Texas Politics 2015 2016 13th Edition Newell Test Bank

Texas Politics 2015 2016 13th Edition
Newell Test Bank

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Name: Class: Date:
Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

Multiple Choice
1. When the Texas legislature passes legislation that delegates public programs to nonpublic service providers, what is the
legislature doing?
a. privatizing
b. publicizing
c. socializing
d. nationalizing
e. localizing
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 143
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: TXPO.NEWE.16.6.6 - LO6
2. The Texas legislature has biennial sessions, which means it meets once every _____.
a. two years
b. year
c. three years
d. six months
e. four years
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 143-144
TXPO.NEWE.16.6.2 - LO2
3. What name is given to the unifying philosophy that holds laws together?
a. policy
b. publication
c. execution
d. reapportionment
e. casework
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 144
4. What is the most obvious function of the legislature?

a. administering government programs
b. making public policy through the passage of legislation
c. supervising judges
d. nominating candidates for national office
e. settling election disputes
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 144
Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 1

Name: Class: Date:

5. A body that is empowered to create or amend a constitution is described as having a _____ function.
a. political
b. representative
c. judicial
d. constituent
e. electoral
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 144
6. When a legislator agrees to help a constituent who is facing a problem, what type of favor is the constituent taking part
in?
a. casework
b. oversight
c. making law
d. impeachment
e. logrolling
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 144
7. Constituents often overlook which type of legislator responsibility?

a. casework
b. legislative oversight
c. making laws
d. appropriating money
e. both casework and legislative oversight
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 144
8. The designation of geographic areas that are nearly equal in population for the purpose of electing legislators is known
as _____.
a. redistricting
b. privatization
c. publication
d. casework
e. bicameralization
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 145
9. The Texas Senate has _____ members.

Name: Class: Date:

a. 25
b. 31
c. 50
d. 117
e. 150
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 145
10. The Texas House of Representatives has _____ members.

a. 50
b. 100
c. 131
d. 150
e. 435
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 145
11. Members of the Texas Senate serve _____-year staggered terms, while members of the Texas House of
Representatives serve _____-year terms.
a. two; four
b. four; two
c. six; two
d. six; four
e. eight; four
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 145
12. Which state is the only one to have a unicameral legislature?

a. Nebraska
b. Texas
c. Kansas
d. Oklahoma
e. Missouri
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 145
13. Regular legislative sessions in Texas, which take place every other year, last for how many days?
a. 70
b. 140
Name: Class: Date:

c. 210
d. 280
e. 350
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 146
14. Special sessions of the Texas legislature called by the governor are limited to a maximum of _____ days.
a. 10
b. 30
c. 50
d. 60
e. 90
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 146
15. If both the legislature and the Legislative Redistricting Board fail to complete the reapportionment and redistricting
task, the matter is resolved by the _____.
a. governor
b. state Supreme Court
c. federal courts
d. comptroller of public accounts
e. Legislative Budget Board
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: 147
16. The process of drawing boundaries of electoral districts in such a way that one party or faction has an advantage over
another is called _____.
a. reapportionment
b. redistricting
c. filibustering
d. gerrymandering
e. logrolling
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 147
17. Which statement concerning party organization in the Texas legislature is not correct?
a. The liberalism or conservatism of a legislator is often more important than the party label.
b. Both Democrats and Republicans chair standing committees in the legislature.
c. The presiding officers of the legislature generally deemphasize partisanship.

Name: Class: Date:

d. Partisanship has absolutely no effect in the Texas legislature, especially in recent years.
e. Party divisions are much less important in the Texas legislature than in the U.S. Congress.
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 150
18. Since 1975, legislative salaries in Texas have been _____ per year.
a. $200
b. $2,500
c. $7,200
d. $15,600
e. $35,500
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: 152
19. The current salary for legislators in Texas was established by _____.
a. the governor
b. the legislature
c. the Texas Supreme Court
d. a constitutional amendment
e. the Legislative Budget Board
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 152
20. Which state has increased the salaries of its legislators at least once in the last thirty years?
a. Texas
b. Alabama
c. New Hampshire
d. Vermont
e. all of these
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 152
21. Members of the Texas Senate must be at least _____ years of age, whereas members of the Texas House must be at
least _____ years of age.
a. 21; 18
b. 23; 18
c. 23; 21
d. 26; 21
e. 30; 21
Name: Class: Date:

ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 153
22. Which of these describes the typical Texas legislator?

a. college-educated
b. a white male
c. married
d. a member of several civic organizations
e. all of these
ANSWER: e
REFERENCES: 153
23. Which group is underrepresented in the Texas legislature?

a. attorneys
b. farmers and ranchers
c. women
d. white males
e. businesspersons
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: 154
24. The median age of members in both chambers of the Texas legislature is between _____ and _____.
a. 50; 59
b. 40; 49
c. 30; 39
d. 20; 29
e. 60; 69
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 155
25. Slightly over half of all Texas legislators hold more than one college degree in which area?
a. law or business
b. medicine
c. social work
d. history
e. the social sciences
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 155
Name: Class: Date:
26. Over two-thirds of Texas legislators identify themselves as _____.

