Us & Tx Govt 2302: Lesson 2

Front 1

2-9
Which of the following bodies was created in 1949 to provide research and technical services to Texas legislators?
A. The Legislative Budget Board
B. The Legislative Budget Office
C. The Legislative Audit Committee
D. The Legislative Council
E. None of the above

Back 1

D. The Texas Legislative Council

Front 2

2-12
Some limits are placed on the powers of the presiding officers of the Texas legislature by
A. legislators.
B. lobbyists and state administrators.
C. the governor.
D. the electorate.
E. all of the above.

Back 2

E. All of the above

Front 3

2-10
Which of the following reforms for the Texas legislature is/are suggested by the authors of the text?
A. Annual sessions
B. Longer terms of office for legislators
C. Higher salaries for legislators
D. More legislative control over special sessions
E. All of the above

Back 3

E. All of the above

Front 4

2-14
The most significant power of a presiding officer of the Texas legislature is the right to ____
A. recognize members who wish to speak before the legislature.
B. vote in order to break a tie.
C. serve on initiative and referendum panels.
D. appoint members to standign committees.

Back 4

D. appoint members to standing committees.

Front 5

2-13
Biennial sessions have the effect of
A. presenting legislators with many bills to consider in a relatively short time.
B. providing legislators with more time to schedule hearings, hold debates, and fully analyze the bills.
C. concentrating power in the presiding officers.
D. both A and C.

Back 5

D. both A and C

Front 6

2-18
Senator Jane Nelson researched other states and found that the best way to pass term limits was through
A. active speakers advocating change
B. the initiative process.
C. the recall process.
D. legislators holding hearings and passing legislation

Back 6

B. the initiative process

Front 7

2-15
The speaker of the House in Texas is _______
A. elected by the members of the House of Representatives at the beginning of each session.
B. elected by the citizens of Texas in a statewide election.
C. determined by the seniority system.
D. appointed by the lieutenant governor.

Back 7

A. elected by the members of the House of Representatives at the beginning of each session.

Front 8

2-16
The approach taken by Lieutenant Governor Hobby was to
A. let the process develop
B. be patient and listen to debate
C. be personally involved and control the process.
D. both A and B.

Back 8

D. both A and B

Front 9

2-17
Term limits would ______
A. enhance the power of speakers.
B. limit the speakers' influence.
C. limit the voter's right to select their elected officials.
D. both Band C.

Back 9

D. both B and C.

Front 10

2-3
If the Texas legislature fails to redistrict, responsibility for redistricting is assumed by ___
A. the governor.
B. the Texas Legislative Council
C. the Legislative Redistricting Board.
D. none of the above

Back 10

C. the Legislative Redistricting Board

Front 11

2-20 T/F
Every state in the United States has a bicameral legislature.

Back 11

False

Front 12

2-8
Which committees in the Texas legislature most closely resemble select committees in the U.S. Congress?
A. Standing committees
B. Subcommittees
C. Conference committees
D. Ad hoc committees
E. Interim committees

Back 12

D. Ad hoc committees

Front 13

2-19
Critics of the existing system believe that initiative and referendum would _____
A. empower voters.
B. weaken the influence of special-interest groups.
C. enable the passage of term limits.
D. all of the above.

Back 13

D. all of the above.

Front 14

2-21 T/F
The Texas legislature is responsible for its own redistricting as well as for that of the Texas congressional delegation.

Back 14

TRUE

Front 15

2-23 T/F
Because all of the formal powers of the lieutenant governor and the speaker are specified by the Texas Constitution, legislators have no recourse against a presiding officers who is arbitrary in the use of power.

Back 15

FALSE

Front 16

2-11
In the Texas House of Representatives, bills are referred to the proper committees by the _____
A. governor.
B. lieutenant governor.
C. speaker.
D. parliamentarian.
E. bill's sponsor.

Back 16

C. speaker.

Front 17

2-1
The number of members in the Texas House of Representatives is

Back 17

150

Front 18

2-22 T/F
Compared to legislators in other large states, Texas legislators are well paid.

Back 18

FALSE

Front 19

2-4
Which of the following statements concerning party organization in the Texas legislature is NOT correct?
A. There are no party caucuses in the legislature.
B. Both Democrats and Republicans chair standingcommittees in the legislature.
C. The presiding officers of the legislature generally de-emphasize partisanship.
D. Party floor leaders have existed in the House for less than two decades.
E. Party divisions are much less important in the Texas legislature than in the U.S. Congress.

Back 19

A. There are no party caucuses in the legislature.

(there are party caucuses in the legislature so this is NOT true)

Front 20

2-6
The average age of state legislators in Texas is approximately

Back 20

50

Front 21

2-7
The speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is chosen by the ______
A. electorate
B. governor
C. members of the House
D. lieutenant governor
E. none of the above

Back 21

C. members of the House.

Front 22

2-5
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. none of the above.

Back 22

D. a constitutional amendment.

Front 23

2-2
Special sessions of the Texas legislature called by the governor are limited to a maximum of how many days?

Back 23

30