Test 1 Review Govt 2306

97) In 1984, many incumbent Democratic judges lost their seats in large urban counties to unknown Republican challengers because of A) straight ticket voting. B) gerrymandering. C) the move toward two-party competitiveness. D) the cyclical off-year election trend.

A) straight ticket voting.

95) The merit system used to identify and select judges is also known as A) the Missouri system. B) the Texas Plan. C) the gubernatorial appointment system. D) the partisan election system.

A) the Missouri system.

72) In a large majority of the states, the legislature can override the governor's veto with a ________ vote in each house. A) two-thirds B) majority C) three-fifths D) three-fourths

A) two-thirds

77) The Texas legislature can override the governor's general veto with a ________ vote in each house. A) two-thirds B) three-fourths C) majority D) three-fifths

A) two-thirds

45) What is the pay of a member of the Texas legislature, taking into account salary and per diem compensation, in a year that the legislature is in session? A) nothing B) $74,100 C) $28,200 D) $55,800

C) $28,200

32) The current Texas Constitution was approved by voters in ________. A) 1886 B) 1866 C) 1876 D) 1896

C) 1876

90) How many elections must a judge win prior to being seated on the bench under the Texas partisan election system? A) 0 B) 1 C) 2 D) 3

C) 2

93) How many justices are on the Texas Supreme Court? A) 5 B) 7 C) 9 D) 11

C) 9

47) A voter who wants his representative to make decisions based solely on the will of the people desires which type of representative? A) A professional legislator B) A trustee C) A delegate D) A citizen-legislator

C) A delegate

11) The Democratic Party was able to retain power during the Progressive Era by: A) Purging the party of the "Yellow Dog Democrats" B) Passing laws that made it more difficult for Republicans to vote C) Adopting progressive reforms into its own platform D) Recruiting more diverse candidates to run for office

C) Adopting progressive reforms into its own platform

61) Which executive-level officer administers state-owned land and coastal lands? A) Attorney General B) Commissioner of Agriculture C) Commissioner of the General Land Office D) Comptroller of Public Accounts

C) Commissioner of the General Land Office

84) A murder case would most likely first be tried in a/an: A) Appellate court B) Magistrate court C) District court D) County court

C) District court

79) When a governor coordinates activities with other state government, he or she is fulfilling the role of: A) Crisis manager B) Party chief C) Intergovernmental coordinator D) Chief legislator

C) Intergovernmental coordinator

86) All Texas judges are selected by partisan elections EXCEPT: A) Trial court judges B) Appellate court judges C) Municipal judges D) Supreme court judges

C) Municipal judges

83) What is the primary attribute voters use to select judges? A) Gender B) Previous employment C) Name familiarity D) Partisan affiliation

C) Name familiarity

80) When a governor acts as head of his or her political party, he or she is fulfilling the role of: A) Crisis manager B) Intergovernmental coordinator C) Party chief D) Chief legislator

C) Party chief

41) Based on Table 3.2, in your textbook, what can be said about legislators in populous southern states (like Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina) compared to legislators in other populous states? A) Populous southern state legislators earn about the same as other populous states B) Populous southern state legislators earn more than other populous states C) Populous non-southern state legislators earn less than legislators in populous southern states

C) Populous non-southern state legislators earn less than legislators in populous southern states

56) When drawing legislative districts: A) Race can be used so long as it does not create majority-minority districts B) Race can be used to justify violating "one person, one vote" C) Race can be used so long as it is not the predominant factor D) Race can never be used

C) Race can be used so long as it is not the predominant factor

26) In addition to a preamble and appendix, how many articles are contained in the Texas Constitution? A) 27 B) 10 C) 776 D) 17

D) 17

82) Texas has ____ full-time state government employees. A) 333,083 B) 1,394,252 C) 242,000 D) 278,324

D) 278,324

3) As of 2014, Hispanics made up about ________ percent of the state's population. A) 27 B) 14 C) 52 D) 39

D) 39

43) Based on efforts to increase minority representation in Texas, how many Hispanic legislators served in the Texas legislature in 2015? A) 17 B) 37 C) 49 D) 41

