Question 1

In the Texas legislature, the House has ______ members and the Senate has ______ members.

Accepted Answer

A)  435; 100 
B)  100; 25 
C)  150; 31 
D)  31; 150 
E)  100; 50 
A)  435; 100 
B)  100; 25 
C)  150; 31 
D)  31; 150 
E)  100; 50

Question 2

What is the importance of the Supreme Court case Reynolds v. Sims?

Accepted Answer

A)  It declared the Voting Rights Act of 1965 constitutional. 
B)  It declared poll taxes unconstitutional. 
C)  It declared the constitutional principle of "one person, one vote." 
D)  It declared that preclearance was an unconstitutional abridgement of state power. 
E)  It declared racial gerrymandering to be unconstitutional. 
A)  It declared the Voting Rights Act of 1965 constitutional. 
B)  It declared poll taxes unconstitutional. 
C)  It declared the constitutional principle of "one person, one vote." 
D)  It declared that preclearance was an unconstitutional abridgement of state power. 
E)  It declared racial gerrymandering to be unconstitutional.

Question 3

One of the most notable effects of bicameralism in the Texas legislature is that it

Accepted Answer

A)  speeds up the process of legislation by dividing the labors between two separate institutions. 
B)  works to the benefit of the more densely populated urban areas. 
C)  allows for sparsely populated rural counties to receive more of a voice in the legislature. 
D)  permits more opportunities to kill or significantly modify a bill. 
E)  allows more bipartisan support for most bills. 
A)  speeds up the process of legislation by dividing the labors between two separate institutions. 
B)  works to the benefit of the more densely populated urban areas. 
C)  allows for sparsely populated rural counties to receive more of a voice in the legislature. 
D)  permits more opportunities to kill or significantly modify a bill. 
E)  allows more bipartisan support for most bills.

Question 4

In Texas, the governor's State of the State address is an example of the ______ power.

Accepted Answer

A)  special session 
B)  veto 
C)  message 
D)  impeachment 
E)  media 
A)  special session 
B)  veto 
C)  message 
D)  impeachment 
E)  media

Question 5

The requirements for holding office in the Texas legislature

Accepted Answer

A)  are minimal, in keeping with the idea that officeholding should be open to most citizens. 
B)  are stricter than those in the federal legislature, reflecting the belief that only the most qualified Texans deserve to serve. 
C)  require one to be a citizen of Texas but not necessarily a citizen of the United States. 
D)  are the same as in the U.S. Constitution. 
E)  require one to be a citizen of both Texas and the United States for at least ten years prior to running for office. 
A)  are minimal, in keeping with the idea that officeholding should be open to most citizens. 
B)  are stricter than those in the federal legislature, reflecting the belief that only the most qualified Texans deserve to serve. 
C)  require one to be a citizen of Texas but not necessarily a citizen of the United States. 
D)  are the same as in the U.S. Constitution. 
E)  require one to be a citizen of both Texas and the United States for at least ten years prior to running for office.

Question 6

When the governor strikes out specific spending provisions in large appropriations bills, it is called

Accepted Answer

A)  pigeonholing. 
B)  the pocket veto. 
C)  the line-item veto. 
D)  the post-adjournment veto. 
E)  an expenditure veto. 
A)  pigeonholing. 
B)  the pocket veto. 
C)  the line-item veto. 
D)  the post-adjournment veto. 
E)  an expenditure veto.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about the Texas legislature is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

A)  The House and the Senate can physically force members to attend legislative sessions. 
B)  The legislature decides the amount of money to be appropriated for every executive agency over a two-year period. 
C)  Only the Senate has the constitutional authority to launch investigations into problems concerning the state. 
D)  Only the House has the power to impeach members of the executive and judicial branches of government. 
E)  Only the Senate has the power to try officials on impeachment charges. 
A)  The House and the Senate can physically force members to attend legislative sessions. 
B)  The legislature decides the amount of money to be appropriated for every executive agency over a two-year period. 
C)  Only the Senate has the constitutional authority to launch investigations into problems concerning the state. 
D)  Only the House has the power to impeach members of the executive and judicial branches of government. 
E)  Only the Senate has the power to try officials on impeachment charges.

