Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

POLS 2306 Exam 2 > Exam #2 > Flashcards

Exam #2 Flashcards

1
Q

How much are members of the Texas legislature paid?

A

$7,200/year $600/month

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How many members are in the Texas Senate

A

31

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How many members are in the Texas House

A

150

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Who is the current Speaker of the House for Texas?

A

Dade Phelan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Who is the current Lieutenant Governor?

A

Dan Patrick

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Qualifications to serve as a member in the Texas House of Representatives, and the term structure?

A

US Citizen, 21 years old, Texas resident for 2 years, District resident for 12 months, 2 year terms; no limit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Qualifications to serve as a member in the Texas Senate, and the term structure?

A

US Citizen, 26 years old, Texas resident for 5 years, District resident for 12 months, 4 year terms; no limit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

When does the Texas legislature meet, and for how long?

A

The second Tuesday in January of odd numbered years before the presidential elections, for 5 months

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a special session?

A

Session called by the Governor to address an agenda set by them that can last no longer than 30 days

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is redistricting?

A

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is gerrymandering?

A

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is logrolling?

A

a legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of his or hers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a filibuster?

A

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is line-item veto?

A

the governor’s ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a standing committee?

A

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is a procedural committee?

A

These House committees (such as the Calendars Committee and House Administration Committee) consider bills and resolutions relating primarily to procedural legislative matters.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a substantive committee?

A

Appointed by the House Speaker, this committee considers bills and resolutions related to the subject identified by its name (such as the House Agriculture Committee) and may recommend passage of proposed legislation to the appropriate calendars committee.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is a conference committee?

A

Report this question
Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is a select committee?

A

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

20
Q

How does a bill become a law if introduced to the Texas House?

A

introduced during a legislative session, Speaker of House assigns to a committee to be amended, goes to calendar committee to be scheduled for debate, brought to the house floor where it may be further amended, bill is sent to senate if passes majority vote, once it is passed by both Senate and House it is sent to governor to be signed, vetoed or expired

21
Q

How does a bill become a law if introduced to the senate?

A

introduced during a legislative session, Lt. governor refers it to senate committee, Senate must agree by 5/9 vote to send bill to Senate floor, brought to Senate floor to be further amended, bill is sent to the House if passes majority vote, once it is passed by both Senate and House it is sent to governor to be signed, vetoed or expired

22
Q

What is a plural executive?

A

an executive branch in which power is fragmented because the election of statewide officeholders is independent of the election of the governor

23
Q

Which offices make up the Executive branch of the Texas Government?

A

a Governor, a Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller of Public Accounts, Commissioner of the General Land Office, and Attorney General.

24
Q

What are the responsibilities of the Governor?

A

implementing state laws and overseeing the operation of the state executive branch.

25
Q

What are the responsibilities of the Secretary of State?

A

To administer elections and maintain important state records.

26
Q

What are the responsibilities of the Lieutenant Governor?

A

the state’s highest officer following the governor and assumes the role when the governor is out of state or incapacitated.

27
Q

What are the responsibilities of the Comptroller of Public Accounts?

A

receives, disburses, counts, safeguards, records, allocates, manages and reports on the state’s cash.

28
Q

What are the responsibilities of the Land Commissioner?

A

Work to ensure Texas veterans get the benefits they’ve earned, oversee investments and manage state lands.

29
Q

What are the responsibilities of the AG Commissioner?

A

oversees all issues concerning and related to agriculture and rural community affairs.

30
Q

Why did the Texas constitution establish a plural executive?

A

to limit the power of the governor

31
Q

Why was the Texas Constitution rewritten in 1876?

A

to refine the previous constitution written in 1866 after the end of the Civil War

32
Q

What are the requirements, perks and salary of the Texas governor?

A

30 years old, Texas resident for 5 years, health insurance, paid sick/vacation days, and longevity pay based on years of service, $153,750 a year

33
Q

What are the powers of the Texas governor?

A

call special legislative sessions, sign and veto bills, grant reprieves/pardons, serve as commander in chief of the state’s military forces, appoint the secretary of state

34
Q

What are the differences between appellate and original jurisdiction?

A

A court exercising original jurisdiction is the first court to hear the case, whereas appellate jurisdiction refers to the power to review the decisions of other courts that have already issued rulings in a given case.

35
Q

What are the differences between a felony and misdemeanor?

A

Misdemeanors are less severe than felonies and result in lighter penalties

36
Q

What is the difference between grand and petit juries

A

The grand jury determines whether the evidence of guilt is sufficient to warrant a trial, a petit jury determines guilt or innocence in criminal cases and decides the winner in civil cases.

37
Q

What is voir dire

A

the jury selection process

38
Q

What is the voir dire process?

A

the attorneys or the judge asks potential jurors questions about their attitudes and backgrounds and may automatically exclude some jurors using “peremptory challenges.” Additional jurors may also be excluded if an attorney can show just cause for, say, extreme bias, but judges routinely accept the word of prospective jurors who promise to set aide admitted biases.

39
Q

Court of record

A

A court that has a court reporter or electronic device to record testimony and proceedings.

40
Q

Affirm

A

To declare that a court ruling is valid and must stand

41
Q

Overturn

A

to declare that a court ruling is invalid

42
Q

Remand

A

To send a case back to a lower court to be tried again

43
Q

Plantiff

A

a person who brings a case against another in a court of law

44
Q

Defendant

A

An individual or group being sued or charged with a crime

45
Q

Prosecutor

A

the state or federal government attorney in a criminal case

46
Q

How are judges and justices selected in texas?

A

By partisan election

47
Q

What are the 5 tiers of the state judicial system

A

Justice of the Peace court OR Municipal court, County court, District court, Court of appeals, then Texas Supreme Court (civil) OR Criminal Court of Appeals (criminal)

POLS 2306 Exam 2 (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions