Question 1

Which of the following was NOT part of the annexation agreement between Texas and the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)   Texas could divide itself into as many as five separate states.
B)   Texas was responsible for paying all foreign debts it incurred while independent.
C)   Texas could maintain its own army and navy for twenty-five years.
D)   Texas would retain title to its public lands.
E)   Texas ceded all military armaments, bases, and facilities to the U.S. government.F) A) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

A)   in an armed stand-off in the capital between the Republican governor and the Democratic legislature in 1872.
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.
E)   with the Democrats' victory in the 1892 elections.F) All of the above
G) A) and D)

Question 3

The system of distributing powers between states and a central government is called

Accepted Answer

A)   federalism.
B)   separation of powers.
C)   constitutionalism.
D)   filtration.
E)   checks and balances.F) A) and D)
G) D) and E)

Question 4

The Texas Constitution creates two top appellate courts, one for civil cases and one for criminal cases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Which of the following statements about republican government is INCORRECT?

Accepted Answer

A)   The right to republican government is not guaranteed in the Texas bill of rights.
B)   Republican government is part of a system of representative democracy.
C)   Under a representative government, power derives from the people.
D)   The Texas Constitution gives the people a right to reform or to abolish their government.
E)   The right to republican government is guaranteed in the Texas bill of rights.F) None of the above
G) A) and B)

Question 6

Under the Texas Constitution, who has the power of impeachment?

Accepted Answer

A)   The House of Representatives has the power to impeach, while the Senate has the power to try and convict.
B)   The Senate has the power to both impeach and convict.
C)   The House of Representatives has the power to impeach, while the state supreme court has the power to try and convict.
D)   Texas has no constitutional provisions for impeachment.
E)   The Texas Supreme Court has the power to impeach and convict.F) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 7

Which principle of government is the key to understanding the drafting of the Texas Constitution of 1876?

Accepted Answer

A)   the need for governmental subsidy and regulation of economic growth
B)   the importance of civil right protections for African Americans and Latinos
C)   the necessity of strong limitations on the authority of state officials
D)   the value of states' rights
E)   the principle of checks and balancesF) B) and D)
G) A) and D)

Question 8

Under the Texas Constitution, it is unconstitutional to impeach elected officeholders.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

One of the major issues of the Civil War was how the federal system was to be understood.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which of the following statements about the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1865 is FALSE?

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.
E)   There were strong Union and secessionist factions at the convention.F) A) and B)
G) B) and C)

Question 11

How does Texas's mistrust of government and resistance to change manifest itself in the current constitution? How does this conflict with the political preferences for limited government?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does Texas's mistrust of government and...

Question 12

Which provision of the 1836 Constitution was the most important adaptation of Spanish-American Law for the Texas Republic?

Accepted Answer

A)   the idea of community property
B)   a bicameral legislature
C)   a four-tiered judicial system
D)   a system of checks and balances
E)   the establishment of a chief executiveF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 13

The Texas Constitution of 1876 was designed to limit the power of government, especially of the governor's office.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Texas became an independent republic in ________ and became part of the United States in ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   1827; 1861
B)   1827; 1869
C)   1836; 1845
D)   1845; 1876
E)   1844; 1845F) C) and D)
G) C) and E)

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the low level of voter turnout for constitutional amendments?

Accepted Answer

A)   Most amendments are relatively insignificant for most voters.
B)   Many amendments are not controversial.
C)   Negative advertising in the media has had the effect of alienating possible voters.
D)   Elections for amendments are held in "off" years, when no candidates are on the ballot.
E)   Voters generally have little information about these amendments.F) None of the above
G) B) and E)

Question 16

Which of the following was NOT part of the Ratliff-Junell proposal for Texas constitutional change?

Accepted Answer

A)   The judiciary should be appointed by the governor, with confirmation by the Senate.
B)   The executive branch should be reorganized to look more like the federal executive branch.
C)   The legislature would hold veto sessions in order to consider overriding any gubernatorial vetoes.
D)   The length of terms of office would grow, but there would also be term limits.
E)   The governor would be given the authority to appoint several state officeholders who are currently elected.F) C) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 17

Which of the following statements best describes the post-Civil War governorship of E. J. Davis?

Accepted Answer

A)   Davis was a Democratic Confederate sympathizer who frequently clashed with the federal Congress.
B)   Davis tried to return Texas to independence rather than reenter the Union after the Civil War.
C)   Davis was a Republican who used the centralized powers of the governorship to maintain control over his regime.
D)   Davis sought to decentralize government in Texas, moving toward a policy of home rule.
E)   Davis sought to bring Texas into a cooperative relationship with the United States afterThe Civil War.F) C) and D)
G) B) and D)

Question 18

The Texas Constitution created a plural executive, consisting of multiple elected officers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

There are rights guaranteed to Texans in Article 1 of the Texas Constitution that go far beyond those of the U.S. Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following was NOT a goal for those writing the Texas Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)   restrictions on the power of the government to get into debt
B)   limits on the ability of the government to impose taxes
C)   checking the powers of the governor
D)   giving independence to the judiciary by making all judges appointed, instead of elected
E)   strong popular control of state governmentF) None of the above
G) B) and C)

Exam 2: The Texas Constitution

How does Texas's mistrust of government and resistance to change manifest itself in the current constitution? How does this conflict with the political preferences for limited government?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One of the major issues of the Civil War was how the federal system was to be understood.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Texas Constitution creates two top appellate courts, one for civil cases and one for criminal cases.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Texas Constitution created a plural executive, consisting of multiple elected officers.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

There are rights guaranteed to Texans in Article 1 of the Texas Constitution that go far beyond those of the U.S. Constitution.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Texas Constitution of 1876 was designed to limit the power of government, especially of the governor's office.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Texas became an independent republic in ________ and became part of the United States in ________.

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Which of the following statements about republican government is INCORRECT?

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements best describes the post-Civil War governorship of E. J. Davis?

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Under the Texas Constitution, it is unconstitutional to impeach elected officeholders.

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Which of the following statements about the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1865 is FALSE?

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Which of the following was NOT a goal for those writing the Texas Constitution?

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Which of the following is NOT a reason for the low level of voter turnout for constitutional amendments?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following was NOT part of the Ratliff-Junell proposal for Texas constitutional change?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The system of distributing powers between states and a central government is called

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which principle of government is the key to understanding the drafting of the Texas Constitution of 1876?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following was NOT part of the annexation agreement between Texas and the United States?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which provision of the 1836 Constitution was the most important adaptation of Spanish-American Law for the Texas Republic?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Under the Texas Constitution, who has the power of impeachment?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Texas became an independent republic in and became part of the United States in .

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