Texas Government Exam 2

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 days - less than 20 percent

Which of the following do critics argue are the effects of Texas part-time legislature's biennial 140-day session?

- A biennial session was better suited to Texas's agriculturlal past, not to its urbanized present - The short sessions prevent the legislature from responding in a timely fashion to breaking issues - The low pay for legislators means they must keep outside jobs while in office

The following infographic shows which executive branch offices are elected by voters and which are appointed by the governor in six major states.

- In most of these states, the attorney general and comptroller are elected positions - Texas has the most elected members of the executive branch among these six states

Analyze the infographic below, and then determine which of the following statements about contributions to the Texas legislature in 2018 are correct.

- Lawyers and lobbyist gave about equally to Democrats and Republicans - Finance, insurance, and real estate interest groups contributed more money than any other interest groups - Labor contributed more money to Democrats than to Republicans

Which of the following share in executive authority even though they are not technically part of the executive branch in the state constitution?

- Railroad Commission - State Board of Education

Texas voters use elections to do which of the following?

- Select leaders - determine party candidated for office - authorize action by the government

Which of the following were considered to be the most basic responsibilities of citizenship?

- Serve as a juror in a trial - serve in the military - serve as an authorized deputy in emergencies

Which of the following do opponents of voter ID laws in Texas argue?

- Voter ID laws address a problem that does not exist - Voter ID laws minimize Democratic turnout in order to help state Republicans - Voter ID laws do not perserve the inegrity of the electorial system

Which of the following factors help explain why Texas has the nation's lowest voter turnout?

- a younger and less educated population - the voter identification law - too many elections and too many candidates - too many low-visibility offices

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

- chubbing - filibustering - objecting to a local and consent bill

Which of the following are the two most critical responsibilities of the Texas secretary of state?

- conducting voter registration drives - maintaining official election night returns

Which of the following are arguments that being a member of the legislature is a full-time job even if it is technically considered part-time?

- constituent service - special sessions - interim committee meetings

Which of the following are the most significant effects that bicameralism has on the legislative process?

- creates more access for interest groups -increase compromise -lessens the chances of bad laws getting passed

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

- 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

What are some of the characteristics of primary elections in Texas?

- held on the second Tuesday in March of an election year - first elections held in an electoral cycle

Texas ranked 39th in state government integrity according to the Center for Public Integrity, with the lowest scores being in which areas?

- holding legislators accountable - regulating lobbyists - enforcing ethics

The intent of the framers of the Texas Constitution was to create strong popular control of government by making both government actions and offices subject to popular vote. What have been the effects?

- low voter turnout - voters' reliance on cues

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

- making phone calls - writing letter or emails - scheduling a meeting

Which of the following do voters primarily use in making their decisions about which candidates to support?

- party label - interest group endorsements - endorsements from large newspapers - incumbency

When running for office, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick relied on religious right conservatives and Tea Party-affiliated voters to win his primary election. How are his campaign promises reflected in the way he governs as the lieutenant governor?

- refusal to appoint Democratic commitee chairs - intense promotion of socially conservative legislation

The lieutenant governor is not formally a senator and cannot vote except to break a tie, yet he or she has great powers over the Senate. Why?

- senate rules - powers similar to those of the Speaker of the House

Based on the information in the Texas and the Nation infographic, in which ways do the electorates of Texas and California differ from the national electorate?

- there are higher percentages of Latino voters in Texas and California - There are lower percentages of White voters in Texas and California

What is the usefulness of "late-train" contributions?

- to build a relationship with a winning candidate after the election - to help retire campaign debt of winning candidates

Place in order the following steps a bill must take before it becomes law.

-Introduction - Referral - Consideration by a standing commitee - floor action - conference committee between House and Senate - signature by the governor

The ______must recommend any changes to the salary or retirement benefits of the members of the state legislature, which must then be approved by the _______

-Texas Ethics Commission -Voters

The Texas Constitution creates a confederal form of government with a unicameral legislature made up of official elected in November of each year to serve durig regular legislative sessions that last for 30 days. (Fix Statement)

1. Confederal to Republican 2. Unicameral to Bicameral 2. November of each year to November of even-numbered years 3. 30 days to 140 calendar days

Which of the following are offices of the plural executive?

