Question 1

Which of the following is NOT an argument against adding the initiative process to the Texas Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Provisions in the current state constitution often reflect narrow interests.
B)  Not many Texans take part in special elections where constitutional amendments are submitted.
C)  Texans pay little attention to the actions of elected officials now.
D)  Voters are already ill informed about politics and public policy.
E)  The initiative process reduces the power of a legislature and moves policy deliberations into an often hostile public arena.F) B) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 2

Compare and contrast the current Texas Constitution with the U.S.Constitution in terms of structure,style,and effectiveness.

Accepted Answer

The current Texas Constitution and the U...

Question 3

The 1999 proposal for constitutional changes to the judiciary included all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  reducing the number of courts.
B)  establishing a merit system for selecting judges.
C)  merging the two supreme courts.
D)  setting the number of justices on each bench at seven.
E)  vesting all appellate jurisdiction in the newly created Texas Supreme Court.F) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 4

Which Texas constitution was the first to provide universal male suffrage?

Accepted Answer

A)  1835 Constitution (constitution of the Republic of Texas) 
B)  1845 Constitution (constitution following admittance to the Union) 
C)  1861 Constitution (constitution following admittance to the Confederacy) 
D)  1866 Constitution (first constitution following re-entry into the Union) 
E)  1869 Constitution (second constitution following re-entry into the Union) F) A) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 5

Imagine you have been elected governor of the state of Texas.Would you support a constitutional reform that would allow you to have appointment power over key offices in the executive branch?Is so,why?If not,why not?

Accepted Answer

As the elected governor of Texas, I woul...

Question 6

Constitutional revision that unfolds slowly by adding one amendment at a time,with each making a minor change is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  comprehensive revision.
B)  piecemeal revision.
C)  itemized revision.
D)  line item revision.
E)  ad-hoc revision.F) B) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 7

Article 3 of the Texas Constitution does NOT provide which of the following for the legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  Short terms
B)  Short sessions
C)  Biennial meetings
D)  Small membership
E)  Limited powersF) A) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 8

Analyze the criticism that the amendments to the Texas Constitution of 1876 are intentionally poorly written.Why might legislators want to be disingenuous with voters regarding their real intent?

Accepted Answer

The criticism that the amendments to the...

Question 9

There are two methods for revising the Texas constitution.Briefly describe each method,giving specific examples of how each method has been used in Texas.Which method do you think is most likely to be successful in the future and why?

Accepted Answer

The two methods for revising the Texas c...

Question 10

The Enabling Act and Militia Bill allowed Governor Davis to

Accepted Answer

A)  resign with dignity.
B)  call for elections to select district attorneys, district clerks, sheriffs, mayors, and other local officials.
C)  be controlled by the state police.
D)  use the line-item veto power.
E)  become more powerful.F) B) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 11

Which of the following is true of the Texas Constitution but not true of the U.S.Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Based on the principle of popular sovereignty
B)  Based on the principle of limited government
C)  Based on the social contract theory
D)  Contains detailed policy provisions
E)  Establishes a bicameral legislatureF) All of the above
G) B) and D)

Question 12

Which of these laws allowed states to establish right-to-work laws?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947
B)  The Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932
C)  The Wagner Act of 1935
D)  The National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933
E)  The National Labor Relations Act of 1935F) A) and C)
G) B) and C)

Question 13

Detail and examine the major criticisms of the current Texas constitution adopted in 1876 from the perspective of the average citizen,from the perspective of a legislator,and from the perspective of someone living in the latter part of the nineteenth century.How would these criticisms differ?

Accepted Answer

From the perspective of the average citi...

Question 14

How did the backgrounds,attitudes,and beliefs of the delegates to the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875 affect the drafting of the Texas Constitution adopted in 1876?

Accepted Answer

The backgrounds, attitudes, and beliefs ...

