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Texas Government > Unit 2 > Flashcards

Unit 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a bill placed early on the senate calendar each session called?

A

A blocking bill

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2
Q

What is the practice called when politicians award contracts to their political supporters in the business community

A

Contract Spoils

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3
Q

A criminal case does not involve cases that deal primarily with…

A

Individual or property rights

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4
Q

What can a filibuster be used to do?

A

To delay and maybe kill a legislative measure

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5
Q

A grand jury commission can select…

A

Texas grand jurors

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6
Q

A preponderance of the evidence is…

A

The burden of proof standard used in civil cases.

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7
Q

A standing committee is NOT…

A

Ad hoc

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8
Q

A state-of-the-state message must be given…

A

By the governor at the beginning of each legislative session, as required by the constitution

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9
Q

To remove a governor what is necessary?

A

A two-thirds vote for impeachment in the Senate

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10
Q

Because Texas is a community property state, Alimony…

A

(Alimony) must be paid after five years of marriage

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11
Q

Although Texas law protects the property rights of owners…

A

An owner may not MISUSE it.

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12
Q

Although the non-Hispanic WHITE population accounts for ___% of the state’s population, ____% of the senators are non-Hispanic white

A

Although the non-Hispanic WHITE population accounts for 45% of the state’s population, 74% of the senators are non-Hispanic white

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13
Q

An advantage for a house member to support the winning speaker candidate includes…

A
  • becoming part of the speaker’s team
  • more campaign contributions
  • may include membership on a prestigious committee
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14
Q

Is a brief a written argument prepared by a judge?

A

INCORRECT; (a brief is a written legal argument that is presented to a court to aid it in reaching a conclusion on the legal issues involved in the cases)

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15
Q

Are arrest warrants issued for an individuals who looks suspicious?

A

NO

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16
Q

Is Arson an example of a civil (tort) suit?

A

NO

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17
Q

Because a bill can be enacted into law by a committee in case of an emergency, committees are often called…

A

Little Legislatures

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18
Q

Is being a resident of Texas for 10 years a qualification necessary to become a district court judge?

A

NO

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19
Q

What do both the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution guarantee?

A

The right to a grand jury indictment

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20
Q

What is the most important constitutional duty for the comptroller of public accounts?

A

Certifying the approximate biennial revenue for the state.

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21
Q

Does civil law deal with public morality?

A

NO

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22
Q

Civil law in the states today is based in large part on…

A

(Based on) centuries-old English common law

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23
Q

When the prosecutors agree to a plea bargain…

A

The criminal is not punished to the full measure of their crime

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24
Q

Driving while intoxicated is considered a…

A

Victimless crime

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25
Q

Grand juries are supposed to determine if there is…

A

Sufficient evidence to bring the accused to trial

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26
Q

In Texas, crime is more likely in…

A
  • large metropolitan area
  • minority-group members (they’re arrested disproportionately for crime)
  • the poor (regardless of racial or ethnic background are more likely to commit violent crimes than members of the middle and upper classes.
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27
Q

In the 1989 case Edgewood v. Kirby, the Texas Supreme Court unanimously declared that…

A

The huge disparities between rich and poor school districts were unacceptable and ordered changes in the financing of Texas’s public schools

28
Q

Informal criteria to become a governor…

A
  • being a WASP (white Anglo-Saxon Protestant)
  • male
  • typically governors will be a businessperson or attorney
29
Q

The purview of the presiding officers of the legislature does not include…

A

Interpreting laws and giving advisory options

30
Q

Justin of the peace courts are authorized by…

A

The Texas Constitution

31
Q

What profession is the most frequently represented in the U.S. legislature?

A

Law

32
Q

Like the federal congress, what can override the governor’s veto?

A

A two-thirds vote

33
Q

Why did LULAC v. Perry happen?

A

Because in 2003, the Texas State Legislature passed a REDISTRICTING plan that replaced the one created by a federal judge following the 2000 census.

Critics of the plan charged that it was unconstitutional and violated the Voting Rights Act because it diluted racial minority voting strength and was designed to maximize partisan advantage

34
Q

What made the exclusionary rule applicable to the states?

A

Mapp v. Ohio

35
Q

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

A

Ex-officios

36
Q

Municipal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over…

A
  • violation of city ordinance
  • class C misdemeanors
  • fine of $500 or less
37
Q

No-fault insurance is…

A

A kind of insurance plan that allows the insured person to collect from the individual’s own insurance company regardless of who is at fault in a vehicular accident.

38
Q

Original jurisdiction of a court involves all of the following EXCEPT

A

A review of the record

39
Q

Pairing involves…

A

Placing two incumbent officeholders in the same elective district through redistricting

40
Q

Strategies in the placement of bills on calendars by the House Calendar Committee can include…

A
  • placing a bill lower to gain time to build support
  • placing it near the top to get it passed before the opposition can organize
  • placing it toward the bottom because they oppose the bill
41
Q

Probate is the procedure used to…

A

Prove the validity of a will

42
Q

Is providing a proxy vote in order to have a quorum within the authority of the presiding officer of the senate?

A

NO

43
Q

Are there right-to-work laws in Texas?

A

Yes!

44
Q

Right-to-work laws prohibit…

A

Union shop agreements requiring new employees to join a union

45
Q

Texas has how many Courts of appeal?

A

14; Texas has 14 courts of appeal

46
Q

How many county courts does Texas have?

A

254; Texas has 254 county courts

47
Q

What does the 4th amendment prohibit?

A

Unreasonable searches

48
Q

The attorney general is…

A

The lawyer for state officials, board members and agencies.

49
Q

The bureaucracy is the…

A

System of officials and their employees administering or managing government policies and programs

50
Q

Is the commissioner of education legally independent of the governor?

A

NO

51
Q

Is the comptroller a part of the Iron Texas Star coalition?

A

NO

52
Q

Why were legally mandated term limits brought about?

A

From the frustration of voters toward government officials controlled by special interests

53
Q

In the event a special session is called…

A

The governor determines the legislative agenda

54
Q

The governor’s ability to use informal powers is largely determined by…

A

The extent of informal (extralegal) powers

55
Q

Why is the governor’s authority to reject a proposed law almost an absolute power?

A

Because the legislature is seldom in session when the governor issues a veto

56
Q

Has the legislature passed laws involving reforming automobile insurance lawsuits?

A

NO

57
Q

Th majority of cases heard by the Texas Supreme Court are for…

A

Petition for review

58
Q

The presiding officers make appointments of committee chairs in…

A

Each legislative chamber

59
Q

The salary of the governor is determined by…

A

The legislature

60
Q

The Texas commissioner of agriculture has no authority over…

A

Coordinating pesticide management policies and programs

61
Q

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has…

A

One presiding judge and Eight other judges

62
Q

The threat of a veto by the governor is…

A

an informal legislative power of the not mentioned in the constitution or the law

63
Q

Theft of money greater than $1,500…

A

Is NOT considered a white-collar crime

64
Q

What is the vast majority of cases heard by municipal courts?

A

Traffic and parking violations

65
Q

When the public safety is endangered…

A

Miranda warnings are still necessary!

66
Q

Women in the Texas legislature have experienced…

A

An INCREASE in the # of women holding seats (still falls below the average among the 50 states for women holding seats, and twenty-six states have a greater percentage of female lawmakers than Texas)

Texas Government (3 decks)

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