POLS Test 3

T or F: Legislators in Texas are subject to term limits and may only serve in office for two terms.

False

Congress may remove judges and executive officials from office via a. pocket veto. b. advice and consent. c. impeachment. d. gerrymandering.

c. impeachment.

All Texas legislators are elected from a. select districts. b. multiple-member districts. c. single-member districts. d. regional districts.

c. single-member districts.

What nation is the largest shareholder in the World Bank? a. Germany b. Russia c. China d. United States

d. United States

Which item would have a selective sales tax levied upon it? a. A home's property tax b. A box of cigarettes c. The production of natural gas d. A shirt purchased from a retailer

A box of cigarettes

Who can break a tie vote in the Senate? a. Vice president b. Senate majority leader c. Speaker of the House d. President

a. Vice president

The way members of Congress portray themselves to constituents is known as a. personal politics. b. pork-barrel politics. c. home style. d. reconciliation.

c. home style.

T or F: The federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 has effectively eliminated voting discrimination in Texas.

False

Which statement regarding the salary and compensation of Texas legislators is TRUE?

Texas legislators that use retainer and consulting fees to increase their compensation also increase their potential for conflicts of interest.

Which situation is an example of the legislative practice known as a "resolution"? a. The Texas legislature determines how bills will be placed on the calendar. b. The Texas legislature requires its committees to submit reports on how they conduct their operations. c. The Texas legislature uses census data to divide the population into legislative districts. d. The Texas legislature designates March as the official month of the Alamo.

The Texas legislature designates March as the official month of the Alamo.

Which statement accurately characterizes the short-term, biennial sessions in Texas?

The short-term, biennial sessions often necessitate the need for 30-day special sessions.

Of all the people that represent the diverse nature of the Texas citizenry, which group is LEAST likely to be represented in the Texas legislature? a. White Anglo males, who may or may not have a college degree b. Women, who work in professional fields c. African Americans, who are wealthy d. White Anglo males, who are business owners or executives

Women, who work in professional fields

Most congressional powers are listed in which section of the Constitution? a. Article I, Section 8 b. Article III, Section 1 c. Article I, Section 2 d. Article II, Section 1

a. Article I, Section 8

Which gerrymandering technique attempts to diffuse concentrated political party voters among several districts so that their votes within any one district are negligible? a. Cracking b. Packing c. Pairing d. Dividing

a. Cracking

Which office was created to implement the 1970 Clean Air Act? a. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) b. Department of Energy c. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) d. Department of Interior

a. Environment Protection Agency (EPA)

What policy encourages the exchange of goods between countries with the requirement that working conditions and wages be comparable between the two countries? a. Fair trade b. Trade equalization c. Free trade d. Protectionist

a. Fair trade

Where does the government maintain official records of all executive branch rules, regulations, and orders? a. Federal Register b. Congressional Record c. Office of Management and Budget d. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs

a. Federal Register

In the summer of 2017, Connecticut senator Christopher S. Murphy took control of the Senate floor for 15 hours in an attempt to force the majority leader, Senator Mitch McConnell, to allow votes on Democrats' amendments to an annual bill that sought to tighten U.S. gun laws. In what tactic is Murphy engaging? a. Filibuster b. Cloture c. Gerrymander d. Unanimous consent

a. Filibuster

An increase in state funding and the establishment of the Texas Education Agency came about in 1949 because of the a. Gilmer-Aikin Act. b. Supreme Court decision in Edgewood v. Kirby. c. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. d. No Child Left Behind Act.

a. Gilmer-Aikin Act.

Where do bills concerning raising revenue originate? a. House of Representatives b. Executive Branch c. Senate d. Supreme Court

a. House of Representatives

Which political body is subject to redistricting, or the redrawing of the boundaries of congressional districts in a state to make them approximately equal in population size? a. House of Representatives b. Supreme Court c. Congress d. Senate

a. House of Representatives

Which Supreme Court case established judicial review whereby laws could be declared unconstitutional? a. Marbury v. Madison b. McCulloch v. Maryland c. Bush v. Gore d. Wickard v. Filburn

a. Marbury v. Madison

A pregnant woman whose family income falls below the U.S. federal poverty level needs an ultrasound and other forms of prenatal care. To which program can she turn? a. Medicaid b. Medicare c. Welfare d. Social Security

a. Medicaid

Which U.S.-government funded organization, established in 1961, sends individuals on educational and cultural missions around the globe? a. Peace Corps b. Teach for America c. United Nations d. Voice of America

