Question 1

In what year was Texas's current constitution ratified?

Accepted Answer

A)   1828
B)   1869
C)   1876
D)   1888

Question 2

Which of the following is found in the Texas Constitution, but not in the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)   Bill of Rights
B)   separation of powers
C)   supremacy clause
D)   Equal Rights Amendment

Question 3

Which of the following is most likely to create advertising campaigns related to proposed constitutional amendments?

Accepted Answer

A)   interest groups either in favor or against the proposed amendment
B)   political parties trying to mobilize their traditional voters
C)   county officials who are required to run "get out the vote" campaigns
D)   the state, since the constitution is a state-wide document

Question 4

The Constitution of 1836 showed the direct influence of the U.S. Constitution through the inclusion of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   state retention of ownership of mineral rights
B)   a unicameral legislature
C)   a judicial system with four levels
D)   government divided into three branches with a system of checks and balances

Question 5

Which of the following statements about the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1865 is NOT accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)   Texas had to accept the abolition of slavery.
B)   Texas had to repudiate the war debt incurred by the state.
C)   Texas had to return to the federal government parts of Oklahoma seized by Texas Confederate soldiers.
D)   The state had to formally reject the right of secession.

Question 6

The Texas Constitutional Convention of 1974

Accepted Answer

A)   was successful in drafting a new version of the Texas Constitution that was ratified by voters in November 1975.
B)   failed to include enough sitting members of the legislature, so the Texas Supreme Court invalidated its proposed new constitution.
C)   adopted a proposed constitution by a two-thirds vote.
D)   was unable to reach an agreement on a proposed new constitution.

Question 7

The Texas Constitution of 1866 granted the governor a line-item veto on appropriations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The Texas Constitution requires which of the following for amending the state constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)   a two-thirds vote in both houses of the state legislature and a majority vote from the voters of Texas
B)   only a majority vote from the voters of Texas
C)   the governor's signature
D)   a two-thirds vote in county conventions convened for the purpose of amending the constitution

Question 9

There have been several calls to revamp the Texas Constitution. What has been the rationale for significant changes to the Texas Constitution? Describe the attempt in the mid-1970s to change it. Why did the attempt fail?

Accepted Answer

a. Scandals or policy needs are reasons ...

Question 10

The domination of Texas politics by Republicans after the Civil War ended

Accepted Answer

A)   with the election of governor Richard Coke in 1873.
B)   with the victory of the Populist Party in 1892.
C)   in 1888, with violent riots by farmers in Houston, Dallas, and Austin.
D)   through a peaceful transfer of power in 1900.

Question 11

According to the __________________, the U.S. Constitution takes precedence over the Texas Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A)   supremacy clause
B)   separation of powers clause
C)   necessary and proper clause
D)   delegate powers

Question 12

Texas has operated under how many constitutions?

Accepted Answer

A)   5
B)   6
C)   7
D)   8

Question 13

The Texas Constitution of 1869 was written by members of the Republican Party, including ten elected African Americans.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Thinking about the constitutions of Texas and the United States, both are based upon which fundamental idea?

Accepted Answer

A)   Political power is derived from the people.
B)   Political power is divided into two separate parts and placed in separate branches of government.
C)   the idea of community rights
D)   the subordinate role that Texas has in the federal system

Question 15

The U.S. Supreme Court in Texas v. White et al. (1869) ruled that Texas did secede from the union.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which component of the current Texas Constitution was designed to prevent future governors from abusing power like Governor Edmund Davis did under the Constitution of 1869?

Accepted Answer

A)   universal suffrage
B)   the plural executive
C)   the Bill of Rights
D)   independent state grounds

Question 17

When writing the Texas Constitution of 1876, the framers wanted to be able to

Accepted Answer

A)   allow interpretation and flexibility so that it would not have to be frequently amended.
B)   facilitate the development of an expansion of the railroad and other technological advances.
C)   expand services provided by the state to meet the new needs of a growing population.
D)   limit the power of the state government in order to prevent corruption.

Question 18

Under Article 7 of the Texas Constitution, the State Board of Education has responsibility for which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   The University of Texas
B)   Texas A&M University
C)   elementary and secondary education
D)   community colleges

Question 19

Describe the particular historical conditions under which the Texas Constitution of 1876 was drafted. What were some of the main principles behind the Texas Constitution of 1876? What are some of the most important aspects of the constitution that reflect the political philosophy of its framers?

Accepted Answer

a. Historical reasons for the Constituti...

Question 20

Texas has used its ownership of mineral rights in some parts of the state to fund education.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 2: The Texas Constitution

There have been several calls to revamp the Texas Constitution. What has been the rationale for significant changes to the Texas Constitution? Describe the attempt in the mid-1970s to change it. Why did the attempt fail?

Correct Answerverifieda. Scandals or policy needs are reasons ...View AnswerShow Answer

Texas has used its ownership of mineral rights in some parts of the state to fund education.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Texas Constitution of 1866 granted the governor a line-item veto on appropriations.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When writing the Texas Constitution of 1876, the framers wanted to be able to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Describe the particular historical conditions under which the Texas Constitution of 1876 was drafted. What were some of the main principles behind the Texas Constitution of 1876? What are some of the most important aspects of the constitution that reflect the political philosophy of its framers?

Correct Answerverifieda. Historical reasons for the Constituti...View AnswerShow Answer

In what year was Texas's current constitution ratified?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the __________________, the U.S. Constitution takes precedence over the Texas Constitution.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Constitution of 1836 showed the direct influence of the U.S. Constitution through the inclusion of which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements about the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1865 is NOT accurate?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Texas Constitution requires which of the following for amending the state constitution?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Thinking about the constitutions of Texas and the United States, both are based upon which fundamental idea?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Texas has operated under how many constitutions?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which component of the current Texas Constitution was designed to prevent future governors from abusing power like Governor Edmund Davis did under the Constitution of 1869?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Under Article 7 of the Texas Constitution, the State Board of Education has responsibility for which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court in Texas v. White et al. (1869) ruled that Texas did secede from the union.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is most likely to create advertising campaigns related to proposed constitutional amendments?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Texas Constitutional Convention of 1974

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is found in the Texas Constitution, but not in the U.S. Constitution?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Texas Constitution of 1869 was written by members of the Republican Party, including ten elected African Americans.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The domination of Texas politics by Republicans after the Civil War ended

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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a. Historical reasons for the Constituti...
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