Quiz 4 Chapter 7: The Texas Legislature

The number of legislators ALEC claims among its membership is closest to which of the
following percentages of all state legislators in the United States?
0.34
________ is a kind of talking that is used to stall legislation.
- Chubbing
________ must begin in the House of Representatives.
- Revenue bills
The lieutenant governor is
- an official who is elected in a statewide election for a four-year term.
The legislature has “directive and supervisory powers” that include the ability to
- a. review each state agency every twelve years.
In the Texas legislature, the House has ________ members and the Senate has ________
members.
- c. 150; 31
After a bill is referred by a committee, the next step in the process is
- b. floor action.
What is the outcome for the vast majority of bills that are assigned to committees in the Texas
legislature?
- They are pigeonholed by the committee chair.
Which committee acts as a screening mechanism to filter out bad bills or bills that have little or
no political support?
- standing
Constituent service can play an important role in
- creating a personal relationship between the legislator and the individual constituent,
which will give the legislator an advantage when running for reelection.
The Texas Legislature has many powers that are not related to legislation, including which of
the following?
- the power to formally count returns for the governor and lieutenant governor’s elections.
Which of the following statements about special sessions of the Texas legislature is true?
- Special sessions are common, held an average of once a year since 1876.
As in the U.S. Congress, the purpose of a conference committee in the Texas legislature is to
do what?
- It is a committee designed to make differing House and Senate versions of the same bill
identical.
For how long does the Texas legislature meet?
- The regular legislative session lasts 140 days in odd-numbered years.
If the legislature grants a particular corporation an exception from a state law, it is called
- a special bill.
The agenda for special sessions in the Texas legislature is set by the
- governor.
The president of the Texas Senate is also the.
- Lieutenant governor of Texas.
Which chamber is not only larger but also is subjected to more frequent elections?
- House of Representatives
Which of the following legislators would be LEAST likely to propose an ALEC model bill
according to the findings of the article?
- "68 years old, liberal democrat, 20 years in office"
A bill in the Texas legislature that would allow a county to establish a new community college
would be classified as a
- local bill.
Texas House members differ from Texas Senate members because House members
- represent small districts and are subject to more frequent elections.
If the governor does not like specific provisions of an appropriations bill passed by the
legislature, he or she can
- use the line-item veto to remove those portions from the rest of the bill.
What is ALEC?
- American Legislative Exchange Council
The Texas legislature is a
- bicameral body consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Which of the following statements about simple resolutions is ?
- They do not require the signature of the governor.
The pluralist view of interest group influence in policy making sees business interests as just
one among many influences with nothing particularly special about it insofar as other interests
are able to check the influence of business groups. This pluralist perspective is opposed to the
___ perspective of interest group influence in policy making.
- Elitist
Which of the following most accurately describes the influential activities undertaken by ALEC in
pursuit of policymaking success?
- Providing model bills to state legislators with little expertise in particular policy areas
In order to be eligible to serve in the Texas House, you must be ______ years old; in order to be
eligible to serve in the Texas Senate, you must be ______ years old.
- d. 21; 26
Redistricting usually happens every __________ years so that it aligns with the new
__________ results.
- 10; census
Which is the most important bill that applies to all people and property throughout the state?
- general bill
The Speaker of the Texas House
- is considered the most important elected official in state policy making.
The power of recognition allows the Speaker of the House to
- determine who will get to speak and how long a legislative debate will last.
If a bill passes the House and the Senate, but in different forms, the bill

- is sent to a conference committee.

In even-numbered years, Texas representatives receive a salary of only ________ per year, not
including a per diem.
- $7,200
Under the Senate Rules, the lieutenant governor has the power to
- break a tie on any vote.
Each member of the Texas Senate represents about ___________ people, while each member
of the Texas House represents about_________ people.
- 811,000; 168,000
Special sessions last ________, but there is no limit to the number of special sessions a
governor can call.
 - 30 days
Special bills are used to
- give an individual or corporation an exemption from state law.
What is the function of the “local and consent” calendar?
- It is reserved for uncontroversial bills or bills limited to a localized problem.
What is required to convene a special session of the state legislature?
- The governor must call for a special session outside a general session.