D) 41

25 Discussion of the judicial department is in Article ________ of the Texas Constitution. A) 2 B) 3 C) 4 D) 5

D) 5

5) Which region of the state is known primarily for its production of citrus fruits and vegetables? A) Gulf Coast region B) Central Corridor C) Plains region D) Border area

D) Border area

87) Courts differ from legislatures in that: A) Courts are easier to access B) Courts are not checked by the executive branch C) Courts are not governed by procedural rules D) Courts cannot initiate policy changes

D) Courts cannot initiate policy changes

74) What office was created under the 1836 constitution to administer state-owned land? A) Texas Land Board B) Texas Department of Agriculture C) Texas Bureau of Land Management D) General Land Office

D) General Land Office

54) Who calls a special session in Texas? A) Lt. Governor B) Speaker of the House C) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court D) Governor

D) Governor

44) Which of the following statements about reapportionment is NOT accurate? A) It may cause a state to gain or lose congressional representatives. B) It is based on the federal census. C) It redraws the congressional district boundaries within the state. D) It occurs every 15 years.

D) It occurs every 15 years.

23) According to Figure 2.1, in our textbook, one check the judicial branch has on the legislative branch is A) Overriding of vetoes B) Power to pardon C) Approval of federal judges D) Judicial review of statutes

D) Judicial review of statutes

70) In 2014, ________ was elected Attorney General of Texas. A) Bill Clements B) Wendy Davis C) Greg Abbott D) Ken Paxton

D) Ken Paxton

20) Minority groups in Texas: A) Are shrinking due to an influx of whites in other states B) Have no influence on politics and policy decisions C) Are primarily concentrated in rural areas D) Outnumber non-Hispanic whites

D) Outnumber non-Hispanic whites

89) If a court makes a ruling based on a previous ruling from another court, this is an example of the principle of: A) Prior restraint B) Objectivity C) Policy diffusion D) Stare decisis

D) Stare decisis

67) Unlike most other statewide governing offices, what governing body has varied greatly in form and structure over the years? A) Texas Department of Agriculture B) Office of the Attorney General C) General Land Office D) State Board of Education

D) State Board of Education

27) Why are state constitutions amended more frequently than the U.S. Constitution? A) The legislature can approve state constitutional amendments. B) Voter initiatives have a higher rate of approval than those amendments proposed by state legislatures. C) The U.S. Constitution has built-in limits. D) State constitutions deal with a wider range of functions.

D) State constitutions deal with a wider range of functions.

48) Which of the following is the most likely reason a legislator would attach a closed rider to a bill? A) The legislator wants to draw media attention B) The legislator wants to require a three-fifths vote for approval C) The legislator wants to kill a bill early in the session D) The legislator wants to avoid public scrutiny

D) The legislator wants to avoid public scrutiny

24 Which of the following is NOT a power of the Texas legislature? A) propose constitutional amendments B) propose laws C) oversight of state agencies D) appoint judges

D) appoint judges

64) Most of the work of the attorney general involves ________ rather than ________. A) criminal law; civil law B) judicial review; prosecution C) ceremonial functions; executive functions D) civil law; criminal law

D) civil law; criminal law

98) Which method of judicial selection is a system left over from colonial America? A) nonpartisan election B) appointment by the governor C) partisan election D) election by the legislature

D) election by the legislature

73) Which of the following informal qualifications for governor is nearly universal in Texas? A) military service B) fraternal membership C) holding a law degree D) having previously held elected office

D) having previously held elected office

94) As of 2015, ________ of Texans identify as white or non-Hispanic while ________ of all judges in the state identify as Hispanic. A) 43.5%; 15% B) 43.5%; 43.5% C) 15%; 43.5% D) 23%; 15%

A) 43.5%; 15%

18) As of 2014, white non-Hispanics made up about ________ percent of the state's population. A) 44 B) 54 C) 64 D) 34

A) 44

36) Between 1975 and 2013, the Texas legislature proposed 299 amendments for voter approval, and of these, voters accepted ________ percent. A) 85 B) 44 C) 73 D) 65

