Texas Government 2306 Finale

The idea of that a well governed (just) society follows the "rule of law," and not the "rule of men" comes from\__________.
a. Plato
b. Aristotle
c. Cicero
d. Locke

Aristotle

\__________ indicated that - realistically - the best government is a "mixed" government that includes, "the one," "the few," and "the many."
a. Plato
b. Aristotle
c. John Locke
d. Thomas Jefferson

Aristotle

Which political party dominated Texas for approximately 100 years?
a. Tea Party
b. Progressive Party
c. Democratic Party
d. None of the other options

Democratic Party

Texas was added to the United States through \__________.
a. The Mexican War
b. The Texas Revolution
c. a treaty
d. None of the other options

a treaty

The first Republican governor of Texas was \__________.
a. E. J. Davis
b. Col. House
c. William Clements
d. George W. Bush

E. J. Davis

The (1876) Constitution of Texas mixes religion and politics in the preamble.
a. True
b. False

True

In their list of grievances against Mexico, Texas included the claim that public education was not supported.
a. True
b. False

True

The constitution for the Republic of Texas was modeled after the constitution of \__________.
a. Mexico
b. Great Britain
c. The Confederate States of America
d. The United States of America

The United States of America

Which of the following relationships is correct?
a. The Texans followed Locke's political theory and the Americans copied the Texans
b. The Texans followed Hobbes' political theory and the Americans copied the Texans
c. The Americans followed Locke's political theory and the Texans copied the Americans
d. The Americans followed Hobbes' political theory and the Texans copied the Americans

The Americans followed Locke's political theory and the Texans copied the Americans

Texas fought and won its independence from \__________.
a. Spain
b. Mexico
c. France
d. The United States

Mexico

\__________ indicates that slavery was not the cause of the Civil War.
a. The inclusion of four slave states in the northern "free" states
b. Lincoln's failure to issue an Emancipation Proclamation in April 1861
c. The existence of over 400,000 slaves in the "free states" after the Civil War
d. all of the above

all of the above

How was the dispute over the right of secession settled?
a. Through a Supreme Court decision
b. Through the "rule of law"
c. Through "might makes right"
d. Through the intervention of an international organization

Through "might makes right"

During the Reconstruction era, Texas was dominated by the \__________ Party.
a. Republican
b. Whig
c. Democratic
d. Progressive

Republican

After Reconstruction ended, Texans voted for \__________, making the \__________ nominees largely irrelevant.
a. Republicans/Democrats'
b. Democrats/Republicans'
c. Democrats/Whigs'
d. Whigs/Democrats'

Democrats/Republicans'

According to the authors of the textbook the Civil War settled the issue of \__________.
a. The separation of powers by placing all power in the hands of the national government
b. Checks and balances by making the states subordinate to the national government
c. Federalism by making the states subordinate to the national government
d. none of the above

Federalism by making the states subordinate to the national government

Requiring the southern states to pass the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments (The "Civil War Amendments") before they were readmitted to the Union was inconsistent with the idea that \__________.
a. the southern states had formed an independent nation, the Confederate States of America
b. the southern states could not - and had not - seceded from the U.S.A.
c. the national government is superior to the states governments
d. none of the above

the southern states could not - and had not - seceded from the U.S.A.

The leaders of the U.S. Congress who supported black suffrage and the military occupation of the South after the Civil War were called \__________.
a. Copperheads
b. Radical Democrats
c. Carpetbaggers
d. Radical Republicans

Radical Republicans

The 1876 Constitution of Texas \__________.
a. includes an article on the right to secede
b. does not include a Bill of Rights
c. is comprised of 20 articles
d. provides for a Bill of Rights

Provides for a Bill of Rights

The current constitution for Texas includes articles that address or contain \__________.
a. the legislature, state highways, and the judiciary
b. the legislature, suffrage, health care
c. the executive branch, a bill of rights, suffrage
d. the executive branch, state highways, health care

the executive branch, a bill of rights, suffrage

Federalism, sometimes called "dual federalism," \__________.
a. allows states to operate with little interference from the national government
b. attempts to balance power between the national government and the state governments
c. allows the national government to intervene in any state or local government issue
d. implies a one-world government through the UN

attempts to balance power between the national government and the state governments

