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Exam 3 Webtext Questions CHAPTER 8 – THE LEGISLATURE 8.2 Organization Which of the following BEST describes the power dynamic among the three branches of Texas government?  All three branches of Texas government were designed to be weak, with the legislative branch the least weak of the three.  The executive branch was designed to be stronger than the legislative and judicial branches.  The judicial branch was designed to be stronger than the executive and legislative branches.  All three branches of Texas government were designed to be strong, with the legislative branch the strongest of the three. Given that the Texas Constitution’s framers sought to limit the powers of all three branches of government, the text asserts that the most accurate way to describe their power dynamic is to refer to the legislative branch as the “least weak” (not most powerful) of the three branches. What are the two central functions of the Texas Legislature? Choose the BEST answer.  to allow the representation of various interests and to provide a check on the power of the governor  to allow the representation of various interests and to provide a forum where parties with conflicting goals can reconcile their differences through the lawmaking process  to provide a check on the power of the governor and to provide a forum where citizens’ voices can be represented through the lawmaking process  to provide a forum where parties with conflicting goals can reconcile their differences and to check executive power and authority The two central functions of the Texas Legislature are to allow the representation of various interests and to provide a forum where parties with conflicting goals can reconcile their differences through the lawmaking process. What is a bicameral legislature?  a legislature with two prime ministers  a legislature with one chamber but two distinct committees  a legislature with one chamber  a legislature with two chambers Bicameralism describes a legislature with two chambers. What is the difference between house and senate representation in Texas?  Legislators in the senate represent smaller districts with fewer constituents and have shorter terms than house representatives.  House districts are drawn according to population density, while senate districts are drawn according to geographical size.  Legislators in the house represent smaller districts with fewer constituents and have shorter terms than senators.  House districts are drawn according to geographical size, while Senate districts are drawn according to population density.

Legislators in the house represent smaller districts with fewer constituents and have shorter terms than senators. 8.3 Legislative Sessions How frequently, and for how long, does the Texas Legislature meet?  for 100 days every year  for 140 days every other year  for 200 days every year  for 365 days every other year The Texas Legislature meets in 140-day sessions every odd-numbered year (i.e., each year following an election). At the end of the last day of a legislative session, what happens to legislation that has not been approved by both houses?  The legislation is dead.  The legislation may be taken up by the governor.  Based on the amount of unconsidered legislation, a special session will be called.  The legislation is placed on “hold,” to be reconsidered during the next session. Legislation that has not been approved by both houses effectively dies at the end of the last day of the session. The governor may use the threat of a special session to what purpose?  to discourage legislators from considering legislation that the governor does not prefer  to encourage legislators to pass a higher volume of legislation during a regular session  to force legislators to pass legislation that the governor prefers  to incentivize the legislature to focus on policy areas of concern to the governor The governor may use the threat of a special session to incentivize the legislature to focus on policy areas of concern to the governor. 8.4 Serving in the Legislature How many legislators does Texas have?  250  331  181  100 Texas has 181 state legislators. Why were single-member districts uniformly implemented for the 1972 elections?  The 1876 Texas Constitution prohibited the use of any other system.  The previous system was detrimental to the voting strength of minorities.  Anglo majorities wanted to elect non-minority representatives in urban counties.  A lower court decided that the previous system was old-fashioned and ineffective. The old system, in which county delegations were elected to the Texas House of Representatives from multimember districts, was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court because it was found “to minimize or cancel out the voting strength of racial minority elements of the voting population.” How long are the terms of members of the Texas House of Representatives?

three years  four years  one year  two years Members of the house of representatives are elected for two-year terms. How often does Texas go through the redistricting process?  every ten years  every eight years  every four years  every two years District boundaries are redrawn each decade following the U.S. Census, when population movements and regional growth are taken into consideration. 

What is the purpose of staggering terms of office for senators? Choose the BEST answer.  It reduces electoral competition between senators.  It prevents an overabundance of senators who lack political experience or knowledge of senatorial rules and norms.  It prevents the disruption that a political or economic upheaval might cause the chamber.  It incentivizes collaboration, negotiation, and compromise in the senate. Staggering terms of office for senators prevents the disruption that a political or economic upheaval might bring if the entire chamber were replaced in a single election cycle. According to the text, what is an effect of having “citizen legislators” who maintain careers outside of their jobs as public officials?  The system allows legislators to enrich themselves by drawing huge government salaries in addition to their incomes from working in the private sector.  The system makes it easier for legislators to hire staff for their capitol offices, since they can use their business connections to find qualified candidates.  The system diminishes the need for lobbyists in the capitol, since legislators bring a diverse array of expertise in private business to their work as lawmakers.  The system creates potential conflicts of interest in which legislators may advocate for measures that benefit their own business interests. The fact that Texas relies on “citizen legislators” who will depend on livelihoods in addition to their roles as lawmakers creates the potential for lawmakers to lobby for their own outside interests within the capitol’s halls. 8.5 The Legislature’s Makeup Which of the following Texans would qualify for a position in the Texas Senate?  a 40-year-old U.S. citizen who has lived in Texas for three years and his district for three years  a 35-year-old green-card holder who has lived in Texas for seven years and her district for six years  a 21-year-old U.S. citizen who has lived in Texas for five years and his district for one year  a 55-year-old U.S. citizen who has lived in Texas for six years and her district for five years

