GOVT 2306 - Final Exam Review

The "State's Rights" amendment?

10th

Texas has operated under how many constitutions?

7

In order to limit the power of Texas state government, the Constitution of 1876 contained which of these provisions?

?

Under which type of federalism does the partisan identity of state officials impact the extent to which they cooperate with national policies?

?

Which of the following was included in the Texas State Constitution of 1845?

?

Why did Texas need to create a new constitution in 1861?

After Texas joined the Confederacy in February 1861, a new constitution was needed since Texas was no longer part of the United States.

Which of the following scenarios would fit James Madison's definition of tyranny?

All governmental power is consolidated and concentrated in the legislative branch of government

Which of these is a defining characteristic of federalism?

Rather than being held exclusively or primarily by one body, governing authority is divided at different levels between several bodies.

Which of the following fundamental ideals is a key component of both the Texas and United States constitutions?

The best way to prevent tyranny is to give each branch of government a little bit of control over the other branches through the process of checks and balances.

How did the Constitution of 1869 expand the powers of the governor?

The governor was given the power to appoint judges.

What does the term "limited government" mean?

The powers of a government are defined and limited by a constitution.

Why is dual federalism compared to a layer cake?

The powers of the different levels of government are separate and distinct.

How is the Texas bill of rights different from the U.S. Bill of Rights?

These are rights contained in the Texas Bill of Rights that go beyond the protections granted in the US Bill of Rights

Who made up the Grange, and what effect did they have on the writing of the Texas Constitution of 1876?

They were an agricultural group who wanted a government that would improve the plight of farmers.

Prior to 2013, the pre clearance requirement of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act require that

any change to voting procedures in a state covered by the Voting Rights Act must be approved by a federal court

any powers not delegated to the national govt by const,

belong to the states

Governors and state officials tend to favor which type of federal funding, since it provides flexibility in terms of how the funds can be used?

block grants

The individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act requires all individuals to

buy health insurance.

As federal regulations became more intrusive, forcing states to change their policies in order to meet national goals, some people began calling our system of government one engaging in ________ federalism.

coercive

The framers of the Constitution of 1876 created a rigid and highly detailed document that would protect agrarian interests. This is shown through which of the following?

Restrictions on institutions that were seen as potentially harmful to farmers, such as railroads and banks

In the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump Administration appeared to argue which of the following:

Since safety and public health fall under the states' "police powers" within the 10th Amendment, and since each state may be facing different circumstances, each state should develop its own response.

The idea of "separate but equal" was used by states to do what?

States could segregate people based on race, as long as equal facilities were provided.

What is federalism under the New Deal best characterized as?

cooperative federalism

As of 2023, Texas must obtain preclearance from the federal government to change any aspect of its electoral systems.

false

Checks and balances are not a part of the state government created by the Texas Constitution of 1845.

false

Checks and balances are not part of the state government created by the Texas Constitution of 1845.

false

New Federalism allowed federal funding to states solely through categorical grants.

false

Since the first constitution in 1836, Supreme Court judges in Texas have always been elected.

false

States maintained their right to secede from the United States into the early twentieth century.

false

The "Civil War Amendments" settled the question of whether or not secession of states from the United States is permissible in the future.

false

The State of Texas has had three constitutions in the course of its history.

false

The Texas Constitution of 1876 created a plural executive, consisting of multiple elected executive officers.

false

The Thirteenth Amendment guaranteed that no state can deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law

false

The U.S. Supreme Court in Texas v. White et al. (1869) ruled that Texas did secede from the union.

false

The current Texas Constitution has been amended fewer than 250 times.

false

Under dual federalism, the national and state governments regularly cooperate and share responsibilities.

false

Under the Reconstruction Constitution of 1869, Texas had a unicameral legislature

false

Under the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the federal government is the only level of government that can regulate elections.

false

Under the public policy exception, states can decide that they don't want to fully implement federal laws that conflict with state laws.

false

Unfunded mandates are used by the states to force the federal government to implement the policy goals of the states.

false

A system of government in which power is divided between a central government and regional governments is known as

federalism

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Biden Administration two days after President Biden's inauguration. What was the issue area of the lawsuit?

healthcare

keep and bear arms at the state level

incorporation of the Bill of Rights

Texas is among several states that have decided to take what action in response to the Affordable Care Act?

refuse to expand access to Medicaid

According to Article 4 of the Texas Constitution, each of the following members of the plural executive are elected to their position except for the ________________, who is appointed by the governor and approved by the Texas Senate.

secretary of state

With categorical grants,

states are given money from the federal government to spend on specific issues or to solve specific problems that are determined by the federal government.

