Deck 7: The Legislature

Question 1

Redistricting may be politically difficult for a legislator primarily because it may

A) increase his political power.
B) lead to increased public scrutiny.
C) take away previous voter support.
D) cause voters to lose interest in future elections.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The Texas legislature differs most from the U.S. Congress in that

A) conference committees are never needed.
B) only the senate is elected directly by the people.
C) it meets in regular session for a very limited time.
D) all bills must pass both houses with identical language.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

In Texas, elections under single-member districts increase the probability that

A) black or Hispanic candidates will be elected.
B) whites will continue to dominate elections.
C) election campaign costs will increase.
D) sitting incumbents will be defeated.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is a false statement regarding special sessions of the Texas legislature?

A) They may only meet for 30 days.
B) They have their agenda set by the governor.
C) They may only be called by the governor.
D) They are limited to three per year.

Question 5

The number of senators in the Texas legislature is

A) 31.
B) 40.
C) 150.
D)400.

Question 6

At a minimum, redistricting must occur every

A) five years.
B) ten years.
C) twelve years.
D) time the population changes.

Question 7

The U.S. Supreme Court found in Reynolds v. Sims (1964) that

A) legislative districts of bicameral state legislatures must have equal populations.
B) only the lower house of state legislatures must have equal populations.
C) all states must have bicameral legislatures.
D) state term limits for members of Congress violates the U.S. Constitution.

Question 8

The terms of office for members of the Texas legislature are

A) Senate, four years; House of Representatives, two years; no term limits.
B) House of Representatives, four years; Senate, four years; two-term limit.
C) Senate, four years, two terms; House of Representatives, two years, four terms.
D) Senate, six years; House of Representatives, two years; no limit.

Question 9

A vacancy in the Texas House or Senate arising during a term is filled by

A) the chamber's presiding officer.
B) the Legislative Redistricting Board.
C) a special election.
D) governor's appointment.

Question 10

Legislative redistricting for both houses in Texas routinely occurs

A) every even-numbered year.
B) every odd-numbered year.
C) the first odd-numbered year in a decade.
D) the first even-numbered years in a decade.

Question 11

All Texas senate seats are up for election every ten years because

A) senators serve 5 year terms.
B) senators are limited to two terms.
C) the number of senate seats may change.
D) Senate district lines are redrawn every 10 years.

Question 12

The federal court case that applied the doctrine of "one-man, one-vote" to Texas was

A) Reynolds v. Sims (1964).
B) Lells v. Kavenaugh (1991).
C) Kilgarlin v. Martin (1965).
D) Ruiz v. Estelle (1980).

Question 13

The essence of representative government is having

A) the chief executive able to veto bills.
B) the courts overturn unconstitutional actions.
C) entrusting the enactment of laws to elected legislators.
D) administrative agencies to enact rules and regulations.

Question 14

The only unicameral state legislature is that of

A) Ohio.
B) Nebraska.
C) Texas.
D) California.

Question 15

Which of the following is a false statement regarding members of the Texas legislature?

A) Members may be expelled by a vote of their chamber.
B) Vacancies to legislative seats are filled by governor's appointment.
C) If called to military duty, members may retain their office.
D) A temporary qualified replacement must be of the member's party.

Question 16

The Texas House of Representatives consists of __________ members.

A) 31.
B) 55.
C) 150.
D) 400.

Question 17

Regular sessions of the Texas legislature meet for

A) 140 days, in odd-numbered years.
B) 150 days, every single year.
C) 140 days in even-numbered years.
D) 150 days, every four years.

Question 18

Functions of the Texas legislature include all of the following, except

A) enacting legislation.
B) proposing constitutional amendments.
C) appointing state judges.
D) removing executive and judicial officials.

Question 19

Which of the following is a true statement regarding senators in the Texas legislature?

A) There are two from each state senate district.
B) They are limited to no more than two four-year terms.
C) They are limited to a total of ten years in office.
D) They all stand for election the year following redistricting.

Question 20

In Texas, the first legislative and congressional elections in districts determined by the 2010 census were conducted in

A) September of 2012.
B) November of 2012.
C) November of 2011
D) January of 2012.

Question 21

Which of the following statements best characterizes the Texas legislature?