A) 85

55) As of the 2010 census, there were about 811,147 constituents per state senate district in Texas. What is the only state that had more constituents per senator? A) California B) Florida C) New York D) Massachusetts

A) California

28) Which of the following is a national government power and NOT a state power? A) Declare war B) Provide education C) Regulate intrastate commerce D) establish criminal laws

A) Declare war

100) The strict procedural rules that govern courts: A) Disallow evidence gathered in an illegal manner B) Limit access to the courts C) Allow other states to introduce policy questions D) Allow them to initiate policies

A) Disallow evidence gathered in an illegal manner

40) The practice of redrawing district boundaries for political advantage is known as A) Gerrymandering. B) Reapportionment. C) Reallocation. D) Redistricting.

A) Gerrymandering.

22) The framers of the 1876 Texas constitution adopted a plural executive system in order to: A) Limit the power of the governor B) Increase oversight of state agencies C) Make the executive branch the dominant of the three D) Provide an additional check on the legislative branch

A) Limit the power of the governor

96) Judges must base their decisions only on the federal and state constitutions, statutes, and earlier court decisions. This concept is called: A) Objectivity B) Stare basis C) Originality D) Procedure

A) Objectivity

50) According to Table 3.6, in your textbook, does the Texas House or Senate have a greater proportion of Safe Republican seats? A) Senate B) House C) They both have an equal proportion of Safe Republican seats D) Cannot be determined

A) Senate

81) The ______ reviews most state agencies every 12 years and recommends changes. A) Sunset Advisory Commission B) Texas Legislative Council C) Office of State-Federal Relations D) NBA

A) Sunset Advisory Commission

16) Of the six flags flown over Texas, which represented republics? A) Texas and Mexico B) Spain and France C) the USA and France D) France and Mexico

A) Texas and Mexico

7) Which of the following statements about Spanish influence in Texas is FALSE? A) The Spanish introduced slavery to Texas B) The Spanish introduced horses, sheep, and cattle to Texas C) Many rivers, features, and cities still have Spanish names D) Current landownership laws still reflect early Spanish legal systems

A) The Spanish introduced slavery to Texas

34) Which of these statements best describes the Texas constitution? A) The Texas constitution is long and has been amended often B) The Texas constitution is short but has been amended often C) The Texas constitution is long but lacks detail D) The Texas constitution is short but overly detailed

A) The Texas constitution is long and has been amended often

19) What is the main reason why early petitions by the Republic of Texas to join the United States were rejected? A) There was controversy over Texas becoming a slave state. B) Texas residents favored monarchy, not republicanism. C) The American government feared sparking a war with Spain. D) Texas was composed almost entirely of Catholic Spanish speakers.

A) There was controversy over Texas becoming a slave state.

8) Which of the following characterizes the evolution of the political climate in Texas over the past 50 years? A) While partisanship has shifted, ideology has remained relatively constant B) Both partisanship and ideology have changed significantly C) While ideology has shifted, partisanship has remained relatively constant D) Neither partisanship nor ideology have changed significantly

A) While partisanship has shifted, ideology has remained relatively constant

91) The Texas Government Code allows jurisdictions to draw upon which source(s) for jury selection? A) both registered voters and licensed drivers B) registered voters C) jury pool volunteers only D) licensed drivers only

A) both registered voters and licensed drivers

62) Which of the following defines tenure of office? A) both the ability of elected officials to succeed themselves and the term length B) the term length C) the term limit D) the ability of elected officials to succeed themselves

A) both the ability of elected officials to succeed themselves and the term length

10) Currently, the top export of Texas is A) computers and electronics. B) cows. C) machinery. D) petroleum and coal products.

A) computers and electronics.

99) What are the two kinds of county courts? A) constitutional county courts and county courts at law B) misdemeanor courts and felony courts C) primary and secondary jurisdiction courts D) trial courts and appellate courts

A) constitutional county courts and county courts at law

33) The system that provides for a sharing of powers between the national government and the state governments is known as A) federalism. B) unitarianism. C) separation of powers. D) confederation.

