GOVT Unit 4

Thomas is a Texas senator. When he supports a bill that is introduced into the Senate, he sometimes debates the bill excessively with his fellow senators for the purpose of using time and preventing floor action on another bill that he opposes. Thomas is using a tactic known as

chubbing

Why do interest groups make last-minute contributions to political campaigns?

contributions and expenditures in the last two days of a campaign need not be disclosed until the next semiannual report is due

On which of the following issues does the Legislative Black Caucus focus?

criminal justice system

A ___ government increases the opportunities for interest groups to form and influence government.

decentralized

Members of the Texas Senate have always represented single-member districts, which means that the voters of each district

elect one senator

Providing favored candidates with interest group membership information, mailing lists, and email lists that help candidates solicit money and votes is an example of

electioneering

Interim committees

exist to study a specific policy for a limited amount of time

Any Texas House member may introduce a bill by

filing electronically with the chief clerk

In addition to meeting specific state constitutional qualifications regarding citizenship, voter status and age, what other legal restriction applies for members of the Texas legislature?

he or she may not hold another government office

The Texas Medical Association was successful in lobbying the Texas legislature to

impose a cap for noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases

All bills that produce revenue must originate

in the House

According to the text, which of the following factors is necessary for an interest group to exert the maximum amount of political power?

knowledgeable and dedicated leadership

Research indicates that a strong relationship exists between the ___ in a state and the power of interest groups

larger socioeconomic conditions

According to the text, the__is perhaps the most powerful officer in the state because the powers granted to him or her by Senate rules.

lieutenant governor

The Texas Senate's president pro tempore presides when the

lieutenant governor is absent or disabled

What interest group technique is the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association utilizing when its members go to the Capitol and talk with lawmakers about preserving bikers' rights?

lobbying

In recent years, Texas has ranked second in the country, after California, in interest group money spent on

lobbying state government

Bills fall into three categories: special, general, and

local

In Texas, power groups enhance their influence by

maintaining their headquarters in Austin

Lieutenant governor

official is elected statewide as a member of the executive and legislative branches simultaneously

During a special session, the legislature may consider only those matters

placed before it by the governor

Interest groups are composed chiefly of persons from

professional and managerial occupations

Which action is NOT an option available to lobbyists who want to bring issues to the attention of legislators?

providing false or misleading information to legislators to enhance negotiating power

According to the decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court in NAACP v. Alabama (1958), which part of the U.S. Constitution supports the formation of interest groups?

right of association (first amendment)

The length of the regular legislative session is 140 days

senate and house

This chamber may be called in for a special session that lasts up to thirty days

senate and house

a candidate seeking election to either the House or the Senate must be a

texas resident

Which independent Texas research organization is accused by critics of having a liberal bias?

the Center for Public Policy Priorities

In Texas, what is the larger chamber of the bicameral legislature called?

the House of Representatives

What is the Lieutenant Governor in control of

the Intent Calendar

Which one of these is an example of an interest group that focuses on a single cause?

the NRA

All proceedings in the Texas House are controlled by

the Speaker of the House

The CRDA requires public officials and candidates to report how much they have received and who they received it from. To what entity do they report this information?

the TEC

When does legislative redistricting occur for both the House and the Senate?

the first odd-numbered year in a decade

Which of the following factors has precipitated the influence of interest groups?

the strength of the party system

What can be assumed by the level of pay for Texas legislators

they have other sources of income

How did the state legislature respond to the Sharpstown bank scandal of the 1970s?

they passed a law to prevent it from happening again

Which of the following type of interest group tends to enjoy the most success when lobbying?

those that represent business interests

What is the major responsibility of the Texas Senate Research Center?

to analyze bills under consideration by the Senate

In general what is the goal of an interest group?

to influence government officials and their policies on behalf of group members

In the simulation, what dilemma does the Democrat Michael Dollop (from a rural conservative district) face

whether to follow Democratic Party principles and reject tort reform or side with Republicans on an issue that can have serious implications for his constituents

Which state pays legislators the highest salary

California

Which of the following is an example of a public interest group?

