Question 1

Divided government refers to having one party in control of the governor's office and the other party in control of the legislature.

Accepted Answer

Divided government occurs when one political party controls the executive branch while a different party controls one or both houses of the legislative branch, leading to potential for increased checks and balances and often requiring more bipartisan cooperation to enact legislation.

Question 2

Discuss the three major functions of legislatures. Of the three, which do you consider most important? Why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the three major functions of legislatures....

Question 3

New Hampshire scored two firsts in 2009: the first state with a female majority in a legislative chamber and the first state to have women lead both the house and senate together.

Accepted Answer

In 2009, New Hampshire became the first state to have a female majority in its Senate, and it also became the first state to have women leading both its House and Senate simultaneously.

Question 4

What are the proposed benefits of term limits? Have these benefits been realized? In conclusion, take a stand on this issue and argue in favor or against term limits.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the proposed benefits of term...

Question 5

About 20 to 25 percent of the bills introduced in state legislatures ultimately become laws.

Accepted Answer

This range is generally accurate as it reflects the typical legislative process's filtering mechanism, where only a fraction of proposed bills navigate successfully through committees, debates, and votes to become law. The exact percentage can vary by state and legislative session, but this range is a reasonable average.

Question 6

Unlike the U.S. Congress, committees do less work in state legislatures as the power is held by the top leadership.

Accepted Answer

In state legislatures, committees also play a significant role in the legislative process, similar to the U.S. Congress, where they review, amend, and advance legislation. The power distribution can vary, but committees are essential in both contexts.

Question 7

Imposing legislative term limits has been a simplistic way for a public angry with entrenched politicians to kick them out of office.

Accepted Answer

Term limits are often seen as a straightforward solution for voters who are frustrated with long-serving, entrenched politicians, as they force these politicians out of office after a certain period, preventing them from becoming too powerful or disconnected from their constituents.

Question 8

With all their institutional improvement, legislatures continue to struggle with their public image.

Accepted Answer

Despite efforts to improve their operations and effectiveness, legislatures often face challenges in enhancing their public image due to factors such as political polarization, scandals, and perceived inefficiency.

Question 9

If you were a legislator, which role, trustee or delegate, would you follow? Discuss why you chose the particular role and how that role would affect some hypothetical policy decisions. Would the role you choose have an effect on your re-election prospects?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If you were a legislator, which role,...

Question 10

Discuss how state legislatures "reinvented themselves"; that is, what changes have occurred since the 1960s that have made many state legislatures more professional and capable of handling their duties?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss how state legislatures "reinvented themselves"; that...

Question 11

Explain the effects of the decisions in Baker v. Carr (1962)and Reynolds v. Sims (1964)in terms of the types of legislators elected to the state legislatures and their influence in policy outcomes since their rulings over 50 years ago.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the effects of the decisions in...

Question 12

Voters in twenty-one states have imposed term limits for legislators and other state officeholders.

Accepted Answer

As of my last update, voters in twenty-one states have indeed imposed term limits on their legislators and other state officeholders through various means, including ballot initiatives and legislative actions, reflecting a desire to ensure political turnover and limit the concentration of power.

Question 13

Ideally, legislatures should be functional, accountable, informed, independent, and representative (the acronym is FAIIR).

Accepted Answer

The acronym FAIIR stands for Functional, Accountable, Informed, Independent, and Representative, which are indeed ideal characteristics of effective legislatures. These principles help ensure that legislative bodies operate efficiently, maintain transparency and accountability, make decisions based on accurate information, act independently from undue influence, and accurately represent the interests of their constituents.

Question 14

As of 2015, annual salaries for legislators ranged from a low of around $100 to over $90,000.

Accepted Answer

As of 2015, legislator salaries in the United States varied widely by state, with some states offering very low per diem payments (as low as around $100) to those serving in their legislatures, while others provided annual salaries exceeding $90,000.

Question 15

During the 1970s, fundamental reforms occurred throughout the country because state legislatures sought to increase their capacity and become more professional.

Accepted Answer

During the 1970s, many state legislatures in the United States underwent significant reforms aimed at increasing their capacity, professionalism, and effectiveness. This period saw efforts to improve legislative processes, increase staff support, enhance salaries for lawmakers, and improve facilities, all in an attempt to make state legislatures more efficient and capable of handling complex issues.

Quiz 6: State Legislatures