a. Protestant
b. Roman Catholic
c. Jewish
d. Muslim
e. athiest
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 155
27. Which of these is considered to be a "right" group that Texas legislators tend to be members of?
a. civic associations
b. business groups
c. professional associations
d. social clubs
e. all of these
ANSWER: e
REFERENCES: 155
28. The media in Texas tend to endorse candidates who are oriented toward _____.
a. business
b. labor unions
c. social justice
d. the environment
e. lawsuits
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 155-156
29. Appointing a committee member based on seniority refers to the practice of choosing the legislator who _____.
a. is the oldest
b. has served on the most committees
c. has served the most terms in the legislature
d. is the most distinguished
e. has the most money
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: 156
30. Which factor contributes to the high turnover that characterizes the Texas legislature?
a. running for higher office

Name: Class: Date:

b. retirement
c. taking a job in the private sector
d. reapportionment/redistricting
e. all of these
ANSWER: e
REFERENCES: 156
31. Chairpersons of committees in the Texas legislature are selected by _____.

a. the governor
b. the presiding officers
c. committee members
d. the full House and Senate
e. the seniority system, with the longest-serving committee member being the chair
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 156
32. Who is the presiding officer of the Texas Senate?

a. governor
b. lieutenant governor
c. speaker
d. attorney general
e. comptroller of public accounts
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 156
33. Who is the presiding officer of the Texas House of Representatives?

a. governor
b. lieutenant governor
c. speaker
d. attorney general
e. longest-serving member of the majority party in the chamber
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: 156
34. The procedural powers of the presiding officers of the Texas legislature include all of these except the power to _____.
a. call special sessions of the legislature
b. recognize legislators wishing to speak
c. determine the timetable for debate
d. refer bills to committees
Name: Class: Date:

e. appoint legislators to committees and appoint committee chairpersons
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 157
35. The speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is chosen by the _____.
a. electorate
b. governor
c. attorney general
d. lieutenant governor
e. members of the House
ANSWER: e
REFERENCES: 159
36. Which speaker was elected by a bipartisan coalition to preside over the Texas House in 2009?
a. Pete Laney
b. Billy Clayton
c. David Dewhurst
d. Joe Straus
e. Tom Craddick
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 159
37. If a bill has been introduced in the Texas legislature and the House passes one version while the Senate passes a
slightly different version, what becomes of the legislation?
a. The bill goes to the conference committee to be rewritten.
b. Both versions of the bill goes to the governor, who decides which version to sign.
c. The bill goes to the Calendars Committee to be rewritten.
d. Both versions go to the lieutenant governor, who decides which version to send to the governor.
e. Both versions go to the speaker of the House, who decides which version to send to the governor.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 160-161
38. Which body was created in 1949 to provide research and technical services to Texas legislators?
a. Legislative Budget Board
b. Legislative Budget Office
c. Legislative Audit Committee
d. Texas Legislative Council
e. Texas Education Board
ANSWER: d
Name: Class: Date:

REFERENCES: 162
39. Which type of legislation may not originate in the Texas Senate?
a. education bills
b. revenue bills
c. local bills
d. welfare bills
e. constitutional amendments
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: 167
40. When a bill is pigeonholed by a committee, it is _____.

a. given the highest priority
b. placed on the calendar
c. given a special rule by the rules committee
d. put on the bottom of a committee’s agenda, never to be seen again
e. earmarked to receive favorable consideration from the appropriations committee
ANSWER: e
REFERENCES: 169
41. Filibusters in the Texas Senate are most effective at what point during the legislative session?
a. at the end of the legislative session
b. at the beginning of the legislative session
c. somewhere near the middle of the legislative session
d. after the end of the legislative session
e. before the start of the legislative session
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 170
42. The governor’s veto power is almost absolute because _____.

a. the legislature often adjourns before the governor has had time to act on a bill
b. the Texas Constitution makes the governor very strong
c. the legislature has no procedure to override the governor’s veto
d. checks and balances are nonexistent
e. the presiding officers of the legislature have little power
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 172

Name: Class: Date:

43. The governor’s item veto applies only to _____.
a. education bills
b. revenue bills
c. appropriations bills
d. welfare bills
e. constitutional amendments
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: 172
44. Appropriations bills passed by the Texas legislature always take effect _____.
a. immediately
b. thirty days after the legislative session ends
c. ninety days after the legislative session ends
d. on January 1
e. on September 1
ANSWER: e
REFERENCES: 173
45. Historically, the Texas legislature has been dominated by which of these?
a. rural, conservative Democrats
b. urban, liberal Democrats
c. rural, conservative Republicans
d. urban, liberal Republicans
e. none of these; there has been no obvious dominance
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 174
46. Which of these is not an indirect power the Texas governor enjoys?
a. The governor can appoint many of his supporters into various state boards and commissions.
b. The governor can present messages to the state legislature and give recommendations on legislation.
c. The governor can serve as a liaison between Texas and other states as well as between Texas and the federal
government.
d. The governor can cast tie-breaking votes in the event of a tie in either the state House or the state Senate.
e. None of these answers are correct, as the governor enjoys all of these indirect powers.
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: 175-176
47. If the Texas legislature were to have annual legislative sessions, which of these would not be likely to occur?
a. Legislators would have more time to familiarize themselves with legislation.