For a law to pass in the Texas legislature it must be voted on by
- two deliberative bodies representing different constituencies.
The governor often uses the State of the State address to do which of the following?
- to describe his or her legislative priorities and agenda
What types of resolutions are acted on without debate and without requiring members to read
the resolution?
- resolutions of honor or recognition
Texas senators serve ________-year terms and House members serve ________-year terms.
- c. four; two
According to ALEC's own reporting, approximately how of the 826 introduced pieces of
legislation based on their proposals ended up becoming law in 2009?
- 0.14
The Texas Constitution grants the __________ veto power, and it is used __________
- governor; actively
"Pigeonholing" is a practice in which
- a committee chair sets aside a bill.
The Texas legislature meets in regular session for
- 140 days every odd-numbered year.
How old does someone have to be to serve in the Texas House?
- 21 years old
One of the most notable effects of bicameralism in the Texas legislature is that it
- permits more opportunities to kill or significantly modify a bill.

Quiz 5
The Railroad Commission of Texas’s strategy of limited oil production to maintain prices
was adopted by which organization?
● OPEC
According to the hypotheses of the Barrilleaux and Berkman article, which of the following do
the authors expect Democratic party controlled state legislatures to favor?
● Policies associated with higher levels of state government spending
The governor's power of appointment is the most significant of the executive powers because it
allows the governor to appoint
● individuals to numerous agencies, commissions, and boards in Texas.
The Texas Department of Insurance
● regulates the insurance market in Texas under the guidance of an appointed
commissioner who serves a two-year term.
Which of the following policy pursuits is most likely to reward governors?
● Provision of statewide benefits
Texas governors can serve a(n) __________ number of __________-year terms.
 ● unlimited, four
The legislative powers of the governor
● include the ability to veto bills and to call special sessions of the legislature.
Members of the State Board of Education (SBOE) are elected in single-member districts.
Therefore,
● voters in Texas have the ability to influence public education policy, such as high
school graduation requirements and textbook adoptions.
The Sunset Advisory Commission (SAC) evaluates
● whether state agencies continue to meet the needs of the state in an effective
manner.
What makes the greatest difference between strong and weak governors of Texas?
● personality differences
Although judges are elected in Texas, the __________ can appoint a state judge in the event of
a vacancy.
● governor
The state comptroller has two major duties: collecting tax revenue for the state and
● estimating future revenue.
In 2017, approximately how many people worked for the state bureaucracy in Texas?
● 330,000
According to the Barrilleaux and Berkman, which of the following is most likely to influence the
extent to which governors act as a leader of their policy-making team (their political party)?
● The elected members of the plural executive are ultimately accountable to
the voters.
Which of the following is NOT one of the things that, for example, make strong governors
particularly successful in policy making?
● Having experience derived from prior service in a lower-level executive office
In Texas, what is the most important power of the state comptroller?
● estimating state revenues for the legislature
The governor appoints people to office, but the Texas ________ must also confirm them.
● Senate
If the governor appointed a loyal supporter to serve on the Sunset Advisory Commission, it
would be considered an act of
● patronage.
Institutional design has an influence on the power of the governor and on state-level policy
making in general. Which of the following reasons is NOT generally one of the thoughts or goals
considered when designing institutional arrangements?
● Electoral goals
Authority over railroads throughout Texas was given to the ________ in 2005.
● Texas Department of Transportation
Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor’s military powers?
● The governor can declare martial law during a natural disaster.
What is the primary task of the Texas secretary of state?
● to handle elections and voter registration
Gubernatorial elections are held in off-years (election years in which we do not select a
president) because state leaders want to
● minimize the effect of presidential elections on the governor's race.
The ability of the governor to use message power, veto bills, and call special sessions of the
legislature are all part of his or her __________ powers.
 ● legislative
Which office is charged with ensuring the accuracy of official weights and measures?
● the Department of Agriculture
For what offense may the governor of Texas be impeached?
● The Texas Constitution does not specify grounds for removal.
________ is the only Texas governor to be both impeached and convicted.
● James Ferguson
In Texas, which officer in the plural executive is NOT elected by voters?
● the secretary of state
The legislative budget is prepared and submitted by
● the Legislative Budget Board.
The chief lawyer for Texas is the
● attorney general.
