Question 1

Which of the following is NOT an outcome directly attributed to term limits?

Accepted Answer

This outcome is not directly attributed to term limits, but rather a consequence of the timing of the budget process and the expiration of legislators' terms. The other options are commonly cited effects of term limits.

Question 2

Lawmakers elected after 2012 are allowed to serve:

Accepted Answer

Lawmakers elected after 2012 in California are allowed to serve a total of 12 years in the state legislature, which can be spent in either the Assembly, the Senate, or a combination of both.

Question 3

What is the approximate, average size of a Senate district?

Accepted Answer

The average size of a Senate district is approximately 900,000 people, as there are 100 senators representing the entire U.S. population.

Question 4

The California Assembly contains _________ members, whereas the California Senate contains _________ members.

Accepted Answer

The California Assembly has 80 members, and the California Senate has 40 members.

Question 5

When legislators or their staff respond to constituents' requests for help dealing with the state bureaucracy or "navigating the government system," they are performing:

Accepted Answer

The act of responding to constituents' requests for assistance in dealing with the government system is known as constituency service. This is a vital aspect of a legislator's job as it involves directly addressing the needs of their constituents, thereby increasing their level of satisfaction with their representation in government. Oversight involves monitoring and evaluating the actions of government agencies and officials to ensure that they are fulfilling their responsibilities in a lawful and ethical manner. Policymaking involves the creation and implementation of laws and policies at the local, state, or federal level. Descriptive representation refers to the idea that elected officials should share similar backgrounds, experiences, and demographics with their constituents.

Question 6

Who is in charge of drawing congressional district boundaries?

Accepted Answer

In many states, including California, the state's Citizens Redistricting Commission is responsible for drawing congressional district boundaries to ensure fair representation and reduce gerrymandering.

Question 7

If a person wants to find out more about a bill being considered by the legislature, the best place to look for information online would be:

Accepted Answer

The site maintained by the Legislative Counsel's Office provides comprehensive information about bills being considered by the legislature, including bill texts, status, history, and analyses.

Question 8

The organization that acts as an in-house law firm, crafting legislators' proposals into formal bills, rendering legal opinions, and making bill information available to the public electronically is:

Accepted Answer

The Legislative Counsel is responsible for drafting legislative proposals into formal bills, providing legal opinions, and ensuring bill information is accessible to the public.

Question 9

What is the approximate, average size of an Assembly district?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the approximate, average size of...

Question 10

How long is a state Senate term?

Accepted Answer

State Senate terms are typically four years, although this can vary by state.

Question 11

Which body has been referred to as the "eyes and ears of the legislature," performing in-depth research on programs, bills, and the budget?

Accepted Answer

The Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) is a nonpartisan, independent office that provides research and analysis to the California Legislature. It is often referred to as the "eyes and ears of the legislature" due to its thorough research on programs, bills, and the budget to provide reliable information to lawmakers.

Question 12

The "Big Five" is a term that refers to:

Accepted Answer

The "Big Five" refers to the governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, Senate president pro tem, and the minority leaders of both houses in the context of California politics.

Question 13

Confirming the governor's appointees to boards and commissions is the responsibility of:

Accepted Answer

In many states, the confirmation of the governor's appointees to boards and commissions is typically the responsibility of the Senate only.

Question 14

What vote threshold must be met to pass the annual budget?

Accepted Answer

Typically, a simple majority is needed to pass the annual budget in most organizations, including government bodies such as city councils and state legislatures. This means that more than half of the voting members must approve the budget for it to pass. While some organizations may require a higher threshold, such as two-thirds or even unanimity, these are less common.

Question 15

When a Senate committee calls state employees or administrators to testify about the programs they run, or monitors a program to ensure that a law is being carried out according to the legislature's intent, it is performing:

Accepted Answer

The Senate committee is performing oversight, which involves monitoring and evaluating the implementation of laws and programs to ensure they align with legislative intent.

Question 16

What is the maximum number of years that a person can serve in the Senate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the maximum number of years...

Question 17

How many votes are needed to pass most bills?

Accepted Answer

Most bills require a simple majority (50 percent + 1) to pass in legislative bodies like the U.S. Congress.

Question 18

The majority party usually can ignore the minority party, except when it comes to:

Accepted Answer

Raising taxes or fees often requires a supermajority, such as a two-thirds vote, which means the majority party may need support from the minority party to reach this threshold.

Question 19

How long is an Assembly term?

Accepted Answer

An Assembly term is two years.

Question 20

What is the maximum number of years that a person can serve in the Assembly?

Accepted Answer

The maximum number of years a person can serve in the Assembly is typically twelve years, often due to term limits that restrict the number of terms a legislator can serve.

Quiz 4: The State Legislature