TX Chapter 3. The Texas Legislature (POLY SCI-EXAM #4)

What court cases required that state legislative districts contain about the same number of citizens and led to the "one person, one vote" rule?

-Baker v. Carr -Reynolds v. Sims

Which of the following powers do committee chairs have over their committees?

-Deciding how much time to devote to a bill in the committee -Giving a bill they do not like to a subcommittee that will kill it -Deciding the time and agendas for meeting of the committee

Which of the following powers do committee chairs have over their committees?

-Giving a bill they do not like to a subcommittee that will kill it -Deciding how much time to devote to a bill in the committee -Deciding the time and agendas for meetings of the committee

In what ways are major and minor bills treated differently?

-Major bills are more likely to be killed. -Major bills are introduced earlier in the session. -Major bills are more evenly distributed across committees.

Which of the following are among the formal qualifications for being a member of the Texas House?

-Registered voter -Lived in Texas for two years -At least 21 years old

Which of the following are true of the bills introduced in the house and senate that do not make it into law?

-Some are dead on arrival. -Most bills die in committee. -Some are introduced to satisfy voters back home but have no real chance to pass.

What was unusual about attempts to redistrict Texas's congressional districts in 2003?

-The governor called three special sessions of the legislature to consider the issue. -They took place mid-decade. -To avoid a quorum, 52 Democrats left the state.

In what way can the Texas legislature perform its oversight function?

-Through the Sunset Advisory Committee -Through the use of committees -Through financial mechanisms

Which of the following Texas speakers have exerted tight control over the house?

-Tom Craddick -Billy Clayton -Pete Laney

Which of the following characterize African American and Mexican American members of the Texas legislature?

-Usually professionals -Underrepresented based on the total % _Usually better educated than their constituents

When can bills be introduced in the Texas legislature?

-at any time before the session -After the sixtieth day in special circumstances -Up to the sixtieth day of the 140-day session

Which of the following are among the primary issues raised by reapportionment and redistricting?

-equity of representation -minority representation -gerrymandering

Which of the following are informal qualifications that come into play in election to the Texas legislature?

-income -ethnicity -occupation

States with a higher degree of legislative professionalism have

-longer sessions. -more staff support.

Formal rules of procedures that govern the operation of legislatures

-make the process of passing laws more orderly. -prescribe how bills are passed into law.

To be placed on the consent calendar bills must be

-minor. -noncontroversial.

Which groups gained seats in the Texas legislature because of the redistricting of the 1990s?

-minorities -Republicans

A large legislative body is

-more democratic. -more likely to be inefficient at decision making.

The "birthright" characteristics of Texas representatives include their

-national background. -race and ethnicity. -religion.

The election for Texas speaker of the house is usually

-predetermined before the session begins. -the first formal act of a legislative session. -won by a long-term member of the house.

What might happen to legislative districts in Texas following a federal census?

-reapportionment -redistricting

The lieutenant governor in Texas has the power to

-refer bills to committees. -appoint the chairs of all senate committees. -interpret senate rules.

Which of the following types of tax have been established by the Texas legislature?

-sales tax -"sin" tax -franchise tax

Which are the places where Republicans are likely to have safe election districts?

-the Panhandle -the suburbs -the German Hill Country

What are the characteristics of the average state legislator?

-well-educated -male -professional

The Texas House has _________ members.

150

Most bills are passed in the Texas legislature in the last _______ weeks of the session.

2

The Texas Senate has _____ members.

31

A noncompetitive election district is one that can be counted on to have at least _______% of the vote for the dominant party in the district.

55%

There are great differences in lieutenant governors' leadership styles.What lieutenant governor was low-key and preferred to work behind the scenes and forge compromises?

Bill Hobby

The first women to serve in a state legislature were elected in what state?

Colorado

______ refers to the concept that each member of the legislature will represent about the same number of people.

Equality of representation

True or false: In the past, coalitions in the Texas legislature organized more around party than around ideology, but ideology has played a much larger role in recent years.

False

The _______ Redistricting Board is a state board that has the authority to draw new district lines for the House and Senate if the legislature fails to act.

Legislative

As result of the Texas House and Senate adjourning the 2001 session without approving new redistricting plans, the _______ was left to establish new districts for the Texas House and Senate.

Legislative Redistricting Board

How does the salary for legislators in Texas compare with that paid to legislators in the other 9 most populous states in the U.S.?

Lowest salary for legislators

What has been the result of increased competition in the Republican Party primary elections in the past eight years?

Most incumbents still survive election challenges

Which of the following correctly describe the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Hunt v. Cromartie?

Race can be a factor, but not the primary factor, in determining the makeup of legislative districts.

Former house speaker Tom Craddick was known to seek electoral opponents for those members who opposed his agenda. This led to an increase in competition in the

Republican primary.

Which of the following identifies the type of election system practiced in Texas?

Single-member districts

Which position generally controls the passage of legislation in the house?

Speaker of the house

What was established by the Texas legislature to review state agencies and determine whether they should be continued or abolished?

Sunset Advisory Committee

Which of the following is true about the compensation received by Texas legislature?

The Texas legislature receives generous retirement benefits.

How do lieutenant governors assume office?

The lieutenant governor is elected by voters.

Which of the following is true of the Texas lieutenant governor's power?

The lieutenant governor must forge an alliance with key senators to effectively utilize the powers of the office.

Who controls the output of legislation in the Texas legislature?

The speaker of the house and the lieutenant governor

Who was most instrumental in the redistricting map that was passed by both Houses of the Texas legislature in mid-October 2003?

U.S. Congressman Tom Delay

Most bills that dies in the Texas legislature do so

at the committee level.

The term ________ legislature is a positive way if describing legislatures characterized by low pay, short sessions, and fewer staff resources.

citizen

Most of the money contributed to a state legislator's election campaign comes from

contributors who live outside the representative's district.

The Texas legislature meets in regular session

for 240 days every odd-numbered year.

Legislators usually vote on bills based on

how the issue affects their district.

In terms of the proportion of women in the legislature, Texas ranks _____ among state legislatures for the proportion of women.

in the bottom third

The necessity of redistricting in 2011 was the result of

increased population in the 2010 census.

The set of norms or values that govern legislative behavior is known as _______ rules.

informal

In the 1970s, to allow for more minority representation in Texas, the federal courts _______ multi member districts.

invalidated

The responsibility to create, alter, and enact laws for the state is the responsibility of the

legislature.

Multi member districts tend to promote

majority representation and domination

The Texas legislature has ______ permanent and session-only staff than most other states.

more

A biennial session is one that happens

once every two years.

Which of the following refers to the drawing of legislative districts to create minority districts?

racial gerrymandering

Provisions attached to a bill that may not be of the same subject matter as the main bill are called __________.

riders

The purpose of having a local and consent calendar for relatively noncontroversial bills in the Texas legislature is to

save scarce time for dealing with more important and controversial bills.

Before the sixtieth day of the legislative session, a bill can clear the senate with a _______ vote.

simple majority

Most of the work done in the Texas legislature is done in ________ committees.

standing

A limitation on the number of times a person can be elected to the same office in a state legislature is referred to as a(n) _________ __________.

term limit

The rules regarding legislative sessions in Texas give the governor stronger veto powers because

the legislature cannot call a special session after it has adjourned to override a veto.

True or false: Apportioning seats in any legislative body is a highly political process.

true

The number of new members of the legislature each session is referred to as as

turnover.