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Worksheetsgovernment final
Total questions: 118
Worksheet time: 59mins
Which of the following best describes Texas political culture?
Moralistic
Individualistic and traditionalistic
Populist and progressive
Liberal and interventionist
What event led Texas to become an independent republic before joining the United States?
Mexican-American War
Battle of the Alamo
Texas Revolution
Civil War
The Texas constitution was adopted in
1827
1845
1866
1876
One major criticism that the Texas constitution had was
Too vague
Too short
Too centralized
Too long and detailed
Texas has a
Unicameral legislature
Bicameral legislature with annual sessions
Bicameral legislature with biennial sessions
Parliament-style legislature
Redistricting in Texas is often controversial due to
Budget constraints
Public disinterest
Partisan gerrymandering
Governors veto power
The Texas governors powers are considered
Strong compared to other states
Strong due to a unitary executive
Weak due to plural executive
Expansive because of executive orders
What was the tri colored mexican revolutionary flag meant to symbolize?
Spain,mezico, and the united states
land, labor, and liberty
union of peoples, purity of religion, and independence
military,monarchy, and modernity
What was the primary purpose of the Spanish Inquisition in New Spain?
To promote catholic missionary work in remote areas
to control elite opposition and suppress popular movement
To convert indigenous leaders to Christianity
ro maintain peaceful relations with anglo settlers
Which executive official oversees elections and business filings in Texas
Comptroller
Attorney General
Secretary of State
Lieutenant governor
What was a major cause of conflict between American settlers and the Mexican government in the 1830s?
disputes over trade tarrifs with france
settlers resistance to slavery abolition and taxation
support for catholic missionary expansion
disagreements over access to mining resources
How are most judges selected in Texas
Appointed by the governor
Legislative nomination
Nonpartisan election
Partisan election
Which of the following was a major reason Anglo settlers were drawn to Texas?
Cheap land
High paying jobs
gold mining opportunites
Mexican citizenship benefits
What court is the highest for civil cases in Texas
Court of criminal appeals
District court
Texas supreme court
Fifth circuit court of appeals
Why was Austin arrested in Mexico?
He wrote a letters suggesting texans take action for autonomy
He attempted to annex texas secretly
He led an unauthorized militia
He insulted Santa Anna publicly
Where did the texans first fire on mexican troops, siginaling the start of the texas revolution
The alamo
san felipe
san jacinto
gonzales
Voter turnout in Texas tends to be
Higher than the nation average
Among the highest in the us
Lower than the national average
Mandatory by state law
In what year did texans achieve independence from Mexico?
1824
1831
1836
1845
How many of the 183 defenders at the alamo were hispanic?
3
11
19
31
Which of the following is true about political parties in Texas
Texas is officially nonpartisan
Democrats dominate all statewide offices
Republicans have dominated since the 1990s
Third parties regularly win seats in the legislature
The call of hidalgo was aimed at securing __ in the new world
lower taxation rates
local land ownership
equal rights for all
legal settlements for anglos
One of the largest areas of spending in the Texas state budget is
Defense
Transportation
Education
Foreign aid
Which of the following was a difficult and divisive issue during the texas revolution and subsequent Texas independence?
Texans needed to choose between joining the united states or being an independent republic
Anglos did not want to fight against mexican rule
anglos were united only after independence was won
tejanos faced with remaining under mexican rule ir living under the rule of anglo settlers
The question of whether the united states should annex texas was most heavily influenced and delayed by the ___
desire of most texans to remain independent
decision to grant texas the power to secede from the union
question of how many sates texas should become
issue of slavery
Texas has refused to expand which federal program under the affordable care act
Medicare
Social security
Medicaid
SNAP
What is the most common form of local government in Texas
Township
Borough
County
Municipality
Which group was nicknamed "redeemers" at the end of the reconstruction era in texas?
republican party
scalawgs
democratic party
carpetbaggers
In what year was the current constitution of Texas written?
