Deck 2: The texas constitution

Question 1

Scholars believe that constitutions should

A) be incredibly hard to change.
B) be vague on general principles.
C) be written in a restrictive fashion.
D) not grant authority to specific constitutions.
E) include specified detailed instructions.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

How does the Constitution of Texas resemble those of other former Confederate states?

A) It grants more reserved powers to the federal government.
B) It allows for the federal government to impose martial law at any time.
C) It severely curtails the powers of the executive branch.
D) It formally acknowledges the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution.
E) It places the judiciary under the control of the federal government.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The first Texas constitution was adopted in

A) 1824.
B) 1827.
C) 1836.
D) 1861.
E) 1869.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

What was a primary purpose of Texas in the Republic of Mexico?

A) To be a launching point for an invasion of the United States.
B) To supply oil to the Republic of Mexico.
C) To serve as a diplomatic mediator between Mexico and the United States.
D) To supply gold to the Republic of Mexico.
E) To serve as a buffer between Mexico and the United States.

Question 5

Which of the following was part of the Constitution of 1845?

A) The governor was appointed by the plural executive.
B) The attorney general was elected.
C) Power was centralized in the judiciary.
D) It established a biennial legislature.
E) Women were denied private property rights.

Question 6

The Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas

A) formally incorporated Texas into the Republic of Mexico following independence from Spain..
B) was the foundation of the Republic of Texas and Coahuila.
C) was the Constitution established by the colonial Spanish in 1827.
D) established a unicameral legislature for the Mexican state of Coahuila and Texas.
E) was a stop gap constitution between Spanish colonists and Mexicans.

Question 7

Which governor of Texas refused to leave office although he had lost the election?

A) Richard Coke
B) George W. Bush
C) Edmund Davis
D) William P. Clements
E) James Ferguson

Question 8

Scholars believe that above all constitutions should

A) be detailed documents so all office holders know what to do.
B) provide specific instructions to the branches of government.
C) contain restrictions to safeguard what they drafted into law.
D) be concise and contain universal principles.
E) have many amendments that fix specific problems.

Question 9

Under the first Texas constitution, the governor

A) led the state militia but had no power to enforce laws.
B) granted pardons and presided over the state senate.
C) led the state militia, granted pardons and enforced laws.
D) led the state militia and served as the state executioner.
E) led the state militia and presided over the state senate.

Question 10

The Constitution of 1836 which established the Republic of Texas was modeled after

A) the new constitution of Mexico.
B) the Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas.
C) the U.S. Constitution.
D) the constitution of the neighboring Mexican state of Coahuila.
E) Spanish civil code.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true about Texas government under the Constitution of
1876?

A) The governor is a powerful chief executive.
B) The legislature is a unicameral body.
C) Power is centralized in the executive branch.
D) The judiciary is appointed by the governor.
E) The legislature meets bi-annually, part-time.

Question 12

During the late 1820s and early 1830s, tensions between Anglos and the Mexican government often centered around conflicts over different

A) legal systems, religions, and languages.
B) cultures, religion, and economic interests.
C) economic interests, languages, and cultures.
D) cultures, legal systems, and economic interests.
E) economic interests, legal systems, and religions.

Question 13

The purpose of statutory law

A) is to expand upon general provisions laid out in a constitution through legislative laws.
B) is to require voter approval on amendments to a constitution.
C) is to lay the basic principles of a constitution to later be expanded upon.
D) is to allow the executive of a state to issue laws without legislative approval.
E) is to specifically replace unconstitutional laws with constitutional amendments.

Question 14

In 1835, Santa Anna

A) voided the Constitution of 1824 and adopted a new one.
B) outlawed the importation of slaves into Texas.
C) issued a decree banning future Anglo settlement east of the Sabine River.
D) expanded the powers of the Mexican Congress and local governments.
E) detained Anglo settlers who entered Texas illegally.

Question 15

What was one reason cited by the text for the conflict between Mexico and Texas in 1836?