Which of the following is a consequence of fractious federalism?

states are required to change their policies to conform with national goals

What stalled Texas's admission into the United States?

that Texas would be a proslavery state

Which amendments to the U.S. Constitution are collectively known as the "Civil War Amendments"?

the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments

The motivation to rewrite the Texas Constitution in the 1970s primarily came from

the aftermath of a financial scandal

It was difficult for the national government of the United States to act under the Articles of Confederation because of all the following EXCEPT,

the executive officer (President) was selected by direct election by the people.

When a government is described as "sovereign," it means that

the government has ultimate political authority within a defined geographic area. (?)

When drafting the Texas Constitution of 1876, the framers wanted to create a government based on which of the following principles?

the necessity of strong limitations on the power of state government

The US Constitution created a system of government where both federal and state governments are sovereign. This means that both the federal and state government

the people, through their constitutions

State constitutions are designed to perform which of the following functions?

to set up local governments

"Police power" gives the state government the ability to regulate public health and safety.

true

Amendments to the Texas Constitution can address technical issues faced by state agencies and local governments.

true

Between 2001 and 2010, the majority of amendments to the Texas Constitution have been approved by voters.

true

Cooperative federalism is also known as marble-cake federalism.

true

Local governments are the creation of the states.

true

Many of the political conflicts in the United States have been fought over the proper roles of states versus the national government.

true

Preemption is a tool that prevents states from taking certain actions that are reserved for the national government.

true

Since 2010, Republicans in Congress tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) over 70 times.

true

State retirement systems are addressed in Article 16 of Texas Constitution

true

The Constitution of 1866 was written in the aftermath of Texas rejoining the United States after the Civil War, and following the guidelines of Johnson's Presidential Reconstruction.

true

The Fifteenth Amendment of the US Constitution protects the rights of citizens to vote regardless of race or color.

true

The Nullification crisis of 1833 was caused by South Carolina's attempt to ignore provisions if legislation passed by congress

true

The Texas Constitution creates two top appellate courts: one for civil cases and one for criminal cases.

true

The Texas Constitution explicitly discusses the role of the state in providing education at all levels, including colleges and universities.

true

The Texas Constitution of 1869 was written by members of the Radical Republicans, including ten elected African Americans.

true

The most recent attempt to fully rewrite the Texas Constitution was in 1974.

true

There are rights guaranteed to Texans in Article 1 of the Texas Constitution that go far beyond those guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.

true

Under dual sovereignty both the federal and state governments can enforce their own laws.

true

Unfunded mandates requiring states to meet federal guidelines without financial support are associated with coercive federalism.

true

The Texas Constitution required which of the following for amending the state constitution?

two-thirds vote in both houses of the state legislature and a majority vote from the voters of Texas

Which of the following requires state governments to spend their own money to meet standards imposed on them by the federal government?

unfunded mandates

Which program was designed for undocumented individuals who have lived in the United States since 2010, and have children who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, in order to help them avoid immediate removal from the United States?

Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA)

In which 1989 court case did the Texas Supreme Court unanimously declare that the huge disparities between rich and under resourced school districts were unacceptable and order changes in the financing of Texas's public schools?

Edgewood v. Kirby

The Texas Constitution of 1876 was designed to expand the power of government, particularly the power of the governor and lieutenant governor.

False

The Thirteenth Amendment guarantees that no state can deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

False

Which of the following is an important element of federalism?

Government is divided into a central government and a group of regional governments that both have direct authority over people living within their borders.

Dual sovereignty allows both the federal and state governments to do which of the following?

It permits both the federal and state governments to pass and enforce their own laws even if they overlap.

Which president championed New Federalism, that is, the use of block grants, allowing states considerable leeway in how federal money is spent?

Nixon

Both the US and Texas Constitutions have detailed instructions that outline how they can be amended.

True

If someone has a medical permit that allows them to possess and consume marijuana in one state, why can it still be illegal for that person to possess and consume marijuana in Texas?

Under the public policy exception, states do not have to give "full faith and credit" to actions by another state if those actions are viewed as being against the policy goals of the state.

According to Section 33 of the Texas Bill of Rights (Article 1 of the Texas Constitution), Texans are guaranteed the right to use and access public beaches. This is not a right that is protected under the U.S. Constitution. Which concept allows Texas to grant its citizens more rights than those listed in the U.S. Constitution?

independent state grounds

which of these statements best describes the state const?

long and complex

Article 4 of the Texas Constitution created what type of "Executive Department"?

plural executive, where power is dividing among different independent elected officials

compromise of 1850

present boundaries of texas were established in exchange for a payment form the fed govt

What is the era of U.S. history after the Civil War, when much of the former Confederacy was under military occupation, best known as?

reconstruction