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