Chapter 2 Inquisitive

Examine the table below and answer the following question. Which statement(s) regarding the number of amendments to the Texas Constitution over time is/are correct?

attempts to amend the constitution since 2000 have largely been successful

limited power of government

biennial legislative sessions

The push to rewrite the Texas Constitution in the 1970s emerged from which of the following?

bribery scandal

The 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision on Obergefell v. Hodges ruled that marriage was a liberty guaranteed to all Americans, including same-sex couples. Texas has sought to limit the impact of the ruling by

creating policy with language that allows private organizations to refuse service based on religious beliefs

Before voters participate in a constitutional amendment election, what step must happen first?

the legislature votes to put the amendment on the ballot

Provided for possible emancipation of slaves

Constitution of 1845

applies to both the U.S. and Texas Bills of Rights

-liberty of speech and press -guarantees freedom of religious worship

unique to the Texas Bill of Rights

-specifies the right to a republican government -Bill of Rights appears as Article 1 of the Constitution -specifies provisions of public policy

The framers believed that education was so important they included Article 7 in the state constitution. Select the portion of text from Article 7 that best expresses what the framers thought was most important to protecting our system of government.

A general diffusion of knowledge

the ______ has largely been applied to place restrictions on states through the equal protection clause of the _______

Bill of rights, 14th amendment

Upheld the ban on slave tradeUpheld the ban on slave trade

Constitution of 1845 and Constitution of 1861

specified bicameral state legislature

Constitution of 1845 and Constitution of 1861

Declared allegiance to a confederacyDeclared allegiance to a confederacy

Constitution of 1861

Which amendments in the U.S. Constitution specify the relationship between the federal government and state governments?

Correct - Tenth Amendment -Fourteenth Amendment Incorrect -Seventh Amendment -Seventeenth Amendment -First Amendment

Which of the following characterized the "Radical Republicans" of the post-Civil War era?

Correct - They pushed the adoption of African American suffrage and extended the military occupation of the South. -They sought to exclude former secessionists from being able to vote or hold elected office. Incorrect -They worked to re-establish Texas's independence from the United States after the Civil War. -They supported secession from the Union but fought to abolish slavery in the Confederate states. -They opposed any attempts to expand the federal government's involvement in state politics.

Study the image, and answer the question below. Since 1983, Texans have voted to amend the state's constitution dozens of times. Turnout in these elections is always low, even when well-publicized amendments are on the ballot. For example, in 2005, 17 percent of registered voters voted on Proposition 2, which banned same-sex marriage in the state. The graphic shows that while turnout in presidential elections since 1992 has hovered between 50 and 70 percent, turnout in constitutional amendment elections is rarely above 20 percent (and most often, less than 10 percent).Which of the following statements are reasonable conclusions to draw based on the data?

Correct -Amendments dealing with social issues drive greater voter participation. -Constitutional amendments in the 2005 election had more publicity than had amendments in the 2001 election. -Presidential elections attract more interest than constitutional amendment elections. Incorrect -People do not rely on the political parties to influence their voter behavior. -Over time, more people turn out to vote each year.

Page(s) 47-482.1. Identify the main functions of state constitutions Which of the following statements about similarities between the Texas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution are true?

Correct -Both protect the rights of individual citizens. -Both provide the power for branches to limit the actions of one another. -Both give the distinct branches of government autonomous powers. -Both establish the people as the foundational source of government power. Incorrect -Both define the authority to regulate and conduct elections. -Both specifically define authority to prevent abuses of power.

Which of these have served as sources of frustration for states in their relationship with the federal government?

Correct -Fourteenth Amendment -supremacy clause -necessary and proper clause Incorrect -Tenth Amendment -Bill of Rights

What effect did the creation of decentralized boards and districts outside the authority of the governor have on the Texas government?

Correct -It created a system more susceptible to special interests. -It made it more difficult to revise and reform policies affecting government power. Incorrect -It further enhanced the one-party dominance of the state. -It made the people's voice in government stronger.

How does the plural executive, as specified in Article 4 of the Texas Constitution, influence Texas government?

Correct -It ensures that each member of the plural executive has an independent base of power. -It protects against concentration of power. -It diffuses the functions of the executive among multiple offices. Incorrect -It ensures that policies are implemented more efficiently. -It makes the governor more powerful.

What were some of the primary complaints by Texans about the Mexican government prior to declaring independence from Mexico?

