Chapter 2 Texas

How do both the U.S. and Texas constitutions seek to prevent tyranny?

checks and balances separation of powers natural self-interests

State constitutions undertake which of the following?

clarify the source of a state's political power, divide authority within the political institutions of the state, specify the limits of the state government.

Which of the following is one of the most important themes of the Constitution of 1876?

limited spending

Which elements were present in the Constitution of 1876?

limited state government powers promotion of agrarian interests

Relative to the U.S. Constitution, the Texas Constitution is ________ and adopts a tone of _________ governance.

longer, limited

For the Texas government to establish a personal income tax, what conditions would need to be met?

passage of bill by legislature, and approval by governor, approval by registered voters, revenue must be dedicated to education and tax relief

The authors of the Constitution of 1876 gave local schools control of education and allowed parents to choose whether or not to send their children to school. What goal did this accomplish?

prevent the use of tax dollars for racially integrated schools

Which factors gave the Tea Party high rates of success in influencing the outcomes of recent amendment elections in Texas?

unity behind an issue low voter turnout

What is the correct definition of unicameral?

A legislature that has only one body

Federal judges are __ for life with approval of the __, whereas the Texas Constitution provides judges be __ in order to allow public control

Appointed Senate Elected

The civil liberties protections in ____ have largely been incorporated to apply to states through the due process clause of the ____

Bill of Rights Fourteenth Amendment

Which of the following statements about similarities between the Texas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution are true?

Both protect the rights of individual citizens. Both establish the people as the foundational source of government power. Both provide the power for branches to limit the actions of one another. Both give the distinct branches of government autonomous powers.

Match the clause characteristic to the amendment in which it is found.

15th Amendment -Bans race discrimination in voting 14th Amendment -Defines who is a citizen -Guarantees equal rights for all citizens -Forces states to follow due process to remove rights 13th Amendment -Abolished Slavery

What is the meaning of the term impeachment?

A charge of wrongdoing

Match the each characteristic or provision to the constitution it belongs to: the Texas Constitution of 1845, the Texas Constitution of 1861, or the Texas Constitution of 1869.

Constitution of 1845 -provided for possible emancipation of enslaved people -detailed the original agreement for Texas's statehood Constitution of 1869 -created a much more powerful governor -was heavily influenced by Radical Republicans Constitution of 1861 -declared allegiance to the Confederacy -made it illegal to free enslaved people

In the transition from Spanish law to _______, the Texas government shifted state ownership of _______ to private ownership.

English Common Law, Mineral Rights

Following the example of the U.S. Constitution, the Texas Constitution offered few specifics on the judicial branch. True of False?

False

The U.S. Constitution specifies how powers are granted to particular institutions within the states. True or False?

False

Which amendments in the U.S. Constitution specify the relationship between the federal government and state governments?

Fourteenth Amendment, Tenth Amendment

What effect did the Texas Constitution's creation of decentralized boards and districts outside the governor's authority have on the state?

It created a system responsive to special interests.

How do the Texas and U.S. constitutions approach the issue of impeachment?

It is easier to impeach an individual in Texas than in the national government.

How does the plural executive, as specified in Article 4 of the Texas Constitution, influence Texas government?

It protects against concentration of power. It ensures that each member of the plural executive has an independent base of power.

The Texas Declaration of Independence leaned heavily on the ideas of which of the following people?

John Locke Thomas Jefferson

Why is voter participation in Texas constitutional amendment elections so low?

Many amendments are insignificant to voters. There are no candidates on the ballot. Elections are held on off years of general elections

Which statement best explains the state constitution's guarantee of a republican form of government?

People elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

What is the most consequential way in which Presidential Reconstruction differed from Congressional Reconstruction?

Presidential reconstruction focused on returning the status quo of the past

In 1824, settlers coming to Texas from the United States stopped being under the authority of the U.S. Constitution and instead were governed by the Mexican national constitution. Which aspects of the Mexican national constitution of 1824 differed from the U.S. Constitution? Which aspects were the same?

Same the separation of powers protection of state powers a bicameral legislature Different the role of religion the selection of the president

Which statement best explains why certain states have the longest state constitutions?

States with narrowly written and restrictive constitutions generally have the longest state constitutions

Which statement accurately portrays the tax burden in Texas?

Texans still contribute about a twelfth of their income to state taxes

Which of the following is true about the goals of Texas during its time as an independent republic?

Texans wanted to join the United States.

Place the following events in the history of Texas in order from oldest to most recent.

Texas's independence from Mexico state of Texas joins the United States Civil War Fourteenth Amendment ratified Grange movement influences new Texas Constitution Texas Equal Rights Amendment added to the state constitution

How does Article I of the Texas Constitution specify Texas's relationship with the United States?

The Texas Constitution is subject to the U.S. Constitution.

Why did Texas declare independence from Mexico in 1836?

The influx of American immigrants undermined Mexican control. Mexico restricted Texans' civil liberties.

Before voters participate in a constitutional amendment election, what step must happen first?

The legislature votes to put the amendment on the ballot

Which of the following best characterizes the "Radical Republicans" of the post-Civil War era?

They pushed the adoption of African American suffrage and extended the military occupation of the South.

Which of the following characterized the "Radical Republicans" of the post-Civil War era?

They pushed the adoption of African American suffrage and extended the military occupation of the South. They sought to exclude former secessionists from being able to vote or hold elected office.

The push to rewrite the Texas Constitution in the 1970s emerged from which of the following?

a bribery scandal

Which of the following is the most accurate characterization of the current Texas Constitution?

a long and complex collection of specifically written policy

Which of the following aspects of the Texas Constitution are similar to provisions in the U.S. Constitution?

establishes the distribution of power, vests the people with the foundational power of a government, protects the rights of individual citizens

Which constitutional provisions were included in the Constitution of 1866 to bring it into compliance with Presidential Reconstruction?

granting freedmen rights of property, repudiating the state's war debt

Which of the following characteristics have been central in all of Texas's constitutions since Texas joined the United States?

individual rights division of power strong popular control federalism

How do the U.S. and Texas constitutions seek to prevent tyranny?

separation of powers, checks and balances, utilize self-interest of branches

Which of these have served as sources of frustration for states in their relationship with the federal government?

supremacy clause necessary and proper clause Fourteenth Amendment

In recent years, most proposed constitutional amendments have been approved. The amendments that fail typically have to do with which of the following?

taxation

From which of the following does the city of Dallas derive its authority?

the Texas Constitution, the citizens of Texas

Which aspects of the Mexican Constitution differ from those of the U.S. Constitution?

the selection of the president, a protection of religious freedom

Which freedoms can be found in the Texas Constitution but not in the U.S. Constitution?

victims' rights, efficient public schools