State and local government the essentials 6th edition bowman test bank

State and Local Government The Essentials 6th Edition Bowman Test Bank Visit to download the full and correct content document: https://testbankdeal.com/dow nload/state-and-local-government-the-essentials-6th-edition-bowman-test-bank/

CHAPTER 6: State Legislatures MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Legislatures engage in three principal functions: a. policymaking, auditing, and control of regulatory activities. b. representation, constituent service, and policymaking. c. enacting laws, allocating funds, and oversight. d. policymaking, oversight, and representation.

ANS: D

REF: 119

NOT: Factual

2. Legislative assistance on behalf of a constituent, usually with the bureaucracy, is called a. casework. b. gerrymandering. c. lobbying. d. pork barrel politics.

ANS: A

REF: 119

NOT: Factual

3. A unicameral structure in the legislature is composed of a. a double chamber, and all 50 states have such a legislative body. b. a single chamber, and only Iowa has such a legislative body. c. a single chamber, and only Nebraska has such a legislative body. d. a double chamber, and only 10 states have such a legislative body.

ANS: C

REF: 121

NOT: Factual

4. How long are legislative terms for state senators? a. six years, just as in the U.S. Senate b. six years in all but one state c. six years in most states, but four years in some d. four years in most states, but two years in some ANS: D

REF: 121

NOT: Factual

5. As of 2013, the number of Democrats in state legislatures was _______ percent and the number of Republicans was _______ percent. a. 60; 40 b. 45; 54 c. 40; 60 d. 54; 45 ANS: B

REF: 121

NOT: Factual

6. As of 2013, “full-time legislator” was the single largest category of legislator occupations. This category overcame the historically dominant occupation of a. retiree. c. business executive/manager. b. business owner. d. attorney.

ANS: D

REF: 122

NOT: Factual

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.

7. Underlying the result of Baker v. Carr (1962) and Reynolds v. Sims (1964) was the fundamental concept a. that legislatures were to be more responsive to state problems and therefore to meet a minimum of four months a year. b. of controls on lobbyists, who otherwise disrupted the business of the legislatures. c. of “one person, one vote” that led to the reapportionment of legislative seats based on population. d. of “one person, one vote” that prevented reapportionment for political purposes.

ANS: C

REF: 123

NOT: Conceptual

8. Redistricting of state legislative and the state’s congressional districts happens every a. twenty years and must be based on the U.S. census. b. twenty years and is based purely on political considerations. c. ten years unless the state constitution provides otherwise. d. ten years and must be based on the U.S. census.

ANS: D

REF: 123

NOT: Factual

9. All of the following factors can be taken into account when drawing legislative districts EXCEPT a. the racial/ethnic composition of the district. b. the population fluctuations in each district. c. access to polling places. d. the improvement of representation in the district.

ANS: C

REF: 123

NOT: Conceptual

10. The process of creatively designing a legislative district, usually to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party in power is called a. redistricting. c. reapportionment. b. gerrymandering. d. malapportionment.

ANS: B

REF: 123-124

NOT: Factual

11. In Vieth v. Jubelirer (2004), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a. states must include minority districts to ensure minority representation. b. race cannot be considered in drawing district maps. c. reliance on partisan considerations remains an appropriate redistricting option. d. Georgia had failed to include enough minority districts to pass court scrutiny.

ANS: C

REF: 125

NOT: Factual

12. In 2013, the highest annual salary (excluding per diem) for state legislators was a. $90,526 in California. c. $78,315 in Pennsylvania. b. $99,000 in New Jersey. d. $123,876 in New York.

ANS: A

REF: 125

NOT: Factual

13. Which of the following states technically does NOT pay its legislators a salary, but rather only a per diem for expenses? a. New Hampshire c. Nebraska b. New Mexico d. Idaho ANS: B

REF: 126

NOT: Factual

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.

14. In a typical chamber, the presiding officer performs all of the following functions EXCEPT a. monitoring campaign contributions to other legislators. b. controlling the activity on the floor. c. appointing committee members. d. allocating office space and committee budgets.

ANS: A

REF: 126

NOT: Conceptual

15. A _______ is an elected official who cannot serve beyond the current term of office. a. lame duck b. gerrymander c. trustee d. politico ANS: A

REF: 126

NOT: Factual

16. The workhorse of the legislature is _______, which provides a structure for organizing the process of making laws. a. the judiciary c. the full chamber b. the committee d. the party caucus ANS: B

REF: 127

NOT: Factual

17. Cory is a legislator who relies on his own judgment and conscience rather than following the “will of the district” that he represents. Cory is an example of a. an instructed delegate. c. a politico. b. a trustee. d. a journeyman.