Question 15

The 1869 constitutional convention

Accepted Answer

A)  featured four separate voting blocs that pursued their own agendas.
B)  had been under-funded from the start by a legislature that wanted them to fail.
C)  ran out of money because the businesses and hotels doubled the prices for the delegates.
D)  failed to enact any constitutional changes because of a nationwide fluctuation in currency values.
E)  relied entirely on Confederate money which was worthless after the Civil War.F) A) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 16

The most recent effort to significantly revise the Texas Constitution occurred during the 1999 Texas legislative session and failed to even reach a vote in the legislature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The initiative process is designed primarily as a way to enhance the influence of interest groups in the constitutional revision process.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Why are a high percentage of Texas legislators lawyers and businesspeople?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are more skilled and experienced in the kind of high-pressure legal, political, and competitive demands associated with being a legislator.
B)  They are wealthier and better able to accept the meager pay and irregular legislative sessions.
C)  Their jobs are less demanding, which gives them additional time to serve as legislators.
D)  Government decisions have a greater impact on lawyers and businesspeople.
E)  The Constitution give preferential treatment to those in the legal and business professions in terms of easier access to the ballot.F) B) and D)
G) A) and D)

Question 19

What was the result of the 1974 Texas Constitutional Convention?

Accepted Answer

A)  The proposed constitution was passed by the convention but defeated by the voters.
B)  The proposed constitution failed on the convention floor but was nonetheless approved by the Texas legislature and forwarded to the voters.
C)  The proposed constitution failed to get the required two-thirds vote necessary to submit it to the voters.
D)  The proposed constitution was adopted, but it was later discarded by the U.S. Supreme Court for its failure to protect civil liberties.
E)  The proposed constitution was adopted by the convention and approved by the governor; however, the Texas Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional and void.F) B) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 20

The Texas Constitution incorporates few principles of American constitutional theory.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 16: The Texas Constitution

Which Texas constitution was the first to provide universal male suffrage?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What was the result of the 1974 Texas Constitutional Convention?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why are a high percentage of Texas legislators lawyers and businesspeople?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How did the backgrounds,attitudes,and beliefs of the delegates to the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875 affect the drafting of the Texas Constitution adopted in 1876?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe backgrounds, attitudes, and beliefs ...View AnswerShow Answer

Article 3 of the Texas Constitution does NOT provide which of the following for the legislature?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is NOT an argument against adding the initiative process to the Texas Constitution?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Analyze the criticism that the amendments to the Texas Constitution of 1876 are intentionally poorly written.Why might legislators want to be disingenuous with voters regarding their real intent?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe criticism that the amendments to the...View AnswerShow Answer

Imagine you have been elected governor of the state of Texas.Would you support a constitutional reform that would allow you to have appointment power over key offices in the executive branch?Is so,why?If not,why not?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIAs the elected governor of Texas, I woul...View AnswerShow Answer

The 1869 constitutional convention

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The initiative process is designed primarily as a way to enhance the influence of interest groups in the constitutional revision process.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of these laws allowed states to establish right-to-work laws?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Detail and examine the major criticisms of the current Texas constitution adopted in 1876 from the perspective of the average citizen,from the perspective of a legislator,and from the perspective of someone living in the latter part of the nineteenth century.How would these criticisms differ?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIFrom the perspective of the average citi...View AnswerShow Answer

The most recent effort to significantly revise the Texas Constitution occurred during the 1999 Texas legislative session and failed to even reach a vote in the legislature.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Texas Constitution incorporates few principles of American constitutional theory.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Constitutional revision that unfolds slowly by adding one amendment at a time,with each making a minor change is known as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

There are two methods for revising the Texas constitution.Briefly describe each method,giving specific examples of how each method has been used in Texas.Which method do you think is most likely to be successful in the future and why?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe two methods for revising the Texas c...View AnswerShow Answer

Compare and contrast the current Texas Constitution with the U.S.Constitution in terms of structure,style,and effectiveness.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe current Texas Constitution and the U...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following is true of the Texas Constitution but not true of the U.S.Constitution?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Enabling Act and Militia Bill allowed Governor Davis to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The 1999 proposal for constitutional changes to the judiciary included all of the following EXCEPT

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The backgrounds, attitudes, and beliefs ...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The criticism that the amendments to the...
View Answer

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
As the elected governor of Texas, I woul...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
From the perspective of the average citi...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The two methods for revising the Texas c...
View Answer

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The current Texas Constitution and the U...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified