Question 1

The Texas Constitutional Convention of 1861 was dominated by

Accepted Answer

A)  lawyers and slaveholders. 
B)  small farmers and ranchers. 
C)  representatives of business and the railroads. 
D)  supporters of Governor Sam Houston. 
E)  supporters of an independent Republic of Texas. 
A)  lawyers and slaveholders. 
B)  small farmers and ranchers. 
C)  representatives of business and the railroads. 
D)  supporters of Governor Sam Houston. 
E)  supporters of an independent Republic of Texas.

Question 2

Texas became an independent republic in ______ and became part of the United States in ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  1827; 1861 
B)  1827; 1869 
C)  1836; 1845 
D)  1845; 1876 
E)  1844; 1845 
A)  1827; 1861 
B)  1827; 1869 
C)  1836; 1845 
D)  1845; 1876 
E)  1844; 1845

Question 3

Controversy about admitting a new slave state held up the annexation of Texas into the United States for nine years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

In what year was Texas's current constitution ratified?

Accepted Answer

A)  1828 
B)  1845 
C)  1876 
D)  1946 
E)  1999 
A)  1828 
B)  1845 
C)  1876 
D)  1946 
E)  1999

Question 5

Who made up the Grange, and what effect did they have on the writing of the Texas constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  They were a consortium of railroad entrepreneurs who wanted a constitution that would aid business interests. 
B)  They were a group of pro-Union Republicans who controlled the state after the Civil War. 
C)  They were an agricultural group who wanted a government that would improve the plight of farmers. 
D)  They were early wildcatters who wanted land grants from the state so they could explore for oil. 
E)  They were a group of pro-independence landowners who wanted Texas to secede from the Union. 
A)  They were a consortium of railroad entrepreneurs who wanted a constitution that would aid business interests. 
B)  They were a group of pro-Union Republicans who controlled the state after the Civil War. 
C)  They were an agricultural group who wanted a government that would improve the plight of farmers. 
D)  They were early wildcatters who wanted land grants from the state so they could explore for oil. 
E)  They were a group of pro-independence landowners who wanted Texas to secede from the Union.

Question 6

The domination of Texas politics by Republicans after the Civil War ended

Accepted Answer

A)  in an armed standoff in the capital between the Republican governor and the Democratic legislature in 1872. 
B)  with the victory of the Populist Party in 1892. 
C)  in 1888, with violent riots by farmers in Houston, Dallas, and Austin. 
D)  through a peaceful transfer of power in 1900. 
E)  with the Democrats' victory in the 1892 elections. 
A)  in an armed standoff in the capital between the Republican governor and the Democratic legislature in 1872. 
B)  with the victory of the Populist Party in 1892. 
C)  in 1888, with violent riots by farmers in Houston, Dallas, and Austin. 
D)  through a peaceful transfer of power in 1900. 
E)  with the Democrats' victory in the 1892 elections.

Question 7

Which of the following is not found in the Texas bill of rights?

Accepted Answer

A)  guarantees of equal treatment under law 
B)  guarantees of no religious tests for officeholders 
C)  the right to employment 
D)  the right to trial by jury 
E)  freedom of religious worship 
A)  guarantees of equal treatment under law 
B)  guarantees of no religious tests for officeholders 
C)  the right to employment 
D)  the right to trial by jury 
E)  freedom of religious worship

Question 8

The main problem that stalled the admission of Texas into the United States was

Accepted Answer

A)  the lack of enough people in Texas. 
B)  Texas's overly large debt, which would have to be assumed by the federal government. 
C)  that Texas would be a proslavery state. 
D)  that foreign nations had refused to recognize an independent Texas. 
E)  that Texas was still under the control of Mexico. 
A)  the lack of enough people in Texas. 
B)  Texas's overly large debt, which would have to be assumed by the federal government. 
C)  that Texas would be a proslavery state. 
D)  that foreign nations had refused to recognize an independent Texas. 
E)  that Texas was still under the control of Mexico.

Question 9

The Texas constitution created a plural executive, consisting of multiple elected officers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which of the following was not part of the Ratliff-Junell proposal for Texas constitutional change?