1. Governor 2. Lieutenant Governor 3. Attorney General 4. Commissioner of the General Land Office 5. Commissioner of Agriculture 6. Comptroller of Public Accounts 7. Secretary of State

What are ways that political action committees (PACs) can engage in the electoral process?

1. Issue Advocacy 2. Campaign Contributions 3. Get out the vote efforts

The five members of the Legislative Redistricting Board include which of the following?

1. The Lieutenant Governor 2. The Attorney General 3. The Commissioner of the General Land Office 4. The Comptroller of Public Accounts 5. The Speaker of the House

Which of the following statements about the plural executive are accurate?

1. The plural executive was created as a reaction to Reconstruction. 2. With one exception, members of the plural executive are independently elected.

How long is the regular session of the Texas legislative?

140 Days, every odd-numbered year

Starting in the ____ legislative session, committee chair appointment decisions became _____ more partisan. Lieutenant Governor _______ ended his predecessor's practive of awarding committee chairs to Democrats in _____ proportion to their numbers in the Senate.

2015, more, Patrick, equal

Match the voting reform with the effect it had on elections.

24th Admendment- Eliminated the poll tax in federal elections 19th Admendment- granted woman's suffrage in federal elections Voting Rights Act of 1965- granted the federal government authority to register voters and enforce voting laws Smith V Allwright- ended the use of the White primary

Which of the following best describes the way that both Joe Straus and Dennis Bonnen became Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives? Click or tap a choice to answer the question.

A coalition of moderate Republican and Democratic representative jointed together

How do most statewide officials begin their political careers?

A run for a local office

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 on constituents

Use the answer options below to complete the thought web of a partial list of members of the Texas plural executive and their responsibilities.

Attorney General- Attorney for the state; oversees child support enforcemeng Secretary of State- Maintain Official Election Records; Maintain Required Business and Corporate Records Agriculture Commissioner- Must be registered farmer or rancher; Certifies weight and measure device; Regulates fertilizer and pesticide use Comptroller of Public Accounts- Chief Finance Officer for the state; Supervises Budgets and spending by state agencies Land commissioner- Administers historical markers and state natural resources

Match each formal requirement to be a member with either the Texas Senate, Texas House of Representatives, or both.

Both - qualified voter - U.S citizen - resident of the district for at least one year Texas Senate - at least 26 years old -resident of Texas for at least 5 years Texas House of Representatives - at least 21 years old - resident of Texas for at least two years

A registered voter appears at their designated polling place on Election Day but does not have one of the accepted forms of voter ID required by the state. Knowing it is the last day to vote, the voter still wants to cast their ballot. What must they do to cast their ballot?

Cast a provisional ballot

If allocation of resources is an indicator of the most important task an office performs, the single most important task of the Texas attorney general involves which of the following?

Child Support

After watching the behavior of Dan Patrick following his close re-election fight in 2018, a political observer might make which assumption about the impact of close elections on the leadership style of statewide officials who experienced unexpectedly close re-election battles?

Close elction battles have a moderating effect

Because Texas requires voters to declare which party primary they wish to vote in when they arrive at the polling place, the Texas primary system is technically which of the following?

Closed primary

Because saving time during the legislative session is critical, it is common practice to file what kind of bill, which allows for simultaneous consideration of legislation in both chambers of the legislature?

Companion Bill

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

One way some states have tried to increase voter turnout is by expanding the period of time people are allowed to vote through early voting periods before Election Day. When early voting was introduced, many predicted this would favor _____. However, in 2020 _____ were more likely to vote early. And on Election Day more _______ also voted in person.

Democrates, Republicans, Republicans

Income and ____ are the two biggest factors considered in determining ____, a leading indicator of whether a person, or group of people, will be politically active.

Education; Socioeconomic Status

Texas is near the top of the nation in measures of social connectedness that lead to civic engagement

False

The land commissioner is responsible for the administration of animal quarantine laws, inspection of food, and enforcement of disease- and pest-control programs

False

Third-party and independent candidates struggle to get on the ballot and effectively compete in elections because of formal and informal barriers. Match each barrier with the category of barrier in which it belongs.

