Question 1

A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and develop party policy is called a party

Accepted Answer

A meeting of members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and develop party policy is called a caucus.

Question 2

The New Hampshire legislature has a House of Representatives and a Senate.Thus, it is an example of a _________________ legislature.

Accepted Answer

A bicameral legislature is one that consists of two separate chambers or houses, such as the House of Representatives and Senate in New Hampshire. Therefore, the best choice is E.

Question 3

A legislature with two chambers is called a bifurcated legislature.

Accepted Answer

A legislature with two chambers is actually called a bicameral legislature.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about state legislative committees is correct?

Accepted Answer

State legislative committees vary in power from state to state depending on the structure and rules of the particular state's legislature. Some states give significant power to their committees, while others have weaker committees with limited roles.

Question 5

If state legislators have drawn a district in the city of Everytown such that 54% of the district residents are African-Americans, this is an example of a(n) _____________ district.

Accepted Answer

A majority-minority district is one in which the majority of the population belongs to a minority group, such as African-Americans. Therefore, the district described in the question is an example of a majority-minority district. The other options listed are not applicable to this scenario.

Question 6

The right to lobby is protected under

Accepted Answer

The First and Fourteenth Amendments of the federal constitution and similar protections in state constitutions protect the right to lobby. This protection is related to the freedom of speech and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Federal and state statutes may regulate the practice of lobbying, but they cannot prohibit it altogether. Local government charters and gubernatorial orders may have an impact on lobbying, but they do not provide the fundamental protection that comes from constitutional provisions.

Question 7

In Reynolds v.Sims (1964) the Supreme Court ruled that

Accepted Answer

Reynolds v. Sims established the principle of "one person, one vote" and required that both chambers of state legislatures have districts of roughly equal population, including state senates. This means that even state senates have to draw their districts based on equal population requirements.

Question 8

A referendum that calls for a waiting period before legislation goes into effect and allows voters to sign a petition requesting that the act be referred to the voters prior to going into effect is call a(n) _______________ referendum.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A referendum that calls for a waiting...

Question 9

In Baker v.Carr (1962) the Supreme Court ruled that

Accepted Answer

Baker v. Carr established the principle of "one person, one vote" and held that voters have standing to challenge legislative apportionment. This ruling ensured that legislative districts were drawn with equal populations, providing greater representation for urban areas with larger populations.

Question 10

In most states, lobbyists must register annually with the state government.

Accepted Answer

In most states, lobbyists are required to register annually with the state government in order to disclose their activities and spending while lobbying. Each state may have its own specific requirements and exemptions for lobbyist registration.

Question 11

The most talked-about legislative "reform" in the 1990s was

Accepted Answer

Term limits, which restrict the number of terms an elected official can serve, were a highly debated reform measure in the 1990s. Proponents argued that it would help bring new blood and fresh ideas into politics, while critics contended that it was undemocratic and could lead to less experienced politicians in office. Term limits were eventually implemented in some states, but their effectiveness and fairness continue to be debated.

Question 12

How many states do NOT have term limits for their members of the state legislature?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How many states do NOT have term...

Question 13

Which of the following is true about interest groups in American states?

Accepted Answer

Interest groups have a significant and growing influence on state legislatures, as they are able to use their financial resources and grassroots mobilization to influence the policy-making process. This is especially true in states with weak party organizations and open access legislatures, where interest groups are able to play a larger role in shaping policy outcomes.

Question 14

The text cites two sources of lobbyists' influence.What are they?

Accepted Answer

According to the text, lobbyists have influence through their ability to provide information to politicians and also their ability to provide campaign support.

Question 15

The committee system in state legislatures generally allows members to concentrate their energies on specific areas of governmental operations.

Accepted Answer

The committee system allows members to specialize in specific policy areas and focus their efforts on those areas within the legislative process.

Question 16

Usually the greatest influence on legislators is

Accepted Answer

Legislators are elected by their constituents and are accountable to them. Therefore, the greatest influence on legislators should be their constituents' needs and demands. Interest groups and political parties may have some influence, but ultimately the legislators must answer to the voters who put them in office. Governors and delegates may have some influence, but they are not typically as directly involved in the legislative process as the constituents are.

Question 17

Forms of direct democracy including initiatives and referendums are most common in which states?

Accepted Answer

Direct democracy, including initiatives and referendums, are most common in Western states, especially along the Pacific coast. California, Oregon, and Washington all use the initiative and referendum process extensively, allowing citizens to propose and vote directly on legislation. Other Western states such as Arizona, Colorado, and Montana also have active direct democracy systems in place.

Question 18

State senator Jane Doe votes in favor of allowing casinos in her state as a way to increase state revenues despite the fact that a majority of her constituents oppose allowing casinos.This is an example of what type of interpretation of her role as a legislator?

Accepted Answer

The scenario suggests that State Senator Jane Doe is acting as a trustee. A trustee acts based on what he/she believes is in the best interest of the public, even if it is not in line with the majority opinion of the constituents.

Question 19

What is the only state with a unicameral legislature?

Accepted Answer

Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral legislature, meaning that it only has one legislative chamber instead of the usual two (a House of Representatives and a Senate).

Question 20

The primary source of campaign funds for incumbent state legislators is typically

Accepted Answer

Interest groups, such as business organizations or labor unions, often provide significant campaign contributions to incumbent state legislators in order to influence policy decisions at the state level. Family contributions and public funding are typically not enough to support a successful campaign, and national party organizations may not focus as much on state-level races. Governors also tend to prioritize their own campaigns and do not always provide significant funding to incumbent legislators.

Quiz 24: State Legislatures