Correct -Mexican policies limited immigration from the United States to Texas. -Texans felt they weren't given enough representation. -Education was often offered only in the Spanish language Incorrect -Texans were being taxed to pay for the war with France. -The Mexican government had abolished the republican form of government.

Why did Texas declare independence from Mexico in 1836?

Correct -Mexico restricted Texans' civil liberties. -The influx of American immigrants undermined Mexican control. Incorrect -Mexico was taxing Texas too much. -Mexico was weakened by a war with France.

Why is voter participation in Texas constitutional amendment elections so low?

Correct -The elections are held on off years from major general elections. -Many amendments are insignificant to voters. -There are no candidates on the ballot. Incorrect -Voters must separately register to vote in constitutional amendment elections. -Few voters can pass the poll test.

Which aspects of the Mexican Constitution differ from those of the U.S. Constitution?

Correct -a protection of religious freedom -the selection of the president Incorrect -an emphasis on federalism -the separation of powers -a national bicameral legislature

By establishing an elected chief executive rather than one appointed by the legislature, the 1836 Constitution upheld the idea of which of the following?

Correct -checks and balances -separation of powers Incorrect -popular sovereignty -bicameralism

How do both the U.S. and Texas constitutions seek to prevent tyranny?

Correct -checks and balances -separation of powers -natural self-interests Incorrect -the power of the press

Which guarantees are made by the Texas Constitution but not by the U.S. Constitution?

Correct -free and efficient public schools -victims' rights Incorrect -limited government -freedom of religion

Which constitutional provisions were included in the Constitution of 1866 to bring it into compliance with Presidential Reconstruction?

Correct -granting freedmen rights of property -repudiating the state's war debt -allowing freedmen to enter into contracts Incorrect -extending suffrage to former slaves -allowing former slaves to hold office

Which of the following concepts in the Texas Constitution of 1836 were adapted from Spanish-Mexican law?

Correct -homestead protections -community property -government retention of mineral rights Incorrect -criminal prosecution -protection of slavery

Which of the following characteristics have been central in all of Texas's constitutions since Texas joined the United States?

Correct -individual rights -division of power -strong popular control -federalism Incorrect -strong government -flexibility

Which factors gave the Tea Party high rates of success in influencing the outcomes of recent amendment elections in Texas?

Correct -low voter turnout -unity behind an issue Incorrect -strong party affiliation effective education of registered voters on the issue

For the Texas government to establish a personal income tax, what conditions would need to be met?

Correct -passage of bill by legislature, and approval by governor -revenue must be dedicated to education and tax relief -approval by registered voters Incorrect -revenue must be dedicated to environmental protection -ratification by the state supreme court

What important functions are performed by state constitutions?

Correct -specify the limits and uses of power by state institutions and individuals -divide authority within the political institutions of the state -clarify the source of a state's political power Incorrect -establish limits on the influence of the federal government over states -empower the Republican and Democratic parties within the state

Local governments, such as the City of Houston, derive their authority from which sources?

Correct -the Texas Constitution -the citizens of Texas Incorrect -American citizens -the residents of the city -the U.S. Constitution -the county commissioners' court

In the transition from Spanish law to _____ , the Texas government shifted state ownership of _______ to private ownership

English common Law, mineral rights

Rank the sovereignty of the different levels of government from most to least powerful. -state, local national

National, state, local

Which of the following is the correct definition of the term unicameral?

a legislature that has only one body

popular control of state government

election of judges and nearly all statewide officials

The U.S. Constitution specifies how powers are allocated within state-level institutions. (T/F)

false

How do the Texas and U.S. constitutions compare on the issue of impeachment?

it is easier to impeach an individual in Texas than in the national government

Relative to the U.S. Constitution, the Texas Constitution is _____ and adopts a ton of ________ governance.

longer, limited

In January 2016, Governor Greg Abbott proposed a convention of states to consider a series of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, including one to "Restore the balance of power between the federal and state governments by limiting the former to the powers expressly delegated to it in the Constitution."This proposal counters the Supreme Court's interpretation of which part of the U.S. Constitution that led to an enormous net expansion of power?

necessary and proper clause

What objective does Article 3 of the Texas Constitution accomplish?

specifies how the legislature will be arranged

economy in government

spending cap set by projection of comptroller

promote agrarian interests

strong controls over banks and railroads

While the large majority of proposed amendments are approved by voters, the ones that generally fail mostly deal with which issue?

taxation and government authority