Which entity has the main responsibility for collecting child-support payments?
● Texas attorney general
The state attorney general is primarily concerned with
● civil cases.
For a Texas governor, what is the benefit of a post-adjournment veto?
● The legislature is prevented from overriding it.
According to the Texas Constitution, in order to serve as governor, an individual must
● be at least 30 years old.
In Texas, what is the primary effect of a plural executive?
● It dilutes the power of the governor and fragments the executive branch.
What is the Texas governor’s greatest judicial power?
● the power to appoint judges to vacancies in the courts
What is the purpose of the Sunset Advisory Commission in Texas?
● It reviews state agencies every twelve years to see if they are still needed.
The governor's line-item veto power allows him or her to
● veto specific lines (or items) from appropriations bills.
Why did the Texas Constitution establish a plural executive?
● There was suspicion of a strong chief executive.
Which member of the plural executive is appointed by the governor rather than elected by the
people?
● secretary of state
How can the plural executive limit the governor's power?
● Members of the plural executive are elected by the people of Texas; this means
members are accountable not to the governor but to voters.
Historically in Texas, the governor is considered to be __________, while the lieutenant
governor is considered to be __________.
● weak; strong
Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor’s exercise of senatorial
courtesy?
● The governor will not appoint someone to office unless that appointee’s state
senator agrees.
According to Paul Peterson, an author cited in the article, which of the following is one reason
why focusing studies of state-level policy making influence on state legislatures is misguided?
● "The parochialism (narrow, limited outlook) of state legislatures make them a
poor vehicle for achieving state-wide policy goals"
Which of the following is one of the governor’s legislative powers?
● calling special sessions of the legislature
The ________ is the oldest state agency in Texas.
● General Land Office
Which of the following policy areas or policy-related activities do Barrilleaux and Berkman use to
study the power of the governor relative to the power of the state legislature?
● Budgetary policy
The governor has some control over the final appropriations bill through the use of the
________ veto.
● line-item
Which of the following types of spending is one in which benefits are concentrated in specific
geographic sections of a given state?
● Developmental spending
Quiz 6
According to Brace and Hall, how many more cases to state supreme courts decide each year
compared to the US Supreme Court?
- 700 times as many
Which of the following has been given as a reason for reforming the way judges are selected in
Texas?
- a. the importance of a judicial candidate’s name in the current system
In civil cases, the burden is on the plaintiff, and the standard that must be met is known as
- D. preponderance of the evidence.
The Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals have appellate jurisdiction, which
means they have the authority to do what?
- a. review the decisions of lower courts to determine whether legal principles and court
procedures were followed ly
What happens in a bench trial?
- The defendant gives up his or her constitutional right to a trial by jury. Instead, the trial is
conducted with only the judge.
In criminal cases, the prosecutor must prove that the defendant is guilty
- C. beyond a reasonable doubt.
In a capital case,
- a.the death penalty is a possible punishment upon conviction.
By the early 1980s, judicial candidates in Texas made a mass change in their campaign
strategies. What was that change?
- c. Candidates began making a switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican
Party.
The State Bar of Texas is a unique organization because
- C. it is a professional organization, but it also performs functions on behalf of the
government, such as licensing and disciplining members.
Civil law focuses on __________________, while criminal law focuses on
__________________.
- C. disputes about relationships, obligations, and responsibilities; violations of codes of
right and wrong as determined by criminal statutes
Texas officially uses which method to select state judges?
- b. partisan election
The major trial courts in Texas are
- a. district courts.
What types of cases does the Texas Supreme Court hear?
- C. civil appeals
Why is it difficult for voters to learn about judicial candidates in Texas?
- d. Voters are called upon to vote for too many different judicial races in a single election.
County judges who preside over county commissioners' courts are responsible for
- administering county governments.
Civil rights organizations representing Latinos and African Americans have argued that for
minorities to get elected into office
- there must be small judicial districts where minority voters make up the majority.
Which French author understood and appreciated the instability of majoritarian, American
politics and the role that courts and law played in the American political system?
- Alexis de Tocqueville
What is the most important type of case that the Texas Supreme Court handles?
 - a. tort law cases
Which judicial office has existed in Texas since 1837, even before statehood?