A) There are more women than their percentage in the population.
B) Women comprise only 2 percent of the membership of the two houses combined.
C) Anglo males are a majority of the membership in both houses of the legislature.
D) No Hispanics or African Americans have been elected as Republicans through 2003.

Question 22

Under the Texas Constitution, those serving in the Texas legislature

A) cannot hold another government office.
B) are able to hold more than one government office.
C) can be paid by another governmental entity.
D) cannot earn money from private sector sources.

Question 23

The Texas Constitution does not have which of the following as a qualification for membership in the Texas legislature?

A) U.S. citizenship
B) Residency in the district
C) Educational level
D) Voter qualification

Question 24

Which of the following is not correct regarding the Texas House of Representatives?

A) It has fewer standing committees than in the Senate.
B) Appropriations and Ways and Means committees are particularly powerful.
C) Membership on most committees is based partially on seniority.
D) No representative may serve on more than three substantive committees.

Question 25

After the 2010 census, Texas congressional districts were redrawn in 2011 by

A) the legislature in a special session.
B) the Legislative Redistricting Board.
C) a panel of federal judges.
D) the Commissioner of the General Land Office.

Question 26

Which of the following is not a power accorded the lieutenant governor by the Texas Constitution or Senate rules?

A) Voting on all bills before the Senate
B) Recognizing senators who wish to speak
C) Appointing the chairs of all Senate committees
D) Referring all bills to standing committees

Question 27

In the Texas House, a committee that considers legislation and recommends whether it should or should not pass is called a(n)

A) procedural committee.
B) substantive (standing) committee.
C) interim committee.
D) joint (two-house) committee.

Question 28

The first African American elected to the Texas Senate in modern times was

A) Colin Powell.
B) Shirley Chisholm.
C) Barbara Jordan.
D) Condoleezza Rice.

Question 29

Republican membership in the Texas Legislature has

A) remained at about the same level since 1961.
B) tended to be elected from major cities.
C) constituted a majority in both chambers since 2003.
D) been mainly due to the support of Latino voters.

Question 30

The Texas Constitution establishes the offices of president of the Senate and speaker of the House of Representatives. It subsequently designates the lieutenant governor as

A) speaker of the House.
B) president of the Senate.
C) the acting governor.
D) chief executive.

Question 31

Which of the following is not correct regarding the lieutenant governor of Texas?

A) He or she is chosen by direct popular vote.
B) He or she bears the ex officio title "President of the Senate."
C) He or she is first in line of succession to fill a governorship vacancy.
D) He or she receives a constitutional salary of $46,000 per year.

Question 32

After a state legislator serves__________ in office, he or she becomes eligible for a pension of __________.

A) five years; $600 per month
B) twelve years; $7,200 per year
C) eight years; $23,000 per year
D) There is no pension in Texas.

Question 33

The religious denominations most represented in the Texas legislature are

A) Methodist and Church of Christ.
B) Jewish and Presbyterian.
C) Roman Catholic and Episcopalian.
D) Roman Catholic and Southern Baptist.

Question 34

Which of the following statements characterizes the membership of the Texas legislature?

A) Anglo men dominate the Texas legislature.
B) Hispanic men dominate the Texas House.
C) African Americans dominate the Texas Senate.
D) Anglo women dominate both the House and Senate.

Question 35

The "ex officio" president of the Texas Senate also functions as the state's

A) vice president.
B) adjutant general.
C) lieutenant governor.
D) attorney general.

Question 36

Turnover in the Texas legislature is most likely to be high in those

A) elections immediately before redistricting.
B) elections immediately after redistricting.
C) gubernatorial election years.
D) presidential election years.

Question 37

When compared to California legislators, those in Texas are paid a salary that is

A) much better.
B) slightly higher.
C) much lower.
D) very similar.

Question 38

According to a 1991 state constitutional amendment, changes in compensation for members of the Texas legislature are initiated by

A) the legislature itself.
B) an Ethics Commission recommendation.
C) the Comptroller of Public Accounts.
D) an automatic cost of living inflator.

Question 39

Which of the following is not correct regarding the position of speaker of the Texas House of Representatives?

