Deck 6: State Legislatures

Question 1

The workhorse of the legislature is _______, which provides a structure for organizing the process of making laws.

A) the judiciary
B) the committee
C) the full chamber
D) the party caucus

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A _______ is an elected official who cannot serve beyond the current term of office.

A) lame duck
B) gerrymander
C) trustee
D) politico

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Legislatures engage in three principal functions:

A) policymaking, auditing, and control of regulatory activities.
B) representation, constituent service, and policymaking.
C) enacting laws, allocating funds, and oversight.
D) policymaking, oversight, and representation.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

State legislatures typically pass _______ percent of the bills introduced.

A) 8
B) 40
C) 20 to 25
D) 50 to 60

Question 5

Once conference or concurrence committees resolve differences, and agreement is secured in both chambers, then the bill is

A) sent to a final standing committee for one last vote.
B) formally introduced to the public via press conference.
C) enrolled and sent to the governor.
D) made into law.

Question 6

In Vieth v. Jubelirer (2004), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that

A) states must include minority districts to ensure minority representation.
B) race cannot be considered in drawing district maps.
C) reliance on partisan considerations remains an appropriate redistricting option.
D) Georgia had failed to include enough minority districts to pass court scrutiny.

Question 7

Cory is a legislator who relies on his own judgment and conscience rather than following the "will of the district" that he represents. Cory is an example of

A) an instructed delegate.
B) a trustee.
C) a politico.
D) a journeyman.

Question 8

As of 2013, the number of Democrats in state legislatures was _______ percent and the number of Republicans was _______ percent.

A) 60; 40
B) 45; 54
C) 40; 60
D) 54; 45

Question 9

All of the following factors can be taken into account when drawing legislative districts EXCEPT

A) the racial/ethnic composition of the district.
B) the population fluctuations in each district.
C) access to polling places.
D) the improvement of representation in the district.

Question 10

In a typical chamber, the presiding officer performs all of the following functions EXCEPT

A) monitoring campaign contributions to other legislators.
B) controlling the activity on the floor.
C) appointing committee members.
D) allocating office space and committee budgets.

Question 11

Legislative assistance on behalf of a constituent, usually with the bureaucracy, is called

A) casework.
B) gerrymandering.
C) lobbying.
D) pork barrel politics.

Question 12

The process of creatively designing a legislative district, usually to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party in power is called

A) redistricting.
B) gerrymandering.
C) reapportionment.
D) malapportionment.

Question 13

How long are legislative terms for state senators?

A) six years, just as in the U.S. Senate
B) six years in all but one state
C) six years in most states, but four years in some
D) four years in most states, but two years in some

Question 14

An individual who brings a new idea to a policymaking body is known as a

A) policy wonk.
B) politico.
C) policy entrepreneur.
D) committee chairperson.

Question 15

Underlying the result of Baker v. Carr (1962) and Reynolds v. Sims (1964) was the fundamental concept

A) that legislatures were to be more responsive to state problems and therefore to meet a minimum of four months a year.
B) of controls on lobbyists, who otherwise disrupted the business of the legislatures.
C) of "one person, one vote" that led to the reapportionment of legislative seats based on population.
D) of "one person, one vote" that prevented reapportionment for political purposes.

Question 16

Redistricting of state legislative and the state's congressional districts happens every

A) twenty years and must be based on the U.S. census.
B) twenty years and is based purely on political considerations.
C) ten years unless the state constitution provides otherwise.
D) ten years and must be based on the U.S. census.

Question 17

Which of the following states technically does NOT pay its legislators a salary, but rather only a per diem for expenses?

A) New Hampshire
B) New Mexico
C) Nebraska
D) Idaho

Question 18

As of 2013, "full-time legislator" was the single largest category of legislator occupations. This category overcame the historically dominant occupation of

A) retiree.
B) business owner.
C) business executive/manager.
D) attorney.

Question 19

In 2013, the highest annual salary (excluding per diem) for state legislators was

A) $90,526 in California.
B) $99,000 in New Jersey.
C) $78,315 in Pennsylvania.
D) $123,876 in New York.

Question 20

A unicameral structure in the legislature is composed of

A) a double chamber, and all 50 states have such a legislative body.
B) a single chamber, and only Iowa has such a legislative body.
C) a single chamber, and only Nebraska has such a legislative body.
D) a double chamber, and only 10 states have such a legislative body.

Question 21

Reapportionment is the reallocation of seats in a legislative assembly.

Question 22

Opponents of term limits argue that term limits

A) increase the proportion of first-term legislators in any given session.
B) give lobbyists too much power.
C) reduce the amount of time legislators have to spend on key issues.
D) rob voters of their fundamental right to choose their representatives.

Question 23

A legislature's oversight role includes all of the following functions EXCEPT

A) policy and program evaluation.
B) legislative review of administrative rules.
C) passing legislation to create new executive branch departments.
D) review and control of federal funds.

Question 24

The U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Baker v. Carr and Reynolds v. Sims mandated reapportionment.

Question 25

The legislatures of all fifty states meet annually.

Question 26

Which of the following statements about the legislative veto is true?

A) It is a legislative oversight power that has been found unconstitutional by federal and state courts because it violates the separation of powers.
B) It is the legislature's only influence over agency implementation of a policy.
C) It is legislative oversight power that is rapidly gaining popularity in all of the states.
D) It is a sunset legislation oversight power by which legislatures control budgetary allocations to state agencies.

Question 27

North Dakota is the only state with a bicameral legislature, which it established in 1934.

Question 28

By requiring the governor to obtain legislative approval of budget cutbacks in the event of a revenue shortfall, some states have

A) increased legislative power relative to gubernatorial power.
B) increased bureaucratic power relative to gubernatorial power.
C) increased gubernatorial power relative to legislative power.
D) reduced the overall power of state government relative to interest groups.

Question 29

Recent research demonstrates that public approval of the legislature is lower in states with

A) more professional legislatures compared to less professional legislatures.
B) less professional legislatures compared to more professional legislatures.
C) more conservative legislatures compared to less conservative legislatures.
D) more liberal legislatures compared to less liberal legislatures.

Question 30

New Hampshire has the largest state legislature, with 400 members.

Question 31

The legislative function of policymaking includes enacting laws and allocating funds.

Question 32

Term limits were expected to produce all of the following results EXCEPT

A) increase the proportion of first-term legislators in any given session.
B) end the domination of a chamber by powerful, entrenched veteran legislators.
C) reduce pay and shorten the legislative session.
D) shift power from the legislature to the governor and to lobbyists.

Question 33

Attorneys remain the single largest occupational category for state legislators (about 15 percent).

Question 34

Legislative reforms and modernization have led to state legislatures with which of the following characteristics?

A) greater professionalization of the legislative career, increased polarization of the legislative process, and more fragmentation of the legislative institution
B) decreased professionalization of the legislative career, decreased polarization of the legislative process, and more fragmentation of the legislative institution
C) greater professionalization of the legislative career, decreased polarization of the legislative process, and less fragmentation of the legislative institution
D) decreased professionalization of the legislative career, increased polarization of the legislative process, and more fragmentation of the legislative institution

Question 35

Sunset laws are statutes that

A) set automatic expiration dates for specified agencies in the executive branch.
B) require the legislature to end the session on a particular date.
C) reduce the power of committee chairs in the agenda-setting role.
D) end the legislative veto.

Question 36

The acronym FAIIR represents the five characteristics of an ideal legislature, which are

A) functional, accountable, informed, independent, and representative.
B) feasible, accurate, intelligent, independent, and rigorous.
C) functional, accurate, interesting, informed, regulated.
D) fair, accountable, invested, interesting, rigorous.

Question 37

As of 2013, women make up over 30 percent of all legislators.

Question 38

There are more than 12,000 state legislators in the United States.

Question 39

All state legislatures are bicameral.

Question 40

The average size of a state house is about 100 members, while the average state senate is currently 40 members.

Question 41

Unlike in the U.S. Congress, committees in state legislatures have very little to do with policymaking.

Question 42

Institutional conflict is exacerbated under conditions of divided government.

Question 43

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?

Question 44

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

Question 45

Gerrymandering refers to the process of creatively designing a legislative district to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party in power.

Question 46

The expectation that terms limits would produce greater representation of underrepresented groups has NOT come to pass-at least not yet.

Question 47

In the late 1960s, the Citizens' Conference on State Legislatures (CCSL) studied legislative performance and identified five characteristics critical to legislative improvement, represented by the acronym FAIIR.

Question 48

A public angry with entrenched politicians has resulted in the imposition of legislative term limits in many states.

Question 49

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

Question 50

As of 2013, annual salaries for legislators ranged from a low of around $100 to over $90,000.

Question 51

An agency can only be saved from termination under sunset law through an overt renewal action in the legislature.

Question 52

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.

Question 53

In approximately one-third of the states, if the governor does not sign or veto the act and the legislature has adjourned, the act dies.

Question 54

Although some large states have highly professionalized legislatures, some still operate with part-time, citizen legislatures. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having the part-time, amateur legislatures that are still found in many states? In your view, is the part-time, amateur legislature a better choice than a full-time, professional legislature? Can part-time legislatures adequately deal with the complex issues facing legislatures today?

Question 55

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

Question 56

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that race cannot be the sole criterion when drawing legislative district lines.

Question 57

Gerrymandering is a valid form of redistricting.

Question 58

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.

Question 59

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 reelection prospects?

Question 60

New Hampshire pays its legislators the lowest salary in the nation, about $100 per year.