- C. justice of the peace
Each county has at least how many district courts?
- a. 1
In order to be eligible to serve on either the Texas Supreme Court or the Texas Court of
Criminal Appeals, you must
- have been either a judge or practicing lawyer for at least 10 years.
Veterans’ courts, DWI courts, and drug courts are types of
- specialty courts.
In spite of judicial campaigns, voters often know little about judicial candidates. As a result, they
vote
- for the party label.
The majority of the cases that justice of the peace judges hear are those regarding
- b. traffic misdemeanors.
At the same time that the Texas Supreme Court has become more conservative,
- D. the legislature was also passing laws that favored businesses, creating a situation
where it is becoming more difficult for individuals to successfully sue businesses in civil
lawsuits.
A merit election plan would
- a. provide for an appointment process, and then when the term has been served, the
judge would seek retention in an election with no opponents listed.
Which of the following is a court of limited civil jurisdiction within the Texas state court system?
- municipal court
Courts that can review matters relating to the disposition of property of deceased people are
referred to as what?
- statutory probate courts
Before 1978, partisanship was not a factor in Texas judicial elections because
- Texas was effectively a one-party state.
One reason why there are few minority judges in Texas is that
- judicial districts are often quite large and dominated by whites who vote against minority
judicial candidates.
District courts usually have ________ jurisdiction, meaning that they hear a broad range of civil
and criminal cases.
- general
How many justices sit on the Texas Supreme Court?
- 9
In a criminal trial,
- a unanimous verdict is needed to find a defendant guilty or not guilty.
In Texas, approximately how many criminal convictions are the result of plea bargains?
- 97 percent
A person who files a civil lawsuit against another party is called a
- plaintiff.
Which court’s justices are the least likely to be lawyers?
- justice of the peace
In what type of court would a justice of the peace handle minor criminal cases, less serious civil
suits, and traffic/parking violations?
- court of limited jurisdiction
Which of the following is true with respect to the rate at which sitting judges face challengers in
nonpartisan judicial elections?
- The number of sitting judges who faced a challenger almost doubled between 1990 and
2000
What is considered unique about the appellate court structure in Texas?
- Texas has separate appellate courts for civil and criminal cases.
By 2017, what percentage of district judges in Texas were women?
- 35
Which of the following is an example of a case that would most likely be heard in criminal court?
- a case in which a student has vandalized cars in a school parking lot
A(n) ________ is the presentation of a grievance by the plaintiff in a civil case.
- complaint
How many states also have in place a campaign fairness act similar to that of Texas’s Judicial
Campaign Fairness Act?
- a. none: Texas is the only one
The concept of Devolution (in Federalism) has primarily had which of the following effects on
state courts, and state courts of last resort in particular?
- State courts of last resort have seen growth in their role in policymaking
By 2017, what percentage of appellate judges are Latinos?
- a. 15
The Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act
- D. limits the amount of campaign contributions a judicial candidate can receive from an
individual donor.
Municipal courts have jurisdiction over
- b. violations of city ordinances.
In Texas, which judicial candidate race is considered the most expensive, where candidates are
likely to raise over $1 million?
- b. Supreme court
Which court in Texas has automatic jurisdiction over all death penalty cases?
- the court of criminal appeals
According to the Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, what dollar amount is an individual
limited to when donating to a statewide judicial candidate?
- a. $5,000

Quiz 7
Who is responsible for setting the county’s budget and tax rate?
● commissioners’ court
Commissioner forms of government were at the height of their popularity
● in 1918, during the Progressive era.
In a strong-mayor council form of government, who controls the legislative agenda of the city
council?
● The mayor
What is an at-large election?
● an election in which voters elect officials from the entire geographical area rather
than from a smaller district within the area
In Texas, what is the name of the officer who presides over the county commissioners’ court?
● County judge
The mayor-council form of government is most common in
 ● smaller general-law cities.
What is the main difference between a home-rule city and a general-law city?
● A general-law city is chartered for localities with a population of fewer than 5,000
persons.
Special purpose districts were initially designed to help develop poor and rural areas of Texas.
However, many people are now concerned that the system is being abused because
● real estate developers have figured out a way to develop the infrastructure for
new developments but pass the costs on to future owners of the property.
