Question 1

The state of Texas has had three constitutions in the course of its history.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

What was the main criticism of the current Texas constitution behind the Ratliff-Junell proposal for a new constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  The constitution gave the executive branch too much power over the legislative process. 
B)  The constitution allowed for too many corrupt interest groups to control Texas politics. 
C)  The constitution was too old to be representative of modern people. 
D)  The constitution was too restrictive and cumbersome for contemporary government. 
E)  The constitution was too easy to amend. 
A)  The constitution gave the executive branch too much power over the legislative process. 
B)  The constitution allowed for too many corrupt interest groups to control Texas politics. 
C)  The constitution was too old to be representative of modern people. 
D)  The constitution was too restrictive and cumbersome for contemporary government. 
E)  The constitution was too easy to amend. D

Question 3

What is the process by which the Texas constitution is amended? How many amendments have been added since 1876? What types of amendments have been added?

Accepted Answer

The process by which the Texas constitution is amended is outlined in Article 17 of the constitution. First, a proposed amendment must be approved by a two-thirds majority in both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate. Then, the amendment is put to a popular vote in a statewide election, and it must be approved by a majority of the voters.

Since 1876, there have been 507 amendments added to the Texas constitution. These amendments cover a wide range of topics, including changes to the structure of state government, taxation, education, and civil rights. Some of the most significant amendments include the creation of the Texas Railroad Commission, the establishment of the Permanent School Fund, and the expansion of voting rights to include women and 18-year-olds.

Overall, the types of amendments added to the Texas constitution reflect the changing needs and priorities of the state over time. They have been used to modernize and adapt the constitution to address new issues and challenges facing Texas.

Question 4

Sam Houston was the major author of the current Texas constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Which of the following is not a reason for the low level of voter turnout for constitutional amendments?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most amendments are relatively insignificant for most voters. 
B)  Many amendments are not controversial. 
C)  Negative advertising in the media has had the effect of alienating possible voters. 
D)  Elections for amendments are held in "off" years, when no candidates are on the ballot. 
E)  Voters generally have little information about these amendments. 
A)  Most amendments are relatively insignificant for most voters. 
B)  Many amendments are not controversial. 
C)  Negative advertising in the media has had the effect of alienating possible voters. 
D)  Elections for amendments are held in "off" years, when no candidates are on the ballot. 
E)  Voters generally have little information about these amendments.

Question 6

Describe the history of the multiple Texas constitutions before and during Texas independence. What were the main effects of Mexican rule? How did this heritage shape the structure of the constitution of the Republic of Texas?

Accepted Answer

The history of the multiple Texas consti

Question 7

Who were the Radical Republicans?

Accepted Answer

A)  those Republicans who proposed to write a new U.S. constitution in the late 1990s 
B)  those Republicans after the Civil War who controlled Reconstruction policy in the former Confederate states 
C)  the first Republicans since Reconstruction in Texas to win elected office during the 1960s 
D)  followers of the pro-Union governor Sam Houston 
E)  those Republicans who opposed admitting Texas into the Union 
A)  those Republicans who proposed to write a new U.S. constitution in the late 1990s 
B)  those Republicans after the Civil War who controlled Reconstruction policy in the former Confederate states 
C)  the first Republicans since Reconstruction in Texas to win elected office during the 1960s 
D)  followers of the pro-Union governor Sam Houston 
E)  those Republicans who opposed admitting Texas into the Union

Question 8

Which of the following statements about the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1865 is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas had to accept the abolition of slavery. 
B)  Texas had to repudiate the war debt incurred by the state. 
C)  Texas had to return to the federal government parts of Oklahoma seized by Texas Confederate soldiers. 
D)  The state had to formally reject the right of secession. 
E)  There were strong Union and secessionist factions at the convention. 
A)  Texas had to accept the abolition of slavery. 
B)  Texas had to repudiate the war debt incurred by the state. 
C)  Texas had to return to the federal government parts of Oklahoma seized by Texas Confederate soldiers. 
D)  The state had to formally reject the right of secession. 
E)  There were strong Union and secessionist factions at the convention.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about republican government is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

A)  The right to republican government is not guaranteed in the Texas bill of rights. 
B)  Republican government is part of a system of representative democracy. 
C)  Under a representative government, power derives from the people. 
D)  The Texas constitution gives the people a right to reform or to abolish their government. 
E)  The right to republican government is guaranteed in the Texas bill of rights. 
A)  The right to republican government is not guaranteed in the Texas bill of rights. 
B)  Republican government is part of a system of representative democracy. 
C)  Under a representative government, power derives from the people. 
D)  The Texas constitution gives the people a right to reform or to abolish their government. 
E)  The right to republican government is guaranteed in the Texas bill of rights.

Question 10

The Constitution of 1866 did not exclude former secessionists from voting.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which principle of government is the key to understanding the drafting of the Texas Constitution of 1876?