a. Peace Corps

To which collective body does unanimous consent apply? a. Senate b. House c. Congress, president, and judiciary d. House and the Senate

a. Senate

What program provides low-income individuals with a subsidy for food that is funded through general taxation? a. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program b. Social Security c. Medicaid d. Supplemental Security Income

a. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

What is an example of a severance tax? a. Taxes on the production of oil and natural gas b. Taxes on the gross revenues of certain enterprises c. Taxes on the manufacture and sale of liquor and cigarettes d. Taxes included in the retail prices of goods and services

a. Taxes on the production of oil and natural gas

What determines the amount of Social Security retired workers receive? a. The amount of time they worked while paying into the program b. The amount they made per year while paying into the program c. The tax percentage of where they lived while paying into the program d. The number of years they expect to receive benefits

a. The amount of time they worked while paying into the program

What statement regarding the Texas lieutenant governor is TRUE? a. The lieutenant governor has extensive legislative, organizational, procedural, administrative, and planning authority. b. The lieutenant governor is appointed by the governor for a four-year term. c. The lieutenant governor shares the same party affiliation as the governor. d. The lieutenant governor serves as the Texas Senate president but is not given any legislative authority.

a. The lieutenant governor has extensive legislative, organizational, procedural, administrative, and planning authority.

The Legislative Redistricting Board of Texas is ex officio. This means that its members have a position on the board automatically because they a. also hold some other public office. b. own one of the major industries in the state. c. are considered a minority. d. are not a declared member of any political party.

a. also hold some other public office.

The Texas Speaker of the House is a. elected from among the members of the Texas House of Representatives. b. chosen by the lieutenant governor. c. elected by the voters in a statewide election. d. appointed by the governor.

a. elected from among the members of the Texas House of Representatives.

Members of Congress may send mail to their constituents free of charge. This is called a. franking. b. bulk mailing. c. pork-barreling. d. gerrymandering.

a. franking.

Redrawing district boundaries so most voters in a district favor one party is called a. gerrymandering. b. franking. c. redistricting. d. electioneering.

a. gerrymandering.

Representative Smith is trying to get more state funding for a community youth center that will benefit his constituents. He tells Representative Hall that he will vote on his proposed park district bill if he, in turn, will vote in favor of representative Smith's project. This is an example of a. logrolling. b. gerrymandering. c. pigeonholing. d. tagging

a. logrolling.

Broad-based taxes are those which are a. paid by a large number of taxpayers. b. only levied upon those who are employed. c. used for the production of oil and gas. d. also taxed by the federal government

a. paid by a large number of taxpayers.

One aspect of the Affordable Care Act is the individual mandate requiring that individuals get health insurance or else they will have to a. pay a federal tax penalty. b. rely on CHIP for insurance. c. pay a monthly premium to the state. d. rely on Medicaid for insurance.

a. pay a federal tax penalty.

The two types of standing committees in the legislature are substantive and a. procedural. b. joint. c. standing. d. administrative

a. procedural.

Tax rates that increase as income increases are called a. progressive taxes. b. ability-to-pay taxes. c. broad-based taxes. d. regressive taxes.

a. progressive taxes.

What is the minimum age for a House of Representatives member and a U.S senator, respectively? a. 18; 21 b. 25; 30 c. 30; 35 d. 21; 25

b. 25; 30

In 2010, which state passed a law allowing police officers to inquire about immigration status when individuals were stopped for another police inquiry? a. Alabama b. Arizona c. Texas d. California

b. Arizona

How do freshman congress members typically choose their committee assignments? a. Based upon national issues on the public radar b. Based upon the needs of their district or state c. By polling their constituents and determining on which committee they want representation d. By choosing a mentor and joining his or her committee

b. Based upon the needs of their district or state

Prior to the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, how were senators elected? a. By state citizens in elections b. By selection from members of state legislatures c. By selection from the major political parties d. By presidential nomination

b. By selection from members of state legislatures

Which countries actively participate in the North American Free Trade Agreement? a. Cuba and the United States b. Canada, Mexico, and the United States c. Canada and Mexico d. The United States and China

b. Canada, Mexico, and the United States

Suppose the legislative session for the year is in its final days. A senator wants to delay the passage of a bill until the next session. What can that senator do in order to delay the passage of the bill? a. Begin packing procedures b. Engage in a filibuster c. Call for legislative redress d. Submit a resolution

