Government quiz notes

Flashcards based on Texas Government lecture notes.

According to Daniel Elazar, which two political cultures intersect in Texas?

Individualistic and traditionalistic.

How many seats are in Texas's congressional delegation in the U.S. Congress?

40

What is urbanization?

When people move from rural to urban areas.

The discovery of which natural resource at Spindletop Hill in Beaumont, TX, in 1901 ushered in a new economic era for Texas?

Oil

Why has the population of the state of Texas grown so quickly?

Panic population growth (both in terms of births and migration), economic expansion bringing jobs, affordability of real estate.

A power-sharing arrangement between a central governing authority and individual political units is called what?

Federal system

What are federal or state legislations that require the states to implement policies but do not supply funding necessary for implementation called?

Unfunded mandates

What are fixed funds that are transferred to states for the implementation of a policy or program called?

Block grants

What are funds that are distributed to state or local governments for programs that require state governments to meet conditions established by the federal government called?

Categorical grants

What are funds that the state adds to supplement specific federal government programs called?

Matching grants

Powers shared between the state and federal governments are referred to as what?

Concurrent powers

What is a political system in which the government's powers are restricted and balanced with individual liberty called?

Limited government

Which constitutional amendment states 'The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people'?

10th amendment

Which constitution clause requires that each state respect the rights and proceedings of other states?

Full faith and credit clause

What does the Supremacy Clause establish?

The U.S. Constitution and federal laws shall be the supreme law of the land.

A document that lays out the principles and responsibilities of government and specifies the powers of the branches of government and elected officials is usually referred to as what?

Constitution

A formal declaration of the rights of citizens within government is usually referred to as what?

Bill of rights

What is a law that prevents Texans from losing their homes in the event of bankruptcy or other financial problems called?

Homestead law

Any change to a state government that requires the expansion of state authority must be approved by what?

A constitutional amendment

A system that vests political, judicial, and policymaking authority in different branches of government adheres to what?

Separation of powers

Diffusion of authority and power throughout several entities in the executive branch is referred to as what type of executive?

Plural

How is 'Popular sovereignty' defined?

Rule by the people

Which of the following is NOT a step in the Texas constitutional amendment process?

The governor must approve the proposal by signing it.

The right to participate in the electoral process by voting is called what?

Suffrage

What did the federal government require all states which were part of the Civil War confederacy to do to reenter full union statehood?

Recognize the U.S. constitution's authority.

How many times has the Texas constitution been amended?

The Texas constitution has been amended approximately 500 times.

There was a time in Texas when citizen and non-citizen men could vote, but citizen women could not: True or False?

True

The 1866 constitution could be referred to as which constitution?

Readmission Constitution

The 1869 constitution could be referred to as which constitution?

Reconstruction constitution

The state of Texas currently operates under the constitution of which year?

1876

According to the Texas constitution, which of the following is a qualification for being a member of the Texas House of Representatives?

All of the above: at least 21 years of age, a citizen of Texas at least two years prior to election, a resident of the district from which he or she is elected one year prior to election.

According to the Texas constitution, which of the following is a qualification for being a member of the Texas Senate?

All of the above: at least 26 years of age, a citizen of Texas at least five years prior to election, a resident of the district from which he or she is elected one year prior to election.

A committee that is temporary and has a fixed issue to investigate or legislation to consider is known as what?

Select committee

A legislative body with two chambers or houses is known as what?

Bicameral Legislature

How many days are in a regular session of the Texas legislature?

140

How many members are there in the Texas House of Representatives?

150

How many members are there in the Texas Senate?

31

Legislative sessions that can be called by the governor on any issue the governor decides requires attention are referred to as what?

Special Sessions

Permanent committees that deal with a specific issue or topic are known as what?

Standing committee

What month does the Texas legislature begin?

January

Who elects the Texas Speaker of the House?

Members of the House of Representatives.

Any revenue bill (spending money or raising taxes) must begin in which body?

The Texas House of Representatives.

The House Calendars Committee determines when a bill that has been reported out of committee will get a date to be considered on the House Floor: True or False?

True

Once a bill becomes what, it is sent to the opposite chamber?

Engrossed

What does 'Sine Die' indicate?

The end of a legislative session.

The Legislative Budget Board (LBB) writes what?

The first draft of the state budget.

The presiding officer of the Texas House is who?

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the Texas Senate is who?

Lt. Governor

What is a Texas legislator's annual salary?

$7,200

What is the length of term for a Texas house member?

Two years

What is the length of term for a Texas senator?

Four years

Which body has responsibilities that require more deliberation, such as confirming or rejecting all of the Governor's appointments to state boards and commissions?

The Texas Senate

Which body is granted the 'power of the purse' (funding policies)?

The Texas House

Why might a juror be dismissed from service by one of the attorneys?

A potential juror is biased, a potential juror cannot deal with the issue fairly, or a potential juror knows a party to the case.

Which type of misdemeanor is the most severe?

Class A

When law enforcement agents search an accused's property and collect any evidence relevant to the alleged crime, it is referred to as what?

Search and seizure

Victims' rights include which of the following?

The right to be informed about the progress of a case, the right to have the court take safety into account on release, the right to protection from law enforcement.

The state's lawyer, who is responsible for bringing charges against accused lawbreakers, is who?

Prosecutor

There are three categories of misdemeanors. What are they?

A, B, and C

The legal grounds law enforcement uses to make an arrest or conduct a search is referred to as what?

Probable cause

The initial appearance of the accused in court is what?

An arraignment

Sentencing a convicted individual to death is commonly referred to as what?

The death penalty

Cases in which individuals, corporations, or the government bring suit against another party for damages are what?

Civil cases

What is it where the defendant agrees to a lesser set of charges than initially charged by the prosecutors?

Plea bargain

Crimes are classified into two primary categories. What are they?

Misdemeanors and felonies

A system in which a prisoner is released from prison prior to completing his or her full sentence is called what?

Parole

What is a plea where a defendant does not admit guilt but is not contesting the underlying facts called?

A no contest plea