Inquizitive exam 2

The Texas Ethics Commission must recommend any changes to the salary or retirement benefits of the members of the state legislature, which must then be approved by the voters.

The Texas Ethics Commission must recommend any changes to the salary or retirement benefits of the members of the state legislature, which must then be approved by the voters.

A ____ is a temporary committee that has ten members, with five representatives appointed by the ____ and five senators appointed by the ____.

conference committee Speaker of the House lieutenant governor

If a review of a legislator's record shows that they sponsor over 400 bills during any given legislative session, it may be a sign that the legislator is engaged in what activity to help their chances for re-election?

credit claiming

Study the graph, and then decide which claims are accurate.

Correct Answer(s) Texas has a lower percentage of women in the legislature than the other states shown. Texas has a higher percentage of Latino representatives than any of the other states shown. Incorrect Answer(s) Texas has a higher percentage of African American representatives than any of the other states shown.

What is the first step a person can take if they want to begin to have an impact on what state legislators do?

identify who represents them and what they believe

The ____ members of the Texas legislature meet in regular session for ____ each odd-numbered year. In the 2019 legislative session, they successfully passed ____ of all proposed legislation.

181 140 calendar day less than 20 percent

Study the following infographic on the educational levels and common occupations of members of the Texas legislature to determine which of the following statements are accurate.

Correct Answer(s) The majority of lawmakers have at least a college education. The majority of lawmakers are either lawyers or people with a business background. Incorrect Answer(s) The educational levels of lawmakers are pretty similar to the general education level of Texans.

Select all of the following ways in which legislators can attempt to force negotiation on a bill by slowing down the legislative process.

Correct Answer(s) chubbing filibuster objecting to a local and consent bill Incorrect Answer(s) vetoing legislation amending legislation

Which of the following scenarios are good examples of constituent services?

Correct Answer(s) delivering the keynote address for the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet intervening with the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife to get an appointment for a constituent writing a letter of recommendation for entry into a state university introducing a special resolution to honor the service of a citizen in the district Incorrect Answer(s) steering state contracts to companies in their district

In what ways can a member of the public act as a lobbyist?

Correct Answer(s) writing letters or emails making phone calls scheduling a meeting Incorrect Answer(s) introducing legislation

How does an increase in education level affect political participation?

Increase in education create significantly more political participation

Starting in the 2015 legislative session, committee chair appointment decisions became more partisan. Lieutenant Governor Patrick ended his predecessor's practice of awarding committee chairs to Democrats in equal proportion to their numbers in the Senate.

Starting in the 2015 legislative session, committee chair appointment decisions became more partisan. Lieutenant Governor Patrick ended his predecessor's practice of awarding committee chairs to Democrats in equal proportion to their numbers in the Senate.

Analyze the passage to answer the question below it. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.—Article IV, Section 4, U.S. Constitution In this passage, the term Republican most likely has which of the following meanings?

a system in which individuals are elected to make decisions on behalf of constituents

The Texas Constitution creates a republican form of government with a bicameral legislature made up of officials elected in November of even-numbered years to serve during regular legislative sessions that last for 140 calendar days.

bicameral November of even-numbered years 140

While the ____ is normally a way to save time by fast-tracking noncontroversial bills, legislators may also use it to retaliate for perceived or real slights from other legislators by challenging bills that have been fast-tracked.

local and consent calendar

In what way has Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick most significantly differed from his predecessors in the office of lieutenant governor?

party polarization

The appointment of legislators to committee chairmanships is most heavily influenced by which factor?

personal loyalty to the leader of the chamber

Match each characteristic of the Texas legislature with its best definition.

regular session: a 140-day period occurring only in odd-numbered years biennial: occurs every two years bicameral: composed of two chambers or houses special session: a 30-day legislative session focused on governor's agenda

By creating a bicameral legislature, what outcome did the framers of the Texas Constitution hope to achieve?

to force compromise between competing ideas

The governor of Texas can use the veto in various ways to reject acts by the legislature, and different types of vetoes have specific features. Label each description with the type of veto that it best and most closely describes.

veto rejection of legislation that can be overridden by a two thirds vote of the legislature line-item veto used on select portions of omnibus spending Bill's post-adjournment veto cannot be overridden by the legislature

____ Texans are overrepresented in both the House and the Senate. ____ Texans are somewhat underrepresented in the Senate but proportionately represented in the House. ____ Texans are underrepresented in both the House and the Senate.

white african american latino