A) He or she is selected by direct popular vote in a general election.
B) He or she may appoint all committee chairs.
C) He or she refers all bills to standing committees.
D) He or she is vice-chair of the Legislative Budget Board.

Question 40

Educationally, most members of the Texas legislature have

A) attended institutions of higher learning.
B) only completed high school.
C) received post-graduate degrees.
D) attended private, not public school.

Question 41

The legislature may require reports from state agencies under a procedure known as

A) auditing.
B) consultation.
C) oversight.
D) gerrymandering.

Question 42

Which of the following statements is true regarding the Texas legislature?

A) It does not recognize the party affiliation of its members.
B) It has no party organization-not even informal caucuses.
C) It is dominated by the Democratic Party, with no Republican influence.
D) It has Democratic and Republican caucuses that are increasingly important.

Question 43

When Texas ratifies an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the legal form in which this is done is a

A) simple resolution passed by a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
B) joint resolution requiring a simple majority vote in each body.
C) joint resolution passed by both houses and a popular referendum.
D) concurrent resolution passed by a three-fifths vote and signed by the governor.

Question 44

The State Auditor of Texas is appointed by the

A) Comptroller of Public Accounts.
B) Legislative Audit Committee.
C) Legislative Budget Board.
D) State Treasurer.

Question 45

Rules relating to the operations of the Texas Senate would be dealt with in a

A) simple resolution.
B) concurrent resolution.
C) joint resolution.
D) appropriations bill.

Question 46

A member of the Texas legislature would be immune from adverse judicial action if he

A) libels a citizen during a speech at his hometown Rotary Club.
B) is arrested for intoxicated driving while the legislature is in session.
C) is arrested for causing an automobile accident during the session.
D) slanders in a speech during a legislative proceeding.

Question 47

A bill making exception to general law for a named individual is known as a

A) concurrent resolution.
B) special bill.
C) general bill.
D) local bill.

Question 48

House-Senate conference committees normally meet during

A) the last 80 days of a regular session.
B) called special legislative sessions only.
C) the first 30 days of the regular session.
D) the second 30 days of the regular session.

Question 49

The practice of rejecting gubernatorial appointments that are objectionable to the senator from the appointee's home district, is called

A) oversight.
B) senatorial courtesy.
C) legislative veto.
D) advice and consent.

Question 50

The principal agent in making public policy in Texas is the

A) governor of Texas.
B) state bureaucracy.
C) state legislature.
D) state judiciary.

Question 51

To enact a law applying to the city of Temple, the Texas legislature would pass a

A) special bill.
B) local bill.
C) joint resolution.
D) concurrent resolution.

Question 52

The concerns of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus in the 1990s produced

A) the creation of an indigent health care system.
B) increasing funding from the lottery and gambling.
C) larger appropriations for state universities in South Texas.
D) electing district judges from single-member districts.

Question 53

If the government of Texas was negotiating with the government of the United States on a land transfer between the state and federal government and the Texas legislature desired to express its view on the progress of the discussions, in which form would that expression take?

A) A simple resolution
B) A concurrent resolution
C) A joint resolution
D) An appropriations bill

Question 54

In Texas, the second thirty days of the legislative session are mainly reserved for

A) any non-legislative duties.
B) introduction of new legislation.
C) action on concurrent resolutions.
D) standing committee action on bills.

Question 55

The Legislative Black Caucus has been most concerned about

A) highway construction.
B) the 2001 hate crimes law.
C) the state's general sales tax.
D) the issue of campaign financing.

Question 56

The liberal response to the Conservative Caucus is the

A) Legislative Black Caucus.
B) House and Senate Democratic caucuses.
C) Legislative Study Group.
D) Senate Hispanic Caucus.

Question 57

Before making an appointment, the governor is expected to consult with the senator of an affected district, a process called senatorial

A) filibuster.
B) privilege.
C) immunity.
D) courtesy.

Question 58

The primary mission of the State Auditor's Office is to

A) determine if there are sufficient funds to pay legislative appropriations.
B) determine if state funds have been spent by the state agencies in accordance with law.
C) determine how state revenues are to be invested.
D) authorize the payment from the Treasury to all persons with claims against the state.