b. Engage in a filibuster

The Texas legislature has successfully raised revenue to cover the cost of higher education keeping student tuition costs low compared to other states. a. True b. False

b. False

In 1970, what was created to discourage the development of nuclear weapons technology? a. Nuclear Test Ban Treaty b. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty c. United Nations d. Truman Doctrine

b. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

In 1952, Oregon was the first state to issue comprehensive legislation concerning air pollution. From then on, other states began implementing similar legislations. This example demonstrates what process? a. Devolution b. Policy diffusion c. Regulation d. Policy sharing

b. Policy diffusion

What set of laws regulates political and social life in order to meet a need or accomplish a goal? a. Public opinion b. Public policy c. Diplomatic policy d. Political agenda

b. Public policy

Which type of congressional committee is permanent and reports to the full chamber? a. Joint b. Standing c. Select d. Special

b. Standing

What authority given to Congress has been the most instrumental in expanding its power relative to the other branches of government? a. Appointments and treaties b. Taxation and appropriation c. War powers d. Regulation of commerce

b. Taxation and appropriation

What statement BEST describes the use of mass transit in Texas? a. Mass transit is extremely popular in Texas, with more than 40 percent of Texans using it on a regular basis. b. Texans remain unreceptive to using mass transit, and only about 5 percent use it on a regular basis. c. Currently, there is no mass transit infrastructure set up in Texas. d. Texans like the idea of using mass transit, but the state has not provided them with sufficient opportunities to do so.

b. Texans remain unreceptive to using mass transit, and only about 5 percent use it on a regular basis.

What trend is occurring among students in Texas public schools? a. The achievement gap between the performance of Anglo students and that of Latino and African American students has become insignificant. b. The number of students attending Texas public schools who come from low-income families is increasing. c. Students attending Texas public schools are not as ethnically diverse as they once were. d. The number of students attending public schools has been declining in recent years.

b. The number of students attending Texas public schools who come from low-income families is increasing.

What statement regarding school textbooks in Texas is TRUE? a. Legally, the State Board of Education has no authority regarding the accuracy of textbooks. b. The state's textbook decisions have historically determined the content of texts used in public schools in much of the nation. c. The textbooks used in Texas are typically very liberal in their content. d. The textbook market in Texas is much smaller than the rest of the nation.

b. The state's textbook decisions have historically determined the content of texts used in public schools in much of the nation.

What is unique about the Texas state budget? a. The budget is approved by the Legislative Budget Board and not by the legislature. b. While most states have only one budget, Texas has two. c. While most states approve a budget on a yearly basis, Texas approves a budget once every five years. d. The budget is most often approved during a 30-day special session.

b. While most states have only one budget, Texas has two.

The first bill placed on the senate calendar each session that most likely will never be considered by the full senate is referred to as a. cracking. b. a blocking bill. c. a resolution. d. legislative redress.

b. a blocking bill.

Government seeks public policy that a. minimizes benefits and minimizes costs. b. maximizes benefits and minimizes costs. c. minimizes benefits and maximizes costs. d. maximizes benefits and maximizes costs.

b. maximizes benefits and minimizes costs.

When a committee decides to pigeonhole a bill, that bill is a. compared to other bills on the same subject matter. b. set aside and no action is taken on it. c. included on the roll call. d. presented for public opinion.

b. set aside and no action is taken on it.

The largest portion of state and local funding for schools comes from a. the Permanent School Fund. b. the Foundation School Program. c. federal grants. d. the Texas Education Code.

b. the Foundation School Program.

The legislature legally authorizes the state to spend money to provide for its various programs and services through a. tax shifting. b. the appropriations process. c. income distribution. d. bureaucratic oversight.

b. the appropriations process.

According to your text, no single decision better typifies the political character of a state than a. the decisions handed down by its court system. b. the decisions it makes during the appropriations process. c. its taxing and governing policies. d. how it handles its public education system.

b. the decisions it makes during the appropriations process.