Question 8

Which of the following is neither a duty nor a power of the lieutenant governor in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  the power to act as governor when the governor is away from the state 
B)  the duty to preside over the Texas Senate 
C)  the capacity to select the chairs of Texas Senate committees 
D)  the ability to call the Texas Senate into special session 
E)  the ability to refer bills to committee 
A)  the power to act as governor when the governor is away from the state 
B)  the duty to preside over the Texas Senate 
C)  the capacity to select the chairs of Texas Senate committees 
D)  the ability to call the Texas Senate into special session 
E)  the ability to refer bills to committee

Question 9

What is the function of the "local and consent" calendar?

Accepted Answer

A)  It marks the date by which legislators must vote on specific bills. 
B)  It is the calendar for all private bills sponsored by members of the legislature. 
C)  It is reserved for uncontroversial bills that are not expected to have major opposition. 
D)  It describes the voting schedule for those bills that require approval by both the legislature and local communities. 
E)  It is the calendar for bills that only deal with the procedural rules of the legislature. 
A)  It marks the date by which legislators must vote on specific bills. 
B)  It is the calendar for all private bills sponsored by members of the legislature. 
C)  It is reserved for uncontroversial bills that are not expected to have major opposition. 
D)  It describes the voting schedule for those bills that require approval by both the legislature and local communities. 
E)  It is the calendar for bills that only deal with the procedural rules of the legislature.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about special sessions of the Texas legislature is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Special sessions are a rare occurrence, called on average once a decade. 
B)  Special sessions were common in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but have been rare during the past fifty years. 
C)  Special sessions are common, held an average of once a year since 1876. 
D)  Special sessions occur often, on average four times a year. 
E)  Special sessions can be called only once a year. 
A)  Special sessions are a rare occurrence, called on average once a decade. 
B)  Special sessions were common in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but have been rare during the past fifty years. 
C)  Special sessions are common, held an average of once a year since 1876. 
D)  Special sessions occur often, on average four times a year. 
E)  Special sessions can be called only once a year.

Question 11

If the legislature grants a particular corporation an exception from a state law, it is called

Accepted Answer

A)  logrolling. 
B)  a special bill. 
C)  a private resolution. 
D)  a filibuster. 
E)  a general bill. 
A)  logrolling. 
B)  a special bill. 
C)  a private resolution. 
D)  a filibuster. 
E)  a general bill.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about partisanship in the Texas legislature is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Partisan rivalries have been high throughout the history of the Texas legislature. 
B)  Historically, partisanship has been rather low, but in recent years the legislature has moved into a more partisan era. 
C)  The legislature was divided by partisan bickering before the 1980s, but the conflict has decreased steadily since then. 
D)  The Texas constitution was amended in 1986 to forbid partisanship from interfering with the legislative process. 
E)  Typically, with Democrats as the majority party, partisanship has been much higher than with Republicans in control. 
A)  Partisan rivalries have been high throughout the history of the Texas legislature. 
B)  Historically, partisanship has been rather low, but in recent years the legislature has moved into a more partisan era. 
C)  The legislature was divided by partisan bickering before the 1980s, but the conflict has decreased steadily since then. 
D)  The Texas constitution was amended in 1986 to forbid partisanship from interfering with the legislative process. 
E)  Typically, with Democrats as the majority party, partisanship has been much higher than with Republicans in control.

