Deck 5: The Legislature: the Perils of Policymaking

Question 1

The California legislature is in session:

A)part time (no more than 90 days) each year
B)full time during even numbered years, part time during odd numbered years
C)part time, unless the Governor calls a special session
D)full time every year

Answer 1

D

Question 2

After the 2014 election, Democrats lost their majorities in both houses in the state legislature.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Regarding reapportionment, Proposition 11 (2008) places responsibility with

A)the governor
B)the legislature
C)the governor and legislature
D)an independent commission

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Proposition 140 (1990) limited legislators' terms and cut their budget.

Question 5

All members of both houses of the California legislature are subject to re-election every two years.

Question 6

California's legislature is

A)unicameral.
B)bicameral.
C)tricameral.
D)biannual.

Question 7

Which legislative decisions require an absolute two-thirds vote for passage?

A)the state budget
B)veto overrides
C)ratification of referenda
D)committee hearings

Question 8

Republican domination of reapportionment has allowed them to control the budget process.

Question 9

Partisanship has declined in the legislature since the 1950s.

Question 10

"Professionalization" of the legislature refers to the close connection between the legislative and executive branches.

Question 11

The gut-and-amend process

A)allows legislators to "gut" out a long session.
B)provides a mechanism for running special sessions.
C)enables a legislator to replace the original contents of a bill with something new.
D)describes the way legislators interact with the governor.

Question 12

To a great extent, interest group pressure shapes the legislative process.

Question 13

Which of the following has not transformed the legislature?

A)reapportionment
B)the recall
C)full-time operation
D)higher salaries

Question 14

Logrolling allows legislators to

A)stack committees with cooperative colleagues.
B)trade votes for each other's bills.
C)gang up against the governor for budget approval.
D)take long junkets at the taxpayers' expense.

Question 15

The Assembly is a more hierarchical, centralized body than the Senate.

Question 16

The Conference Committee is essential for reconciling competing versions of the same bill.

Question 17

The Assembly Speaker

A)controls the flow of legislation in his chamber.
B)appoints chairs to committees.
C)influences the direction of campaign funds.
D)all of the above.

Question 18

Which of the following is not a legislative agency?

A)State Auditor
B)Legislative Analyst
C)Legislative Counsel
D)Legislative Director

Question 19

The reapportionment that resulted from Reynolds v.Sims (1964) shifted many Senate seats from northern, rural areas to southern, populated areas.

Question 20

Which of the following is not considered part of the informal legislative process?

A)governor's signature
B)interest group pressure
C)logrolling
D)public opinion

Question 21

Discuss the pros and cons of term limits with respect to the legislative process.How has the passage of Proposition 28 (2012) altered the vision of term limits? What other government and nongovernment groups gain or lose clout as a result of term limits? What do term limits say about representative democracy?

Question 22

Compare the powers of the Speaker and Senate President Pro-Tem.How have these powers changed over the years? To what extent do they reflect the personalities of those who hold them?

Question 23

Trace the lawmaking process in the modern California legislature, from the point of bill introduction to the final outcome.How much lawmaking power does the legislature have, compared with the governor? Do "checks and balances" work in California?