Accepted Answer

A)  the need for governmental subsidy and regulation of economic growth 
B)  the importance of civil right protections for African Americans and Latinos 
C)  the necessity of strong limitations on the authority of state officials 
D)  the value of states' rights 
E)  the principle of checks and balances 
A)  the need for governmental subsidy and regulation of economic growth 
B)  the importance of civil right protections for African Americans and Latinos 
C)  the necessity of strong limitations on the authority of state officials 
D)  the value of states' rights 
E)  the principle of checks and balances

Question 12

Which of the following is not a function of state constitutions?

Accepted Answer

A)  to create political institutions and explain what their powers are 
B)  to prevent concentrations of too much power in one office, through a series of checks and balances 
C)  to set the proper tax rates for state and county authorities 
D)  to forbid certain government actions by establishing civil liberties 
E)  to establish the basic rules and guidelines for state governments to operate 
A)  to create political institutions and explain what their powers are 
B)  to prevent concentrations of too much power in one office, through a series of checks and balances 
C)  to set the proper tax rates for state and county authorities 
D)  to forbid certain government actions by establishing civil liberties 
E)  to establish the basic rules and guidelines for state governments to operate

Question 13

There have been no serious attempts in recent years to change the Texas constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The separation of government into three branches-legislative, executive, and judicial-is called

Accepted Answer

A)  division of labor. 
B)  checks and balances. 
C)  separation of powers. 
D)  federalism. 
E)  constitutionalism. 
A)  division of labor. 
B)  checks and balances. 
C)  separation of powers. 
D)  federalism. 
E)  constitutionalism.

Question 15

Which of the following was not an important part of the 1827 Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas, established when Texas was part of Mexico?

Accepted Answer

A)  It established Catholicism as an official religion. 
B)  It established a unicameral legislature. 
C)  It attempted to restrict the spread of slavery. 
D)  It divided the state into three separate districts. 
E)  It established a bicameral legislature. 
A)  It established Catholicism as an official religion. 
B)  It established a unicameral legislature. 
C)  It attempted to restrict the spread of slavery. 
D)  It divided the state into three separate districts. 
E)  It established a bicameral legislature.

Question 16

The majority of delegates to the Convention of 1836 that drafted the constitution for a newly independent Republic of Texas were from

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas. 
B)  slave-owning southern states. 
C)  New England and New York. 
D)  Mexico. 
E)  Spain. 
A)  Texas. 
B)  slave-owning southern states. 
C)  New England and New York. 
D)  Mexico. 
E)  Spain.

Question 17

Under the Texas constitution, it is unconstitutional to impeach elected officeholders.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

There have been several calls to revamp the Texas constitution. What has been the rationale for significant changes to the Texas constitution? Describe the attempts in the mid-1970s and in 1999 to change the constitution. Why did each attempt fail?

Accepted Answer

The rationale for significant changes to

Question 19

The Texas constitution makes no requirements for the establishment and upkeep of a public school system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Under the Texas constitution, who has the power of impeachment?

Accepted Answer

A)  The House of Representatives has the power to impeach, while the Senate has the power to try and convict. 
B)  The Senate has the power to both impeach and convict. 
C)  The House of Representatives has the power to impeach, while the state supreme court has the power to try and convict. 
D)  Texas has no constitutional provisions for impeachment. 
E)  The Texas supreme court has the power to impeach and convict. 
A)  The House of Representatives has the power to impeach, while the Senate has the power to try and convict. 
B)  The Senate has the power to both impeach and convict. 
C)  The House of Representatives has the power to impeach, while the state supreme court has the power to try and convict. 
D)  Texas has no constitutional provisions for impeachment. 
E)  The Texas supreme court has the power to impeach and convict.

Exam 20: The Texas Constitution

The state of Texas has had three constitutions in the course of its history.

What was the main criticism of the current Texas constitution behind the Ratliff-Junell proposal for a new constitution?

What is the process by which the Texas constitution is amended? How many amendments have been added since 1876? What types of amendments have been added?

Sam Houston was the major author of the current Texas constitution.

Which of the following is not a reason for the low level of voter turnout for constitutional amendments?

Describe the history of the multiple Texas constitutions before and during Texas independence. What were the main effects of Mexican rule? How did this heritage shape the structure of the constitution of the Republic of Texas?

Who were the Radical Republicans?

Which of the following statements about the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1865 is not true?

Which of the following statements about republican government is incorrect?

The Constitution of 1866 did not exclude former secessionists from voting.

Which principle of government is the key to understanding the drafting of the Texas Constitution of 1876?

Which of the following is not a function of state constitutions?

There have been no serious attempts in recent years to change the Texas constitution.

The separation of government into three branches-legislative, executive, and judicial-is called

Which of the following was not an important part of the 1827 Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas, established when Texas was part of Mexico?

The majority of delegates to the Convention of 1836 that drafted the constitution for a newly independent Republic of Texas were from

Under the Texas constitution, it is unconstitutional to impeach elected officeholders.

There have been several calls to revamp the Texas constitution. What has been the rationale for significant changes to the Texas constitution? Describe the attempts in the mid-1970s and in 1999 to change the constitution. Why did each attempt fail?

The Texas constitution makes no requirements for the establishment and upkeep of a public school system.

Under the Texas constitution, who has the power of impeachment?

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