Texas Politics Midterm
Part One Multiple Choice (two points each)
1) Which Constitutional Amendment formally identifies states
powers?
th
a) 7
b) 3rd
c) 17th
d) 10th
2) What year was the Texas Declaration of Independence issued?
a) 1742
b) 1836
c) 1845
d) 1812
3) In what year did the U.S.A. formally annex Texas?
a) 1812
b) 1845
c) 1836
d) 1901
4) In what year was the present Texas constitution written?
a) 1876
b) 1845
c)1880
d) 1909
5) An amendment by the Texas Constitution may be added once it is
approved by 2/3 the members of both chambers in the legislature, and
signed by the governor. True / False
6) The governor of Texas can veto proposed amendments to the Texas
Constitution. True / False
7) How long does a regular session of the Texas Congress last
a) 200 days
b) 95 days
c) 120 days
d) 140 days
8) How many years are in a single term for a Texas House member
a) 4 b) 6 c) 3 d) 2
9) How many years are in a single term for a Texas Senate member?
a) 4 b) 6 c) 3 d) 2
10) How many years are in a single term for a Texas governor?
a) 2 b) 6 c) 4 d) 3
11) Texas Governors are limited to how many terms in office?
a) one b) two c) three d) unlimited
12) How is the speaker of the House Chosen?
a) appointed by the governor b) general election among Texas citizens
c) voted on by House Members d) arm wrestling tournament
13) How is the Lieutenant Governor Chosen?
a) appointed by the governor b) general election among Texas citizens
c) voted on by Senators d) arm wrestling tournament
14) Which of the following is NOT a member of the plural executive?
a) Governor b) Speaker of the House c) Comptroller
d) Attorney General
15) Compared to constitutions of other states within the U.S.A., the
Texas Constitution is considered to be a short document, true of false?
16) Which of the following is NOT a formal power of the Governor?
a) Removing mayors from office b) granting pardons c) issuing
executive orders d) vetoing bills
17) Redistricting is usually undertaken:
a) Every two years b) After ever presidential election
c) every five years d) every ten years
18) At the time of Texas Independence the majority of the population
within the current borders were
a) American Indian b) Mexican c) African d) Anglo
19) What budgetary powers does the Governor possess?
a) Governor is able to add up to $1billion in additional discretionary
spending
b) Governor approves all transportation items
c) The veto of the governor over the budget cannot be overruled
d) The Governor is allowed to submit a budget proposal
20) Which of these is NOT a formal power of the Lieutenant Governor
a) appointing committee chairs b) recognizing speakers on the floor
c) presiding over the actions of the Texas Rangers
d) appointing committee chairs
Short Answer (six points each):
1) What is the difference between a bicameral and a unicameral
legislature?
2) What is the difference between the legislative, executive and
judicial branch? Give an example of each branch and what it
does
3) What is redistricting? Why is redistricting often political and
sometimes called gerrymandering?
4) List Three Powers of the Texas Legislature
5) How does a companion bill speed the passage of a bill through
Congress?
6) What is federalism? Give an example of Federalism in practice.
7) List three powers of the Texas Executive Branch
8) What is a plural executive branch? What are the positives and
negatives of this type of government?
9) How does a companion bill speed the passage of law?
10) Describe the process through which a bill becomes a law?
TEST # 2