A) Mexico failed to protect Texas from incursions by the United States army.
B) Mexico had imposed the institution of slavery.
C) Texas supported the deposed President Santa Anna.
D) A new Mexican constitution established a unitary system of government.
E) New settlers arrived from southern Europe, invited by the Mexican government.

Question 16

A constitution does NOT

A) define the principles of a society.
B) outline specific institutions the people will use.
C) set limits on what each group can and cannot do.
D) define who can hold private office.
E) grant authority to specific institutions.

Question 17

What best describes the conflict between Mexico and the newly formed Republic of Texas in 1836?

A) The forces of the Republic of Texas only secured victory through American assistance.
B) It was a short conflict with relatively light casualties.
C) In a brief conflict, the Republic of Texas lost not a single battle to Mexico.
D) It was a long drawn out conflict lasting 2 years and inflicting thousands of casualties.
E) It took place over several years with intermittent fighting with light casualties.

Question 18

School history texts, the celebration of key events and the development of a mythology of the independence period keep Texas's alive.

A) traditional culture
B) religious attitudes
C) hierarchical structure
D) educational system
E) historical uniqueness

Question 19

Elements of _________ can still be found in Texas in the twenty-first century in the form of property rights, water rights and community property.

A) the Mexican legal system
B) Confederate law
C) the legal system of the Republic of Texas
D) Native American customs
E) Spanish imperial law

Question 20

A constitution reflects the way society structures conflict through its

A) institutional arrangements.
B) comparative perspective.
C) important rituals.
D) consensus agreements.
E) parliamentary procedures.

Question 21

The current Texas Constitution is ridiculed by scholars as being

A) burdened by excessive detail and obsolete and contradictory provisions.
B) too hard to amend, consequently it is outdated in most aspects.
C) too vague in outlining the separation of powers which exists in Texas.
D) overly protective of the legislature at the expense of the judiciary branch.
E) pompous and pretentious and overstating the importance of Texas within America.

Question 22

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

A) the creation of a bicameral legislature.
B) the legalization of slavery.
C) the establishment of a plural executive.
D) the citizenry to be allowed to rejoin with Mexico through referendum if sought.
E) women's suffrage.

Question 23

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

A) congress with a total of 254 members.
B) legislature with a combined membership of 151.
C) bicameral legislature composed of 181 members.
D) unicameral legislature with 140 members.
E) unicameral legislature with 50 members.

Question 24

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

A) transformed Texas's constitutional tradition into one of hostility and suspicion towards government.
B) saw the rise of a Mexican secession movement in the Southern and Western regions of the state.
C) saw widespread arrests of suspected neo-Confederates and the institution of street executions.
D) saw the citizens of Texas treated far harsher than those in any other former Confederate state.
E) was full of revolts against the national government as Texans grew critical of Washington D.C.

Question 25

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

A) a state government with power shared between civilians and the military.
B) a long, drawn out process whereby southern states had to meet multiple demands to reintegrate.
C) a rapid return to civilian governments for Southern states and their quick reintegration into America.
D) a quick reintegration of Southern states into the Union but lacking equality in many ways.
E) a state government with weak powers and dominated by the national government.

Question 26

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

A) initially full time in work but part time in pay.
B) easily influenced by special interest groups.
C) very slow to respond to changes in modern Texas.
D) much more powerful than anticipated.
E) so bogged down by procedure that legislation rarely passed.

Question 27

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

A) the Constitution of 1836
B) the Constitution of 1845
C) the Constitution of 1861
D) the Constitution of 1866
E) the Constitution of 1869

Question 28

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

A) put a short leash on the courts.
B) replace centralization with more local control.
C) empower the governor.
D) place strict limits on taxation.
E) limit the power of the legislature.

Question 29

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

A) forbid the freeing of slaves.
B) require pledged support to the Confederacy.
C) allow clergy to run for and hold office.
D) establish Jim Crow laws protecting slavery.
E) adhere to a confederation governmental system.

Question 30

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

A) Radical Democrats.
B) Radical Republicans.
C) Liberal Democrats.
D) Moderate Republicans.
E) Conservative Republicans.