1845
1869
1876
1894
Home-rule cities in Texas have
No power to govern
Limited self-governing powers
Complete autonomy
Only ceremonial powers
Judicial federalism involves
Multiple level of courts
A single level of court
Federal court oversight
Original jurisdiction, but no appellate jurisdiction
The current texas constituiton is often called the "redeemer" constitution because it was written in an attempt to
reconcile texas history as a mexican territory with its history as a state
reconstruct the idea of texas as an independent republic
reckon with its history of disenfranchising tejanos and indigenous groups
atone for the "sins" of the 1869 constitution
Which of these reasons contributed to tensions between anglo immigrants to texas in the early 1800s and the mexican government?
english was not the official language
non catholic anglos were legally required to become catholics
slavery was disliked by the mexican government
all of these
True or False? Native americans taught the Spanish soldiers how to ride horses.
true
false
True or false? Prior to 1845, all anglos immigrated to Texas legally.
true
false
In what year did mexico win its independence from Spain?
1810
1815
1821
1819
Who was the first president of the republic of texas?
sam houston
stephen f austin
moses austin
mirabeau lamar
About how many people currently live in Texas?
20 million
30 million
40 million
50 million
What treaty in 1848 established the rio grande as the border between the US and mexico?
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Gadsen Treaty
treaty of coahuila y tejas
the polk treaty
Approximately what percentage of Texans are evangelical Protestants
10%
25%
40%
55%
True or false? Texas economy is bigger than Canadas?
True
False
Which political culture is most popular in Texas?
traditionalistic
individualistic
moralistic
none of these
Which of these is a feature of the current Texas constitution?
citizen legislature
plural executive
elected judiciary
all of these
ABout how many constituents are represented by one texas senator?
100,000
200,000
500,000
1,000,000
How often does the texas legislature meet in regular session?
annually for 180 days
biennially for 140 days
annually for 60 days
biennially for 90 days
Frontier Life in Texas spawned the birth of a political culture that
existed independent of government
usually trusted government
preferred the concentration of political power
Trusted the courts to dispense justice
What does the microcosm theory suggest about the representation of women in legislatures?
The male to female ration should be the same in the legislature as in the society
Women often do not run for political office for fear of harm to their families
WOmen should vote democrat to advance gender equality
Women in rural areas are mire patriotic than women living in urban areas
What term refers to redrawing district lines to give a political advantage?
redistribution
reapportionment
gerrymandering
maeuverying
What is the minimum age requirement to serve in the texas senate
21
25
26
30
A courts jurisdiction defines that courts
Size of jury in criminal cases
Sphere of authority
proximity to the legislative budget board
voting population
Which of the following is a characteristic of local trial courts
there are more than 5000 municipal courts and justice of the peace courts
municipal courts and justice of the peace courts can handle only appellate cases
municipal courts and justice of the peace courts handle only felony cases
Local trial courts in Texas handle cases involving not more than 10,000
What is the minimum age requirement to serve in the texas senate?
21
25
26
30
What is the term length for texas house members?
2 years
3 years
4 years
6 years
Which chamber in the texas legislature elects a presiding officer from among its members?
senate
house of representatives
both
neither
Which state does NOT have a bicameral legislature?
california
texas
nebraska
florida
You received a citation from a police officer where will your trial be heard
trial
statutory probate
justice of the peace
municipal court
what determines how many precincts there are in a county
number of voters
population
physical size
incarceration rates
What kind of legislative body is designed to function part time with minimal pay and staff?
professional legislature
hybrid legislature
full time legislature
citizen legislature
what do municipal courts and justice of the peace courts have in common
both handle criminal cases
both handle land claim titles
both hear cases on appeal
They are both courts of original jurisdiction
What is a quorum in the texas house of representatives
100 members
76 members
50% plus one
two thirds majority
What is one consequence of the low annual salaries paid to texas legislators?
Texas lawmakers can focus solely on making laws without having to work another job
low compensation means only public spirited candidates run for state legislative office
because the salary is low, it is hard for legislators who must work in other jobs to serve
given the low salaries of Texas legislators, only truly ethical people will run for the office
How many qualifications must a judge serving on a justice of the peace court meet
zero
two
five
three
Why is the redistricting process necessary?
to make elections competitive
to account for population changes
to ensure diversity of representation
to rectify economic inequities
Who sets the agenda for the Texas legislative special sessions if they are called?
