Texas and Federal Government Examination: Citizen Legislature, Legislative
Oversight, Standing and Conference Committees, Gerrymandering, Descriptive
Representation, Filibuster and Rule Suspension, Redistricting, Veto Powers,
Appointment Authority, Informal vs Formal Powers, Iron Triangle and
Bureaucratic Influence, Comptroller and Secretary of State Roles, Administrative
Law, Open Records and Accountability, Executive Office of the President, Chief of
Staff, Commander in Chief, Signing Statements, Executive Orders, Diplomatic
Recognition, Presidential Term Limits and Succession, Lame Duck Phenomenon,
Patronage, PACs and Super PACs, Political Primaries, White House Office,
Cabinet Departments, Independent Agencies, Federal Regulatory Commissions,
Judicial Review, Supreme Court Decisions, Blue Slip and Amicus Curiae, Judicial
Activism, Criminal and Civil Jurisdiction, Jury Trials, United States v. Windsor,
Clarence Thomas Confirmation, and Dred Scott v. Sanford Exam Questions
Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
Tx 7: What feature of the Texas legislature leads political scientists to characterize it as a citizen
legislature?
The legislature meets for only 140 days biennially, and the salary is low.
Tx 7: What is an example that illustrates legislative oversight?
,Legislators hold hearings to examine potential wasteful spending in an agency such as the
Health and Human Services Commission.
Tx 7: Which of the following are characteristics of a conference committee?
A conference committee is temporary, consists of members from each chamber, and resolves
differences between the house and senate versions of a bill.
Tx 7: What is a consequence of both chambers of the state legislature having nonpartisan
institutions that will provide information to the legislators?
These nonpartisan institutions reduce legislators' dependence on special interests and
administrative agencies for information.
Tx 7: Which type of committee screens bills by holding hearings, debating, and marking up bills
before allowing them to be considered by the whole House or Senate?
Standing
Tx 7: What is the process of drawing district lines in such a way as to give an advantage to
candidates from a certain party, ethnic group, or faction at the expense of other groups?
Gerrymandering
Tx 7: What are the terms for office for members of the legislature?
Texas senators are elected for four-year staggered terms; representatives are elected for two-
year terms.
,Tx 7: The redistricting process is necessary to address what issue?
Population shifts
Tx 7: What rule ensures that legislation is not rushed through the voting process without proper
consideration?
A bill must be read on three consecutive days in each chamber.
Tx 7: What representative type would rely upon town hall meetings and deliberative polls to
make decisions on bills before voting?
Delegate
Tx 7: The fact that the Texas legislature is disproportionately white and male compared to the
population of Texas means that it lacks what?
Descriptive representation
Tx 7: What is the gerrymandering technique that divides up a minority party's voters into so
many geographical districts that their voting power in any one district is negligible (thus diluting
their votes)?
Cracking
Tx 7: Which is a true characterization of the short 140-day biennial legislative sessions in Texas?
, They create the need for more 30-day special sessions.
Tx 7: Which method of prolonged debate can be used only in the Senate to delay and maybe
cause the bill to be changed or to not reach the floor?
Filibuster
Tx 7: What is one consequence of gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering results in vote dilution of certain individuals.
Tx 7: What rule makes quick and efficient law making in the Texas state senate difficult?
Three-fifths rule
Tx 7: To what does suspension of the rule refer?
Setting aside the rule that puts bills in chronological order so that other bills can be considered
Tx 7: What was the consequence of the Shelby v. Holder Supreme Court decision?
It weakened the Voting Rights Act, and Texas no longer is required to get preclearance for
changes in electoral rules.
Tx 7: Who is the presiding officer of the Texas state senate?
The lieutenant governor
Oversight, Standing and Conference Committees, Gerrymandering, Descriptive
Representation, Filibuster and Rule Suspension, Redistricting, Veto Powers,
Appointment Authority, Informal vs Formal Powers, Iron Triangle and
Bureaucratic Influence, Comptroller and Secretary of State Roles, Administrative
Law, Open Records and Accountability, Executive Office of the President, Chief of
Staff, Commander in Chief, Signing Statements, Executive Orders, Diplomatic
Recognition, Presidential Term Limits and Succession, Lame Duck Phenomenon,
Patronage, PACs and Super PACs, Political Primaries, White House Office,
Cabinet Departments, Independent Agencies, Federal Regulatory Commissions,
Judicial Review, Supreme Court Decisions, Blue Slip and Amicus Curiae, Judicial
Activism, Criminal and Civil Jurisdiction, Jury Trials, United States v. Windsor,
Clarence Thomas Confirmation, and Dred Scott v. Sanford Exam Questions
Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
Tx 7: What feature of the Texas legislature leads political scientists to characterize it as a citizen
legislature?
The legislature meets for only 140 days biennially, and the salary is low.
Tx 7: What is an example that illustrates legislative oversight?
,Legislators hold hearings to examine potential wasteful spending in an agency such as the
Health and Human Services Commission.
Tx 7: Which of the following are characteristics of a conference committee?
A conference committee is temporary, consists of members from each chamber, and resolves
differences between the house and senate versions of a bill.
Tx 7: What is a consequence of both chambers of the state legislature having nonpartisan
institutions that will provide information to the legislators?
These nonpartisan institutions reduce legislators' dependence on special interests and
administrative agencies for information.
Tx 7: Which type of committee screens bills by holding hearings, debating, and marking up bills
before allowing them to be considered by the whole House or Senate?
Standing
Tx 7: What is the process of drawing district lines in such a way as to give an advantage to
candidates from a certain party, ethnic group, or faction at the expense of other groups?
Gerrymandering
Tx 7: What are the terms for office for members of the legislature?
Texas senators are elected for four-year staggered terms; representatives are elected for two-
year terms.
,Tx 7: The redistricting process is necessary to address what issue?
Population shifts
Tx 7: What rule ensures that legislation is not rushed through the voting process without proper
consideration?
A bill must be read on three consecutive days in each chamber.
Tx 7: What representative type would rely upon town hall meetings and deliberative polls to
make decisions on bills before voting?
Delegate
Tx 7: The fact that the Texas legislature is disproportionately white and male compared to the
population of Texas means that it lacks what?
Descriptive representation
Tx 7: What is the gerrymandering technique that divides up a minority party's voters into so
many geographical districts that their voting power in any one district is negligible (thus diluting
their votes)?
Cracking
Tx 7: Which is a true characterization of the short 140-day biennial legislative sessions in Texas?
, They create the need for more 30-day special sessions.
Tx 7: Which method of prolonged debate can be used only in the Senate to delay and maybe
cause the bill to be changed or to not reach the floor?
Filibuster
Tx 7: What is one consequence of gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering results in vote dilution of certain individuals.
Tx 7: What rule makes quick and efficient law making in the Texas state senate difficult?
Three-fifths rule
Tx 7: To what does suspension of the rule refer?
Setting aside the rule that puts bills in chronological order so that other bills can be considered
Tx 7: What was the consequence of the Shelby v. Holder Supreme Court decision?
It weakened the Voting Rights Act, and Texas no longer is required to get preclearance for
changes in electoral rules.
Tx 7: Who is the presiding officer of the Texas state senate?
The lieutenant governor