A) federalism.

46) In any given legislative session, most bills A) make only minor changes to existing law. B) die in conference committee. C) clear every hurtle, but are vetoed by the governor. D) pass committee muster but are voted down after floor debate.

A) make only minor changes to existing law

21) A belief that government is a positive instrument for change and a means for promoting the general welfare of all citizens defines which political subculture? A) moralistic B) neoconservative C) individualistic D) traditionalistic

A) moralistic

17) Which of the following elements dominated the land-based economy of post-Reconstruction Texas and is/are still important today? A) oil, cotton, and cattle B) oil and cattle only C) cotton and oil only D) cattle only

A) oil, cotton, and cattle

71) The governor of Texas's salary is ________ per year. A) $179,000 B) $150,000 C) $90,000 D) $70,000

B) $150,000

52) Given the demographic makeup of the Texas legislature, which of the following people would be most likely to hold a seat? A) An Asian American B) A lawyer C) A 28-year old D) A schoolteacher

B) A lawyer

63) Which executive-level office serves as chief counsel to the governor and state agencies? A) Commissioner of Agriculture B) Attorney General C) Commissioner of the General Land Office D) Comptroller of Public Accounts

B) Attorney General

42) How often does reapportionment and redistricting of seats occur in the House of Representatives? A) Every 8 years B) Every 10 years C) Every 2 years D) Every 4 years

B) Every 10 years

35) After World War I, the Supreme Court required states to adhere to basic protections in the Bill of Rights through the use of clauses in the ________ Amendment. A) Tenth B) Fourteenth C) Eleventh D) Eighteenth

B) Fourteenth

60) Who is the current Governor of Texas? A) Joe Straus B) Greg Abbott C) Ann Richards D) Rick Perry

B) Greg Abbott

6) The most economically diversified region in Texas is the: A) Border area B) Metroplex C) Central corridor D) Plains region

B) Metroplex

92) Judges appointed by governors are typically: A) More responsive and more competent B) More competent and less responsive C) Less independent and less responsive D) More independent and more responsive

B) More competent and less responsive

85) The Frontline program entitled "Justice for Sale" highlighted how justices on Texas' supreme court had received: A) Between $3 million and $4 million in donations B) More than $9 million in donations C) Approximately $475,000 in donations D) Almost a $1 million in donations

B) More than $9 million in donations

66) Which state pays its governor the highest salary? A) Nevada B) Pennsylvania C) Texas D) Maine

B) Pennsylvania

78) Texas is an example of a plural executive system because: A) The governor also presides over the State House of Representatives B) Power is divided among several elected officials C) The governor appoints the lieutenant governor D) There are two governors

B) Power is divided among several elected officials

75) Who was the first Texas governor to be elected to three consecutive four-year terms? A) Bill Clements B) Rick Perry C) Dolph Briscoe D) George W. Bush

B) Rick Perry

59) The major criteria for distinguishing major from minor bills is: A) The cost costs associated with the bill B) The level of conflict the bill is expected to generate within the legislature C) The chamber in which the bill originates D) The importance the Lieutenant Governor places on the bill

B) The level of conflict the bill is expected to generate within the legislature

58) Which of the following is NOT among the powers of the speaker of the house in the Texas House of Representatives? A) bill referral to committees B) appoints all members of standing committees C) committee chair appointment D) appoints members to calendar committee

B) appoints all members of standing committees

51) To be eligible to run for the Texas Senate you must A) have resided in the state for at least three years. B) be at least 26 years of age. C) have resided in the district for at least two years. D) meet a minimum income qualification.

B) be at least 26 years of age.

13) Political Action Committees or PACs engage in activities such as A) covering candidates for media outlets. B) collect money for campaign contributions. C) developing pieces of legislation. D) appointing candidates to public office.

B) collect money for campaign contributions.

