Chapter 7 Inquizitive Texas Government

The redrawing of district and precinct lines following the national census to reflect population changes defines which of the following?

redistricting

Texas representatives receive an annual salary of - and a per diem of - when the legislature is in session.

$7,200 , $190

Conference committees have - members: - members from the House appointed by the Speaker and - members from the Senate appointed by the lieutenant governor.

10, 5, 5

How long is the regular session of the Texas legislative?

140 days, every other year

What is the annual limit on special legislative sessions in the state of Texas?

There is no limit to the number of special sessions a governor can call.

The Texas Association of Business and the Texas Alliance for Life are examples of two powerful -in Texas.

interest groups

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

Bicameral: - composed of two chambers or houses Biennial: - occurs every two years Special session: - a legislative session called by the governor that addresses an agenda set by him or her Regular session: - a 140-day period occurring only in odd-numbered years

Match the type of bill to its best definition.

Bill: - a proposed law that has been sponsored by a member of the legislature and submitted to the clerk of the House or Senate Local bill: - affects only units of local government, such as a city, county, or special district General bill: - applies to all people and/or property in the state Special bill: - gives an individual or corporation a special exemption from state law

Match the different types of resolutions with their correct definitions.

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 Joint resolution: - a resolution that requires passage in both the state House and state Senate but does not require the governor's signature

Which two individuals are the presiding officers of the Texas legislature?

Correct: - the lieutenant governor - the Speaker of the House Incorrect: - the president pro tempore - the secretary of state

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

Correct: - A biennial session was better suited to Texas's agricultural past, not to its urbanized present. - The low pay for legislators means they must keep outside jobs while in office. - The short sessions prevent the legislature from responding in a timely fashion to breaking issues. Incorrect: - It requires too many formal qualifications to be a member.

In which of the following ways can the media influence the legislature?

Correct: - Social media let legislators communicate directly to their constituents. - They can help constituents learn more about actions by the legislature. - They can help set the legislative agenda by focusing on certain stories. Incorrect: - Their consistently upbeat coverage gives Texans a more positive opinion of the legislature.

Study the graph, and decide which claims are accurate.

Correct: - Texas has fewer women in the legislature than other states have. - Texas has more Latino representatives than any of the other states shown here. Incorrect: - Texas has more African Americans representatives than any of the other states shown here. - Texas has fewer legislators with graduate degrees than other states have.

Former governor Rick Perry campaigned for president on the idea of adapting the Texas model to the U.S. Congress, arguing that the Founders intended a "citizen" Congress similar to the one in Texas. Critics argue that the Texas model should not be adopted because of which of the following?

Correct: - The legislative session is rushed, and legislators rely too heavily on staff who work year-round. - The rush of completing the legislation necessary to govern leaves important issues unresolved. - Legislators are not any less prone to corruption within a part-time legislature than within a full-time legislature. Incorrect: - Part-time legislatures do not face enough pressure from their constituents.

Watch the animation about the composition of the legislatures in five major states, and determine which of the following statements are accurate.

Correct: - The majority of lawmakers in Texas have a graduate degree. - Like the legislatures of other states discussed, black and Latino Texans are underrepresented in the Texas legislature. Incorrect: - Unlike the legislatures of other states discussed, Texas is unusual in having a legislature with far more men than women.

Watch the animation on the demographics of the Texas legislature and determine which of the following statements are accurate.

Correct: - The majority of legislators in both the House and Senate either have business or legal backgrounds. - About half of all Texans are women, but only one-quarter of Texas legislators are women. - Compared to the Senate, the Texas House is better at reflecting the racial diversity of Texas. Incorrect: - The number of Latino representatives is nearly equal in proportion to the number of Texans who are Latino.

Which of the following do standing committees do in the Texas legislature?

Correct: - They review, hold hearings on, and amend bills to make them more acceptable to the entire legislature. - In the Senate, they accept bills referred to them by the lieutenant governor. - In the House, they accept bills referred to them by the Speaker. Incorrect: - They ensure that every bill submitted is brought to a vote before the full House or Senate. - They determine the schedule for a bill's debate.

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

Correct: - powers similar to those of the Speaker of the House - senate rules Incorrect: - a close relationship with the governor - a popular sovereignty mandate

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

Correct: - the attorney general - the commissioner of the General Land Office - the comptroller of public accounts - the lieutenant governor - the Speaker of the House Incorrect: - the secretary of state - the president pro tempore

Which two officials wield the most legislative power in the Texas legislature?

Correct: - the lieutenant governor - the Speaker of the House Incorrect: - the attorney general - the governor - the comptroller of public accounts

Texas legislators and the governor have direct involvement in the lawmaking process, but which of the following players are involved indirectly?

Correct: - the public - the media - interest groups Incorrect: - the comptroller of public accounts

Texas legislators have powers beyond passing laws. Match the following types of Texas legislators' power to their best definition.

Directive and supervisory powers: - the legislature's power over the executive branch, most commonly through appropriations Judicial powers: - the power of the legislature to impeach and convict members of the executive and judicial branches of state government Electoral powers: - the legislature's mandated role in counting returns in the election for governor and lieutenant governor Investigative powers: - the ability of the Texas House, Senate, or both working together, to examine problems facing the state Constituent service: - work on behalf of specific problems citizens face in a representative's district

Bicameralism makes it less difficult for the Texas legislature to pass laws.

False

Texas has a unicameral legislature.

False; Texas has a bicameral legislature with two chambers: the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate

A member of the Texas House with 10 or more years of service earns more in retirement than he or she does as an active officeholder.

True

Pigeonholing means that the committee chair sets the bill aside and never brings it before the committee.

True

The most significant change in the Texas legislature is increasing partisanship.

True

The post-adjournment veto provides the governor with an excellent bargaining tool, insofar as the governor can threaten a veto unless changes are made to the bill.

True

Looking closely at the chart below, which statement about females in the Texas House of Representatives is correct?

Women have a higher percentage of representation in the state Senate than in the state House

The - acts as the state's tax collector and is also responsible for investing state monies, both long term and short term.

comptroller of public accounts

A - is a person living in the district from which an official is elected.

constituent

The ability to rule acts of the legislature and actions of state agencies unconstitutional gives -significant power over issues the legislature addresses.

courts

Which method to delay and maybe kill a legislative measure can be used only in the Senate?

filibuster

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

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

The judicial power of the legislature is an example of which kind of institutional power?

nonlegislative power

Fundamentally, the Supreme Court decisions in Baker v. Carr and Reynolds v. Sims were based on the principle of which of the following?

one person, one vote

All Texas legislators represent which type of electoral districts?

single-member districts

The House and Senate can override a governor's veto with a - vote.

two-thirds