Question 1

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 2

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

The Texas constitution permits the election to the Texas legislature of persons who are not U.S. citizens but who have been legal residents of Texas for at least ten years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

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 5

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 6

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

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 8

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 9

The agenda for special sessions in the Texas legislature are set by the

Accepted Answer

A)  lieutenant governor and the Texas Speaker of the House. 
B)  governor. 
C)  Texas supreme court. 
D)  chair of the joint committee on special sessions. 
E)  governor, with approval from the lieutenant governor. 
A)  lieutenant governor and the Texas Speaker of the House. 
B)  governor. 
C)  Texas supreme court. 
D)  chair of the joint committee on special sessions. 
E)  governor, with approval from the lieutenant governor.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

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 12

As in the U.S. Congress, what is the purpose of a conference committee in the Texas legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a committee in which members of both houses meet informally with the governor's representatives to set the agenda for an upcoming session. 
B)  It is a committee designed to make differing House and senate versions of the same bill identical. 
C)  It is the committee that establishes the rules for floor debate in the House. 
D)  It is another name for a standing committee. 
E)  It is used by each political party to develop its legislative strategy before each session. 
A)  It is a committee in which members of both houses meet informally with the governor's representatives to set the agenda for an upcoming session. 
B)  It is a committee designed to make differing House and senate versions of the same bill identical. 
C)  It is the committee that establishes the rules for floor debate in the House. 
D)  It is another name for a standing committee. 
E)  It is used by each political party to develop its legislative strategy before each session.

Question 13

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 14

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 15

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 16

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

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 18

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 19

Why is the comptroller of public accounts so important to the legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  The comptroller is responsible for setting the salary and compensation packages for legislators. 
B)  The comptroller informs the legislature how much money it has to spend on the budget. 
C)  The comptroller investigates suspected illegal campaign contributions. 
D)  Whoever is comptroller is also the Speaker of the House. 
E)  The comptroller has to certify the budget for every agency before the budget can be passed. 
A)  The comptroller is responsible for setting the salary and compensation packages for legislators. 
B)  The comptroller informs the legislature how much money it has to spend on the budget. 
C)  The comptroller investigates suspected illegal campaign contributions. 
D)  Whoever is comptroller is also the Speaker of the House. 
E)  The comptroller has to certify the budget for every agency before the budget can be passed.

Question 20

Which of the following is not a legislative power of the Texas governor?

Accepted Answer

A)  calling special sessions 
B)  signing or vetoing bills 
C)  setting an agenda in the State of the State address 
D)  removing, for suitable cause, the Speaker or lieutenant governor 
E)  visiting with legislators to obtain their votes on a bill 
A)  calling special sessions 
B)  signing or vetoing bills 
C)  setting an agenda in the State of the State address 
D)  removing, for suitable cause, the Speaker or lieutenant governor 
E)  visiting with legislators to obtain their votes on a bill

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

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

The Texas constitution permits the election to the Texas legislature of persons who are not U.S. citizens but who have been legal residents of Texas for at least ten years.

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?

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

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

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

The requirements for holding office in the Texas legislature

The agenda for special sessions in the Texas legislature are set by the

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

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

As in the U.S. Congress, what is the purpose of a conference committee in the Texas legislature?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why is the comptroller of public accounts so important to the legislature?

Which of the following is not a legislative power of the Texas governor?

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

Texas and the Nation

The Texas Constitution

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

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 7: The Texas Legislature

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

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

The Texas constitution permits the election to the Texas legislature of persons who are not U.S. citizens but who have been legal residents of Texas for at least ten years.

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?

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

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

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

The requirements for holding office in the Texas legislature

The agenda for special sessions in the Texas legislature are set by the

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

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

As in the U.S. Congress, what is the purpose of a conference committee in the Texas legislature?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why is the comptroller of public accounts so important to the legislature?

Which of the following is not a legislative power of the Texas governor?

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

Texas and the Nation

The Texas Constitution

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Crime and Corrections Policy

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Local Government in Texas

Filters