During the moments following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush instructed his vice president to force any suspicious planes in U.S. airspace to land immediately. If the pilots did not comply, Bush ordered the planes to be shot down. Which role of the presidency is Bush fulfilling? a. Chief executive b. Chief diplomat c. Commander in chief d. Chief legislator

c. Commander in chief

Which program was meant to help children who entered the country illegally with their parents gain citizenship if they met certain requirements? a. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990 b. DOMA c. DREAM Act d. 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act

c. DREAM Act

In 2012, the Washington Post reported that a Georgia congressman secured $6.3 million in taxpayer money to replenish a beach close to his vacation home. Similarly, a Michigan representative secured $486,000 to build a bike lane near her home. While the ethics behind these actions are questionable, they are legal. What type of funding projects are these congresspeople using? a. Reconciliations b. Block grants c. Earmarks d. Omnibus bills

c. Earmarks

What is the primary purpose of the Affordable Care Act (aka. Obamacare)? a. Move responsibility for providing health care from employers to the government b. Reduce Americans' dependence on private health insurance c. Extend health insurance coverage to uninsured Americans d. Provide political gains for legislators supporting its passage

c. Extend health insurance coverage to uninsured Americans

What describes government use of taxing and spending as a method of intervening in the economy? a. Monetary policy b. Domestic policy c. Fiscal policy d. Trade policy

c. Fiscal Policy

What is the most important decision handled by the trustees of local school districts? a. Setting curriculum standards b. Lobbying legislators c. Hiring a professional superintendent d. Determining textbook content

c. Hiring a professional superintendent

What was the Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Reynolds v. Sims? a. It allowed the use of gerrymandering when drawing legislative boundaries. b. It required that redistricting take place every five years via a special census. c. It required that legislative districts be approximately equal in population size. d. It required that legislative districts remain the same size, despite population changes.

c. It required that legislative districts be approximately equal in population size.

How did the state of Texas respond to the ruling from the federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals stating that race could not be considered in affirmative action admissions policies? a. It instituted widespread admissions policy reform at all educational levels, setting a model for other states to follow. b. It appealed the decision to a higher court, won the case, and was allowed to continue with its current admission policy. c. It required that virtually all general academic institutions automatically admit students from the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class, regardless of test scores. d. It has largely ignored the court's ruling, and as a result has been the subject of several lawsuits regarding discrimination.

c. It required that virtually all general academic institutions automatically admit students from the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class, regardless of test scores.

Name the program that provides medical insurance for most persons older than 65 years of age, regardless of income. a. Social Security b. TANF c. Medicare d. Medicaid

c. Medicare

How would you describe citizens' health insurance coverage in Texas? a. More than half of all Texans rely on some form of public insurance coverage. b. Texas has managed to insure almost all of the state's children. c. Texas has the nation's highest percentage of uninsured residents. d. Most employer-sponsored insurance plans were dissolved after the passage of the Affordable Care Act.

c. Texas has the nation's highest percentage of uninsured residents.

Who nominates the board of governors that leads the Federal Reserve System? a. The Federal Reserve chair b. The Senate c. The president d. The House of Representatives

c. The president

Funding for the highway program is a joint federal-state responsibility. What percentage of TxDOT funding comes from state monies? a. between 25 and 45 percent b. almost 90 percent c. about 60 percent d. less than 10 percent

c. about 60 percent

Drawing district lines in a manner that provides a political candidate with an advantage is called a. malapportionment. 'b. reapportionment. c. gerrymandering. d. ex officio.

c. gerrymandering.

Legislators in Texas meet for only 140 days every other year, deal with a heavy workload and receive only a small income for their work. Because of this, the Texas legislature has often been referred to as a(n)

citizen legislature.

The only way to stop a filibuster is by invoking cloture, a motion to end debate that requires a supermajority. How many senators constitute a supermajority? a. 25 b. 75 c. 10 d. 60

d. 60

If a state wanted to increase revenue to be used for highway building and repair, it might require drivers of the highway system to pay a toll. What type of tax would this be? a. A regulatory tax b. A severance tax c. An ad valorem tax d. A benefits-received tax

d. A benefits-received tax

During which war did nations align themselves either with democracy or communism? a. Spanish-American War b. World War II c. World War I d. Cold War

d. Cold War

What is a responsibility of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board? a. Enforcing academic probation policies at public colleges and universities b. Enforcing affirmative action guidelines in all higher education institutions c. Appointing university and college presidents d. Collaborating with public colleges and universities to plan for future needs

d. Collaborating with public colleges and universities to plan for future needs

When the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill, a committee is appointed to resolve the differences between the two versions. What is this committee called? a. Partisan b. Blocking c. Conservative d. Conference

d. Conference

If a business practices tax shifting, how does this affect consumers? a. Consumers are not affected by tax shifting because this is the practice of paying federal income tax over an extended period of time. b. Consumers enjoy paying lower prices because the business decides to be accountable for the tax burden. c. Consumers tend to purchase more from this business because the business is trying to benefit the consumer. d. Consumers pay higher prices because the business is passing along higher taxes to the consumer.

d. Consumers pay higher prices because the business is passing along higher taxes to the consumer.