In Texas, ________ create(s) special purpose districts.
● Texas voters in the areas that will be covered
Why are Texas counties important?
● They provide the main form of government in rural areas.
A ________ form of government is one in which public policies are developed by the city council
and executive and administrative functions are assigned to a professional city manager.
● Council manager
Which city governments have officials who act as both executives and legislators?
● commissioners
Which of the following is the most common form of local government in Texas?
● special purpose districts
What is the function of the twenty-four councils of government in Texas today?
● They are a regional board meant to coordinate local planning and economic
development.
What was the effect of Dallas shifting from an at-large to a single-member district system in
1991?
● The change was responsible for the election of a significant number of African
American and Hispanic council members.
The debate over preemption between local self-governance and control by the state
government echoes which of the following:
● debates between the state governments and the federal government about which
level of government should make governing decisions
What is the most important expenditure of most county commissioners’ courts?
● roads and bridges
The weak-mayor form of government is similar to the __________________ because they both
________________.
● plural executive; divide power among multiple people who can present the
positions of their constituencies
What is a key problem with counties in Texas?
● Many of them are too small and underpopulated to function well.
If you want to know how many people serve on a city’s governing body, which document do you
need to consult?
● The city’s home-rule charter
Across the United States, which form of government for cities with over 10,000 residents has
been the most popular?
● Council manager
One of the most important social services provided by counties is
Former governor Rick Perry used to use radio advertisements in an effort to recruit businesses
primarily from which of the following states?
● California
San Antonio operates under which style of city government?
● council-manager
The chief financial officer for a city is called the
● city controller.
Dallas operates under which style of city government?
● Council-manager
How are most special purpose districts in Texas administered?
● They are run by a board elected by residents within the district.
Special purpose districts in Texas are
● democratic in theory but often not in practice.
In smaller counties, the sheriff performs which of the following jobs?
● the tax assessor/collector.
Cities and towns in Texas often see rapid population growth. Such growth requires school
districts to quickly expand. In this type of situation, school districts use __________________ to
borrow the necessary funds to achieve this goal.
● capital appreciation bonds (CABs)

If you live outside city limits, water, sewer, sanitation, and electricity services are offered by
● municipal utility districts (MUDs).
What are the main sources of revenue for special purpose districts in Texas?
● property taxes and user fees
A 2014 survey-based research study finds that elected officials may primarily use incentives --
even if they are not particularly effective -- for which of the following reasons?
● As a political tool in pursuit of electoral success
In most Texas cities that use the council-manager form of government today,
● there is a professional city manager, a mayor that is elected at large, and a city
council that is elected by single-member districts.
Which of the following is a source of often unanticipated costs faced by county governments?
● the financial burden of capital murder trials
What is the main difference between a special purpose district and county?
● A special purpose district provides only one specific service within a geographic
region.
In the case of Avery v. Midland County, the U.S. Supreme Court held that
● the principle of “one person, one vote” applied to county commissioners’ courts.
As the number of urban areas grew in the state in the late nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries, the management of local affairs became such a growing burden on the state
legislature that it passed the
● home-rule charter.
What type of government is called hidden government because people often do NOT know it
exists?
● special purpose districts
Existing evidence suggests that incentives have ___ on a business' decision to build or relocate
in a particular locality.
● Marginal effects
What is the level of popularity of the commissioner system of city government in Texas today?
● No city in Texas today has a pure commissioner system, but a handful claim a
variation of the system.
In large Texas counties, the ________ prepares the county budget.
 ● auditor
The commissioner form of city government was developed as a response to the
● hurricane at Galveston in 1900.
In Texas, county governments are responsible for which of the following tasks?
● administration of social services
Which of the following Texas cities received the largest amount of foreign direct investment
between 2014 and 2016?
● Houston
The chief law-enforcement officer in county governments is the
● sheriff.
A school district is
● a special purpose district.

The law enforcement budget at the county level is approved by the

● County commissioners’ court.
According to the Dillon Rule doctrine,
● general-law cities and towns are much more constrained than home-rule cities,
and cannot take any action unless explicitly authorized by a law passed by the
state.
In the commissioner form of government,
● the legislative and executive functions are performed by the elected commission.