Question 59

A bill submitted to the senate at the same time as in the house is referred to as a

A) joint resolution.
B) emergency bill.
C) companion bill.
D) concurrent resolution.

Question 60

Most of the governor's board and commission appointments to head state agencies must be submitted and approved by

A) at least two-thirds of the Senate.
B) the relevant Senate committee.
C) a majority of the House of Representatives.
D) at least a simple majority vote of the senators.

Question 61

On the floor of the Texas Senate, a two-thirds vote is required for any bill to be considered due to the use of a

A) blocking bill.
B) discharge petition.
C) super quorum.
D) friendly filibuster.

Question 62

Describe the structure of the bicameral Texas legislature. Identify the number of seats for each chamber and explain how and when re-districting occurs.

Question 63

Describe the formal qualifications of members of the Texas legislature. Explain why actual members of the legislature fail to represent a representative cross-section of Texas society.

Question 64

How long does the governor have following the adjournment of the legislature in which to act on bills?

A) Ten working days
B) Twenty calendar days
C) One month
D) Ninety days

Question 65

Occasionally, representatives engage in lengthy debates on bills that they do not oppose. This delaying action is called

A) a filibuster.
B) cloture.
C) chubbing.
D) politics as usual.

Question 66

After a bill passes both houses of the Texas legislature, it then

A) automatically becomes law.
B) automatically dies if vetoed by the governor.
C) becomes law only with the governor's signature.
D) becomes law without a governor's signature with a veto override.

Question 67

While the legislature is debating a bill, the governor can most readily stop that bill by

A) encouraging a letter-writing campaign by the public.
B) threatening to kill it with a veto.
C) threatening to remove the lieutenant governor.
D) temporarily adjourning the legislature by executive decree.

Question 68

A representative seeking help in drafting a bill would probably turn to the

A) Legislative Budget Board.
B) Senate Research Center.
C) House Research Organization.
D) Texas Legislative Council.

Question 69

Compare the structure, membership, and sessions of the Texas legislature with those of other large states, or those of states bordering Texas. What similarities or differences stand out as significant?

Question 70

Attempting to delay or impede a bill's passage by holding the floor in debate is referred to as

A) filibustering.
B) gerrymandering.
C) invoking cloture.
D) senatorial privilege.

Question 71

What is the fate of a bill vetoed by the governor after the legislature has adjourned?

A) The bill will die and cannot be overridden.
B) The governor will likely call the legislature into an override session.
C) The legislature will call itself into an override session.
D) The bill will go on a referendum override ballot.

Question 72

On its first reading in the House of Representatives, a bill is then

A) debated and voted upon.
B) referred to the appropriate committee.
C) forwarded to the Senate for its action.
D) referred to the House Rules Committee.

Question 73

Describe the selection, duties, title, and tools of influence of the lieutenant governor in the legislative process. Explain why this position possesses considerable legislative power.

Question 74

House rules prohibit ghost voting. This practice involves representatives

A) scaring another representatives into voting their way.
B) having another representative vote for them.
C) pressing the voting button for another representative.
D) not voting when present in the chamber.

Question 75

The Texas Senate has __________ to control the flow of bills from standing committees to the floor.

A) one calendar committee
B) no calendar committees
C) two calendar committees
D) four blocker committees

Question 76

What are the constitutional provisions regarding regular and special sessions of the Texas legislature  From the perspective of a citizen, do you feel these provisions meet the needs of today's society?

Question 77

In the House and Senate, bills are most likely to be debated and perhaps amended

A) on the first reading.
B) on the second reading.
C) on the third reading.
D) after a conference committee report.

Question 78

Describe the various functions and duties of the Texas legislature. Identify those responsibilities that are unique to each chamber of the body. Identify any actions that must be initiated in one particular chamber.

Question 79

When the House and Senate pass a bill with different language in each version,

A) the bill will die because further action cannot occur until the two agree.
B) the bill will go to a House-Senate conference committee.
C) one chamber will have to accept the language of the other.
D) the governor will indicate a preference for one chamber's bill.

Question 80

Lobbyists must register with, and make state-required lobbying reports to the

A) office of the Texas Governor.
B) Texas Commission on Toxic Waste.
C) Texas Ethics Commission.
D) Texas Lobbyists Commission.