Texas History
Fort Burrows
Chapter 20 Review with Answers
1.
select committees: special groups of legislatures that work on a specific issue
2.
indictment: formal charging of wrongdoing
3.
bill: a proposed law
4.
martial law: temporary rule by the military
5.
veto: the Governor stops a bill from becoming a law
6.
Constitution: a law set forth by a governmental authority
7.
Grand Jury: 12 citizens that decide if there is enough evidence to justify a trial
8.
line item veto: during budget, the Governor can reject parts and pieces of a bill
9.
balanced budget: you do not spend more money than you earn
10.
complaint: sworn statement that there is evidence that the accused has committed a crime
11.
checks and balances: allows each branch of Gov’t to block the actions of the others
12.
pardon: a Governor’s release from punishment for a crime
13.
precincts: a district within a county, town, or city
14.
franchise tax: tax on certain kinds of businesses, that have special privileges in the town/city
15.
capital offense: crimes that may lead to the death sentences. Ex. - murder
16.
federalism: the National and State Government share power
17.
plea bargain: an agreement between the state and the defendant, that benefits both parties
18.
bicameral: two chambers ( ex. House and Senate )
19.
separation of powers: the division of the functions of government among Branches
20.
interim committees: legislatures that work on long-range plans, not during session
21.
seniority: a high rank earned by long service
22.
How many people serve on county commission courts? P503, Five
23.
How many people on a jury are needed to decide that a person is guilty in a criminal case? P500,
All
24.
Name (3) three powers a governor has over the legislative branch. P496,
Veto, Special Session, Line-item veto
25.
What are the two term lengths of the two houses of the Texas Legislature ? P490,
House-2 years; Senate-4 years
1 of Chapter 20 Review with Answers
Texas History
Fort Burrows
26.
List three sources of revenue for city governments: P504,
money from the state and federal governments, property taxes, sales taxes
27.
What two (2) types of case is heard in civil court? P499,
1) disputes between two or more people, 2) dealing with civil rights
List Three (3) examples:
1) unpaid loans, 2) child custody, 3) lawsuit over auto accident
28.
What powers does the legislative branch have over the executive? P497,
1)approving all appointments, 2) gives permission to fire an official
29.
Name the ‘lead’ positions of the House and Senate of Texas? P490,
House – Speaker of the House; Senate – Lieutenant governor
30.
What six (6) types of things are addressed in Article 1 of the Texas Bill of Rights ?
Protects freedom of 1) religion/worship, 2) speech, 3) assembly, 4) the press, 5) rights of
mentally ill, 6) against unequal treatment based on gender, Male v. Female
31.
How large must a city in Texas be, to have the right to home-rule? P504,
5,000 people or more in population
32.
What two courts are at the top of the Texas state court system?
Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals
33.
Which major cities have a strong mayor system of government ? P503,
El Paso & Houston
34.
Which official heads the county commissioner’s court and is the most powerful local official ? P503504, County Judge
35.
Which courts are the main trial courts in the state? P501, District courts
36.
Which major cities have a council-city manager government system ? P503,
Dallas, San Antonio, Austin
37.
Describe the job of the attorney general: P497, state’s chief lawyer
38.
Which commissioner enforces laws and rules that deal with farms & ranches ? P 499,
Commissioner of Agriculture
39.
What job does the comptroller of public accounts do for Texas ? P497,
chief tax collector of the state
40.
The lieutenant governor serves in what two positions ?
1) leads the state when the governor is away and 2) head of the Senate
2 of Chapter 20 Review with Answers
Texas History
Fort Burrows
41.
Identify the Sunset Act: requires state agencies to cease to exist after 12 years unless
the legislature renews them
42.
What power does the Texas Senate have over the Governor’s appointments
to State Boards & Commissions ? The Senate must approve people named by the governor
43.
What does the Texas Constitution require ? a balanced budget
44.
In a federalist system, the national and local governments do what ? share power
45.
The system of checks and balances lets each branch of government do what to each other ?
block the actions of the others
46.
The Texas Legislature has two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
What is this called ? bicameral
47.
Select Committees deal with what kind of problems/situations ? special problems or issues the
Legislature works on
48.
Who is the commander in chief of the Texas National Guard ?
49.
What judiciary power does the governor have ? The governor may grant a pardon for a criminal
50.
Crimes that may be punishable by death are called ? capital offenses
51.
Which court would be most likely to handle a divorce ? District court
52.
What is the most common type of Special District ?
53.
Identify the executive branch: P483, carries out the laws
54.
Identify the legislative branch: P491, makes the laws
55.
Identify the judicial branch: P499, interprets the laws
56.
Constitution of 1824 - Mexico’s Constitution of freedom from Spain
57.
Constitution of Coahuila Y Tejas 1827 - Coahuila and Texas become one state
58.
Constitution of The Republic of Texas 1836 - Texas becomes an independent country
59.
Constitution of 1845 - Texas joins the U.S. as the 28th state
60.
Constitution of 1861 - Texas joins the Confederate States of America
61.
Constitution of 1866 - Texas re-joined U.S. as a state
62.
Constitution of 1869 - pressure from Congress during Reconstruction
63.
Constitution of 1876 - Texas’ Constitution of today
3 of Chapter 20 Review with Answers
The governor
the Independent School District