Question 13

The Texas House of Representatives is responsible for both impeaching government officials and holding the trial after impeachment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Conference committees are designed to make Texas House and Senate bills identical to each other.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Constituency services provided by Texas representatives may include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)  giving a speech to a local civic group. 
B)  providing legal services in court. 
C)  attempting to influence decisions of government agencies. 
D)  writing a letter of recommendation for a constituent. 
E)  legislative activity. 
A)  giving a speech to a local civic group. 
B)  providing legal services in court. 
C)  attempting to influence decisions of government agencies. 
D)  writing a letter of recommendation for a constituent. 
E)  legislative activity.

Question 16

Legislative districts in the Texas House and Senate are

Accepted Answer

A)  based on proportional representation. 
B)  single-member districts. 
C)  multiple-member districts. 
D)  redistricted every four years. 
E)  redistricted every six years. 
A)  based on proportional representation. 
B)  single-member districts. 
C)  multiple-member districts. 
D)  redistricted every four years. 
E)  redistricted every six years.

Question 17

What are the different responsibilities and powers of the Texas legislature? What powers does the Texas constitution grant? What are some of the informal powers individual representatives may wield?

Accepted Answer

The Texas legislature is responsible for

Question 18

What is the main difference between a bill and a resolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  A resolution is just another name for a bill. 
B)  A resolution deals only with issues affecting local government, while a bill deals with the entire state. 
C)  All bills require the signature of the governor, but no resolution does. 
D)  Unlike a bill, a resolution, if passed, lacks the force of a public law. 
E)  A resolution must be passed unanimously; a bill needs only a majority. 
A)  A resolution is just another name for a bill. 
B)  A resolution deals only with issues affecting local government, while a bill deals with the entire state. 
C)  All bills require the signature of the governor, but no resolution does. 
D)  Unlike a bill, a resolution, if passed, lacks the force of a public law. 
E)  A resolution must be passed unanimously; a bill needs only a majority.

Question 19

In Texas, why is a governor's post-adjournment veto so powerful?

Accepted Answer

A)  It cannot be overturned by the legislature. 
B)  It can be overturned only by a two-thirds majority of both houses. 
C)  It allows the governor to veto parts of a bill but not all of it. 
D)  It allows the governor to get maximum media coverage. 
E)  It can only be overturned by a unanimous vote in both houses. 
A)  It cannot be overturned by the legislature. 
B)  It can be overturned only by a two-thirds majority of both houses. 
C)  It allows the governor to veto parts of a bill but not all of it. 
D)  It allows the governor to get maximum media coverage. 
E)  It can only be overturned by a unanimous vote in both houses.

Question 20

Unlike the U.S. Senate, the Texas Senate does not permit filibusters.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 23: The Texas Legislature

In the Texas legislature, the House has ______ members and the Senate has ______ members.

What is the importance of the Supreme Court case Reynolds v. Sims?

One of the most notable effects of bicameralism in the Texas legislature is that it

In Texas, the governor's State of the State address is an example of the ______ power.

The requirements for holding office in the Texas legislature

When the governor strikes out specific spending provisions in large appropriations bills, it is called

Which of the following statements about the Texas legislature is incorrect?

Which of the following is neither a duty nor a power of the lieutenant governor in Texas?

What is the function of the "local and consent" calendar?

Which of the following statements about special sessions of the Texas legislature is true?

If the legislature grants a particular corporation an exception from a state law, it is called

Which of the following statements about partisanship in the Texas legislature is correct?

The Texas House of Representatives is responsible for both impeaching government officials and holding the trial after impeachment.

Conference committees are designed to make Texas House and Senate bills identical to each other.

Constituency services provided by Texas representatives may include all of the following except

Legislative districts in the Texas House and Senate are

What are the different responsibilities and powers of the Texas legislature? What powers does the Texas constitution grant? What are some of the informal powers individual representatives may wield?

What is the main difference between a bill and a resolution?

In Texas, why is a governor's post-adjournment veto so powerful?

Unlike the U.S. Senate, the Texas Senate does not permit filibusters.

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In the Texas legislature, the House has members and the Senate has members.