1. Which principle of government is the key to understanding the drafting of the Texas Constitution of 1876?
a. giving independence to the judiciary by making all judges appointed, instead of elected
b. strong popular control of state government
c. checking the powers of the governor
d. limits on the ability of the government to impose taxes
e. restrictions on the power of the government to get into debt
2. The system of distributing powers between states and a central government is called
a. filtration.
b. constitutionalism.
c. separation of powers.
d. checks and balances.
e. federalism.
3. The Texas constitutional convention of 1861 was dominated by
a. representatives of business and the railroads.
b. lawyers and slaveholders.
c. supporters of an independent Republic of Texas.
d. small farmers and ranchers.
e. supporters of Governor Sam Houston.
4. Which of the following was not part of the Ratliff-Junell proposal for Texas constitutional change?
a. The length of terms of office would grow but there would also be term limits.
b. The legislature would hold veto sessions in order to consider overriding any gubernatorial vetoes.
c. The judiciary should be appointed by the governor, with confirmation by the Senate.
d. The governor would be given the authority to appoint several state office holders who are now elected.
e. The executive branch should be reorganized to look more like the U.S. presidency.
5. Which of the following is not part of the original articles of the Texas Constitution of 1876?
a. All of the above are part of the original articles of the Texas constitution.
b. the establishment of a bicameral legislature.
c. the duty to maintain a system of public education
d. the establishment of a plural executive
e. a bill of rights
6. Which of the following statements about the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1865 is not true?
a. The state had to formally reject the right of secession.
b. Texas had to return to the federal government parts of Oklahoma seized by Texas Confederate soldiers.
c. Texas had to repudiate the war debt incurred by the state.
d. There were strong Union and secessionist factions at the convention.
e. Texas had to accept the abolition of slavery.
7. Approximately how often has the Texas constitution been amended?
a. between 100 and 200 times
b. more than 750 times
c. between 50 and 75
d. fewer than 30 times
e. between 400 and 500 times
8. Under the Texas constitution, who has the power of impeachment?
a. The House of Representatives has the power to impeach, while the state supreme court has the power to try and convict.
b. Texas has no constitutional provisions for impeachment.
c. The Senate has the power to both impeach and convict.
d. The Texas Supreme Court has the power to impeach and convict.
e. The House of Representatives has the power to impeach, while the Senate has the power to try and convict.
9. Which of the following statements best describes the structure of the Texas legislature?
a. Texas has a plural legislature divided up into six different chambers.
b. Since independence from Mexico, Texas has had a bicameral legislature.
c. One of the complaints against the Reconstruction constitution was that it created a unicameral legislature.
d. Texas's first unicameral legislature was established while the state was a member of the Confederacy.
e. Texas has always had a unicameral legislature.
10. In the 2007 constitutional amendment election, ______ percent of registered voters participated.
a. 8
b. 25
c. 2
d. 10
e. 40