The Texas Legislature Full Test Bank Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The Texas Legislature

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. What percentage of the Texas Senate is usually elected during a presidential election year?

a. 25 percent

b. 33 percent

c. 50 percent

d. 100 percent

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: The Structure and Size of the Texas Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. What percentage of the Texas House of Representatives is elected during a presidential election year?

a. 25 percent

b. 33 percent

c. 50 percent

d. 100 percent

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: The Structure and Size of the Texas Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. As of the 2010 census, there were about 811,147 constituents per state senate district in Texas. What is the only state that had more constituents per senator?

a. Massachusetts

b. New York

c. Florida

d. California

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: The Structure and Size of the Texas Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. In what way are Texas, Montana, Nevada, and North Dakota similar?

a. They are all in the central time zone.

b. All four voted for Mitt Romney in the 2012 election.

c. All have unlimited speed limits on certain controlled-access highways.

d. The legislature of each state only meets every other year.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: General Characteristics of the Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The size of legislatures raise issues, as smaller legislatures may be ____________, while larger legislatures may be __________.
   1. Inefficient; dominated by a few members
   2. Dominated by a few members; more representative
   3. More efficient; more representative
   4. Dominated by a few members; less representative

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: General Characteristics of the Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. How long is the Texas legislative session?

a. 140 days

b. 6 months

c. one year

d. two years

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: General Characteristics of the Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. What is the annual limit on special legislative sessions in the state of Texas?

a. 2

b. 5

c. 9

d. None of these answers is correct.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: General Characteristics of the Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. All of the following arguments for annual sessions EXCEPT:
   1. Annual sessions raise the legislature’s profile and check executive power
   2. Annual sessions allow for more continuous oversight
   3. Annual sessions afford legislators more time to study proposed legislation
   4. Annual sessions allow for more rapid responses

Critical Thinking: Analysis

Difficulty: 3

Text Answer Hint: General Characteristics of the Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. What is the pay of a member of the Texas legislature, taking into account salary and per diem compensation, in a year that the legislature is in session?

a. nothing

b. $28,200

c. $55,800

d. $74,100

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: General Characteristics of the Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which state does not pay its legislators a salary except for a per diem expense based on federal policy?

a. New Hampshire

b. New Mexico

c. Texas

d. Oklahoma

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: General Characteristics of the Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

Table 3.2 – Legislative Salaries in the 10 Most Populous States

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures. See http://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/2014-ncsl-legislator-salary-and-per-diem-table.aspx.

1. Based on Table 3.2, how does a Texas legislator’s salary compare to other populous states?
   1. Texas legislators are paid about the same as other populous states
   2. Texas legislators are paid much more than other populous states
   3. Texas legislators are paid much less than other populous states
   4. Texas legislators are paid more than any other state

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: General Characteristics of the Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

Table 3.2 – Legislative Salaries in the 10 Most Populous States

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures. See http://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/2014-ncsl-legislator-salary-and-per-diem-table.aspx.

1. Based on Table 3.2, what can be said about legislators in populous southern states (like Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina) compared to legislators in other populous states?
   1. Populous southern state legislators earn more than other populous states
   2. Populous southern state legislators earn about the same as other populous states
   3. Populous non-southern state legislators earn less than legislators in populous southern states
   4. Populous southern state legislators earn less than legislators in populous non-southern states

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: General Characteristics of the Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. How does Texas compare to other states in terms of the number of permanent and session-only staff supporting legislators?
   1. Texas has fewer staff than most states
   2. Texas has more staff than most states
   3. Texas has about the same number of staff as other states
   4. Texas has the most staff of any state

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: General Characteristics of the Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. To be eligible to run for the Texas House you must

a. be a registered voter.

b. be at least 21 years of age.

c. have resided in the district for two years.

d. have resided in the state for three years.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications for Legislators and Member Demographics

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. To be eligible to run for the Texas Senate you must

a. meet a minimum income qualification.

b. be at least 26 years of age.

c. have resided in the district for at least two years.

d. have resided in the state for at least three years.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications for Legislators and Member Demographics

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. In 2014 the percentage of women in the Texas legislature was about __ percent.

a. 14

b. 22

c. 37

d. 47

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications for Legislators and Member Demographics

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. About one third of the Texas legislature is composed of

a. women.

b. blue collar workers.

c. Hispanics.

d. lawyers.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications for Legislators and Member Demographics

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Given the demographic makeup of the Texas legislature, which of the following people would be most likely to hold a seat?
   1. A 28-year old
   2. An Asian American
   3. A schoolteacher
   4. A lawyer

Critical Thinking: Analysis

Difficulty: 3

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications for Legislators and Member Demographics

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

Map 3.1 – Percentage of Women Legislators by State

SOURCE: Adapted from Center for American Women and Politics, Women in State Legislatures 2016. http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/women-state-legislature-2016.