Texas speaker of the house
texas senate president
texas lieutenant governor
texas governor
Texas highest appellate court level
court of criminal appeals
has jurisdiction only in municipal cases
is made of judges appointed by the president
is the supreme court of texas and the texas court of criminal appeals
which court administrates wills
justice of the peace
municipal
constitutional county
probate
if someone wishes to appeal a verdict issued in a trial court, thier first appeal would be heard in which court
an appellate court
the supreme court of texas
federal district court
justice of the peace court
Which two individuals are the presiding officers of the state legislature?
the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house
the speaker of the house and the president pro tempore
the president pro tempore and the governor
the speaker of the house and the secretary of state
if a case that was heard on appeal was sent back to a lower court that means it
will be heard en banc
will be heard de novo
has been remanded
has been reversed
What is one power of the texas speaker of the house can use to pressure rank and file members to vote with the party leader?
the speaker has the power of the filibuster
the speaker has control over comittee appointments
the speaker has the power to initiate investigations over executive officers
the speaker has the ability to call for quorom
if an appellate court agrees with the decision of a lower court it means that it has
reversed it
affirmed it
exercised evidence jurisdiction over it
issued a concurring opinion about it
The major justification for a bicameral legislature is that it
makes it more difficult for a majority to abuse its power
is traditional
makes it easier to represent different interest
increases the poweer of the legislative branch in realtiion to the executive and judiciary
What does it mean to win by plurality of votes?
To win the most votes
to win with a 50% majority
to win with 2/3 of the votes
to win unanimously
One mechanism to remove judges from office in the state of Texas is through
letter campaigns
elections
initiatives
petitions
Do texas state legislators in the house and senate have term limits?
yes
no
Who is more likely to be elected to office: the incumbent who currently occupies the office or someone who runs for office for the first time?
the incument
the freshman
their chances are equal
it is impossible to say
An elected offical who decides to vote in a way that reflects the majority view of the voters in their district on some issues, but votes in a way that reflects their own conscience on other issues acts as a
delegate
trustee
politico
none of these
True or false? In the United States, representation is based on geography.
true
false
The benefit that many incumbents have during an election is
newcomer status
youth
name recognition
having no record to criticize
The extent to which a legislature mirrors larger society can ahev a direct impact on
representation within party caucuses
its classification as either a citizen ir a professional legislature
the number of people who turn out to vote
the extent to which people deem it legimate
The authors of the textbook argue that Texans have inadvertently placed control of the judicial system into the hands of
the governor
the attorney general
big campaign donors
liberals
The drawing of district boundaries for legislative districts in the texas legislature must follow the rule of
one person, one vote
equal group representation
proportional party representation
keeping counties int the same district to the maximum degree possible
What does a conference committee do?
announces final vote results
resolves differences between house and senate bills
investigates ethical violations
hires new lobbyists
Which of the following describes the attitudes of Texas Supreme Court judges, for example as Chief Justice Blacklock, in relation to judicial elections?
They believe some modifications to the system are necessary.
They are typically ambivalent in their attitudes.
They have universally opposed them in recent decades.
They are in full favor of retaining them.
The party alleged to have committed the wrong at issue in a suit is called the
plaintiff
prosecutor
defendant
adjunct
why might legislators trade votes with another?
to speed up the legislative calender
to avoid conflict in public
to gain support for their own bills
to raise campaign funds
The party claiming to have been wronged and bringing a suit is called the
plaintiff
prosecutor
petit jury
adjunct
Texans have a long history of wanting to choose their judges themselves.
