Question 1

At one point Texas was controlled by

Accepted Answer

Texas was controlled by Mexico before it became an independent republic and later joined the United States.

Question 2

At the end of reconstruction in 1867, Congress stipulated that Texas could not be readmitted into the union unless it

Accepted Answer

Congress required Texas to write a new constitution that guaranteed universal adult male suffrage as a condition for readmission into the Union after the Civil War.

Question 3

The 1876 Texas Constitution was different from the previous constitutions because

Accepted Answer

The 1876 Texas Constitution was part of a broader movement towards restrictive constitutions in the United States, emphasizing limited government and more control by the people, in reaction to the perceived excesses of the Reconstruction era.

Question 4

The plural executive has been criticized because it

Accepted Answer

The plural executive divides the executive power among multiple elected officials, which limits the governor's ability to implement policy unilaterally.

Question 5

The constitutional requirement for 140-day biennial sessions helps explain why the Texas legislature is considered a

Accepted Answer

The Texas legislature meets for 140 days every two years, which is characteristic of a part-time, citizen legislature, where legislators often have other jobs outside of their legislative duties.

Question 6

The state court system in Texas consists primarily of judges who are

Accepted Answer

In Texas, most judges are elected by the public in partisan elections, meaning they run as candidates from political parties.

Question 7

The Constitutional Revision Commission was a group established to

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Constitutional Revision Commission was a group...

Question 8

Cockroaches and revisionists are diametrically opposed over the issue of

Accepted Answer

The issue at hand is the revisions of the Texas Constitution, which is a point of contention between cockroaches, who typically resist changes, and revisionists, who advocate for them.

Question 9

During its period of independence, Texas was referred to as

Accepted Answer

During its period of independence from 1836 to 1845, Texas was known as the Republic of Texas.

Question 10

The current Texas Constitution is best described as a

Accepted Answer

The Texas Constitution is considered a statutory constitution because it is highly detailed and specific, resembling a code of laws rather than a broad framework.

Question 11

Which historical event did NOT lead to writing a new Texas constitution?

Accepted Answer

The discovery of oil in Texas did not lead to the writing of a new Texas constitution. The other events were significant political changes that prompted new constitutions.

Question 12

In which decade did the Texas Constitution see the most Amendments?

Accepted Answer

The Texas Constitution saw the most amendments in the 1980s, with a total of 17 amendments being adopted during that decade.

Question 13

-According to the table above (see "Analyzing Visuals," page 46 of your text), turnout in Texas elections is highest in

Accepted Answer

Presidential elections typically have the highest voter turnout compared to other types of elections, including gubernatorial, special, partisan, and judicial elections.

Question 14

Students at Austin Community College protested against proposition 10 because

Accepted Answer

The students protested to draw attention to low public political awareness, not because of the other reasons listed.

Question 15

Proponents of the 2003 Defense of Marriage Act argued that

Accepted Answer

Proponents of the 2003 Defense of Marriage Act argued that it was necessary to prevent activist judges from redefining marriage, which they believed should be defined as between a man and a woman.

Question 16

Proponents of the initiative process claim that

Accepted Answer

The initiative process allows citizens to propose and vote on legislation directly, which can reduce the influence of special interest groups by bypassing the legislature where these groups often exert their power.

Question 17

The Texas Constitution has been amended

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Texas Constitution has been amended
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Question 18

A revisionist is a member of

Accepted Answer

The answer of A revisionist is a member of
...

Question 19

When Texas ceased to be an independent republic and joined the United States, there was no need for a new constitution because Texas would have to abide by the U.S. Constitution.

Accepted Answer

When Texas joined the United States in 1845, it needed a new state constitution to outline its government structure and laws as a state within the U.S., while still adhering to the U.S. Constitution.

Question 20

Current scholarship suggests that the delegates to the 1875 Constitutional Convention were well trained and possessed political experience.

Accepted Answer

The delegates to the 1875 Constitutional Convention were generally experienced politicians and lawyers, many of whom had served in previous governmental roles, which contributed to their understanding of constitutional law and governance.

Quiz 2: The Texas Constitution