Question 1

Texas has a bill of rights containing more liberties than those found in the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

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

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 4

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Which of the following was not a goal for those writing the Texas Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  restrictions on the power of the government to get into debt 
B)  limits on the ability of the government to impose taxes 
C)  checking the powers of the governor 
D)  giving independence to the judiciary by making all judges appointed, instead of elected 
E)  strong popular control of state government 
A)  restrictions on the power of the government to get into debt 
B)  limits on the ability of the government to impose taxes 
C)  checking the powers of the governor 
D)  giving independence to the judiciary by making all judges appointed, instead of elected 
E)  strong popular control of state government

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The Texas Constitution is

Accepted Answer

A)  a tightly argued, brief document of general principles. 
B)  a long, complex, and detailed document. 
C)  difficult to amend, compared to the U.S. Constitution. 
D)  an economic treatise disguised as a blueprint for government. 
E)  based on the fundamental principle of liberal progressivism. 
A)  a tightly argued, brief document of general principles. 
B)  a long, complex, and detailed document. 
C)  difficult to amend, compared to the U.S. Constitution. 
D)  an economic treatise disguised as a blueprint for government. 
E)  based on the fundamental principle of liberal progressivism.

Question 8

Under the 1836 Republic of Texas Constitution:

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas had no president. 
B)  Congress had only one house. 
C)  Congress was bicameral. 
D)  there was no formal judicial system. 
E)  slavery was completely outlawed. 
A)  Texas had no president. 
B)  Congress had only one house. 
C)  Congress was bicameral. 
D)  there was no formal judicial system. 
E)  slavery was completely outlawed.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

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 11

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 12

The system of distributing powers between states and a central government is called

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

The current Texas Constitution has been amended more than four hundred times.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

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 16

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 17

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 18

Philosophically, the Texas Constitution reflects a

Accepted Answer

A)  distrust of politicians and political power. 
B)  faith in the ability of political institutions to create good public policy. 
C)  desire to use public institutions to boost the state's economic infrastructure. 
D)  commitment to home rule. 
E)  belief that a dominant political class is best selected to run the government. 
A)  distrust of politicians and political power. 
B)  faith in the ability of political institutions to create good public policy. 
C)  desire to use public institutions to boost the state's economic infrastructure. 
D)  commitment to home rule. 
E)  belief that a dominant political class is best selected to run the government.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Describe the particular historical condition under which the Constitution of 1876 was drafted. What were some of the main principles behind the Constitution of 1876? What are some of the most important aspects of the constitution that reflect the political philosophy of its framers?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution of 1876 was drafted in

Texas has a bill of rights containing more liberties than those found in the U.S. Bill of Rights.

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

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

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

Which of the following was not a goal for those writing the Texas Constitution?

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

The Texas Constitution is

Under the 1836 Republic of Texas Constitution:

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

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

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?

The system of distributing powers between states and a central government is called

The current Texas Constitution has been amended more than four hundred times.

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

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

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

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

Philosophically, the Texas Constitution reflects a

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

Describe the particular historical condition under which the Constitution of 1876 was drafted. What were some of the main principles behind the Constitution of 1876? What are some of the most important aspects of the constitution that reflect the political philosophy of its framers?

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

Texas and the Nation

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Crime and Corrections Policy

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Local Government in Texas

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Exam 3: The Texas Constitution

Texas has a bill of rights containing more liberties than those found in the U.S. Bill of Rights.

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

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

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

Which of the following was not a goal for those writing the Texas Constitution?

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

The Texas Constitution is

Under the 1836 Republic of Texas Constitution:

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

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

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?

The system of distributing powers between states and a central government is called

The current Texas Constitution has been amended more than four hundred times.

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

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

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

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

Philosophically, the Texas Constitution reflects a

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

Describe the particular historical condition under which the Constitution of 1876 was drafted. What were some of the main principles behind the Constitution of 1876? What are some of the most important aspects of the constitution that reflect the political philosophy of its framers?

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

Texas and the Nation

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Crime and Corrections Policy

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Local Government in Texas

Filters

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