Question 20

Why is the committee system considered the backbone of the legislative process? What are the different types and roles of committees?

Accepted Answer

The committee system is considered the b

The state budget is the most important bill enacted by the legislature because it indicates how much money there is to spend during the session.

A bill is ________ after a successful third reading in the originating chamber.

Because the overriding consideration for most lawmakers is to get reelected, the interests of which source are most important in leading them to a decision on how to vote?

An opportunistic legislator

Why did Democratic legislators leave Texas in 2003 while the legislature was in session? Do you believe this was a fair tactic? Defend your answer.

Legislators receive retirement benefits that are almost triple the amount of their original legislative pay.

Trace the changes in partisanship of the Texas legislature from Democratic to Republican dominance. Why is partisanship increasing? Provide specific examples.

Most legislators are honest, hard-working individuals.

Of the 5,796 bills introduced during the 2011 regular session, only about ________ finally passed both chambers.

To bring a bill to the floor of the Senate for debate requires

The legislative rules and the heavy volume of bills considered ________ enables lawmakers to sneak major, controversial proposals into law by adding little noticed amendments to other bills.

In 2003, Democrats still controlled both houses of the Texas legislature.

The legislative process is designed to institutionalize

During the third reading, a bill may be amended by

Equality in redistricting finally arrived in Texas as a result of state court intervention in 1975.

In recent years, the legislature has increasingly become dominated by business owners and attorneys because

Today, Texas is the country's second most populous state and is more than 80 percent urban.

In 2011, about 5,700 pieces of legislation were introduced during the regular legislative session.

Why has there traditionally been no formal division along party lines or a formal system of choosing floor leaders in the Texas legislature?

Why is the committee system considered the backbone of the legislative process? What are the different types and roles of committees?

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

The state budget is the most important bill enacted by the legislature because it indicates how much money there is to spend during the session.

A bill is ________ after a successful third reading in the originating chamber.

Because the overriding consideration for most lawmakers is to get reelected, the interests of which source are most important in leading them to a decision on how to vote?

An opportunistic legislator

Why did Democratic legislators leave Texas in 2003 while the legislature was in session? Do you believe this was a fair tactic? Defend your answer.

Legislators receive retirement benefits that are almost triple the amount of their original legislative pay.

Trace the changes in partisanship of the Texas legislature from Democratic to Republican dominance. Why is partisanship increasing? Provide specific examples.

Most legislators are honest, hard-working individuals.

Of the 5,796 bills introduced during the 2011 regular session, only about ________ finally passed both chambers.

To bring a bill to the floor of the Senate for debate requires

The legislative rules and the heavy volume of bills considered ________ enables lawmakers to sneak major, controversial proposals into law by adding little noticed amendments to other bills.

In 2003, Democrats still controlled both houses of the Texas legislature.

The legislative process is designed to institutionalize

During the third reading, a bill may be amended by

Equality in redistricting finally arrived in Texas as a result of state court intervention in 1975.

In recent years, the legislature has increasingly become dominated by business owners and attorneys because

Today, Texas is the country's second most populous state and is more than 80 percent urban.

In 2011, about 5,700 pieces of legislation were introduced during the regular legislative session.

Why has there traditionally been no formal division along party lines or a formal system of choosing floor leaders in the Texas legislature?

Why is the committee system considered the backbone of the legislative process? What are the different types and roles of committees?

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