ANS: B

REF: 130

NOT: Applied

18. An individual who brings a new idea to a policymaking body is known as a a. policy wonk. c. policy entrepreneur. b. politico. d. committee chairperson.

ANS: C

REF: 131

NOT: Factual

19. Once conference or concurrence committees resolve differences, and agreement is secured in both chambers, then the bill is a. sent to a final standing committee for one last vote. b. formally introduced to the public via press conference. c. enrolled and sent to the governor. d. made into law.

ANS: C

REF: 132

NOT: Factual

20. State legislatures typically pass _______ percent of the bills introduced. a. 8 c. 20 to 25 b. 40 d. 50 to 60 ANS: C

REF: 132

NOT: Factual

21. The acronym FAIIR represents the five characteristics of an ideal legislature, which are a. functional, accountable, informed, independent, and representative. b. feasible, accurate, intelligent, independent, and rigorous. c. functional, accurate, interesting, informed, regulated. © 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.

d. fair, accountable, invested, interesting, rigorous.

ANS: A

REF: 133

NOT: Factual

22. Legislative reforms and modernization have led to state legislatures with which of the following characteristics? a. greater professionalization of the legislative career, increased polarization of the legislative process, and more fragmentation of the legislative institution b. decreased professionalization of the legislative career, decreased polarization of the legislative process, and more fragmentation of the legislative institution c. greater professionalization of the legislative career, decreased polarization of the legislative process, and less fragmentation of the legislative institution d. decreased professionalization of the legislative career, increased polarization of the legislative process, and more fragmentation of the legislative institution ANS: A

REF: 134

NOT: Conceptual

23. Opponents of term limits argue that term limits a. increase the proportion of first-term legislators in any given session. b. give lobbyists too much power. c. reduce the amount of time legislators have to spend on key issues. d. rob voters of their fundamental right to choose their representatives.

ANS: D

REF: 137

NOT: Conceptual

24. Term limits were expected to produce all of the following results EXCEPT a. increase the proportion of first-term legislators in any given session. b. end the domination of a chamber by powerful, entrenched veteran legislators. c. reduce pay and shorten the legislative session. d. shift power from the legislature to the governor and to lobbyists.

ANS: C

REF: 137

NOT: Conceptual

25. By requiring the governor to obtain legislative approval of budget cutbacks in the event of a revenue shortfall, some states have a. increased legislative power relative to gubernatorial power. b. increased bureaucratic power relative to gubernatorial power. c. increased gubernatorial power relative to legislative power. d. reduced the overall power of state government relative to interest groups.

ANS: A

REF: 139

NOT: Conceptual

26. A legislature’s oversight role includes all of the following functions EXCEPT a. policy and program evaluation. b. legislative review of administrative rules. c. passing legislation to create new executive branch departments. d. review and control of federal funds.

ANS: C

REF: 139

NOT: Conceptual

27. Which of the following statements about the legislative veto is true? a. It is a legislative oversight power that has been found unconstitutional by federal and state courts because it violates the separation of powers. b. It is the legislature’s only influence over agency implementation of a policy. © 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.

c. It is legislative oversight power that is rapidly gaining popularity in all of the states. d. It is a sunset legislation oversight power by which legislatures control budgetary allocations to state agencies.

ANS: A

REF: 140

NOT: Conceptual

28. Sunset laws are statutes that a. set automatic expiration dates for specified agencies in the executive branch. b. require the legislature to end the session on a particular date. c. reduce the power of committee chairs in the agenda-setting role. d. end the legislative veto.

ANS: A

REF: 140

NOT: Factual

29. Recent research demonstrates that public approval of the legislature is lower in states with a. more professional legislatures compared to less professional legislatures. b. less professional legislatures compared to more professional legislatures. c. more conservative legislatures compared to less conservative legislatures. d. more liberal legislatures compared to less liberal legislatures.

ANS: A

REF: 141-142

NOT: Factual

TRUE/FALSE 1. There are more than 12,000 state legislators in the United States.