38) What does the Texas Constitution contain that the U.S. Constitution does not? A) Bill of Rights B) equal rights amendment C) separation of powers D) legislative member qualifications

B) equal rights amendment

57) To be eligible to run for the Texas House you must A) be a registered voter. B) have resided in the district for a minimum of 12 months. C) be at least 26 years of age. D) have resided in the state for three years.

B) have resided in the district for a minimum of 12 months.

12) Between 1900 and 1950, what was the primary factor that accelerated the demographic shift from a rural society to an urban society in Texas? A) WWI and WWII B) oil C) the automobile D) the Civil Rights movement

B) oil

65) Why is the Texas governor's power exceptionally weak as compared to that of the governors of some other states? A) tenure limits B) plural executive system C) lack of a line-item veto D) inability to appoint any administrative heads

B) plural executive system

15) In terms of population size, Texas ranks ________ in the nation in comparison to other states. A) first B) second C) third D) fourth

B) second

2) In terms of total land size, Texas ranks ________ in the nation in comparison to other states. A) first B) second C) third D) fourth

B) second

69) In the process known as ________, the governor must clear his or her appointments with the state senator from the appointee's home district. A) "good politics" B) senatorial courtesy C) political reciprocity D) the "southern custom"

B) senatorial courtesy

29) Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution contains the ________ clause establishing the U.S. Constitution as the law of the land that no federal or state law may violate. A) preemptive B) supremacy C) primacy D) establishment

B) supremacy

49) What is the first formal act of the Texas House at the beginning of a legislative session? A) calling in the governor to give a speech B) ratifying the results of the most recent election C) electing a speaker of the house D) designating a sergeant at arms

C) electing a speaker of the house

88) The highest percentage of Texas inmates are A) female B) under 18 years of age C) males D) Native American.

C) males

53) The House Insurance Committee is hearing testimony from the Texas Department of Insurance about the effectiveness of recent procedural changes within the department. Which legislative function is this committee demonstrating? A) lawmaking B) management C) oversight D) budget and taxation

C) oversight

30) The Spanish constitutions contributed what key element to the political climate of Texas? A) limited government B) decentralization of decision making C) property rights for women D) decreased executive power

C) property rights for women

9) The "carpetbagger's constitution" reversed which right of whites who had participated in the Civil War? A) habeas corpus B) freedom of assembly C) right to vote D) right to bear arms

C) right to vote

1) Which political subculture was a natural extension of the practice of slavery? A) individualistic B) neoconservative C) traditionalistic D) moralistic

C) traditionalistic

4) The war that led to the declaration of the Republic of Texas began A) within months of the arrival of the first American settlers. B) when the Spanish government imposed restrictions on American settlers. C) when Texas and Mexico forces fought over a small six-pound canon. D) with the battle at the Alamo.

C) when Texas and Mexico forces fought over a small six-pound canon.

39) Because of high levels of controversy surrounding redistricting, about a dozen states use this method of redistricting: A) committees composed of equal numbers of Senate Democrats and Republicans. B) having citizens vote among competing redistricting plans. C) state boards appointed by the governor. D) independent commissions.

D) independent commissions.

14) Mexican governments provided generous land grants to any family willing to settle in the state. The sitio or legua each family could receive was how large? A) 640 acres or a section B) 40 acres and a mule C) 1,500 acres D) more than 4,000 acres

D) more than 4,000 acres

37) Except in the state of Delaware, two steps are involved in changing constitutions: A) legislative initiative and approval by constitutional convention. B) voter initiative and legislative approval. C) a constitutional convention and citizen approval. D) proposal of amendments and citizen approval.

D) proposal of amendments and citizen approval.

68) Which of the following is NOT among the formal qualifications for the office of governor in Texas? A) 30 years of age B) resident of the state for five years C) U.S. citizenship D) registered voter

D) registered voter

76) Which office created in 1876 functions as the chief fiscal and revenue forecasting office and is responsible for investing state funds? A) the Texas Department of Treasury B) the general accounting office C) the office of treasurer D) the comptroller of public accounts

D) the comptroller of public accounts

31) Most countries in the world have a ________ form of government. A) binary B) confederal C) federal D) unitary

D) unitary