Formal Barrier - the candidate must get 1 percent of eligible voters to sign a petition - the candidate can collect signatures only between the primary runoff and August - The candidate must file an intent form Informal Barrier - voters believe that third-party and independent candidates can't win - the candidate needs to educate voters on issue positions - the candidate lacks a party affiliation

In which type of election does the Democratic Party's nominee run against the nominee from the Republican Party and any independent or third-party candidates to win an office?

General Elections

Match each characteristic with the type of election it describes.

General Elections - allows voters to chose who will hold office - held on the first Tuesday after the first Monay in November - includes third-party and independant candidates Primary Elections - held on the first Tuesday in March - includes all candidates who filed to be the party nominee Primary Runoff Elections - allows voters to choose between the top two candidates from a party who didn't get a majority - held in May

In order to limit partisan ____ in the redistricting process, some states have taken the responsibility for drawing electoral maps away from ___ and given it to an independent____

Gerrymandering, State Legistatures, redistricting commission

Political parties conduct campaigns to achieve what goal?

Get control of government

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

Which of the following terms refers to a regulatory agency that seems to serve, rather than oversee, the interests it monitors?

Interest-Group Capture

Match each type of resolution with its correct definition.

Joint Resolution- A resolution that requires in both the state House and state Senate but does not require the governor's signature Concurrent Resolution- A resolution of interest to both chambers of the legislature and which must pass both the state House and state Senate and be signed by the governor Simple Resolution- A resolution that concerns only the Texas House or Texas Senate and does not require the governor's signature

Which elected state official is in charge of managing most of the publicly owned land in Texas?

Land Commissioner

Why are members of the Texas legislature hesitant to exercise their power to remove a member of the legislature even if that member is overwhelmingly controversial or associated with scandal?

Legislators do no want to be seen as overriding the will of the voters

Leaders of the two chambers of the legislature are selected in different ways. The ______ is elected statewide, while the _________ is selected by members of their chamber

Lietenant governor, speaker of the house

Which of the following is the power of the executive to veto specific provisions of an appropriations bill passed by the legislature?

Line-Item Veto

Which method did groups like MALDEF and the NAACP use with great success to expand voting rights?

Litigation

On impeachment, a ___ vote of the House is required to bring charges, and a ___ vote of senators present in the Senate is necessary to convict an individual of the impeachment charges.

Majority; two-thirds

In Texas, most statewide officials are elected in ______ election years to prevent _________ from influencing the outcomes of state races.

Midterm, presidential candidates

Suppose you were a critic of the plural executive model. Based on this infographic, which state seems to offer the best alternative?

New Jersey

Supporters of the plural executive structure make which argument in favor of it?

Officials are more responsive to voters

Which of the following is a primary criticism of the practice known as the "revolving door"?

Officials take actions of improve their chances of lucrative lobbying futures

What was the basis of the Supreme Court ruling (Smith v. Allwright) that ended the White primary in Texas?

Parties carry out an important state function

Local elections, like those for city council or school boards of trustees, are nonpartisan elections. However, many candidates in major urban centers use party labels in their campaign material. What is the logic behind this behavior?

Party labels are used as information shortcuts by voters

Label each campaign responsibility as belonging to either the individual candidate for office or the political party.

Political Party -organizing phone banks - get out the vote drive Candidate - raising money - campaign strategy - running campaigns

Match each election type with its correct descriptions.

Primary Election - voters determine the candidates who will run for office for each party - the winner is the candidate who receives a majority for the votes. Special Election - voters approve amendments to the Texas Constitution - Elections are called by the governor to fill vacancies - voters approve or reject borrowing by goverment entities to assume long-term debt

Match each characteristic of the Texas legislature with its best definition. Drag each item on the left to its matching item on the right.

Regular Session- A 140 day period occuring only in odd-numbered years Special Session- a 30 day legislative session focused on governor's agenda Bicameral- composed of two chambers or houses Biennial- Occurs every two years

What statement related to Texas's status as a one-party state correlates with reasons people give for not voting?