Common Cause Texas

Who began serving as the Speaker of the Texas House in 2009?

Joe Straus

The oldest Latino interest group is

League of United Latin American Citizens

One example of an economic interest umbrella organization is the

Texas Association of Business

Ethics complaints against state officials, candidates for office, and state employees would generally be brought to the

Texas Ethics Commission

This body has 150 members

Texas House

These members usually serve a four-year term

Texas State Senate

What law restricts the meeting time and pay of the Texas legislature?

The Texas Constitution

What agency monitors interest group activity

The Texas Ethics Commission

Ed is working with an interest group that monitors members of the Texas legislature for their support of environmentally friendly "green bills." Ed is most likely working with

The Texas League of Conservation Voters

____ authorizes special research projects by its staff and consists of the lieutenant governor, the Speaker of the House, six senators appointed by the lieutenant governor, the chair of the House Administration Committee, and five representatives appointed by the Speaker.

The Texas Legislative Council

According to the Texas Observer in 2005, what "has become the in-house think tank of the state's current Republican leadership"?

The Texas Public Policy Foundation

What is the annual salary of a United States congressman?

$174000

What is the annual salary of a Texas legislator?

$7200

In 2012, there were approximately___ PACs in Texas, and combined they spent approximately____

-1300 -126 million

Which of the following is TRUE of the Texas Legislature?

-Texas senators serve longer terms and have a higher minimum age requirement than Texas representatives. -The majority of Texas legislators are white

As a law-abiding lobbyist, which of the following items might you include on your to-do list

-call the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock -Organize donation of money from the PAC to members of the Committee on Agriculture and Livestock -Mobilize support of small farmers for the upcoming election

Statements about the Speaker

-can recognize members on the House floor. -appoints all chairs to substantive and procedural committees -co-chairs the Legislative Budget Board

Speaker of the House

-presiding officer is elected by a majority of House members -official represents one of the 150 House districts

A Texas legislator's expense allowance can be used for

-staff salaries -postage -office operations

Texas is among the states with ___ interest groups and relatively ___ political parties

-strong -weak

Why is it important to have competitive state legislative salaries?

-to get a wider more representative range of people serving in the legislature -so legislators do not need to find other sources of income

How often do Texas legislators meet?

140 days every other year

How many members does Texas have in its House of Representatives?

150

Approximately how many registered lobbyists were there in Texas in 2015

1900

those seeking election to the Senate must be at least twenty-six years old, but candidates for the House need only be ___ years old

21

In Texas, legislators with a minimum of 12 years of service can receive their retirement pension at age

50

How much are Texas legislators paid

7200 per year

The state of Texas has a greater percentage of ___ legislators than the national average

78%

What is a possible drawback of interest group participation in the political process?

They could influence elected officials to vote for issues that benefit them even when the public might be harmed

What is one positive contribution of interest groups to the political process?

They save elected officials time by providing research and expertise

Interest groups in Texas, as elsewhere, often use political action committees (PACs) for the purpose of soliciting and donating funds

True

The Texas Ethics Commission is responsible for regulating interest groups in the state of Texas.

True

In November 1991, Texas voters passed a constitutional amendment that implemented new legal standards for lobbyists and public officials. Which of the following regulations was part of this amendment?

a ban on lobby-paid pleasure trips

What is a political action committee (PAC)?

a group of persons that has a principal purpose of accepting political contributions or making political contributions

Which type of resolution involves action by one legislative chamber only and is NOT sent to the governor?

a simple resolution

Any organized group, regardless of size, is usually composed of

an active minority and a passive majority membership

The powers of the Speaker of the Texas House include which of the following?

assigning bills to House committees

A lobbying tactic called ___ uses fake social media accounts to provide a false impression of the number of supporters or opponents an issue actually has.

astrotweeting

Traditionally, which of the following occupations has been typical of a Texas legislator?

attorney

What are some of the negative public perceptions of business interests

business interests use money and power to undermine democracy

Which type of interest group typically advocates lower taxes, a lessening or elimination of price and quality controls by government, and minimal concessions to labor unions?

business organizations