1. According to Map 3.1, in which region of the country can legislatures with the highest proportion of women be found?
   1. The Northwest
   2. The Northeast
   3. The South
   4. The Midwest

Critical Thinking: Analysis

Difficulty: 3

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications for Legislators and Member Demographics

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

Map 3.1 – Percentage of Women Legislators by State

SOURCE: Adapted from Center for American Women and Politics, Women in State Legislatures 2016. http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/women-state-legislature-2016.

1. According to Map 3.1, which of the states below has the lowest proportion of women in its legislature?
   1. Texas
   2. Tennessee
   3. Kansas
   4. North Carolina

Critical Thinking: Analysis

Difficulty: 3

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications for Legislators and Member Demographics

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Why was the Legislative Redistricting Board’s multimember plan invalidated by a federal court in 1971?

a. the “Matthew syndrome”

b. dilution of the impact of rural voters

c. findings in Lawrence v. Texas

d. possible unfairness to minority voters

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Single-Member District Method of Election

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Multimember districts promote majority representation or domination, and single-member districts can promote ________ representation.

a. democratic

b. geographical

c. republican

d. equal

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Single-Member District Method of Election

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. How often does reapportionment and redistricting of seats occur in the House of Representatives?
   1. Every 2 years
   2. Every 4 years
   3. Every 8 years
   4. Every 10 years

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Single-Member District Method of Election

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which of the following statements about reapportionment is NOT accurate?
   1. It is based on the federal census.
   2. It may cause a state to gain or lose congressional representatives.
   3. It redraws the congressional district boundaries within the state.
   4. It occurs every 10 years

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Single-Member District Method of Election

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The practice of redrawing electoral boundaries for political advantage is known as
   1. Redistricting
   2. Gerrymandering
   3. Reallocation
   4. Reapportionment

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Single-Member District Method of Election

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Redistricting is

a. the process of redrawing district boundaries.

b. the process of allocating U.S. senators to districts.

c. carefully controlled by a commission of the United States Congress.

d. drawing district boundary lines for political advantage.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. In the case Evenwel v. Abbott (2016), the plaintiffs argued that legislative districts should be drawn based on
   1. Total population
   2. Registered voters
   3. Elgible voters
   4. Voter turnout

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Based on efforts to increase minority representation in Texas, how many Hispanic legislators served in the Texas legislature in 2015?
   1. 49
   2. 41
   3. 37
   4. 17

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. In the early twentieth century ________ areas were generally overrepresented in many state legislatures.

a. urban

b. minority

c. rural

d. wealthy

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. As a result of federal court rulings:
   1. Each county can only have a maximum seven seats in the Texas House
   2. Seats in both chambers of the Texas legislature is based on population
   3. Each county gets one seat in the Texas Senate and seats in the Texas House are based on population
   4. Seats in both chambers must be assigned by geographic unit rather than population

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Fundamentally, the Supreme Court decisions in Baker v. Carr and Reynolds v. Sims were based on the principle of

a. equal rights for minorities.

b. “he who has the gold makes the rules.”

c. states’ rights.

d. one person, one vote.

Critical Thinking: Analysis

Difficulty: 3

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The drawing of legislative districts to favor one political party over another is termed

a. redistricting.

b. reallocation of seats.

c. political gerrymandering.

d. reapportionment.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. As a result of Hunt v. Cromartie (1999), political gerrymandering
   1. was declared unconstitutional.
   2. drawing “safe” districts for both political parties was permissible.
   3. was outlawed in several states.
   4. became less likely.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. When drawing legislative districts:
   1. Race can be used so long as it is not the predominate factor
   2. Race can never be used
   3. Race can be used so long as it does not create majority-minority districts
   4. Race can be used to justify violating “one person, one vote”