Republicans have won statewide for 25 years

The number of people in each legislative district must be roughly equal based on the total number of what?

Residents

The ___ is required to redistrict after every ____

State legislature; census

Recent efforts to reform the ___________ because of criticisms that it has been the subject of ______ by the oil and gas industry have been _______

Texas Railroad Commission, interest-group capture, unsiccessful

The following excerpt from the opinion in Shelby County v. Holder makes what justification for the ruling of the Court in the case?

The Court held that while remedy in the law was justified at the time, the new status of minority participation in voting no longer justified states being treated unequally

Why is the Texas legislature dependent on the state comptroller of public accounts?

The comptroller must certify funding for the legislative budget

Which of the following is a significant reason why much of the membership in the state legislature is made up of individuals who are attorneys or other professional or business occupations?

The time demands for campaigning and the legislative session prevent most people from being able to hold legislative office

For much of the twentieth century, why was the Texas Democratic primary election so important?

The winner would nearly always win the general election

What is an important consequence of partisan elections of members of the State Board of Education?

They encourage ideological battles in creating education policy

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

To force compromise between competing ideas

Committee chairs will pigeonhole a bill by never putting it on the committee agenda to be considered.

True

In a one-party Republican state like Texas, the most important election in the state is often the Republican primary.

True

Major, large city newspaper endorsements often carry important weight, especially in down ballot races for local offices

True

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 2/3 vote of the legislature Line-Item Veto- used on select portions of omnibus spending bills Post-Adjournment Veto- cannot be overridden by the legislature

While a veto threat is not a formal power of the governor, it is an important negotiating tool between the governor and the legislature for which reason?

Vetoes are notoriously difficult for the legislature to overcome when in session and impossible to overcome when out of session

The Supreme Court case Smith v. Allwright ended which election practice?

White primary

Which of the following is the best description of a legislator's constituent?

any person who is represented by the legislator

In a state with a single executive structure, how do members of the executive branch such as the land commissioner, the agriculture commissioner, the secretary of state, and the comptroller get into office?

appointment ny the governor

While Texas primaries are technically considered _____ primaries because individuals must declare their party when they arrive at a polling location, they essentially function as ____ rimaries because voters do not have to choose a party affiliation when they register to vote

closed, open

The Texas Constitution mandates that the ________ provides a _______ that limits how much the legislature may spend in a biennium

comptroller of public accounts, revenue estimate

The power of _______means that groups are more likely to contribute to candidates or parties that are already in office even if a _______ may have views closer to their own positions

incumbency advantage, challenger

An advertisement from a political action committee intended to attract support from the public by promoting a position, like the ad detailed in the transcript from Mayors Against Illegal Guns, is known as what?

issue advocacy

Management and cleanup of pollution at public beaches in Galveston from the Deepwater Horizon accident in 2010 were the responsibility of the __________, while the handling and quarantine of mysterious seeds that appeared in Texas mailboxes from China in 2020 were the responsibility of the ______

land commissioner, agriculture commissioner

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

Governor Greg Abbott altered many of his COVID-19 mandates in light of which of the following factors?

negative public opnion

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

party polarization

Because the Railroad Commission and State Board of Education were not created by the Texas Constitution, their terms of office and size can be altered by _______, while changes affecting terms of office and other responsibilites in the plural executive would require ________

passing a law, constitutional amendment

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

personal loyalty to the leader

Candidates running for state offices must file detailed _______ reports listing campaign donations and expenditures with the _________

quarterly, Texas Ethics Commission

A large portion of the revenues from grazing and drilling leases on public lands issued by the land commissioner go to fund which important programs?

the permanent school fund and the permanent university fund

Why are delay tactics like chubbing and the filibuster effective tools for forcing compromise or killing a bill?

they use up critical limited time in the legislative session

Which of the following is the most important responsibility of a member of the legislature?

to promote the issues and interests of constituents

The _______ was eliminated by _______ in 2015 when Republicans could not collect enough votes to overcome Democratic objections to bills in the Texas Senate.

two-thirds rule, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick