Question 1

The Texas constitution forbids the legislature to borrow money to conduct the daily operations of government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

The governor of Texas has the authority to exercise a line-item veto.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

The typical Texas legislator is most likely to be a

Accepted Answer

A)  white woman with a professional degree. 
B)  white, affluent businessman. 
C)  working-class Hispanic woman. 
D)  middle-class African American lawyer. 
E)  white, working-class male. 
A)  white woman with a professional degree. 
B)  white, affluent businessman. 
C)  working-class Hispanic woman. 
D)  middle-class African American lawyer. 
E)  white, working-class male. B

Question 4

Which of the following is not a nonlegislative power of the Texas legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  the power of impeachment 
B)  the power to investigate financial mismanagement in a state agency 
C)  the power to formally count the election returns in the governor's race 
D)  the power to overturn state supreme court decisions with a two-thirds majority 
E)  the power to supervise the behavior of executive branch agencies 
A)  the power of impeachment 
B)  the power to investigate financial mismanagement in a state agency 
C)  the power to formally count the election returns in the governor's race 
D)  the power to overturn state supreme court decisions with a two-thirds majority 
E)  the power to supervise the behavior of executive branch agencies

Question 5

Who has responsibility for redistricting the Texas delegation to the U.S. Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Texas legislature 
B)  the governor 
C)  the governor, along with the Texas Senate 
D)  the U.S. Congress 
E)  the Texas supreme court 
A)  the Texas legislature 
B)  the governor 
C)  the governor, along with the Texas Senate 
D)  the U.S. Congress 
E)  the Texas supreme court

Question 6

Describe how a bill becomes a state law. Consider the following questions: Who writes bills? What are the rules for debate on the floor? What are some of the powers of the governor throughout this process?

Accepted Answer

The process of how a bill becomes a stat

Question 7

How is the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives chosen?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Speaker is elected in a statewide election. 
B)  The Speaker is the most senior representative in the House. 
C)  The Speaker is the most senior representative from the majority party. 
D)  The Speaker is elected by members of the House. 
E)  The Speaker is appointed directly by the majority party in the House. 
A)  The Speaker is elected in a statewide election. 
B)  The Speaker is the most senior representative in the House. 
C)  The Speaker is the most senior representative from the majority party. 
D)  The Speaker is elected by members of the House. 
E)  The Speaker is appointed directly by the majority party in the House.

Question 8

The lieutenant governor is also a member of the Texas House of Representatives.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Members of the Texas House of Representatives are permitted to speak on the House floor for as long as they wish.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

In the Texas legislature, when a committee chair "pigeonholes" a bill, what happens?

Accepted Answer

A)  The bill is set aside before it is ever discussed in committee. 
B)  The bill is referred to a special session. 
C)  The chair vetoes a bill after it has already received an affirmative committee vote. 
D)  The chair refers a bill to only one subcommittee, rather than two or more. 
E)  The bill is immediately sent to the floor without a committee vote. 
A)  The bill is set aside before it is ever discussed in committee. 
B)  The bill is referred to a special session. 
C)  The chair vetoes a bill after it has already received an affirmative committee vote. 
D)  The chair refers a bill to only one subcommittee, rather than two or more. 
E)  The bill is immediately sent to the floor without a committee vote.

Question 11

The typical Texas legislator is a white, upper-class, male Protestant.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

In the Texas legislature, all bills dealing with state revenue must

Accepted Answer

A)  start in the House of Representatives. 
B)  be initiated by the governor's official budget plan. 
C)  pass both houses of the legislature with a two-thirds majority. 
D)  be approved by the state supreme court before becoming law. 
E)  start in the state Senate. 
A)  start in the House of Representatives. 
B)  be initiated by the governor's official budget plan. 
C)  pass both houses of the legislature with a two-thirds majority. 
D)  be approved by the state supreme court before becoming law. 
E)  start in the state Senate.

Question 13

A special legislative session may last as long as it takes to complete the session's agenda.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

In the Texas legislature, the referral of a bill to a standing committee in the House and the Senate is the job of the

Accepted Answer

A)  governor. 
B)  secretary of state. 
C)  Speaker of the House and lieutenant governor. 
D)  sergeant of the House and Senate. 
E)  chair of the committee to which the bill is being referred. 
A)  governor. 
B)  secretary of state. 
C)  Speaker of the House and lieutenant governor. 
D)  sergeant of the House and Senate. 
E)  chair of the committee to which the bill is being referred.

Question 15

The secretary of state in Texas is responsible for redrawing legislative districts every ten years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The Legislative Redistricting Board has the authority to draw new districts if

Accepted Answer

A)  appointed to do so by the governor after a special redistricting session. 
B)  the legislature fails to redistrict in the first regular session. 
C)  ordered to do so by the state supreme court or a federal district court. 
D)  a majority in both the House and the Senate vote to allow it. 
E)  appointed to do so by the governor and lieutenant governor. 
A)  appointed to do so by the governor after a special redistricting session. 
B)  the legislature fails to redistrict in the first regular session. 
C)  ordered to do so by the state supreme court or a federal district court. 
D)  a majority in both the House and the Senate vote to allow it. 
E)  appointed to do so by the governor and lieutenant governor.

Question 17

In 2004 and 2005, three special sessions were called in the Texas legislature to deal with

Accepted Answer

A)  tax codes. 
B)  deregulation of the pharmaceutical industry. 
C)  school finance. 
D)  criminal law reform. 
E)  budget crises. 
A)  tax codes. 
B)  deregulation of the pharmaceutical industry. 
C)  school finance. 
D)  criminal law reform. 
E)  budget crises.

Question 18

What unconventional action did the Texas legislature take in 2003?

Accepted Answer

A)  It redistricted a second time in a single decade. 
B)  It extended its regular session by two months. 
C)  It operated without electing a House Speaker. 
D)  It did not overturn a single gubernatorial veto. 
E)  It did not pass a single bill. 
A)  It redistricted a second time in a single decade. 
B)  It extended its regular session by two months. 
C)  It operated without electing a House Speaker. 
D)  It did not overturn a single gubernatorial veto. 
E)  It did not pass a single bill.

Question 19

In the Texas House of Representatives, who has the power to allow members to speak in floor debates?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Speaker of the House 
B)  the leader of the party of which the representative is a member 
C)  the lieutenant governor 
D)  no one-House members do not need official permission to speak in floor debates. 
E)  the governor 
A)  the Speaker of the House 
B)  the leader of the party of which the representative is a member 
C)  the lieutenant governor 
D)  no one-House members do not need official permission to speak in floor debates. 
E)  the governor

Question 20

In Texas, who can write a bill?

Accepted Answer

A)  only a member of the legislature 
B)  the legislature or someone officially authorized by the legislature 
C)  any government official 
D)  anyone at all 
E)  only the legislature and/or governor 
A)  only a member of the legislature 
B)  the legislature or someone officially authorized by the legislature 
C)  any government official 
D)  anyone at all 
E)  only the legislature and/or governor

Exam 23: The Texas Legislature

The Texas constitution forbids the legislature to borrow money to conduct the daily operations of government.

The governor of Texas has the authority to exercise a line-item veto.

The typical Texas legislator is most likely to be a

Which of the following is not a nonlegislative power of the Texas legislature?

Who has responsibility for redistricting the Texas delegation to the U.S. Congress?

Describe how a bill becomes a state law. Consider the following questions: Who writes bills? What are the rules for debate on the floor? What are some of the powers of the governor throughout this process?

How is the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives chosen?

The lieutenant governor is also a member of the Texas House of Representatives.

Members of the Texas House of Representatives are permitted to speak on the House floor for as long as they wish.

In the Texas legislature, when a committee chair "pigeonholes" a bill, what happens?

The typical Texas legislator is a white, upper-class, male Protestant.

In the Texas legislature, all bills dealing with state revenue must

A special legislative session may last as long as it takes to complete the session's agenda.

In the Texas legislature, the referral of a bill to a standing committee in the House and the Senate is the job of the

The secretary of state in Texas is responsible for redrawing legislative districts every ten years.

The Legislative Redistricting Board has the authority to draw new districts if

In 2004 and 2005, three special sessions were called in the Texas legislature to deal with

What unconventional action did the Texas legislature take in 2003?

In the Texas House of Representatives, who has the power to allow members to speak in floor debates?

In Texas, who can write a bill?

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