In order to run for the Texas Senate, a person must be at least 26 years old, must have lived in Texas for at least five years, must have lived in his or her district for at least one year, and must be a U.S. citizen. Which of the following made it easier for minorities to participate in politics and drove many conservative, white Texans to join the Republican Party?  John Tower’s election to the Senate  a shift in the Texas population toward more females  Rick Perry’s victory in the 2002 gubernatorial election  the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 The federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 removed some of the barriers preventing minorities from participating in politics, and this drove many conservative, white Texans to join the Republican Party. In 2011, the Texas Legislature passed a measure that cut funding for family-planning programs by two-thirds. What demographic characteristics of the legislature may have played a role in this policy decision?  the underrepresentation of poor Texans  the lack of female representation in both chambers  the low number of black lawmakers  the high percentage of Catholic and evangelical Christian representatives The lack of female representation in both chambers of the Texas Legislature may have eased the passage of the 2011 legislation that cut funding for family-planning programs. The diversification of the state’s economy, the growth of cities, and national political party transformation have all contributed to which of the following?  the decreasing age of entry for Texas legislators  a Texas Legislature made up of white male lawyers and businessmen  fewer required formal qualifications for Texas legislators  the increasing diversity in the Texas Legislature The diversification of the state’s economy, the growth of cities, and national political party transformation have all contributed to the increasing diversity in the Texas Legislature. 8.6 Incumbency What is one factor that causes incumbents to be reelected at such high rates?  Potential challengers will be paid more for the same job, and voters do not want to increase legislators’ wages.  Voters tend to select candidates whose names they recognize on the ballot.  Incumbents are almost always more conservative than their challengers.  Interest groups compel voters to prefer incumbents because they always donate more money to challengers’ campaigns. Since voters will select a candidate in these races simply because they recognize—or think they recognize—the candidate’s name, incumbents have a distinct advantage in the ballot box over challengers. The 2010 elections saw incumbents being defeated at higher rates than normal due to which of the following?  the redrawing of congressional districts  the collapse of the world economy

the rise of the Tea Party the ruling in Citizens United v. FEC In 2010, “the Tea Party first flexed its muscles to a significant degree,” resulting in 22 members of the Texas House losing their seats to challengers (many of them in the Republican primary). 8.7 Powers of the Legislature Which of the following is the principal power of the legislature?  the power to investigate  the power to impeach  the power to make laws  the power to create constitutional amendments The principal power of the legislature is its legislative, or lawmaking, function.  

What are the three types of bills that may be introduced?  local, regional, and statewide  general, special, and local  appropriations, resolutions, and public  general, specific, and mezzo General, special, and local are the three types of bills that may be introduced. How does a concurrent resolution differ from a law?  A concurrent resolution carries the force of law but may not be subject to judicial review.  A concurrent resolution is a formal statement of opinion but does not carry the force of law.  A concurrent resolution never requires action by the governor.  A law must pass both chambers, while a concurrent resolution may be passed by only one chamber. A concurrent resolution differs from a law in that it is a formal statement of opinion. It does not carry the force of law. Which branch impeaches, and which branch tries the case?  Both chambers must impeach, and the house of representatives tries the case.  The senate may impeach, and the house of representatives tries the case.  Both chambers must impeach and try the case.  The house of representatives may impeach, and the senate tries the case. The Texas House of Representatives may impeach; the Texas Senate then tries the case. What does it mean that legislators have certain “immunities”?  Legislators receive diplomatic immunity internationally as well as in other states.  Legislators may only be tried by the legislature, and they are immune from trial in a regular court of law.  They cannot be sued for slander or otherwise held accountable for statements made during legislative proceedings.  They cannot be held legally accountable for any actions taken during the 140-day legislative session. The immunities that protect Texas legislators mean that they cannot be sued for slander or otherwise held accountable for statements made during legislative proceedings.

8.8 Redistricting What is the primary purpose of redistricting?  to balance the population and voting power among districts  to ensure that some districts have more people than others  to gain more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives  to give more power to minority groups in overpopulated districts The primary intent of redistricting is to ensure that the population—and consequently the voting power—of each district is distributed as evenly as possible. Who is responsible for redrawing congressional and legislative districts?  the U.S. Senate  the governor  the state legislature  the county commissioners The state legislature is responsible for redrawing congressional and legislative districts. Which of the following statements BEST explains why the legislature takes redistricting seriously?  Legislators who attend the most redistricting meetings have a greater say in how the district lines are drawn.  The success or failure of a redistricting plan can have a great impact on legislators’ reelection prospects.  Gerrymandering is illegal, and legislators want to root out those who are practicing it.  Legislators want to become part of the LRB so that they can draw district lines to favor their party. Not only can the drawing of district lines determine which voters will elect each legislator, but if a redistricting plan isn’t adopted and becomes the responsibility of the LRB, lawmakers lose a great deal of control over the likelihood of their own reelections. Thus legislators have a vested interest in the redistricting process. 8.9 Presiding Officers and Powers Which of the following makes the lieutenant governor such a powerful figure in the legislature?  The lieutenant governor can veto legislation that has been passed by both chambers.  The lieutenant governor can initiate impeachment proceedings.  The lieutenant governor can assign bills to specific committees.  The lieutenant governor can sign legislation that has been passed by both chambers. The lieutenant governor has the responsibility of assigning bills to specific committees, which gives him or her the power to alter the likely outcome of a piece of legislation. What is one reason that the position of lieutenant governor has lost some power in recent years?  Institutional changes within the house of representatives have stripped the position of some formal powers.  The president of the senate’s office has lost some staff and funding due to the economic downturn.  Governor Rick Perry’s long tenure gave him unprecedented control over the executive branch.

David Dewhurst relinquished some power in return for political popularity and favors within the Republican Party. Rick Perry’s long tenure as governor gave him unprecedented control over the executive branch, weakening the office of the lieutenant governor. 

8,10 Speaker of the House How is the speaker of the house selected?  The senate votes to elect the speaker for the house of representatives.  The house votes to elect the speaker from among its members.  The governor appoints the speaker.  The house votes to elect the speaker from a range of gubernatorial nominees. The speaker of the house is elected by a vote of all members of the Texas House of Representatives. Which of the following is a duty of the speaker of the house?  to maintain order during debate on the floor  to preside over the Legislative Committee on Policy Priorities  to approve all executive appointments made by the governor  to override legislation that is vetoed by the governor The speaker of the house must maintain order during debate on the floor. What does pro tempore mean?  president-elect  for the time being  forward temporarily  leader of the moment Pro tempore is a Latin phrase meaning “for the time being.” 8.11 Committees What is the difference between a senate standing committee and special committee?  A standing committee is a committee composed of members from each chamber, while a special committee is a temporary committee created by the lieutenant governor to address specific topics.  A standing committee is a committee that meets during the regular legislative session, while a special committee is a committee convened only during special sessions.  A standing committee is a committee that deals only with substantive legislation, while a special committee deals largely with procedural legislation.  A standing committee is a permanent committee, while a special committee is a subcommittee of a standing committee. A standing committee is a permanent committee, while a special committee is a subcommittee of a standing committee. Of the temporary committees in both houses, which one tends to play the largest role in affecting legislation?  select committees  ad hoc committees  conference committees  interim committees

Of the temporary committees, conference committees tend to play the biggest role in affecting legislation. A committee established to study specific issues is called what?  an interim committee  a conference committee  an ad hoc committee  a substantive committee A committee established to study specific issues is called an ad hoc (or special) committee. How are incumbents affected by committee membership, and why?  Committee membership does not affect incumbents in any significant or measurable way, because serving on committees is typical for every legislator.  Incumbents have to struggle to balance the demands of committee membership with the demands of reelection, which puts them at a disadvantage.  Incumbents reap financial rewards from committee membership because serving on committees is one of the ways that legislators can increase their salaries.  Committee membership confers advantages to incumbents because they can shape legislation in order to collect campaign contributions from interest groups. The committee system serves to channel the support of well-financed interest groups to specific committees and their members, which has a strong impact on the reelection opportunities of incumbent legislators. CHAPTER 9 – THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS 9.2 The Actors in the Process What is the size of each house of the Texas Legislature?  There are 181 members in the house, and 30 members in the senate.  There are 150 members in the senate, and 31 members in the house.  There are 150 members in both the house and the senate.  There are 150 members in the house, and 31 members in the senate. The house has 150 members, and the senate has 31 members. Who can formally introduce a bill for consideration in the legislature?  members of the legislature, the governor, and the people, by petition  members of the legislature and the governor  members of the legislature and the people, by petition  only members of the legislature Only members of the legislature may formally introduce a bill for consideration. 9.3 The Unengaged Public What is the practice informally referred to as “voting the district”?  Legislators, knowing what issues matter to their constituents, cast votes in line with those preferences.  Once legislators have voted a certain way on an issue, they never change their position on the issue.  Legislators from neighboring districts get together to cast their votes in line with one another.  Legislators take a poll of their district on every issue in order to vote in line with their constituents.

The process of legislators casting their votes in line with their constituents’ preferences is informally known as “voting the district.” What factors might leave legislators more open to the influence of other legislators, interest groups, and lobbyists?  a legi...