Chapter 7 Flashcards
Reappointment
The redrawing of district and precinct lines following the national census to reflect population
How are all Texas legislators elected>
Single-member districts
The Texas legislator is made up of how many members?
181
Texas is divided into how many state senatorial districts?
31
Who is assigned to act on if the Texas legislature fails to redistrict?
Legislative Redistricting Board
What are the members of the Legislative Redistricting Board made up of?
ex-oficios
What individual is not a member of the Legislative Redistricting Board?
Secretary of State
By 2011, what was the average population on an electoral district for the Texas House of Representatives?
171,165
In 2011, what was the average population of an electoral district for the Texas Senate?
828,216
What percentage can legislative districts deviate from the mean to be drawn?
5
Why was gerrymandering coined in 1812?
It is used to protect a first-time candidate
Gerrymandering is most commonly used to protect which legislative incumbents?
Legislators who support the agenda of powerful special interests
What does “pairing” involve?
Placing two incumbent officeholders in the same elective district through redistricting
What is not a common method used in gerrymandering?
Parity
Gerrymandering is used to protect what kind of incumbent?
The “right kind”
What is an incorrect statement about gerrymandering?
Only the Democratic Party has been charged with gerrymandering in Texas
During the winter of 2012, what percentage of Texans supported the creation of an independent redistricting commission to redraw district lines?
42%
What is not a formal qualification to become a state senator in Texas?
Having lived in the state or five years, as well as five years in the district in which he or she seeks election
What is not a formal qualification to become a member of the Texas House of Representatives?
Having lived in Texas five years prior to being elected
What is an incorrect statement about the informal qualifications that could help an individual get elected to the legislature?
Individuals under the age of 40 years of age have an advantage
Descriptive Representation
When the people in legislative districts elect representatives that “look like” the people they represent
What is an incorrect statement about Texas’s population?
Texas is the only state with a majority minority
Currently, what percentage of the Texas population are Asian American?
4%
What is a correct statement about the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Hispanic levels of representation in both the House and Senate?
As the state’s Hispanic population has grown, the share of House and Senate seats held by Hispanics increased
Which group is the most underrepresented in the Texas Legislature?
Women
How many people and of what nationality were serving in the 83rd Texas Legislative session?
Two Asian Americans
What percentage of the Texas House were Latino during the 83rd Legislative session?
20%
What percentage of the representatives in the Texas House were women during the 83rd Legislative session?
24%
What percentage of senators are non hispanic?
74%
Which group is underrepresented in the legislature relative to their percentages in the general population?
Hispanic, Females and Asians
What is a true statement about females in the Texas House of Representatives?
Women have a higher percentage of representation in the House rather than in the Senate
Which profession is the most frequent represented in the US legislature?
Law
Where does the Texas legislature rain in the percentage of lawmakers with a college degree?
5th
What is the primary qualification for winning legislative office?
Access to money
On average, how much money does one have to raise to win a seat in the Texas Legislature?
$656,908
What are the terms for office for members of the legislature?
Texas senators are elected for four year staggered terms; representatives are elected for two year terms
What has been the response whenever the legislature considers increasing appropriations to hire competent staff for individual legislators?
Both the general public and special interests voice strong opposition
What do legally mandated term limits reflect?
The frustration of voters toward government officials controlled by special interest
What is a legislators annual salary?
$7,200 plus $150 per day for expenses for both regular and special sessions
How is a salary increase for legislators and the lieutenant governor is determined?
Texas Ethics Commission and the voters
What is not an argument against having short term biennial sessions in Texas?
Texans believe that the legislature does more good than harm, therefore, a longer session is better
What is a correct statement about Texas’s legislators?
Texas legislators meet for 140 days every other year
Who did the Texas House unanimously honor for his “noted activities and unconventional techniques involving population control and applied psychology”?
Albert De Salvo
What is an incorrect statement about the lieutenant governor?
The lieutenant governor is elected in a statewide, nonpartisan election
Who does the Texas Constitution require the Speaker of the House to be selected by?
The majority of the membership of the House
What is a “RINO”?
A Republican thought to be not conservative enough
What is an advantage for a House member to support the winning speaker candidate?
Legislative bribery
With what do the candidates for speaker are required to file a complete statement of loans, campaign contributions, and expenditures?
Secretary of state
What are subcommittees divisions of?
Standing committees
Which committee acts as screening mechanisms to filter out bad bills or bills that little or no political support?
Standing
What are divisions of standing committees?
Subcommittees
Which committee is not an ad hoc committee?
Standing committee
What provides bill analysis, floor reports, issue focus reports, and interim news to legislators and the public?
House Research Organization
The “one person, one vote” principle for state legislatures was established in which of the following cases?
Reynolds v Sims
According to Benjamin Disraeli how are politics defined?
The pursuit and exercise of power
How often does the US attempt to count every person in the country?
Every 10 years
