Chapter 11

Question 1

A written plan which sets up a form of government and establishes its basic governing principles.

Answer 1

Constitution

Question 2

The state’s fundamental law that, unlike the U.S. Constitution, is lengthy, often amended, and specific in scope; its divisions are Preamble, Bill of rights, Descriptions of state and local governments, General provisions, and Provisions for change.

Answer 2

State constitution

Question 3

The oldest written constitution now in force anywhere in the world.

Answer 3

Massachusetts constitution

Question 4

A major change in a state constitution, most traditionally accomplished by a constitutional convention.

Answer 4

Revision

Question 5

A minor change in a state constitution, proposed by the following three methods: convention proposal (seldom used today), legislative proposal (most commonly used), and initiative proposal.

Answer 5

Amendment

Question 6

The process whereby citizens may enact their own laws or constitutional amendments by placing them on the ballot for acceptance or rejection by the voters.

Answer 6

Initiative

Question 7

An election in which the voters of the state approve or reject a proposed amendment or act of legislation.

Answer 7

Referendum

Question 8

One of the most important functions of state government.

Answer 8

Law enforcement

Question 9

An official residence which most states provide for their governors.

Answer 9

Governor’s mansion

Question 10

The process through which the legislature removes the governor.

Answer 10

Impeachment

Question 11

The process by which voters of a state may remove an official from office by election before his term has expired.

Answer 11

Recall

Question 12

A position or role held by virtue of holding another office, rather than by election or appointment.

Answer 12

Ex officio

Question 13

Orders from a governor that dictate how a law should be carried out.

Answer 13

Executive orders

Question 14

The power governors possess to veto part of a bill without vetoing the entire bill.

Answer 14

Item veto

Question 15

The powers held by state governors to pardon an offender, to grant a reprieve, to commute a sentence, and to parole a prisoner.

Answer 15

Clemency powers

Question 16

The second-highest executive officer of a state, who assumes gubernatorial duties if the governor is absent or unable to serve.

Answer 16

Lieutenant governor

Question 17

The official responsible for overseeing elections, maintaining state records, and handling official government documents.

Answer 17

Secretary of state

Question 18

The chief legal officer and chief prosecutor of the state, responsible for representing the state in legal matters and enforcing state laws.

Answer 18

Attorney general

Question 19

The state official responsible for managing public funds, investments, and financial policies.

Answer 19

Treasurer

Question 20

The official responsible for overseeing state finances, ensuring accountability, and auditing government expenditures.

Answer 20

Auditor (comptroller)

Question 21

The chief education officer of the state, responsible for overseeing public school systems and implementing education policies.

Answer 21

Superintendent of public instruction (commissioner of education)

Question 22

Name the only state with a unicameral state legislature.

Answer 22

Nebraska

Question 23

In what historic case did the Supreme Court rule that federal courts could have jurisdiction in cases involving state apportionment, opening the door for federal court regulation of state apportionment?

Answer 23

Baker v. Carr

Question 24

The most notable case from a series of cases in which the Supreme Court ruled that apportionment of both houses of state legislatures must be based upon population.

Answer 24

Reynolds v. Sims

Question 25

A preliminary election in which voters directly select candidates who will run in the general election, rather than having them chosen by party leaders.

Answer 25

Direct primary

Question 26

The power to propose constitutional amendments that state legislatures have.

Answer 26

Constituent power

Question 27

The presiding officer of the lower house of the state legislature, responsible for leading legislative sessions, appointing committee members, and managing legislative procedures.

Answer 27

Speaker

Question 28

Typically the lieutenant governor, this official presides over the state senate, casting tie-breaking votes and overseeing legislative sessions.

Answer 28

President of the senate

Question 29

A senior senator chosen to preside over the senate in the absence of the president of the senate.

Answer 29

President *pro tempore*

Question 30

An official responsible for maintaining order in the legislative chamber and ensuring security.

Answer 30

Sergeant at arms

Question 31

An officer who controls access to the legislative chamber and assists in maintaining decorum.

Answer 31

Doorkeeper

Question 32

A young assistant who performs administrative tasks such as delivering messages and documents within the legislature.

Answer 32

Page

Question 33

A legislative structure where proposed bills are first reviewed, analyzed, and amended by specialized committees before reaching the full chamber for debate.

Answer 33

Committee system

Question 34

A committee composed of members from both the state senate and the lower house, established to streamline the legislative process; often keeps the two houses from finding themselves at odds with one another.

Answer 34

Joint committee

Question 35

The fastest voting method most often used in state legislatures.

Answer 35

Voice vote

Question 36

A voting procedure where legislators physically stand to indicate their vote, used when a voice vote is unclear.

Answer 36

Standing vote

Question 37

A voting process where legislators pass by tellers who record their votes.