Accepted Answer

A)  The judiciary should be appointed by the governor, with confirmation by the Senate. 
B)  The executive branch should be reorganized to look more like the federal executive branch. 
C)  The legislature would hold veto sessions in order to consider overriding any gubernatorial vetoes. 
D)  The length of terms of office would grow, but there would also be term limits. 
E)  The governor would be given the authority to appoint several state office holders who are currently elected. 
A)  The judiciary should be appointed by the governor, with confirmation by the Senate. 
B)  The executive branch should be reorganized to look more like the federal executive branch. 
C)  The legislature would hold veto sessions in order to consider overriding any gubernatorial vetoes. 
D)  The length of terms of office would grow, but there would also be term limits. 
E)  The governor would be given the authority to appoint several state office holders who are currently elected.

Question 11

Which of the following is the best definition of a confederation?

Accepted Answer

A)  a system of government in which states maintain their sovereignty 
B)  a system of government in which all political power granted by the people is clearly expressed in a constitution, making a written bill of rights unnecessary 
C)  a system of government in which the national government has extensive powers over the states 
D)  a system of government that permits slavery 
E)  a system of government where powers are balanced evenly between the federal government and the states 
A)  a system of government in which states maintain their sovereignty 
B)  a system of government in which all political power granted by the people is clearly expressed in a constitution, making a written bill of rights unnecessary 
C)  a system of government in which the national government has extensive powers over the states 
D)  a system of government that permits slavery 
E)  a system of government where powers are balanced evenly between the federal government and the states

Question 12

The Texas Constitution of 1876 was designed to limit the power of government, especially of the governor's office.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The Mexican War of Independence against ______ grew out of the ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  Spain; Napoleonic Wars 
B)  France; French Revolution 
C)  Spain; U.S. War of Independence 
D)  United States; U.S. War of Independence 
E)  Spain; War of 1812 
A)  Spain; Napoleonic Wars 
B)  France; French Revolution 
C)  Spain; U.S. War of Independence 
D)  United States; U.S. War of Independence 
E)  Spain; War of 1812

Question 14

The Texas constitution creates two top appellate courts, one for civil cases and one for criminal cases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which of the following was not part of the annexation agreement between Texas and the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas could divide itself into as many as five separate states. 
B)  Texas was responsible for paying all foreign debts it incurred while independent. 
C)  Texas could maintain its own army and navy for twenty-five years. 
D)  Texas would retain title to its public lands. 
E)  Texas ceded all military armaments, bases, and facilities to the U.S. government. 
A)  Texas could divide itself into as many as five separate states. 
B)  Texas was responsible for paying all foreign debts it incurred while independent. 
C)  Texas could maintain its own army and navy for twenty-five years. 
D)  Texas would retain title to its public lands. 
E)  Texas ceded all military armaments, bases, and facilities to the U.S. government.

Exam 20: The Texas Constitution

The Texas Constitutional Convention of 1861 was dominated by

Texas became an independent republic in ______ and became part of the United States in ______.

Controversy about admitting a new slave state held up the annexation of Texas into the United States for nine years.

In what year was Texas's current constitution ratified?

Who made up the Grange, and what effect did they have on the writing of the Texas constitution?

The domination of Texas politics by Republicans after the Civil War ended

Which of the following is not found in the Texas bill of rights?

The main problem that stalled the admission of Texas into the United States was

The Texas constitution created a plural executive, consisting of multiple elected officers.

Which of the following was not part of the Ratliff-Junell proposal for Texas constitutional change?

Which of the following is the best definition of a confederation?

The Texas Constitution of 1876 was designed to limit the power of government, especially of the governor's office.

The Mexican War of Independence against ______ grew out of the ______.

The Texas constitution creates two top appellate courts, one for civil cases and one for criminal cases.

Which of the following was not part of the annexation agreement between Texas and the United States?

American Political Culture

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Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

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Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

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The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

Parties and Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Local Government in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

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Texas became an independent republic in and became part of the United States in .

The Mexican War of Independence against grew out of the .