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Why did 11 Texas senators go to Albuquerque, New Mexico on July 28, 2003?

a. They were attended an important conference on redistricting issues.

b. They were ordered to do so by Governor Rick Perry.

c. They feared being forced to participate in a special session.

d. They were plotting a strategy for a Democratic takeover of the Senate.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Because of high levels of controversy surrounding redistricting, about a dozen states use this method of redistricting:

a. independent commissions.

b. state boards appointed by the governor.

c. committees composed of equal numbers of Senate Democrats and Republicans.

d. having citizens vote among competing redistricting plans.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which of the following groups benefits the most from gerrymandering?
   1. Democrats
   2. Hispanics
   3. Females
   4. Incumbents

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Why did the state of Texas draw new district lines in 2003?
   1. Because the Democrats won control of the legislature
   2. Because the Republicans won control of the legislature
   3. Because the 2001 map was ruled unconstitutional
   4. Because of reapportionment that occurred in 2002

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. In its 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision about voting rights, the Supreme Court
   1. found unconstitutional a portion of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
   2. found unconstitutional the entirety of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
   3. ordered the Justice Department to send more voting monitors to several southern states.
   4. determined that no citizen shall be required to produce identification in order to vote.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Most campaign contributions for Texas legislature races come from

a. super PACs.

b. contributors who live outside the district.

c. the candidates’ political party.

d. federal matching funds.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Getting Elected

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Each election year, around ________ of the Texas House races face no opposition in the general election.

a. a quarter

b. one-third

c. half

d. two-thirds

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Getting Elected

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. About __ % of Texas House seats are considered competitive.

a. 9

b. 19

c. 29

d. 39

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Getting Elected

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

Table 3.6 – Competitive and Noncompetitive Seats in the Texas House and Senate, 2016 Election

1. According to Table 3.6, does the Texas House or Senate have a greater proportion of Safe Republican seats?
   1. Senate
   2. House
   3. They both have an equal proportion of Safe Republican seats
   4. Cannot be determined

Critical Thinking: Analysis

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Getting Elected

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

Table 3.6 – Competitive and Noncompetitive Seats in the Texas House and Senate, 2016 Election

1. According to Table 3.6, which chamber is less competitive overall?
   1. Senate
   2. House
   3. Both are equally competitive
   4. Cannot be determined

Critical Thinking: Analysis

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Getting Elected

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. High turnover rates in the Texas legislature are due primarily to

a. term limits.

b. voluntary retirement.

c. electoral defeat.

d. involvement in scandals.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Getting Elected

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. What is the first formal act of the Texas House at the beginning of a legislative session?

a. calling in the governor to give a speech

b. ratifying the results of the most recent election

c. designating a sergeant at arms

d. electing a speaker of the house

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Leadership Positions in the Texas Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which of the following is NOT among the powers of the speaker of the house in the Texas House of Representatives?

a. committee chair appointment

b. bill referral to committees

c. appoints members to calendar committee

d. appoints all members of standing committees

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Leadership Positions in the Texas Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The lieutenant governor is not formally a senator and cannot vote except in cases of a tie, yet he or she has great power over the senate. Why?

a. the bully pulpit and the ear of the governor

b. senatorial tradition

c. powers similar to those of the speaker of the house

d. a popular sovereignty mandate

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Leadership Positions in the Texas Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The Lieutenant Governor:
   1. Controls the agenda of the Texas House
   2. Does not have to be from the same party that controls the Texas Senate
   3. Votes on all matters before the Texas House and Senate
   4. Is largely just a figurehead

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Leadership Positions in the Texas Legislature

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Assume both the Texas House and Senate have passed omnibus transportation bills. The bills are almost identical, with slight differences. How will these differences be reconciled prior to the bill being sent to the governor for consideration?

a. by a special committee that is chaired by the speaker and vice-chaired by the lieutenant governor

b. in conference committee

c. the governor’s staff will reconcile any differences

d. in the standing committees that have jurisdiction

Critical Thinking: Application

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Committees in the House and Senate

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which type of legislative committee is most important?

a. standing

b. conference

c. interim

d. special

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Committees in the House and Senate

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Who submits a recommended budget to the Texas legislature?

a. a standing committee in the senate

b. the Legislative Budget Board

c. a standing committee in the house

d. the governor’s office of budget and management

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Functions

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The House Insurance Committee is hearing testimony from the Texas Department of Insurance about the effectiveness of recent procedural changes within the department. Which legislative function is this committee demonstrating?