Reserved powers are those powers that belong to the \__________.
a. national government
b. national and state governments
c. local governments
d. people or the state governments

people or the state governments

A broad interpretation of the "necessary and proper" clause allows the national government to \__________ state powers.
a. expand
b. rigorously define
c. stabilize
d. encroach upon

encroach upon

Powers belonging exclusively to the national government are called \__________ powers.
a. concurrent
b. enumerated or expressed
c. reserved
d. emergency

enumerated or expressed

Powers that both the national and states governments can legitimately claim are called \__________.
a. concurrent
b. enumerated or expressed
c. reserved
d. emergency

concurrent

Federalism is a division of power between the national and state governments.
a. True
b. False

True

A strict interpretation of the "necessary and proper" clause accepts the idea that "implied powers" must be "necessary."
a. True
b. False

True

The idea that "implied powers" can be derived from the "necessary and proper clause" was accepted by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of \__________.
a. Roe v. Wade
b. McCulloch v. Maryland
c. Wickard v. Filburn
d. Lawrence v. Texas

McCulloch v. Maryland

"Categorical grants" \__________.
a. allows states to spend federal funds as they see fit
b. force states to spend federal funds as the federal government sees fit
c. allows states to spend federal funds within a range or options granted by the U.S. government
d. are only given to community organizations

forces states to spend federal funds as the federal government sees fit

"Unfunded mandates" require states to \__________.
a. meet federal regulatory guidelines without receiving any additional funds from the national government
b. meet federal regulatory guidelines after receiving additional funds from the national government
c. negotiate regulatory guidelines with the federal government in return for federal funds
d. none of the above

meet federal regulatory guidelines without receiving any additional funds from the national government

"Block grants" \__________.
a. allows states to spend federal funds as they see fit
b. force states to spend federal funds as the federal government sees fit
c. allows states to spend federal funds within a range of options granted by the U.S. government
d. are only given to community organizations

allows states to spend federal funds within a range of options granted by the U.S. government

"Cooperative" federalism \__________.
a. maintains a balance between the power of the national government and the states
b. gives more power to the national government than the states
c. gives more power to the state governments than the national government
d. eliminates "concurrent powers"

eliminates "concurrent powers"

A constitution \__________.
a. provides the rules that govern relations between nations
b. is created through laws passed by the legislature
c. is the same as a declaration of independence
d. establishes the institutions and apparatus of government

establishes the institutions and apparatus of government

Unitary government \__________.
a. allows states to operate with little interference from the national government
b. attempts to balance power between the national government and the states governments
c. allows the national government to intervene in any state or local government issue
d. implies a one-world government through the UN,

allows the national government to intervene in any states or local government issue

A legislature that has only one house is called a \__________ legislature.
a. bicameral
b. unicameral
c. unitary
d. unified

unicameral

The division of the government power between the legislative, judicial and executive branches is known as \__________.
a. federalism
b. division of labor
c. separation of powers
d. "fractured" government

separation of powers

The \__________ possesses supreme political authority within a geographic area.
a. government
b. bureaucracy
c. sovereign
d. president

sovereign

A(n) \__________ executive holds only a fragment of the power within the executive branch.
a. unitary
b. plural
c. imperial
d. bicameral

plural

An executive (e.g. a governor) who is formally charged by the House of Representatives with misconduct is \__________.
a. indicted
b. impeached
c. censured
d. repudiated

impeached

Supporters of a political movement that advocates centralized governmental control and a broad interpretation of the "necessary and proper" clause are called \__________.
a. Progressives
b. Prohobitionists
c. Populists
d. Paparazzi

Progressives

The Texas politician who carried on the ideals and plans of the Progressives from the 1930s to the 1960s, giving the nation Medicare and the "War on Poverty" was \__________.
a. John Tower
b. Lyndon Johnson
c. John Connally
d. William Clements