Question 31

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

A) 1996.
B) 1982.
C) 1974.
D) 1971.
E) 2000.

Question 32

The Constitution of 1876 established the ________ branches of government.

A) judicial, executive, and bureaucratic
B) bureaucratic, executive, judicial, and legislative
C) executive, and judicial
D) judicial, executive, and legislative
E) judicial, legislative, and bureaucratic

Question 33

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.

A) 181, 35
B) 254, 10
C) 365, 44
D) 474, 27
E) 526, 51

Question 34

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

A) He refused to exercise leadership and provided little input to the convention.
B) To the surprise of many he supported proposals to limit the power of the governor.
C) He provided strong leadership though his efforts were derailed by opponents in the legislature.
D) Due to medical illness, Briscoe played a minimal role though was supportive of efforts at reform.
E) Briscoe was opposed to reform and threatened to veto any attempt to amend the constitution.

Question 35

The Constitution of 1876 was approved by

A) a close majority.
B) approximately two-thirds of the voters.
C) the white establishment.
D) everyone except members of the Grange.
E) most minority voters.

Question 36

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

A) heartened by the previous administration, gave the governor more powers.
B) disgusted by the Reconstruction government, set up a confederate government.
C) encouraged by Governor Edmund Davis, kept many of his policies.
D) pleased by Reconstruction changes, added more rights for African Americans.
E) suspicious of government, limited its power and fragmented its institutions.

Question 37

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

A) That the powers of the banks would be restricted by constitutional provisions.
B) Railroad companies would be free to conduct their business in any way.
C) That the legislature would have unlimited powers to raise taxes if necessary.
D) Corporations would be bound to more lenient rules than other businesses.
E) That agricultural activities would be highly restricted by the state government.

Question 38

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

A) limited government and separation of powers.
B) checks and balances and separation of powers.
C) separation of powers and unlimited government.
D) checks and balances and unlimited powers.
E) limited government and checks and balances.

Question 39

The Reconstruction Acts required a Texas Constitution that would

A) establish a plural executive.
B) provide for biannual sessions of a bicameral legislature.
C) grant African Americans the right to vote.
D) force former slave owners to cede land to African Americans.
E) allow for popular election of judges.

Question 40

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

A) only one, the Texas Supreme Court.
B) two, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court.
C) two, the Texas Court of Civil Appeals and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
D) three, numbered according to the district they service.
E) none, the last court of appeals is the U.S. Supreme Court.

Question 41

Governor Davis adhered to the policies of Reconstruction espoused by Abraham Lincoln and Andrew
Johnson.

Question 42

The Constitution of 1845, which allowed Texas annexation to the United States, was so unpopular that all of its provisions were scrapped in successive constitutions.

Question 43

The Texas Constitution requires a(an) public school system.

A) efficient
B) low-cost
C) effective
D) academically rigorous
E) self-sustaining

Question 44

Texas has had seven constitutions, and understanding that legacy is critical to understanding contemporary Texas politics and public policy.

Question 45

It is difficult to make wholesale changes to the Texas Constitution because

A) few groups and interests benefit from the existing constitution.
B) Texas citizens value its wording and language too much.
C) Texas has a long history of support of state and local government.
D) the legislature is hesitant to propose amendments to the constitution.
E) in the vernacular of the lay person, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Question 46

After the disastrous defeat at the Alamo, the Texas army, under the command of Sam Houston, fought for a year to defeat Santa Anna's army.

Question 47

According to the text, in the area concerning constitutional revision,

A) most people are attentive to details.
B) few people are attentive to details.
C) it is easy for the average person to understand.
D) citizens are very involved in constitutional debate.
E) some people pay close attention to details.

Question 48

Santa Anna upheld the national constitution of 1824.

Question 49

A constitution reflects the way a society structures conflict with other states.

Question 50

The actions in the late 1860s transformed the constitutional tradition of Texas into one of resentment and distrust toward government.

Question 51

Only four of the delegates who produced the current Texas constitution were native Texans.

Question 52

A small group of legislators who did not want a new constitution in the 1970s and attempted to delay or obstruct the convention's work were labeled by Convention President Daniel as .

