POL Chapter 2
What is characteristic of a federal system?
It provides for a balance of power and shared responsibilities between a national government and state governments.
Which of the following describes the Interstate Commerce Clause?
It's meaning and application has changed over time.
Written in 1875, the Texas Constitution particularly reflected the strong influence of ____________.
Landowners.
Article 3 of the Texas Constitution refers to the _____________ branch.
Legislative.
In all states, the ______ can propose changes to the state constitution.
Legislature.
Initiative-generated amendments are
Less likely to succeed than those proposed by state legislatures
The 1845 statehood constitution provided for:
Limited executive authority.
Which statement is true regarding the freedoms identified in state constitutions and the U.S. Constitution?
Many state constitutions provide more freedoms than the national constitution.
How did later constitutions handle the provisions of the 1845 statehood constitution?
Most of its provisions were included in later constitutions.
Which statement best describes most state constitutions?
Most state constitutions are lengthy, especially when compared with the federal constitution.
In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court provided a broad interpretation of the ______ Clause, giving Congress the authority to pass laws that it deemed appropriate so long as they are consistent with the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
Necessary and Proper
Under President Nixon, state governments were given more discretion in program administration and revenue sharing. The federal--state relationship during this time is referred to as ______________.
New Federalism.
Ballot wording in constitutional amendment elections is
Often intentionally noninstructive and misleading.
The constitutional principle that holds that the power granted in state constitutions rests with the people is known as _______________.
Popular Sovereignty.
What does the phrase "separation of powers" mean?
Power is divided among the three branches of government.
Requirements that out-of-state students pay higher tuition rates for higher education is an example of an exemption to the ______ Clause.
Privileges and Immunities
Which clause in Article 4 of the U.S. Constitution means, generally, that a state cannot treat its citizens differently from citizens of other states?
Privileges and Immunities
Most state constitutional amendments are:
Proposed by the state legislatures and approved by voters.
Identify the two steps involved in the constitutional amendment process for most states' constitutions.
Proposing amendments and citizen approval.
What is the only non-elected official position in Texas?
Secretary of state
In order to "promote the general welfare of citizens," the federal government can provide money to state governments in exchange for states agreeing to certain standards. In the case of federal highway funding, states must agree to __________.
Set the legal drinking age to 21.
In a federal system of government, power is ______
Shared by national and state governments.
During President Clinton's time in office, federal--state relations were marked by a devolution of power, in which _______________.
States were given more authority on program construction and administration.
What part of the U.S. Constitution delegates or reserves some powers to the state governments or the people?
Tenth Amendment.
The Constitution gives the power to provide for copyrights to ______________.
The National Government.
How does the Texas Bill of Rights compare to the U.S. Bill of Rights?
The Texas Bill of Rights recognizes more individual liberties.
What stands in the way of broad changes to the Texas Constitution?
The conservative nature of Texas politics
Define the Federal System of Government.
The division of powers between a national government and regional governments.
Which of the following best describes social contract theory?
The idea that individuals have inalienable rights and willingly submit to government to protect these rights
How do most constitutions governing American states compare to the federal constitution?
They are longer with greater detail.
Which of the following is true of constitutions?
They structure government and divide and assign power.
Why did the framers of the U.S. Constitution separate powers and provide for a system of checks and balances?
They were afraid of concentrating power in the hands of a single person.
What is the function of statements on civil liberties in state constitutions?
To recognize basic freedoms.
True or false: Counties with larger cities can skew voter turnout on constitutional amendment elections.
True. Reason: If larger cities have issues on the ballot, particularly city offices, more citizens of those cities will turn out than citizens in other areas of a state, thereby giving those particular city citizens greater influence over amendment approval or disapproval.
In Texas, what is the legislature's role in proposing amendments to the state's constitution?
Two-thirds of each house in the Texas legislature must propose constitutional amendments.
According to legal experts and political theorists, which of the following most closely meets the "ideal characteristics" for a constitution?
U.S. Constitution
In the United States, the ____ _______________ both grants and denies powers to the national and state governments
U.S. Constitution
In what system of government are all functions centralized and controlled by the national government?
Unitary
Which of the following best describes the success of constitutional amendments in Texas?
Voters have approved most proposed amendments.
What can result from a poorly worded amendment proposal?
Voters may not understand the amendment and may accidentally vote in a way they did not intend. Voters may not understand the amendment and therefore may not cast a vote.
The 1999 Select Committee on Constitutional Revision found that the Texas Constitution
Was not in need of a general revision.
Most state constitutions create a weak ______ branch and a strong ______ branch.
Weak executives, strong legislatives
Which of the following statements best summarizes voters' responses to the constitutional amendment process in Texas?
Which of the following statements best summarizes voters' responses to the constitutional amendment process in Texas?
In 2015, the Texas legislature passed legislation allowing ______, greatly reducing local governments' ability to pass or enforce more strict regulation.
"Open carry" firearms.
Which of the following correctly identify an article of the Texas Constitution and the general topic it addresses?
- Article 17: amending the Constitution - Article 6: suffrage
Under Article 4 of the Texas Constitution, the executive branch consists of the:
- Attorney general. - Governor. - Lieutenant governor. - Commissioner of the general land office. - Comptroller of public accounts.
List State Powers.
- Conduct local, state, and national elections - Build and maintain infrastructure - Provide education - Administer family laws (Divorce/Marriage) - Establish criminal laws (except on the high seas) - Regulate banks and credits - Conduct public works - Protect property rights
What characteristics of the political culture in Texas are reflected in the current constitution of the state?
