TX GOVT Ch. 7 – Flashcards

The Texas House of Representatives is responsible for both impeaching government officials and holding the trial after impeachment. a. True b. False

A bill in the Texas legislature that would allow a county to establish a new community college would be classified as a a. General bill. b. Special bill. c. Local bill. d. Concurrent resolution. e. Simple resolution.

The governor of Texas has the authority to exercise the line-item veto. a. True b. False

In 2004 and 2005, three special sessions were called in the Texas legislature to deal with a. Tax codes. b. Deregulation of the pharmaceutical industry. c. School finance. d. Criminal law reform. e. Budget crises.

The lieutenant governor is also a member of the Texas House of Representatives. a. True b. False

In Texas, who can write a bill? a. Only a member of the legislature b. The legislature or someone officially authorized by the legislature c. Any government official d. Anyone at all e. Only the legislature and/or governor

The requirements for holding office in the Texas legislature a. Are minimal, in keeping with the idea that office holding should be open to most citizens. b. Are stricter than those in the federal legislature, reflecting the belief that only the most qualified Texans deserve to serve. c. Require on to be a citizen of Texas but not necessarily a citizen of the United States. d. Are the same as in the U.S. Constitution. e. Require one to be a citizen of both Texas and the United States for at least ten years prior to running for office.

If the Texas legislature fails to redistrict, the task of redistricting then falls to the federal district courts. a. True b. False

The Texas constitution permits the election to the Texas legislature of persons who are not U.S. citizens but who have been legal residents of Texas for at least ten years. a. True b. False

What unconventional action did the Texas legislature take in 2003? a. It redistricted a second time in a single decade. b. It extended its regular session by two months. c. It operated without electing a House Speaker. d. It did not overturn a single gubernatorial veto. e. It did not pass a single bill.

Legislative districts in the Texas House and Senate are a. Based on proportional representation. b. Single-member districts. c. Multiple-member districts. d. Redistricted ever four years. e. Redistricted every six years.

Which of the following statements about simple resolutions is correct? a. They do not require the signature of the governor. b. They can only concern the internal rules of the Texas legislature. c. They are limited to matters of concern for no more than two House districts. d. They can only be initiated by either the Speaker or the lieutenant governor. e. They are only used to honor the outstanding achievements of Texas residents.

Which of the following is not a legislative power of the Texas governor? a. Calling special sessions b. Signing or vetoing bills c. Setting an agenda in the State of the State address d. Removing, for suitable cause, the Speaker or lieutenant governor e. Visiting with legislators to obtain their votes on a bill

Constituency services provided by Texas representatives may include all of the following EXCEPT a. Giving a speech to a local civic group. b. Providing legal services in court. c. Attempting to influence decisions of government agencies. d. Writing a letter of recommendation for a constituent. e. Legislative activity.

Who has responsibility for redistricting the Texas delegation to the U.S. Congress? a. The Texas legislature b. The governor c. The governor, along with the Texas Senate d. The U.S. Congress e. The Texas Supreme Court

As in the U.S. Congress, what is the purpose of a conference committee in the Texas legislature? a. It is a committee in which members of both houses meet informally with the governor's representatives to set the agenda for an upcoming session. b. It is a committee designed to make differing House and Senate versions of the same bill identical. c. It is the committee that establishes the rules for floor debate in the House. d. It is another name for a standing committee. e. It is used by each political party to develop its legislative strategy before each session.

A special legislative session may last as long as it takes to complete the session's agenda. a. True b. False

When the governor strikes out specific provisions in large appropriations bills, it is called a. Pigeonholing. b. The pocket veto. c. The line-item veto. d. The post-adjournment veto. e. An expenditure veto.

Unlike the U.S. Senate, the Texas Senate does not permit filibusters. a. True b. False

What is the main difference between a bill and a resolution? a. A resolution is just another name for a bill. b. A resolution deals only with issues affecting local government, while a bill deals with the entire state. c. All bills require the signature of the governor, but no resolution does. d. Unlike a bill, a resolution, if passed, lacks the force of a public law. e. A resolution must be passed unanimously: a bill needs only a majority