Question 1

How is the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives chosen?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Speaker is elected in a statewide election.
B)   The Speaker is the most senior representative in the House.
C)   The Speaker is the most senior representative from the majority party.
D)   The Speaker is elected by members of the House.
E)   The Speaker is appointed directly by the majority party in the House.F) C) and E)
G) A) and B) D

Question 2

Like the U.S. president, the governor of Texas can kill a bill by refusing to sign it.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

What is the importance of the Supreme Court case Reynolds v. Sims?

Accepted Answer

A)   It declared the Voting Rights Act of 1965 constitutional.
B)   It declared poll taxes unconstitutional.
C)   It declared the constitutional principle of "one person, one vote."
D)   It declared that preclearance was an unconstitutional abridgement of state power.
E)   It declared racial gerrymandering to be unconstitutional.F) A) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 4

What are the different responsibilities and powers of the Texas legislature? What powers does the Texas constitution grant? What are some of the informal powers individual representatives may wield?

Accepted Answer

The Texas legislature is responsible for...

Question 5

The governor of Texas has the authority to exercise a line-item veto.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The Texas legislature meets in regular session once every two years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

In Texas, the governor's State of the State address is an example of the ______ power.

Accepted Answer

A)   special session
B)   veto
C)   message
D)   impeachment
E)   mediaF) B) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 8

For how long does the Texas legislature meet?

Accepted Answer

A)   The legislature meets all year, with breaks for holidays and campaigning.
B)   The regular session is nine months every year.
C)   The legislature meets for nine months biennially.
D)   The regular legislative session lasts 140 days every two years.
E)   The legislature meets for six months every year.F) B) and E)
G) All of the above

Question 9

In the Texas legislature, all bills dealing with state revenue must

Accepted Answer

A)   start in the House of Representatives.
B)   be initiated by the governor's official budget plan.
C)   pass both houses of the legislature with a two-thirds majority.
D)   be approved by the state supreme court before becoming law.
E)   start in the state senate.F) A) and E)
G) B) and C)

Question 10

The typical Texas legislator is most likely to be a

Accepted Answer

A)   white woman with a professional degree.
B)   white, affluent businessman.
C)   working-class Hispanic woman.
D)   middle-class African American lawyer.
E)   white, working-class male.F) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 11

The Legislative Redistricting Board has the authority to draw new districts if

Accepted Answer

A)   appointed to do so by the governor after a special redistricting session.
B)   the legislature fails to redistrict in the first regular session.
C)   ordered to do so by the state supreme court or a federal district court.
D)   a majority in both the House and the senate vote to allow it.
E)   appointed to do so by the governor and lieutenant governor.F) B) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 12

In Texas, who can write a bill?

Accepted Answer

A)   only a member of the legislature
B)   the legislature or someone officially authorized by the legislature
C)   any government official
D)   anyone at all
E)   only the legislature and/or governorF) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 13

When the governor strikes out specific spending provisions in large appropriations bills, it is called

Accepted Answer

A)   pigeonholing.
B)   the pocket veto.
C)   the line-item veto.
D)   the post-adjournment veto.
E)   an expenditure veto.F) None of the above
G) A) and E) C

Question 14

What unconventional action did the Texas legislature take in 2003?

Accepted Answer

A)   It redistricted a second time in a single decade.
B)   It extended its regular session by two months.
C)   It operated without electing a House Speaker.
D)   It did not overturn a single gubernatorial veto.
E)   It did not pass a single bill.F) A) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 15

If the Texas legislature fails to redistrict, the task of redistricting then falls to the federal district courts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Legislative districts in the Texas House and Senate are

Accepted Answer

A)   based on proportional representation.
B)   single-member districts.
C)   multiple-member districts.
D)   redistricted every four years.
E)   redistricted every six years.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 17

Which of the following statements about simple resolutions is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)   They do not require the signature of the governor.
B)   They can only concern the internal rules of the Texas legislature.
C)   They are limited to matters of concern for no more than two House districts.
D)   They can only be initiated by either the Speaker or the lieutenant governor.
E)   They are only used to honor the outstanding achievements of Texas residents.F) A) and E)
G) A) and B) A

Question 18

Describe the structure and organization of the Texas legislature. Consider the following questions: What are some of the effects of bicameralism? What are committees and what are their roles? When is the Texas legislature in regular session?

Accepted Answer

The Texas legislature is a bicameral bod...

Question 19

Which of the following statements about special sessions of the Texas legislature is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   Special sessions are a rare occurrence, called on average once a decade.
B)   Special sessions were common in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries but have been rare during the past fifty years.
C)   Special sessions are common, held an average of once a year since 1876.
D)   Special sessions occur often, on average four times a year.
E)   Special sessions can be called only once a year.F) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Question 20

In the Texas legislature, the referral of a bill to a standing committee in the House and the senate is the job of the

Accepted Answer

A)   governor.
B)   secretary of state.
C)   Speaker of the House and lieutenant governor.
D)   sergeant of the House and senate.
E)   chair of the committee to which the bill is being referred.F) C) and D)
G) A) and D)

Exam 7: The Texas Legislature

How is the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives chosen?

Correct AnswerverifiedD

Like the U.S. president, the governor of Texas can kill a bill by refusing to sign it.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the importance of the Supreme Court case Reynolds v. Sims?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What are the different responsibilities and powers of the Texas legislature? What powers does the Texas constitution grant? What are some of the informal powers individual representatives may wield?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe Texas legislature is responsible for...View AnswerShow Answer

The governor of Texas has the authority to exercise a line-item veto.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Texas legislature meets in regular session once every two years.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In Texas, the governor's State of the State address is an example of the ______ power.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

For how long does the Texas legislature meet?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the Texas legislature, all bills dealing with state revenue must

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The typical Texas legislator is most likely to be a

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Legislative Redistricting Board has the authority to draw new districts if

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In Texas, who can write a bill?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When the governor strikes out specific spending provisions in large appropriations bills, it is called

Correct AnswerverifiedC

What unconventional action did the Texas legislature take in 2003?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If the Texas legislature fails to redistrict, the task of redistricting then falls to the federal district courts.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Legislative districts in the Texas House and Senate are

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements about simple resolutions is correct?

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Describe the structure and organization of the Texas legislature. Consider the following questions: What are some of the effects of bicameralism? What are committees and what are their roles? When is the Texas legislature in regular session?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe Texas legislature is a bicameral bod...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following statements about special sessions of the Texas legislature is true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the Texas legislature, the referral of a bill to a standing committee in the House and the senate is the job of the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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D

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Answered by ExamLex AI
The Texas legislature is responsible for...
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C

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A

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Answered by ExamLex AI
The Texas legislature is a bicameral bod...
View Answer

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