Name: Class: Date:

b. The need for special sessions, particularly when a crisis arises between regular sessions, would be eliminated.
c. Legislators would have more opportunity for legislative oversight of the state bureaucracy.
d. Legislators would be better able to engage in long-range planning of public policy.
e. There would be less need for career politicians and more opportunity for part-time legislators to take office.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 178
48. Which of these would likely be a problem if the number of legislators in the Texas House were reduced?
a. Texas's physical size would require that legislators represent larger geographic areas.
b. As the population and geographic size of districts continued to grow, citizens would increasingly lose contact
with their representatives.
c. People would protest such a change, as it would go against years of Texas tradition.
d. Citizens would object, as they prefer to represented by someone from a small enough geographic and
population area to understand the needs of the people of the district.
e. All of these would likely be problems.
ANSWER: e
REFERENCES: 178
49. A proposal has been made to increase Texas's legislative salary to make it closer to the averages of states that pay their
legislators the most, which is about _____ per year.
a. $18,000
b. $38,000
c. $58,000
d. $78,000
e. $98,000
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: 178-179
50. To properly assess the Texas legislature in action, which question should be asked?
a. Did the legislature deal with major issues facing the state or mainly with trivial issues?
b. Did the appropriations bill reflect genuine statewide concerns or only the interests of the large lobbies?
c. Was the effect of current legislation on future social, economic, and physical resources considered, or did the
legislature live for today?
d. Were basic tests of democracy, representation, transparency, and fairness met?
e. All of these questions should be asked.
ANSWER: e
REFERENCES: 179
Subjective Short Answer

Name: Class: Date:
51. What functions besides making laws do legislatures have in government?

ANSWER: Students' answers will vary.
REFERENCES: 144
52. What effect did the 1964 U.S. Supreme Court cases Baker v. Carr and Reynolds v. Sims have on the issue of
legislative redistricting?
REFERENCES: 147
53. What are per-diem allowances? How might such allowances help Texas legislators overcome the low salaries they
make annually?

REFERENCES: 152
54. Why is seniority important in the Texas legislature?

REFERENCES: 156
55. What effect does a filibuster have on a proposed bill in the Texas Senate?
REFERENCES: 170
Essay
56. Compare and contrast the concepts of reapportionment and redistricting. Describe the process by which redistricting is
carried out in Texas, including the role of the Legislative Redistricting Board. Explain how the handling of redistricting
by the 2001and 2003 legislative sessions illustrates the political nature of redistricting.
ANSWER: Students’ answers will vary.
REFERENCES: 144-151
57. Describe some of the characteristics typically seen in citizens elected into the Texas legislature. How are
these different from the formal qualifications necessary to become a member of the Texas legislature? How are these
personal characteristics different from the Texas population as a whole?
REFERENCES: 153-156

Name: Class: Date:

58. Describe how the presiding officers of the Texas legislature are selected. Explain why the selection of presiding
officers might be more important in Texas than it is in other states. Elaborate on the powers these officers have with
regard to the organization of the legislature.
REFERENCES: 156-159
59. Describe the committee system in the Texas legislature. Explain the responsibilities of the various types of
committees. Explain the essential role played by committees in the legislative process.
REFERENCES: 160-162, 168-169
60. There has been increasing interest in changing the structure of the Texas legislature given its limitations in performing
its intended functions. Write an essay that discusses the suggested reforms. How likely is it that these reforms will be
enacted? Explain your answer.

REFERENCES: 178-179
61. Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 2 and 6): How does the Texas Constitution limit the legislative branch in
Texas?
62. Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 6 and 7): In what ways does the governor limit the powers of the
legislature?

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Texas Politics 2015 2016 13th Edition

Newell Test Bank

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

4. What is the most obvious function of the legislature?

Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 1

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

7. Constituents often overlook which type of legislator responsibility?

9. The Texas Senate has _____ members.

Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 2

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

10. The Texas House of Representatives has _____ members.

12. Which state is the only one to have a unicameral legislature?

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 4

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

22. Which of these describes the typical Texas legislator?

23. Which group is underrepresented in the Texas legislature?

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

26. Over two-thirds of Texas legislators identify themselves as _____.

Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 7

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

31. Chairpersons of committees in the Texas legislature are selected by _____.

32. Who is the presiding officer of the Texas Senate?

33. Who is the presiding officer of the Texas House of Representatives?

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

40. When a bill is pigeonholed by a committee, it is _____.

42. The governor’s veto power is almost absolute because _____.

Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 10

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 11

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

Subjective Short Answer

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

51. What functions besides making laws do legislatures have in government?

ANSWER: Students' answers will vary.

54. Why is seniority important in the Texas legislature?

Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 13

Chapter 6 - The Texas Legislature

ANSWER: Students’ answers will vary.

Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 14

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