Lyndon Johnson

The authors' constitutional argument that the "supremacy clause" settles all legal conflicts between the national and state governments can be \__________.
a. accepted as a valid argument since the Tenth Amendment is no longer valid
b. accepted; otherwise "supremacy" is meaningless
c. rejected because it contradicts the "reserved powers" of the Tenth Amendment
d. rejected because the "supremacy clause" only applies to the conflict between international treaties and state laws

Rejected because it contradicts the "reserved powers" of the Tenth Amendment

Progressives believe that \__________.
a. the Tenth Amendment, being part of the Bill of Rights, is just as important as the First Amendment
b. "implied powers" are a part of the "delegated powers" referenced in the Tenth Amendment
c. federalism should attempt to balance power between the national and state governments
d. the Seventeenth Amendment fundamentally changed the Constitution of the United States

...

The two "progressive" amendments added to the U.S. Constitution are the \__________.
a. 13th and 14th
b. 14th and 15th
c. 15th and 16th
d. 16th and 17th

16th and 17th

The Federal Reserve System, created to reduce the number of depressions, performed as designed between 1913 to 1929, and avoided any depressions for these 16 years.
a. True
b. False

False

\__________, a Texan, excelled as an administrator in several "New Deal" agencies.
a. Col. House
b. John Nance Garner
c. Jesse Jones
d. Lyndon Johnson

Jesse Jones

Progressives \__________.
a. have never been influential in Texas law and politics
b. have been influential in Texas, supporting the integration of the highway system, and compulsory school attendance
c. are influential today, and keep the state in step with national policies
d. were most influential in Texas when George W. Bush was president

have been influential in Texas, supporting the integration of the highway system, and compulsory school attendance

The Tenth Amendment implies that powers are delegated to \__________.
a. the people
b. the states
c. the United States
d. no one

the United States

"Delegated powers" implies that the person or group that receives powers is inferior to the person or group that delegates the powers.
a. True
b. False

True

The power or right to secede is specifically prohibited to the states by the U.S. Constitution.
a. True
b. False

False

Unless a power has been delegated to the U.S. government or prohibited to the states it can be claimed or exercised by the people or the states.
a. True
b. False

True

The original composition of the U.S. Congress followed the Tenth Amendment in that it required passage of a bill through the House, representing the people, and the Senate, representing the states.
a. True
b. False

True

A republican form of government is a system of government in which \__________.
a. the Republican Party holds all of the offices
b. power is derived from the military representatives
c. power is derived from the people; no representatives
d. power is derived from the people who elect

power is derived from the people who elect

Coercive federalism \__________.
a. allows states to coerce the national government
b. allows the national government to coerce the people
c. force states to change their policies
d. none of these answers

force states to change their policies

Forcing states to spend their funds without compensation by the national government is known as \__________.
a. New Federalism
b. Coercive Federalism
c. Layer-cake federalism
d. Dual Federalism

Coercive Federalism

Delegated powers are \__________.
a. the same as reserved powers
b. powers given to the U.S. by the Constitution
c. based upon the "necessary and proper" clause
d. based upon the "supremacy" clause

powers given to the U.S. by the Constitution

Incorporation refers to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to use the 14th Amendment to force states to comply with most of the provisions in the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.
a. True
b. False

True

Married women, compared to single women, \__________.
a. give about the same support to the Democrats over the Republicans
b. give about the same support to the Republicans over the Democrats
c. support the Republican Party instead of the Democrats
d. support the Democratic Party instead of the Republicans

Support the Republican Party instead of the Democrats

Ethnic minority groups other than African-Americans typically give the Republicans \__________ of their vote
a.

20%-30%

African-Americans typically give the Republicans \__________ of their vote.
a.