a. lawmaking

b. budget and taxation

c. oversight

d. management

Critical Thinking: Application

Difficulty: 3

Text Answer Hint: Functions

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The main function of the Sunset Advisory Commission is to:
   1. Recommend a budget to the state legislature
   2. Oversee state agencies
   3. Set the legislative calendar
   4. Redraw legislative districts

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Functions

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

1. After the sixtieth day, before a bill can be considered on the floor of the senate, a two-thirds vote is almost always required. Why?

a. two-thirds super majority is always required in the senate

b. quorum requirements of the Texas Constitution

c. senate rules about the order bills come out of committee

d. None of these answers is correct.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Procedures

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

1. The House and Senate can override a governor’s veto with a _________ vote.

a. majority

b. three-fifths

c. two-thirds

d. four-fifths

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Procedures

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

1. Closed riders are amendments to an appropriations bill that are

a. closed to further changes except from the standing committee that originally authored the bill.

b. shielded from public inspection until they go to conference committee.

c. proposed in a closed committee for state security reasons.

d. those amendments proposed in a special session.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Procedures

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

1. Which of the following is the most likely reason a legislator would attach a closed rider to a bill?
   1. The legislator wants to kill a bill early in the session
   2. The legislator wants to draw media attention
   3. The legislator wants to avoid public scrutiny
   4. The legislator wants to require a three-fifths vote for approval

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Procedures

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

1. What are the two different calendars for minor bills in the Texas State House?

a. local and consent

b. consent and priority

c. priority and routine

d. routine and extraordinary

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Legislative Professionalism versus Citizen Legislatures: Where Does Texas Stand?

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

1. The major criteria for distinguishing major from minor bills is:
   1. The cost costs associated with the bill
   2. The importance the Lieutenant Governor places on the bill
   3. The level of conflict the bill is expected to generate within the legislature
   4. The chamber in which the bill originates

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Legislative Professionalism versus Citizen Legislatures: Where Does Texas Stand?

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

1. In any given legislative session, most bills

a. pass committee muster but are voted down after floor debate.

b. make only minor changes to existing law.

c. die in conference committee.

d. clear every hurtle, but are vetoed by the governor.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Procedures

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

1. In an average legislative session in the Texas legislature, about __ percent of all bills introduced will actually be passed into law.

a. 2

b. 11

c. 24

d. 41

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Procedures

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

1. Which of the following describes how major and minor bills submitted in the Texas legislature are similar?

a. They are equally distributed among the standing committees.

b. They are equally likely to pass the legislature.

c. They are equally likely to have companion bills submitted in the other chamber.

d. They receive final action toward the end of the legislative session.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Legislative Professionalism versus Citizen Legislatures: Where Does Texas Stand?

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

1. A state senator that usually considers all the options and then chooses the one he or she believes is the best is demonstrating the ________ representational role.

a. traditional

b. delegate

c. moral

d. trustee

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Legislative Roles

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

1. A voter who wants his representative to make decisions based solely on the will of the people desires which type of representative?
   1. A trustee
   2. A citizen-legislator
   3. A delegate
   4. A professional legislator

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Legislative Roles

Topic: The Texas Legislature

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

ESSAY

1. Define bicameral and biennial. Discuss the arguments for and against biennial sessions.
2. How well are Texas legislators compensated? What are the potential problems around this level of compensation?
3. What are the formal qualifications for a Texas House member? What are the formal qualifications for a Texas Senate member? What are the typical characteristics of people elected to the Texas legislature?
4. Examine the advantages and disadvantages of single-member and multimember districts for majority and minority voters.
5. Discuss why equity of representation is a recurring concern in Texas. What actions have been taken to address these concerns?
6. What factors explain why most Texas House and Senate seats are what political scientists call noncompetitive?
7. What are the two key leadership positions in the Texas legislature, and what are the key powers of each position?
8. Discuss why in the Texas legislature most legislation is passed in the final two weeks of the session.
9. What are the informal rules of the Texas legislature?
10. What are the delegate and trustee representational roles? Do you think a representative should be primarily one or the other? Why?
11. To what extent has partisanship played an increased role in Texas politics in recent years? What explains this increased partisanship?