True
False
What is the primary role of a court with appellate jurisdiction?
to overturn rulings made by lower courts, which tend to employ inexperienced judges
to hear new facts and evidence regarding a case in which a decision has already been made
to determine whether a law passed by a legislative body adheres to the Constitution
to review the court record from an original trial to determine whether the law was properly applied
Courts of record are courts
that keep a record of their proceedings
whose judges are appointed rather than elected
that deal only with civil cases
that have been created by the state legislature
True or false? In Texas, Democratic judges tend to side with big businesses against the plaintiffs who sue them.
true
false
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is responsible for reviewing which type of case?
death penalty appeals
cases involving property disputes
probate cases
contested elections
Who can remove a state judge in Texas?
the Texas legislature
the Supreme Court of Texas
the people of Texas
all of these
Designating legislation as emergency legislation often results in
More extensive use of the line-item vet
Loss of support for a popular mandate
A much greater chance of its passage
A decrease in the likelihood that it will receive bipartisan support
In Texas, governors may use the line-item veto only on bills that concern
Agriculture
Spending
Alcohol and firearms
The bureaucracy
. To convict a governor during impeachment proceedings, the Senate needs a
Popular mandate
Simple majority of votes (50% + 1)
Plurality of votes (most votes wins) to remove
Supermajority of votes (two-thirds) to remove
How many terms can governors serve in Texas?
There is no limit
2
3
4
A popular mandate refers to the idea that the governor's right to lead is justified by
Senatorial courtesy
Constitutional authority
Legislative majority
The popular vote
True or false? Due to Texas's large size, its governors usually become national political figures.
True
False
Who is the first in the line of succession when the governor cannot serve?
Attorney general
Speaker of the House
Lieutenant Governor
Secretary of State
Senatorial courtesy requires that
Those appointed by the governor have the approval of their state senator
The party of the incumbent senator does not oppose their nomination
The governor does not slander or speak falsely of Texas senators
The governor needs the Senate's permission to address the Texas House
Which best describes the attitude of the authors of the 1876 Texas Constitution?
They believed the governor's power should be expanded over time
They believed the legislature should be stronger than the executive
They believed that Texas tended to trust their government
They believed in a government in which all three branches share equal power
Historically, judges appointed by the Texas governor to fill a vacancy typically
Run only twice
Win reelection
Run as Democrats
Lack the relevant experience
What does the Texas Constitution list as grounds for the governor's impeachment?
Treason
Bribery
High crimes
Nothing
When the governor appoints his or her political supporters to positions of power
Rescission
Extradition
Executive courtesy
Patronage
Approximately what percentage of Texas state employees are appointed by the governor?
1%
10%
50%
99%
This is one of the perks enjoyed by the Texas governor.
• Lifetime income
Frequent vacations
Unlimited funds for staffing requirements
Travel allowance
15. True or false? The governor's salary is currently set in and by the constitution.
True
False
When the Texas governor speaks publicly in the aftermath of, for example, an active-shooter situation or a devastating flood, they are acting as
Legislative liaison
Crisis manager
Agenda setter
Prudential consultant
When the Texas governor speaks publicly in the aftermath of, for example, an active-shooter situation or a devastating flood, they are acting as an
Legislative liaison
Crisis manager
Agenda setter
Prudential consultant
The Texas governor is part of a plural executive because
Several other members of the plural executive are elected independently
The governor shares many powers with the legislature
The spouse of the governor is often a powerful figure in their own right
The lieutenant governor exercises a great deal of power over the Senate
True or false? It is required by the constitution that all members of the plural executive be of the same political party.
True
False
This is a constitutional requirement for serving as Texas governor.
Being a Republican
Having previous political experience
Being thirty (30) years old
Living in Texas for ten (10) years
When the authors of the 1876 Texas Constitution required that all state- and county-level judges be elected, they were seeking to
Prevent the abuse of the political ambition ladder
Instill a strong system of checks and balances
Build a judicial model that mirrored that of the federal government
Limit the governor's power
True or false? Texas governors are NOT allowed to receive outside compensation from another job while serving their term in office.
True
False
Using the veto power too much can lead to the perception that the governor is
Strong
Indecisive
Weak
Partisan
True or false? Texas has never elected a woman to the position of governor.
True
False
True or false? Texas has never elected a Hispanic governor.
True
False
Is it possible for a Texas governor to be impeached by the legislature but keep their job as governor after they are impeached?
Yes
No
