Question 1

Which of the following ideas does NOT unite the U.S. and Texas constitutional experiences?

Accepted Answer

A)  Political power in both the United States and Texas is derived from the people. 
B)  Political power is divided by both the U.S. and Texas constitutions into three separate parts and placed in separate branches of government. 
C)  The idea of individual rights. 
D)  The subordinate role that Texas has in the federal system. 
E)  The embodiment in both the U.S. and Texas constitutions is that of federalism. 
A)  Political power in both the United States and Texas is derived from the people. 
B)  Political power is divided by both the U.S. and Texas constitutions into three separate parts and placed in separate branches of government. 
C)  The idea of individual rights. 
D)  The subordinate role that Texas has in the federal system. 
E)  The embodiment in both the U.S. and Texas constitutions is that of federalism. D

Question 2

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 C

Question 3

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

There have been several calls to revamp the Texas Constitution due to its length, complexity, and outdated provisions. The rationale for significant changes to the Texas Constitution includes the need to modernize and streamline the document, address issues such as taxation and education funding, and to make it more reflective of the state's current demographics and values.

In the mid-1970s, there was a significant attempt to change the Texas Constitution through a constitutional convention. The rationale for this attempt was to address the growing complexity and inefficiency of the document. However, the attempt failed primarily due to opposition from various interest groups and concerns about potential unintended consequences of a wholesale revision.

In 1999, another attempt was made to change the Texas Constitution through a series of proposed amendments. The rationale for this attempt was to address specific issues such as property taxes and education funding. However, this attempt also failed due to opposition from interest groups, concerns about the potential impact of the proposed amendments, and a lack of consensus on the best approach to constitutional reform.

Overall, the attempts in the mid-1970s and in 1999 to change the Texas Constitution failed due to a combination of opposition from interest groups, concerns about unintended consequences, and a lack of consensus on the best approach to reform. Despite these challenges, there continues to be ongoing discussions and calls for revamping the Texas Constitution to better serve the needs of the state and its residents.

Question 4

Which event did NOT signal the break with Britain and the emergence of the United States as a confederate republic?

Accepted Answer

A)  the writing of a new state constitution 
B)  the Bill of Rights 
C)  the Articles of Confederation 
D)  the Declaration of Independence 
E)  the Treaty of Paris 
A)  the writing of a new state constitution 
B)  the Bill of Rights 
C)  the Articles of Confederation 
D)  the Declaration of Independence 
E)  the Treaty of Paris

Question 5

Which of the following describes a significant difference between the structure of the Texas executive department and the structure of the U.S. executive branch?

Accepted Answer

A)  In Texas, the executive department is made up of several elected offices, instead of just one. 
B)  The chief executive in Texas does not have the power to check the legislature with a veto, as the U.S. president can. 
C)  The governor has term limits, while the U.S. president does not. 
D)  The governor of Texas is paid more than the U.S. president. 
E)  The governor is considered president of the Texas Senate, while the U.S. president is not considered the presiding officer over the U.S. Senate. 
A)  In Texas, the executive department is made up of several elected offices, instead of just one. 
B)  The chief executive in Texas does not have the power to check the legislature with a veto, as the U.S. president can. 
C)  The governor has term limits, while the U.S. president does not. 
D)  The governor of Texas is paid more than the U.S. president. 
E)  The governor is considered president of the Texas Senate, while the U.S. president is not considered the presiding officer over the U.S. Senate.

Question 6

The first federal constitution that Texas operated under was the British.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

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

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 Constitut

Question 9

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 10

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 11

The Texas Constitution created a unicameral legislature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

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 13

The Texas Constitution of 1869 was written by members of the Republican Party, including ten African Americans.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

In what year was Texas's current constitution ratified?

Accepted Answer

A)  1828 
B)  1845 
C)  1876 
D)  1846 
E)  1899 
A)  1828 
B)  1845 
C)  1876 
D)  1846 
E)  1899

Question 15

What is the major difference between the bill of rights in the Texas Constitution and the U.S. Bill of Rights?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is no bill of rights in the Texas Constitution. 
B)  The Texas Constitution grants Texans rights that are not found in the U.S. Constitution. 
C)  The Texas bill of rights is far less detailed than the federal Bill of Rights. 
D)  The Texas Constitution has no specific rights for those accused of crimes. 
E)  The Texas Constitution does not grant specific rights to former slaves. 
A)  There is no bill of rights in the Texas Constitution. 
B)  The Texas Constitution grants Texans rights that are not found in the U.S. Constitution. 
C)  The Texas bill of rights is far less detailed than the federal Bill of Rights. 
D)  The Texas Constitution has no specific rights for those accused of crimes. 
E)  The Texas Constitution does not grant specific rights to former slaves.

Question 16

The Texas Constitution became a place where special interests could seek to promote and protect their own agendas.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

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 18

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

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.

Which of the following ideas does NOT unite the U.S. and Texas constitutional experiences?

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

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?

Which event did NOT signal the break with Britain and the emergence of the United States as a confederate republic?

Which of the following describes a significant difference between the structure of the Texas executive department and the structure of the U.S. executive branch?

The first federal constitution that Texas operated under was the British.

Who were the Radical Republicans?

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?

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

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

The Texas Constitution created a unicameral legislature.

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

The Texas Constitution of 1869 was written by members of the Republican Party, including ten African Americans.

In what year was Texas's current constitution ratified?

What is the major difference between the bill of rights in the Texas Constitution and the U.S. Bill of Rights?

The Texas Constitution became a place where special interests could seek to promote and protect their own agendas.

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

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

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

The Texas Constitution is

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Local Government in Texas

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Crime and Corrections Policy in Texas

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Exam 2: The Texas Constitution

Which of the following ideas does NOT unite the U.S. and Texas constitutional experiences?

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

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?

Which event did NOT signal the break with Britain and the emergence of the United States as a confederate republic?

Which of the following describes a significant difference between the structure of the Texas executive department and the structure of the U.S. executive branch?

The first federal constitution that Texas operated under was the British.

Who were the Radical Republicans?

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?

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

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

The Texas Constitution created a unicameral legislature.

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

The Texas Constitution of 1869 was written by members of the Republican Party, including ten African Americans.

In what year was Texas's current constitution ratified?

What is the major difference between the bill of rights in the Texas Constitution and the U.S. Bill of Rights?

The Texas Constitution became a place where special interests could seek to promote and protect their own agendas.

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

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

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

The Texas Constitution is

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Local Government in Texas

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Crime and Corrections Policy in Texas

Filters