Question 1

The current Texas Constitution is ridiculed by scholars as being

Accepted Answer

The current Texas Constitution is criticized for being excessively detailed, with many obsolete and contradictory provisions that make it difficult to navigate and understand. Scholars argue that it needs significant revisions to better reflect modern Texas society and government.

Question 2

In 1850, the Constitution of 1845 was amended to allow for

Accepted Answer

The 1850 amendment to the Texas Constitution of 1845 allowed for the establishment of a plural executive, meaning that several executive officers were elected rather than appointed.

Question 3

Under the 1876 constitution, law making authority was vested in an elected

Accepted Answer

The 1876 constitution established a bicameral legislature composed of 181 members, reflecting the structure of having two separate chambers (House of Representatives and Senate) within the legislative branch to deliberate and pass laws.

Question 4

The period after the constitution of 1866 was invalidated and when Texas came under a military government,

Accepted Answer

The period of military government and invalidation of the 1866 constitution created a legacy of suspicion and hostility towards the government among Texans, which has continued to influence the state's political culture to this day. There is no evidence of a Mexican secession movement, widespread arrests, or harsher treatment of Texans than other former Confederate states during this period, and there were no significant revolts against the national government.

Question 5

The Constitution of 1866 was brought about by the policies of President Abraham Lincoln who envisioned

Accepted Answer

The Constitution of 1866 was intended to ensure a rapid return to civilian governments for Southern states and their quick reintegration into America. President Abraham Lincoln advocated for swift reconciliation and believed that the best way to achieve this was through allowing Southern states to rejoin the Union as quickly as possible. Therefore, the Constitution of 1866 sought to establish new governments in the Southern states that were loyal to the United States and that recognized the end of slavery. It guaranteed civil rights to African Americans, provided for universal male suffrage, and denied the right to vote to former Confederates who had taken an oath to support the United States Constitution but later participated in rebellion.

Question 6

Unwittingly, the constitutional drafters in 1875 created a legislative body that was

Accepted Answer

The legislative body created in 1875 was easily influenced by special interest groups due to its part-time nature and low pay, which made legislators more susceptible to outside influences.

Question 7

Which of the seven Texas constitutions was used for the shortest period of time?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution of 1866 was used for the shortest period of time, as it was quickly replaced by the Constitution of 1869 during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War.

Question 8

The Constitution of 1876 was essentially an antigovernment charter and so did NOT

Accepted Answer

The Constitution of 1876 did not empower the governor. Instead, it weakened the power of the governor by making the office relatively weak compared to the legislature. The main purpose of the Constitution of 1876 was to limit the power of the state government and promote a limited government. Therefore, choices A, B, D, and E are not correct.

Question 9

When Texas joined the Confederate States of America, its new constitution did NOT

Accepted Answer

The answer of When Texas joined the Confederate States of...

Question 10

Johnson's mild reconstruction policies were replaced by those of the

Accepted Answer

After Johnson's mild reconstruction policies, the Radical Republicans took over and implemented their more aggressive and punitive Reconstruction policies.

Question 11

The last time a constitutional convention was called to rewrite the Constitution of 1876 was in

Accepted Answer

A constitutional convention was called in 1974 to address issues with the 1876 Constitution. However, the convention ultimately only proposed nine amendments to the existing constitution, rather than a full rewrite. Therefore, neither of the other options (B) 1982 when voters rejected proposals for a convention, (D) 1971 when Texas legislators were considering calling a convention but ultimately did not, nor (A) 1996 or (E) 2000 when there were no serious discussions of a constitutional convention, are correct.

Question 12

The Constitution of 1876 established the ________ branches of government.

Accepted Answer

The Constitution of 1876 established three branches of government: a legislative branch (made up of the House of Representatives and Senate), an executive branch (headed by the governor), and a judicial branch (with a Supreme Court and lower courts).

Question 13

According to the text, the voters of Texas had approved 	 constitutional amendments by the end of 2011 while the U.S.Constitution has been amended _____ times since 1789, including the 10 amendments that make up the Bill of Rights.

Accepted Answer

The question provides two pieces of information: (1) the voters of Texas had approved constitutional amendments by the end of 2011, and (2) the U.S. Constitution has been amended a certain number of times since 1789, including the Bill of Rights. We are asked to determine the number of times the U.S. Constitution has been amended. The only option that provides a number of amendments larger than that of Texas but less than 50 is D, which states that the U.S. Constitution has been amended 27 times. Therefore, answer D is the best choice.

Question 14

What best characterizes the role of Governor Dolph Briscoe in the Constitutional Convention of 1974?

Accepted Answer

Governor Dolph Briscoe was known for his hands-off approach during the Constitutional Convention of 1974, where he refused to exercise leadership and provided little input to the convention.

Question 15

The Constitution of 1876 was approved by

Accepted Answer

The Constitution of 1876 was approved by approximately two-thirds of the voters, indicating a significant majority in favor of its adoption. This level of support suggests that the constitution was broadly acceptable to a wide range of the electorate at the time.

Question 16

Texas currently operates under a constitution that was adopted following the Civil War and the
Radical Reconstruction era.In this constitution, Texans

Accepted Answer

The constitution adopted by Texas after the Civil War and Radical Reconstruction era was influenced by Texans' suspicion of government, leading them to limit its power and fragment its institutions. This is evident from provisions such as the separation of powers, establishment of a bicameral legislature, and the setting of term limits for elected officials. There were no indications that Texans were pleased with Reconstruction changes or wanted to give the governor more powers. Additionally, the idea of setting up a confederate government would have contradicted the Reconstruction policies enforced by the federal government.

Question 17

What did the members of the Grange fight for in the creation of the Constitution of 1876?

Accepted Answer

The Grange was a group of farmers who fought for the regulation of banks and railroads, as they believed that these industries were exploiting farmers. Therefore, it is likely that they fought for constitutional provisions that would restrict the powers of banks.

Question 18

An underlying principle of the 1876 constitution is that of a social compact that rests on the concepts of popular sovereignty and compact theory, as well as the principles of

Accepted Answer

The principles of limited government and separation of powers are specifically mentioned as being part of the underlying principles of the 1876 constitution.

Question 19

The Reconstruction Acts required a Texas Constitution that would

Accepted Answer

The Reconstruction Acts required a Texas Constitution that would grant African Americans the right to vote. The other options regarding the establishment of a plural executive, biannual sessions of a bicameral legislature, forcing former slave owners to cede land to African Americans, or allowing for popular election of judges were not specifically mandated by the Reconstruction Acts.

Question 20

The United States has one final court of last resort, the Supreme Court.Texas has

Accepted Answer

Texas has two courts of last resort, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest court for criminal cases, while the Texas Supreme Court is the highest court for civil and juvenile cases.

Quiz 2: The texas constitution