TX Gov InQuizitive 7

What best explains why the filibuster in the Texas Senate is such a useful tool?

It creates greater pressure on the legislation to compromise because of time.

In what way has Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick most significantly differed from his predecessors in the office of lieutenant governor?

party polarization

During a ___________ of the Texas legislature, a governor has limited influence, but during a ___________, legislators may only work on issues identified as important by the governor.

regular session, special session

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

regular session- a 140-day period occurring only in odd-numbered years special session- a 30-day legislative session focused on governor's agenda biennial- occurs every two years bicameral- composed of two chambers or houses

Place in order the following steps a bill must take before it becomes law.

-introduction -referral -consideration by a standing committee -floor action -conference committee between House and Senate -signature by the governor

How long is the regular session of the Texas legislative?

140 days, every odd-numbered year

The ____ members of the Texas legislature meet in regular session for __________ each odd-numbered year. In the 2021 legislative session, they successfully passed __________ of all proposed legislation.

181, 140 calendar days, less than 20 percent

Starting in the ______ legislative session, committee chair appointment decisions became _______ partisan. Lieutenant Governor ________ ended his predecessor's practice of awarding committee chairs to Democrats in _______ proportion to their numbers in the Senate.

2015, more, Patrick, equal

Why are members of the Texas legislature hesitant to exercise their power to remove a member of the legislature even if that member is overwhelmingly controversial or associated with scandal?

Legislators do not want to be seen as overriding the will of the voters.

Why are delay tactics like chubbing and the filibuster effective tools for forcing compromise or killing a bill?

They use up critical time in the legislative session.

Where do most bills die during each legislative session?

committee action

Why would a veto threat from the governor be a very effective tool in getting the Texas legislature to compromise on a bill with the executive branch?

An actual veto from the governor is nearly impossible to overcome by the legislature

Match each formal requirement to be a member with either the Texas Senate, Texas House of Representatives, or both

Both: -US citizen -qualified voter -resident of district for at least one year Texas House of Representatives: -resident of TX for at least 2 years -21 y/o Texas Senate: -resident of TX for at least 5 years -26 y/o

Which of the following are actions of standing committees in the Texas legislature?

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

Imagine that you are a member of the minority party in the state senate, with the opposition party controlling majorities in both chambers. You have limited abilities to stop legislation with which you disagree. As you approach the end of the legislative session, you hope to at least kill some of the worst bills. Which of the following strategies can you use to try to change or kill bills?

Correct: -chubbing -filibuster Incorrect: -filing an ethics complaint -redistricting

Select all of the following ways in which legislators can attempt to force negotiation on a bill by slowing down the legislative process.

Correct: -filibuster -chubbing -objecting to a local and consent bill Incorrect: -amending legislation -vetoing legislation

Which of the following are pieces of evidence for the argument that being a member of the legislature is a full-time job, even if it is technically considered part-time?

Correct: -interim committee meetings -special sessions -constituent service Incorrect: -meeting with media

The lieutenant governor is not formally a senator and cannot vote except to break a tie, yet they have great powers over the Senate. Why?

Correct: -power similar to those of the Speaker of the House -Senate establishes rules that give the lieutenant governor power

In what ways can a member of the public act as a lobbyist?

Correct: making phone calls writing letters or emails scheduling a meeting Incorrect: introducing legislation

After the 2010 Census, Texas received four additional seats in Congress. After legislative redistricting, three of these seats were won by Republicans and one was won by a Democrat. Using your knowledge of Texas government and the information in the chart, which statement offers an accurate observation about redistricting in Texas in 2011?

Gerrymandering created different political outcomes than the population change would have suggested.

Prior to a Supreme Court case, Texas and many other southern states were required to get changes to election maps and election laws approved by the Department of Justice. What is the name of this case?

Shelby County v. Holder

The ________ is required to redistrict after every _______.

State legislature, census

______ Texans are overrepresented in both the Texas House and the Texas Senate. ________ Texans are somewhat underrepresented in the Texas Senate but more proportionately represented in the Texas House. __________ Texans are deeply underrepresented in both the Texas House and the Texas Senate.

White, Black, Latino

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.—Article IV, Section 4, U.S. Constitution In this passage, the termRepublicanmost likely has which of the following meanings?

a system in which individuals are elected to make decisions on behalf of constituents

If a review of a legislator's record shows that they sponsor over 400 bills during any given legislative session, it may be a sign that the legislator is engaged in what activity to help their chances for re-election?

claiming credit

Because saving time during the legislative session is critical, it is common practice to file what kind of bill, which allows for simultaneous consideration of legislation in both chambers of the legislature?

companion bill

What is the first step a person can take if they want to begin to have an impact on what state legislators do?

identify who represents them and what they believe

Texas legislators have powers beyond passing laws. Match each power to its best definition.

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 direct and supervisory powers: the legislature's power over the executive branch, most commonly through appropriations 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

Leaders of the two chambers of the legislature are selected in different ways. The _________ is elected statewide, while the ___________ is selected by members of their chamber.

lieutenant governor, Speaker of the House

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

lieutenant governor, speaker of the house

The governor of Texas can use the veto in various ways to reject acts by the legislature, and different types of vetoes have specific features. Label each description with the type of veto that it best and most closely describes.

line item veto- used on select portions of omnibus spending bills post-adjournment veto- cannot be overridden by the legislature veto- rejection of legislation that can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the legislature

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

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

non-legislative 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

The Texas Constitution creates a _________ form of government with a ________ legislature made up of officials elected in ______________ to serve during regular legislative sessions that last for _____________.

republican, bicameral, November of even numbered years, 140 calendar days

The number of people in each legislative district must be roughly equal based on the total number of what?

residents

If the ______________ adjourns the regular session after the census without redrawing district maps, the _______________ is responsible for completing the task.

state legislature, Legislative Redistricting Board

Which of the following is the best way to understand the way Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has run the Texas Senate since his election in 2015?

strict partisanship

Committee chairs will pigeonhole a bill by never putting it on the committee agenda to be considered.

true

The _______ was eliminated by _______ in 2015 when Republicans could not collect enough votes to overcome Democratic objections to bills in the Texas Senate.

two thirds rule, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick