Deck 5: The California Legislature

Question 1

What is one of the biggest obstacles that someone encounters when running for an elected position in the state legislature?

A) giving speeches
B) recruiting volunteers
C) currying favor within a political party
D) fundraising

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Bills introduced in the legislature

A) are forwarded to the governor to be signed or vetoed.
B) must pass both houses with identical language before being sent to the governor.
C) if passed by both houses, automatically become law.
D) rarely become law.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Legislators

A) may represent more than one district.
B) most often are defeated for re-election.
C) ignore local interests and look out for the good of the state.
D) need to focus on the interests of their constituents.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Since California elections are winner-take-all elections, it has the impact of

A) excluding minorities from public office.
B) excluding third parties from holding seats in the state legislature.
C) reducing the cost of running for office.
D) increasing the number of women office holders.

Question 5

State senate districts

A) have roughly 2 million voters.
B) are roughly twice as large as assembly districts.
C) are reapportioned every five years.
D) have more voters in urban districts than in rural districts.

Question 6

What are the two main jobs of a legislator?

A) monitoring California's borders and fundraising
B) representing the district and making policy
C) giving speeches and attending political party functions
D) vetoing bills and pardoning citizens convicted of crimes

Question 7

Making sure that legislation is implemented by the bureaucracy in the manner intended by the legislature is called

A) legislature practice.
B) constituent service.
C) oversight.
D) representation.

Question 8

What are the two types of representation?

A) forward and reverse
B) formal and informal
C) delegate and trustee
D) political and delegation

Question 9

The committee system in the state legislature allows for

A) specialization and attention to detail on the part of legislators.
B) less input by lobbyists.
C) greater input by third party leaders.
D) greater public scrutiny of the legislature's working habits.

Question 10

Gerrymandering refers to

A) a procedure that is used by California legislators to stop a vote on a bill.
B) drawing district lines in a way that is equal for only two political parties.
C) drawing district lines in a way that favors one political party over another.
D) the recruitment of lobbyists in order to raise campaign funds.

Question 11

What is the structure of the California legislature?

A) There are two chambers, which consist of the Assembly and Parliament.
B) There are two chambers, which consist of the House of Representatives and Senate.
C) There is only one chamber as the Senate dominates.
D) There are two chambers, which consist of the Assembly and the Senate.

Question 12

How many members serve in the California Senate?

A) 40
B) 60
C) 75
D) 80

Question 13

How many members serve in the California Assembly?

A) 40
B) 60
C) 75
D) 80

Question 14

The two most important functions of the California legislature are

A) representation and policymaking.
B) representation and re-election.
C) lawmaking and raising taxes.
D) oversight and blocking executive orders.

Question 15

The speaker of the assembly

A) is the legislator who has served the most time.
B) is not term-limited.
C) is elected by the entire assembly, generally on a party-line vote.
D) is permitted to vote in the senate.

Question 16

In May 2010, ________ percent of Californians approved of the job the legislature was doing.

A) 10
B) 16
C) 30
D) 70

Question 17

The leader of the California Assembly is called the

A) majority leader.
B) speaker.
C) majority pro tem.
D) governor.

Question 18

In California, the powers of the Speaker of the Assembly are

A) more extensive than those of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
B) extremely limited.
C) constantly being redefined by the California Supreme Court.
D) expanded by executive orders.

Question 19

What type of items may pass in California's legislature?

A) executive orders, border disputes, and city ordinances
B) county measures, laws, and city ordinances
C) laws, constitutional amendments, and resolutions
D) foreign treaties, resolutions, and constitutional amendments

Question 20

The leader of the state senate in California is the

A) president pro tem.
B) speaker.
C) minority leader.
D) lieutenant governor.

Question 21

Briefly outline the process of passing legislation in the California legislature.

Question 22

The process by which members of the legislature exchange or trade votes is called

A) constituent service.
B) oversight function.
C) logrolling.
D) filibustering.

Question 23

Why have Californians typically distrusted the California legislature? Has the distrust lessened, and if so, what has led to the turnaround?

Question 24

What functions does the California legislature carry out? Is there any one function that it is not performing in an acceptable way? Explain your answer.

Question 25

What are the major differences between the U.S. Congress and the California legislature?

Question 26

Term limits had at least one positive effect on the state legislature. Term limits have resulted in

A) reduced reliance on money in running campaigns.
B) less influence in legislative affairs by interest groups.
C) more women being elected to the legislature.
D) greater control by third parties.

Question 27

The rules of the legislature

A) permit the majority to rule.
B) favor the Democrats.
C) favor the Republicans.
D) permit a minority to block important legislation.

Question 28

How many bills did the California legislature pass in the 2013-2014 legislative session?

A) 988
B) 1,191
C) 1,431
D) 1,970

Question 29

What factors make the California legislature weaker in comparison to Congress?

A) the Speaker of the House, presidential recess appointments, and congressional staffers
B) logrolling, the vice president of the United States, filibusters
C) term limits, low media coverage, and the line-item veto
D) oversight, gerrymandering, court decisions

Question 30

What are some of the negative aspects of term limits on the California legislature?