Chapter 7

Question 1

Reappointment

Answer 1

The redrawing of district and precinct lines following the national census to reflect population

Question 2

How are all Texas legislators elected>

Answer 2

Single-member districts

Question 3

The Texas legislator is made up of how many members?

Answer 3

181

Question 4

Texas is divided into how many state senatorial districts?

Answer 4

31

Question 5

Who is assigned to act on if the Texas legislature fails to redistrict?

Answer 5

Legislative Redistricting Board

Question 6

What are the members of the Legislative Redistricting Board made up of?

Answer 6

ex-oficios

Question 7

What individual is not a member of the Legislative Redistricting Board?

Answer 7

Secretary of State

Question 8

By 2011, what was the average population on an electoral district for the Texas House of Representatives?

Answer 8

171,165

Question 9

In 2011, what was the average population of an electoral district for the Texas Senate?

Answer 9

828,216

Question 10

What percentage can legislative districts deviate from the mean to be drawn?

Answer 10

5

Question 11

Why was gerrymandering coined in 1812?

Answer 11

It is used to protect a first-time candidate

Question 12

Gerrymandering is most commonly used to protect which legislative incumbents?

Answer 12

Legislators who support the agenda of powerful special interests

Question 13

What does “pairing” involve?

Answer 13

Placing two incumbent officeholders in the same elective district through redistricting

Question 14

What is not a common method used in gerrymandering?

Answer 14

Parity

Question 15

Gerrymandering is used to protect what kind of incumbent?

Answer 15

The “right kind”

Question 16

What is an incorrect statement about gerrymandering?

Answer 16

Only the Democratic Party has been charged with gerrymandering in Texas

Question 17

During the winter of 2012, what percentage of Texans supported the creation of an independent redistricting commission to redraw district lines?

Answer 17

42%

Question 18

What is not a formal qualification to become a state senator in Texas?

Answer 18

Having lived in the state or five years, as well as five years in the district in which he or she seeks election

Question 19

What is not a formal qualification to become a member of the Texas House of Representatives?

Answer 19

Having lived in Texas five years prior to being elected

Question 20

What is an incorrect statement about the informal qualifications that could help an individual get elected to the legislature?

Answer 20

Individuals under the age of 40 years of age have an advantage

Question 21

Descriptive Representation

Answer 21

When the people in legislative districts elect representatives that “look like” the people they represent

Question 22

What is an incorrect statement about Texas’s population?

Answer 22

Texas is the only state with a majority minority

Question 23

Currently, what percentage of the Texas population are Asian American?

Answer 23

4%

Question 24

What is a correct statement about the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Hispanic levels of representation in both the House and Senate?

Answer 24

As the state’s Hispanic population has grown, the share of House and Senate seats held by Hispanics increased

Question 25

Which group is the most underrepresented in the Texas Legislature?

Answer 25

Women

Question 26

How many people and of what nationality were serving in the 83rd Texas Legislative session?

Answer 26

Two Asian Americans

Question 27

What percentage of the Texas House were Latino during the 83rd Legislative session?

Answer 27

20%

Question 28

What percentage of the representatives in the Texas House were women during the 83rd Legislative session?

Answer 28

24%

Question 29

What percentage of senators are non hispanic?

Answer 29

74%

Question 30

Which group is underrepresented in the legislature relative to their percentages in the general population?

Answer 30

Hispanic, Females and Asians

Question 31

What is a true statement about females in the Texas House of Representatives?

Answer 31

Women have a higher percentage of representation in the House rather than in the Senate

Question 32

Which profession is the most frequent represented in the US legislature?

Answer 32

Law

Question 33

Where does the Texas legislature rain in the percentage of lawmakers with a college degree?

Answer 33

5th

Question 34

What is the primary qualification for winning legislative office?

Answer 34

Access to money

Question 35

On average, how much money does one have to raise to win a seat in the Texas Legislature?

Answer 35

$656,908

Question 36

What are the terms for office for members of the legislature?

Answer 36

Texas senators are elected for four year staggered terms; representatives are elected for two year terms

Question 37

What has been the response whenever the legislature considers increasing appropriations to hire competent staff for individual legislators?

Answer 37

Both the general public and special interests voice strong opposition

Question 38

What do legally mandated term limits reflect?

Answer 38

The frustration of voters toward government officials controlled by special interest

Question 39

What is a legislators annual salary?

Answer 39

$7,200 plus $150 per day for expenses for both regular and special sessions

Question 40

How is a salary increase for legislators and the lieutenant governor is determined?

Answer 40

Texas Ethics Commission and the voters

Question 41

What is not an argument against having short term biennial sessions in Texas?

Answer 41

Texans believe that the legislature does more good than harm, therefore, a longer session is better

Question 42

What is a correct statement about Texas's legislators?

Answer 42

Texas legislators meet for 140 days every other year

Question 43

Who did the Texas House unanimously honor for his "noted activities and unconventional techniques involving population control and applied psychology"?

Answer 43

Albert De Salvo

Question 44

What is an incorrect statement about the lieutenant governor?

Answer 44

The lieutenant governor is elected in a statewide, nonpartisan election

Question 45

Who does the Texas Constitution require the Speaker of the House to be selected by?

Answer 45

The majority of the membership of the House

Question 46

What is a "RINO"?

Answer 46

A Republican thought to be not conservative enough

Question 47

What is an advantage for a House member to support the winning speaker candidate?

Answer 47

Legislative bribery

Question 48

With what do the candidates for speaker are required to file a complete statement of loans, campaign contributions, and expenditures?

Answer 48

Secretary of state

Question 49

What are subcommittees divisions of?

Answer 49

Standing committees

Question 50

Which committee acts as screening mechanisms to filter out bad bills or bills that little or no political support?

Answer 50

Standing

Question 51

What are divisions of standing committees?

Answer 51

Subcommittees

Question 52

Which committee is not an ad hoc committee?

Answer 52

Standing committee

Question 53

What provides bill analysis, floor reports, issue focus reports, and interim news to legislators and the public?

Answer 53

House Research Organization

Question 54

The "one person, one vote" principle for state legislatures was established in which of the following cases?

Answer 54

Reynolds v Sims

Question 55

According to Benjamin Disraeli how are politics defined?

Answer 55

The pursuit and exercise of power

Question 56

How often does the US attempt to count every person in the country?

Answer 56

Every 10 years