5%-10%

Kay Bailey Hutchinson \__________.
a. defeated Lloyd Bentsen to become a Republican US Senator
b. won a special election in 1993 to take Lloyd Bentsen's place as a U.S. Senator
c. defeated John Tower in a special election to become a U.S. Senator
d. lost to Lloyd Bentsen in her first attempt to become a U.S. Senator

won a special election in 1993 to take Lloyd Bentsen's place as a U.S. Senator

Kay Bailey Hutchinson is a \__________ politician who earned a law degree from the University of Texas \__________.
a. Democrat / and went directly into politics
b. Republican / and went directly into politics
c. Democrat / and could not get a law firm to hire her
d. Republican / and had to take a position as a TV news reporter for a Houston station

Republican / and had to take a position as a TV news reporter for a Houston station

A proposed law is called a \__________.
a. resolution
b. referral
c. writ
d. bill

bill

The Governor and Lt. Governor of Texas \__________.
a. have a relationship that is very similar to the President and Vice-President of the U.S.
b. are elected separately, but the Lt. Governor is still accountable to the Governor
c. are elected separately, and can act separately, especially when they are from opposing parties
d. must be from the same party

are elected separately, and can act separately, especially when they are from opposing parties

Unlike the Vice-President of the United States, the Lt. Governor of Texas controls the Senate with the power to appoint the chairs of each committee.
a. True
b. False

True

The lieutenant governor's most important powers are administrative powers in the executive branch.
a. True
b. False

False

When a bill that comes before the governor, the governor \__________.
a. may choose either the House or Senate version
b. may make additions to the bill before it is signed
c. must sign one version of the bill that has been passed by both chambers of the legislature
d. must sign one version, and then give it to the Lt. Governor for the Lt. Governor's signature

must sign one version, and then give it to the Lt. Governor for the Lt. Governor's signature

A quorum is \__________.
a. the minimum number of people required to do official business
b. the number of people in leadership positions in the Senate
c. the number of people in leadership positions in the House of Representatives
d. the number of people required to stop the Senate or House of conducting official business

the minimum number of people required to do official business

A special session of the Texas legislature lasts \__________ days, and \__________.
a. 30 / can be called more than once
b. 30 / can be called only once
c. 60 / can be called more than once
d. 60 / can be called only once

30 / can be called more than once

The regular session of the Texas legislature lasts \__________ days, including weekends.
a. 100
b. 120
c. 140
d. 160

140

A joint committee can be \__________ committee.
a. a temporary
b. a permanent
c. 'a' and 'b'
d. neither 'a' nor 'b'

'a' and 'b'

To get around a "blocking bill," \__________.
a. a quorum must be met
b. the presiding officer overrules the "FIFO" rule
c. the rules must be suspended
d. the chamber must invoke cloture

the rules must be suspended

The proper order for legislative action in the House or Senate is \__________.
1. The bill is assigned to a committee
2. If necessary, the bill is sent to a Conference Committee
3. The bill is sent to the Governor
4. The bill is put on the calendar for consideration by the full chamber

a. 4, 3, 2, 1
b. 2, 4, 1, 3
c. 1, 4, 2, 3
d. 1, 3, 2, 4

1, 4, 2, 3

Another phrase to describe a dead bill is "tabled" or "pigeon-holed."
a. True
b. False

True

A bill can die in a \__________.
a. Committee
b. Subcommittee
c. either 'a' or 'b'
d. neither 'a' nor 'b'

either 'a' or 'b'

After a bill is introduced into the legislature, \__________.
a. the presiding officer puts the bill on the calendar.
b. committees bid for the bills that they want
c. the presiding officer assigns the bill to a committee
d. the governor assigns bills to committees

the presiding officer assigns the bill to a committee

The presiding officer in the House of Representatives is the \__________.
a. Lt. Governor
b. Speaker
c. Majority Leader
d. Majority Whip

Speaker

The presiding officer in the Senate is the \__________.
a. Lt. Governor
b. Speaker
c. Majority Leader
d. Majority Whip

Lt. Governor

Representatives are elected for \__________ years terms and Senators have \__________ year terms.
a. 2/6
b. 1/5
c. 3/6
d. 2/4

2/4

The Texas legislature consists of \__________.
a. 150 Representatives and 2 Senators per county
b. 435 Representatives and 100 Senators
c. 150 Representatives and 31 Senators
d. 100 Representatives and 50 Senators

150 Representatives and 31 Senators

A State Senator must be a resident of Texas for at least \__________ year(s).
a. 1
b. 3
c. 5
d. 7