- Conservatism - Distrust of government
The level of detail in the Texas Constitution is problematic because it
- Contributes to the necessity for constant change to the constitution. - Contributes to the unwieldy length of the document. - Makes the constitution too inflexible.
Article 4 of the Texas Constitution:
- Describes the executive branch. - Sets the length of the governor's term.
The Due Process Clause requires states to ________.
- Follow certain rules and procedures. - Provide protection for citizens in criminal proceedings. - Treat all citizens equally.
What does the constitution establish?
- Fundamental rules in which nations and states govern - Structures how power is distributed within the national government and the states
As compared to the "average" state constitution, Texas's constitution
- Has more amendments. - Is longer.
Which of the following is true of the 1861 constitution?
- It contained a provision to secede from the Union. - It prohibited the emancipation of slaves. - It was essentially the same as the 1845 constitution.
Which of the following describe Article 2 of the Texas Constitution?
- It more explicitly refers to the separate checks on the branches of government than does the U.S. Constitution. - It discusses the separation of powers in Texas government.
Which of the following was part of the state constitution of Coahuila y Tejas in 1827?
- No recognition of slavery - A unicameral legislature - A state religion
Article 5 of the Texas Constitution:
- Outlines the qualifications for judges in Texas. - Describes the judicial branch.
List National Powers.
- Punish offenses against the the laws of the nation - Lay and collect taxes for the common defense of the general welfare - Coin and Regulate money - Establish courts inferior to the U.S Supreme Court - Raise and support armies - Declare war - Define bankruptcy - Develop roads and postal services
The constitution of 1876:
- Reflected the traditionalistic/individualistic political culture of the state. - Restricted the powers of the legislature. - Reestablished many statewide and local elected offices.
What is the primary objective of the written constitution?
- Structure government - Assign power - Limit Power It grants and denies powers to both the national and state governments.
The current Texas Constitution:
- Supports the idea of limited government. - Is compatible with the political climate of the state. - Is in line with voter's desires for decentralization.
Which of the following identify general criticisms that can be made of the Texas Constitution?
- Unclear organization - Constant change - Overly long
What are the four areas of the U.S Constitution and the court's interpretations?
1. Necessary and Proper Clause vs. the Tenth Amendment 2. Interstate Commerce Clause 3. Equal Protection and Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment 4. The power to tax and spend to promote the general welfare
The Equal Protection Clause and Due Process Clause of the ______________ Amendment extend protections of the Bill of Rights to the actions of state and local governments.
14th Amendment.
On average, state constitutions have been amended approximately ______ times.
150.
When was the first constitution to govern Anglos in Texas ratified?
1824
Which Texas constitution is called the "carpetbagger's constitution"?
1869
In what year did the current Texas Constitution become effective?
1876
Article 5 of the Texas Constitution provides for how many high courts?
2.
Article 3 of the Texas Constitution states that the senate is composed of ______ members and the house of representatives is to be ______ members.
31; 150
In its history, Texas has had ______ constitutions.
5.
The Republic of Texas Constitution of 1836 was:
A composite of the U.S. Constitution and the constitutions of several southern states.
The 1836 constitution of the Republic of Texas provided for:
A unitary form of government.
Under Article 4 of the Texas Constitution, how many positions in the executive branch are elected?
All.
Which phrase best describes a constitutional convention as used in most states?
An assembly of citizens who may propose general revisions to the state constitution
Voters are least likely to vote on a constitutional amendment when the election is:
An odd-year election.
The Texas Bill of Rights is Article ________ of the Texas Constitution.
Article 1
Article _____, Section _____, grants Congress the right to tax and spend to promote general welfare.
Article 1, Section 8
Which phrase best describes the ideal constitution, according to the textbook?
Broad and flexible
The Interstate Commerce Clause is an article in the U.S. Constitution that gives ______ the exclusive power to regulate commerce between the states.
Congress
Based on the current political culture of Texas, the constitution will likely
Continue to be amended in a piecemeal process.
What are constitutions?
Contracts between the government and the people.
The "marble cake" comparison is used to describe ______ federalism, which began in the 1930s.
Cooperative Federalism.
The model of federal-state relations in which the federal government began to supply money to state and local governments to provide assistance to citizens is known as ____________________.
Cooperative Federalism.
In a plural executive system, power is _______.
Divided among several statewide elected officials.
The term that refers to taxes dedicated to a specific expenditure is:
Earmarked.
Article 7 of the Texas Constitution addresses:
Education.
As compared to other states, Texas's bill of rights is:
Equally permissive.
The 1824 constitution was ______ in concept.
Federalist
Advocates of gay marriage argued that Section 2 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which stated that no state must accept another state's definition of marriage, violated the ______ of the Constitution.
Full Faith Credit
Which clause of Article 4 of the U.S. Constitution requires one state to recognize a divorce concluded in another state?
Full Faith and Credit
Which clause of Article 4 of the U.S. Constitution requires one state to recognize a divorce concluded in another state?
Full Faith and Credit.
Over time, the basic rights guaranteed by the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause have ______________ _________.
Gradually expanded.
Which of the following statements about political culture is accurate?
It drives institutions.
As compared to the U.S. Constitution, how does the Texas Constitution address the system of checks and balances?
It is more specific.
Which of these statements is most accurate regarding the Texas Constitution?
It is one of the longest state constitutions in the nation.
Who or what has the right to decide what falls under the privileges and immunities of citizenship and what does not?
It is the subject of continuing debate.
What does the supremacy clause do?
It makes the U.S. Constitution the supreme law of the land.
