Deck 8: The California Legislature

Question 1

Discuss how the new system of drawing legislative districts may impact partisanship in Sacramento.

Answer 1

No answer

Question 2

Describe how an idea becomes a law. What forces interact during this process?

Answer 2

No answer

Question 3

Describe some recent laws enacted by the legislature and signed by the governor. What interest groups supported or opposed those laws during the legislative process?

Answer 3

No answer

Question 4

Discuss the role of term limits in the legislative process. What are the pros and cons of term limits?

Question 5

Discuss the new "top-two" primary system and how it will change California elections.

Question 6

One of the consequences of term limits for state assembly members and senators is

A) they know they have a limited time in office, so they don't work very hard.
B) that lifetime politicians who are termed out often run for other elected offices.
C) legislators who are termed-out are forbidden from running for other offices.
D) they can't make enough money.

Question 7

A new bill becomes a law by

A) going through committee hearings and being approved by both the Senate and Assembly before going to the governor for final approval.
B) being presented to the governor first and debated by both the Senate and the assembly.
C) airing the best commercials on television.
D) the Senate president pro tem approving or rejecting all bills.

Question 8

District boundaries are redrawn every ten years after each census in a process known as

A) census control.
B) redistricting.
C) caucusing.
D) safe districts.

Question 9

District boundaries are drawn by

A) the voters.
B) the state legislature.
C) the Citizen's Commission on Redistricting.
D) by a panel of nonpartisan judges.

Question 10

Legislators in the state assembly and Senate are required to sit on at least one committee.

Question 11

A conference committee is a temporary committee appointed to resolve differences between the Senate and assembly versions of a bill.

Question 12

There are eighty members of the assembly and forty members of the Senate in California.

Question 13

The Speaker of the assembly is the majority leader and elected by his or her fellow assembly members.

Question 14

It takes a two-thirds majority to pass the state budget and for new fees and taxes.