ANS: F

REF: 119

NOT: Factual

2. The legislative function of policymaking includes enacting laws and allocating funds.

ANS: T

REF: 119

NOT: Factual

3. The legislatures of all fifty states meet annually.

ANS: F

REF: 120

NOT: Factual

4. All state legislatures are bicameral.

ANS: F

REF: 121

NOT: Factual

5. North Dakota is the only state with a bicameral legislature, which it established in 1934.

ANS: F

REF: 121

NOT: Factual

6. The average size of a state house is about 100 members, while the average state senate is currently 40 members.

ANS: T

REF: 121

NOT: Factual

7. New Hampshire has the largest state legislature, with 400 members.

ANS: T

REF: 121

NOT: Factual

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.

8. Attorneys remain the single largest occupational category for state legislators (about 15 percent).

ANS: F

REF: 122

NOT: Factual

9. As of 2013, women make up over 30 percent of all legislators.

ANS: F

REF: 121

NOT: Factual

10. The U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Baker v. Carr and Reynolds v. Sims mandated reapportionment.

ANS: T

REF: 123

NOT: Factual

11. Reapportionment is the reallocation of seats in a legislative assembly.

ANS: T

REF: 123

NOT: Factual

12. Gerrymandering is a valid form of redistricting.

ANS: F

REF: 123-124

NOT: Conceptual

13. Gerrymandering refers to the process of creatively designing a legislative district to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party in power.

ANS: T

REF: 123-124

NOT: Factual

14. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that race cannot be the sole criterion when drawing legislative district lines.

ANS: T

REF: 125

NOT: Factual

15. New Hampshire pays its legislators the lowest salary in the nation, about $100 per year.

ANS: T

REF: 125

NOT: Factual

16. As of 2013, annual salaries for legislators ranged from a low of around $100 to over $90,000.

ANS: T

REF: 125

NOT: Factual

17. New Hampshire scored two firsts in 2009: the first state with a female majority in a legislative chamber and the first state to have women lead both the house and senate together.

ANS: T

REF: 126

NOT: Factual

18. Unlike in the U.S. Congress, committees in state legislatures have very little to do with policymaking.

ANS: F

REF: 127

NOT: Factual

19. During the 1970s, fundamental reforms occurred throughout the country because state legislatures sought to increase their capacity and become more professional.

ANS: T

REF: 132

NOT: Factual

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.

20. In approximately one-third of the states, if the governor does not sign or veto the act and the legislature has adjourned, the act dies.

ANS: T REF: 132 NOT: Factual 21. In the late 1960s, the Citizens’ Conference on State Legislatures (CCSL) studied legislative performance and identified five characteristics critical to legislative improvement, represented by the acronym FAIIR. ANS: T

REF: 133

NOT: Factual

22. A public angry with entrenched politicians has resulted in the imposition of legislative term limits in many states.

ANS: T

REF: 137

NOT: Factual

23. The expectation that terms limits would produce greater representation of underrepresented groups has NOT come to pass—at least not yet.

ANS: T REF: 137 NOT: Factual 24. Institutional conflict is exacerbated under conditions of divided government.

ANS: T

REF: 138

NOT: Conceptual

25. An agency can only be saved from termination under sunset law through an overt renewal action in the legislature.

ANS: T

REF: 140

NOT: Factual

ESSAY 1. Discuss the three major functions of legislatures. Of the three, which do you consider most important?

Why? ANS: Answers may vary.

2. Explain the effects of the decisions in Baker v. Carr (1962) and Reynolds v. Sims (1964) in terms of the types of legislators elected to the state legislatures and their influence in policy outcomes since their rulings over 50 years ago.

ANS: Answers may vary.

3. If you were a legislator, which role, trustee or delegate, would you follow? Discuss why you chose the particular role and how that role would affect some hypothetical policy decisions. Would the role you choose have an effect on your reelection prospects?

ANS: Answers may vary. © 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.

4. Discuss how state legislatures “reinvented themselves;” that is, what changes have occurred since the 1960s that have made many state legislatures more professional and capable of handling their duties?

ANS: Answers may vary.

5. What are the proposed benefits of term limits? Have these benefits been realized? Take a stand on this issue and argue in favor or against term limits.

ANS: Answers may vary.

6. Although some large states have highly professionalized legislatures, some still operate with part-time, citizen legislatures. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having the part-time, amateur legislatures that are still found in many states? In your view, is the part-time, amateur legislature a better choice than a full-time, professional legislature? Can part-time legislatures adequately deal with the complex issues facing legislatures today?

ANS: Answers may vary.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.