A) killer bees
B) slugs
C) worms
D) cockroaches
E) fire ants

Question 53

The current Texas constitution is an awkward, limiting document.

Question 54

When only constitutional amendments are on the ballot, less than percent of registered voters turn out to vote.

A) 10
B) 25
C) 30
D) 45
E) 50

Question 55

The right-to-work law

A) guarantees each Texan the right to work at a living wage.
B) provides Texans the right to work on the county payroll.
C) prohibits union membership as a condition of employment.
D) demonstrates the power of unions over the power of business.
E) was encouraged by the unions because it guarantees employment.

Question 56

What doomed the Constitutional revision effort in 1975?

A) During the general election, Texans rejected all the constitutional provisions presented to them.
B) The legislature refused Governor Briscoe's calls to meet for a special session.
C) The Texas Supreme Court ruled that four out of the eight new provisions were unconstitutional.
D) Governor Briscoe after approving the effort, vetoed the provisions brought to him by the legislature.
E) A group of legislators backed by special interest groups refused to take part in the process.

Question 57

All but one of the Texas Constitutions were written in a distinct historical setting.

Question 58

The constitutional convention called to fix our current document was composed of

A) 181 specially elected citizens.
B) 254 experts on Texas government.
C) 181 members of the legislature.
D) 59 citizens chosen by the legislature.
E) 231 members of the legislature.

Question 59

When Texas seceded from the Union in 1861, the state constitution was not revised.

Question 60

Which of the following did NOT characterize politics during the time of the framing of the Texas
Constitution of 1876?

A) There were low levels of class and economic conflict.
B) This period saw the emergence of the Greenback Party.
C) This period saw the emergence of the Populist political parties.
D) Politics were eventually dominated by moneyed business interests.
E) Political wrath was directed at railroads and banks.

Question 61

Briefly explain why the constitutional convention of 1974 failed and discuss the prospects for future change.Should the people or the courts have a say in changing the constitution?

Question 62

Many experts believe that the Texas Constitution of 1876 excessively fragments government authority and responsibility, particularly in the legislative branch.

Question 63

List the seven constitutions under which Texas has been governed.Describe the strengths and weaknesses of each.Which do you believe to have provided the governor with the most power? Defend your answer.

Question 64

Explain why the administration of Governor E.J.Davis was so unpopular.

Question 65

Governor Dolph Briscoe suggested that the existing constitution had served the state well and would continue to be adequate for the future.

Question 66

The state has been forced to amend its current constitution on a piecemeal basis.

Question 67

Whenever a particularly contentious or politically dangerous issue has to be dealt with, the Texas Legislature has often avoided making a decision by putting the issue before the public in an amendment.

Question 68

Describe and explain the primary weaknesses or criticisms of the Constitution of 1876.

Question 69

The constitutional convention of 1974 was incited by a group of first-term legislators in 1971.

Question 70

Paradoxically, the Texas Constitution of 1876 has been accused of serving the interests of a small number of elites, even though the original framers sought to regulate the power of railroads, banks and other wealthy institutions.

Question 71

In what ways did the Constitution of 1835 resemble the U.S.Constitution?

Question 72

How are the governor's powers restricted under the Texas Constitution of 1876? What led the framers of this constitution to take such steps to limit the executive?

Question 73

The dedication of large amounts of revenue to specific purposes in the current constitution has made it increasingly difficult for lawmakers to address changing state needs.

Question 74

Explain the impact interest groups have had on amending the current Texas Constitution.Has their role been negative?

Question 75

The Texas Constitution has an amendment which makes coffee beans and cocoa imported through the
Port of Houston exempt from property taxes.

Question 76

What are the functions of a constitution and, ideally, what should a constitution contain? In your answer, compare the current constitution of Texas to the U.S.Constitution.

Question 77

What was Proposition 12? Explain why it was significant.

Question 78

What explains for the large number of constitutional amendments to the current Texas Constitution? How does Texas differ from other states in this regard?

Question 79

By 2011, Texas had adopted 474 amendments to its current constitution.