Texas Government Ch. 8

Front 1

The Texas House has 150 members elected to serve two-year terms, while the state Senate has 31 members elected for four-year terms.

Back 1

True

Front 2

In contrast to the Texas legislature, which has biennial sessions, most state legislatures meet in regular session annually.

Back 2

True

Front 3

The official salary for Texas legislators is relatively low, only $600 a month ($7,200 a year).

Back 3

True

Front 4

Both the speaker of the Texas House and the lieutenant governor are chosen in statewide election to serve four-year terms.

Back 4

False

Front 5

Women are underrepresented in the Texas Legislature.

Back 5

True

Front 6

Which of the following powers does the Texas Constitution assign to the Senate alone?

Back 6

to confirm appointments

Front 7

Which of the following statements describes the regular sessions of the Texas legislature?

Back 7

The legislature meets in regular session for 140 days every other year.

Front 8

Who calls special legislative sessions in Texas?

Back 8

Only the governor can call a special session.

Front 9

Compared to the population of the state, which of the following groups is overrepresented in the Texas legislature?

Back 9

white males

Front 10

How is the lieutenant governor selected?

Back 10

The lieutenant governor is elected statewide.

Front 11

Which of the following powers does the lieutenant governor NOT hold?

Back 11

appointing the Speaker of the House

Front 12

In the Texas House, committee chairs are chosen through which of the following processes?

Back 12

They are appointed by the speaker of the House.

Front 13

What is the main purpose of an interim committee?

Back 13

to study issues between legislative sessions

Front 14

Which of the following individuals may officially introduce a bill in the Texas House of Representatives?

Back 14

only a member of the Texas House

Front 15

What is the function of the Calendars Committee in the House?

Back 15

to assign legislation to a House calendar

Front 16

In the Texas Senate, what is the function of a "blocking bill" on the Senate calendar?

Back 16

It ensures that no bills can be considered on the floor of the Senate unless a special order is granted by two-thirds vote of the membership.

Front 17

How important is the filibuster in the Texas Senate?

Back 17

It is fairly unimportant, except in the last day or two of a session because debate can be ended by a simple majority of the Senate.

Front 18

In which of the following circumstances would a conference committee most likely be created?

Back 18

A measure passes the House and Senate in different forms.

Front 19

Which of the following options does the governor NOT have for disposing of legislation passed by the legislature?

Back 19

The governor may kill it by failing to sign it.

Front 20

On which of the following measures does the governor enjoy a line-item veto?

Back 20

a bill appropriating money for the state budget

Front 21

Which of the following statements most closely represents the traditional approach to representation?

Back 21

"I try to vote the way my constituents want me to vote because I am accountable to them."

Front 22

Studies of legislative decision-making have found that legislators are most likely to reflect their constituents' views on which types of issues?

Back 22

issues of high visibility

Front 23

Historically, which of the following groups has controlled policymaking in the legislature?

Back 23

conservative Democrats

Front 24

What is the main purpose of the Legislative Budget Board?

Back 24

to draft a state budget for consideration by the full legislature

Front 25

Which of the following methods is not described by the text as a means of increasing an interest group's legislative access?

Back 25

hold private meetings to refine the group's policy platforms