5

A State Representative must be at least \__________ years old.
a. 18
b. 21
c. 24
d. 26

21

A bicameral legislature \__________.
a. refers to a legislature with only one chamber
b. refers to a legislature with two chambers
c. is only found in the Middle East
d. none of the other options

Refers to a legislature with two chambers

The practice of drawing district lines to favor the majority party is called \__________.
a. Salamandering
b. Gerry-rigging
c. gerrymandering
d. biasing the district

gerrymandering

The principle of 'one person, one vote' was established by \__________.
a. the U.S. Supreme Court using the 'equal protection' clause of the 14th Amendment
b. an act of Congress
c. an act of the state legislature of Texas
d. an act of the state legislature of Tennessee

the U.S. Supreme Court using the 'equal protection' clause of the 14th Amendment

The word "suffrage" refers to \__________.
a. the idea that suffering builds character
b. the right to vote
c. the theory that democracies suffer if the right to vote is extended to minorities
d. the theory that democracies suffer if the right to vote is restricted to wealthy people

the right to vote

In general, if turnout is high, \__________.
a. Democrats will win elections
b. Republicans will win elections
c. it will not necessarily help either party
d. none of the above

Democrats will win elections

Ann Richards and Kay Bailey Hutchison were the first women in Texas to be elected on their own merits to governor and U.S. Senator respectively.
a. True
b. False

True

The phrase 'one person, one vote' refers to the idea that \__________.
a. a person can vote only one time
b. the population of each district should be approximately the same
c. a person has only one vote
d. the physical size of each district should be approximately the same

the population of each district should be approximately the same

Apportionment is triggered by \__________.
a. special session
b. a resolution passed by both chambers of the state legislature
c. the decennial census authorized by the U.S. government
d. an executive order from the governor

the decennial census authorized by the U.S. government

The "curse of the long ballot" refers to \__________.
a. the effect of the "fractured executive" branch and elected judges on the length of the ballot
b. a possible contributor to low turnout in Texas
c. 'a' and 'b'
d. neither 'a' nor 'b'

'a' and 'b'

\__________ can be on the ballot in special elections.
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Candidates for vacant elective offices
c. Neither 'a' nor 'b'
d. Both 'a' and 'b'

both 'a' and 'b'

A political party that receives at least \__________% of the vote in the gubernatorial election must hold a primary election in the next election cycle.
a. 10
b. 15
c. 20
d. 2

20

The expense of the primary elections is borne by \__________.
a. the voters through a poll tax
b. the candidates through their filing fees
c. the parties through the dues that they collect
d. the state of Texas through taxes

The state of Texas through taxes

Texas functions as \__________.
a. a 'closed' state in both the primary and run-off elections
b. an 'open' state in both the primary and run-off elections
c. an 'open' state in the primary and a 'closed' state in the run-off elections
d. a 'closed' state in the primary and an 'open' state in the run-off elections

a 'closed' state in the primary and an 'open' state in the run-off elections

When you go to vote, you discover that your brother-in-law is in line at the same polling site. As he is about to sign in, you declare that "he's nuttier than a fruitcake," and demand that he not be allowed to vote. The poll judge listens carefully, knowing that mentally incompetent people are not allowed to vote. Based on your statement, the poll judge can forbid your brother-in-law from voting.
a. True
b. False

False

Texas law requires U.S. citizenship before a person is qualified to vote.
a. True
b. False

True

To be eligible to vote in an election, a qualified voter must be registered \__________ or more days before the election.
a. 30
b. 45
c. 60
d. 90

30

\__________ a continuing discouragement to voter turnout in Texas.
a. The long residency requirements for voters are
b. Annual registration is
c. The "curse of the long ballot" is
d. the poll tax is

The "curse of the long ballot" is

Two of the current issues that discourage voter turnout in Texas are related to education and income.
a. True
b. False

True

Given the typical voting patterns related to age, education and income, \__________ have a particularly difficult problem with voter turnout.
a. The Democrats
b. The Republicans
c. neither the Democrats nor the Republicans
d. both the Democrats and Republicans

The Democrats