The Department of Justice, the Department of State, and which other department share jurisdiction over immigration policy? a. Department of Interior b. Department of Education c. Department of Health and Human Services d. Department of Homeland Security

d. Department of Homeland Security

Who is responsible for formulating foreign policy using nonmilitary methods? a. Homeland Security b. Department of Defense c. Attorney General d. Department of State

d. Department of State

Which type of resolution requires approval of both houses but does not require action by the governor? a. Concurrent b. Simple c. Conference d. Joint

d. Joint

Which program provides health insurance for people over the age of 65 and the disabled? a. Medicaid b. Social Security Act c. Affordable Care Act d. Medicare

d. Medicare

Who was the first female Speaker of the House? a. Hillary Clinton b. Jeanette Rankin c. Jan Brewer d. Nancy Pelosi

d. Nancy Pelosi

The first step in the policy process, where there is recognition that something might warrant government action, is known as what? a. Evaluation b. Policy implementation c. Policy formulation d. Problem identification

d. Problem identification

What are the terms of office in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, respectively? a. Eight; four b. Four; six c. Two; four d. Six; two

d. Six; two

Which is the top leadership position in the House of Representatives?a. Majority whip b. Committee chairman c. President pro tempore d. Speaker of the House

d. Speaker of the House

Why did the Framers establish Congress as a bicameral institution? a. To increase efficiency and the speed by which Congress could operate b. To increase the power of Congress relative to the other branches c. To limit members of Congress to only two terms d. To allow each chamber to check each other's power

d. To allow each chamber to check each other's power

How many members of each house must be present for a quorum to be satisfied? a. One-half b. One-fourth c. Three-quarters d. Two-thirds

d. Two-thirds

In which situation would the Texas legislature use its bureaucratic oversight function? a. When passing a resolution that requires no action by the governor b. When reviewing House and Senate versions of a bill to come up with a compromise c. When reviewing the redistricting process to ensure districts are equal in size d. When reviewing a state agency to ensure it is meeting its intended purpose

d. When reviewing a state agency to ensure it is meeting its intended purpose

In recent sessions, how do the House and Senate compare demographically to the U.S. population? a. Women and ethnic minorities make up similar percentages in the House and Senate as their percentages in the U.S. population. b. Women make up about the same percentage in the House and Senate as their percentage of the total population, but ethnic minorities are underrepresented. c. Ethnic minorities make up about the same percentages in the House and Senate as their percentages in the U.S. population, but women are underrepresented. d. Women and ethnic minorities make up smaller percentages in the House and Senate than their percentages in the overall U.S. population.

d. Women and ethnic minorities make up smaller percentages in the House and Senate than their percentages in the overall U.S. population.

The League of Nations is a provision of a treaty that ended which war? a. World War II b. The Spanish-American War c. The Cold War d. World War I

d. World War I

Taxes assessed on the value of real and personal property are referred to as a. severance taxes. b. excise taxes. c. gross receipts taxes. d. ad valorem taxes.

d. ad valorem taxes.

In July 2017, President Trump nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. This judicial nomination required the approval by two-thirds of the Senate in a Congressional power known as a. pocket veto. b. impeachment. c. judicial review. d. advice and consent.

d. advice and consent.

Social service programs are one example of public policies that shift income from one class of recipients to another, a practice known as a. progressive distribution. b. regressive distribution. c. means testing distribution. d. income redistribution.

d. income redistribution.

The president may wait for Congress to go out of session and simply not sign a bill. This decision is called a(n) a. override. b. executive agreement. c. tabling of the bill. d. pocket veto.

d. pocket veto.

The term used to reflect the redrawing of district and precinct lines following the national census to reflect population changes is' a. gerrymandering. b. packing. c. allocation. d. reapportionment.

d. reapportionment.

The theory that higher-income taxpayers should be taxed less because their savings and investments stimulate the economy is known as a. the declining marginal propensity to consume. b. pure market economics. c. tax-shifting. d. supply-side economics.

d. supply-side economics.

If the legislature in Texas wanted to achieve descriptive representation, it would need to

elect representatives that reflect constituents' ethnic and social characteristics.