Answer 37

Teller vote

Question 38

Which method of voting will permanently record the legislator's vote?

Answer 38

Roll-call vote

Question 39

An act of the legislature that must be referred to the voters for approval or rejection.

Answer 39

Mandatory referendum

Question 40

What courts, dating back to medieval England, are at the bottom of the state court system?

Answer 40

Justice of the peace courts`

Question 41

What kind of special courts help people collect small sums of money allegedly due them?

Answer 41

Special small claims courts

Question 42

Who acts as police officer of the court?

Answer 42

Bailiff

Question 43

What percentage of all court cases are heard in state courts?

Answer 43

90%

Question 44

Officer of a general trial court who keeps the court's records.

Answer 44

Court clerk

Question 45

Courts of record that are the second level of the state court system; have broad jurisdiction and deal with both criminal and civil cases.

Answer 45

General trial courts

Question 46

(Circuit) courts of appeal, the third level of courts, whose general purpose is to ease the case load of a state's highest court.

Answer 46

Intermediate appellate courts

Question 47

The top of a state's judicial system; the *court of last resort*, the highest court to which a case can be appealed.

Answer 47

State supreme court

Question 48

A group of people selected to ascertain the truth on the basis of evidence presented to them.

Answer 48

Jury

Question 49

Aids the judicial process by testifying under oath about what he has seen and heard in regard to a particular case.

Answer 49

Witness

Question 50

The largest unit of local government in most states; developed most fully in the southern colonies..

Answer 50

County (parishes, boroughs)

Question 51

The city in which a county government has its headquarters.

Answer 51

County seat

Question 52

A popularly elected governing body of a county.

Answer 52

County board

Question 53

The most common type of a county administrative board; it usually consists of 3 to 7 elected members who usually hold no other public offices.

Answer 53

Board of commissioners

Question 54

A type of county administrative board; it usually consists of 12 to 50 members who generally hold a township office as well.

Answer 54

Board of supervisors

Question 55

Who, with the aid of other law enforcement officers, provides police protection for rural areas?

Answer 55

Sheriff

Question 56

What official appraises taxable property within the county?

Answer 56

County assessor

Question 57

What official receives taxes and fees, acts as the caretaker of county funds, and makes authorized payments from the county treasury?

Answer 57

Treasurer

Question 58

What official supervises the county's financial records and authorizes the spending of county funds?

Answer 58

Auditor

Question 59

The *recorder* who maintains county records and issues various kinds of licenses.

Answer 59

Clerk

Question 60

Official who conducts criminal investigations and prosecutes cases tried in local courts.

Answer 60

Prosecuting attorney (district attorney, state's attorney)

Question 61

Official who investigates the cause of death when people have died under known or unusual circumstances.

Answer 61

Coroner

Question 62

Official who heads the administration of all or some of the public elementary and secondary schools in the county.

Answer 62

Superintendent of schools

Question 63

The elected chief executive of a county.

Answer 63

County president (county supervisor)

Question 64

An appointed official who carries out the executive duties of the county.

Answer 64

County manager

Question 65

The most important unit of local government in New England.

Answer 65

Town

Question 66

A periodic assembly of local citizens acting as the chief lawmaking body for their town; a form of direct democracy practiced in many New England towns.

Answer 66

Town meeting

Question 67

The form of local self-government developed in the Midwest; a division of a county; its functions are primarily rural.

Answer 67

Township

Question 68

A popularly elected board who handles administrative matters between town meetings.

Answer 68

Selectmen

Question 69

Smaller municipalities. Larger municipalities?

Answer 69

Towns (villages, boroughs); cities

Question 70

Describes a municipality that has been designated as a legal governmental organization with certain rights and responsibilities.

Answer 70

Incorporated

Question 71

A legal document granted by the state which outlines a form of government for the city.

Answer 71

City charter

Question 72

The oldest and most widely used form of city government in which members of the city council are popularly elected, often at-large, but sometimes by *wards* (or *districts*).

Answer 72

Mayor-council form

Question 73

A form of municipal government in which popularly elected *commissioners* head the city government.

Answer 73

Commission form

Question 74

A modification of the mayor-council form that tends to be the most common in cities with populations between 10,000 and 500,000.

Answer 74

Council-manager form

Question 75

The process of dividing a city into numerous zones and regulating the use of the property in each zone.

Answer 75

Zoning

Question 76

A planning agency that most cities have for future expansion and development.

Answer 76

Planning commission

Question 77

The developed areas outside of a city's limits.

Answer 77

Suburbs

Question 78

If a city has sanitation or fire jurisdiction over an area not officially in its boundaries, what kind of powers is the city exercising?

Answer 78

Extraterritorial powers

Question 79

A major city and the populated area surrounding it, which may include smaller towns.

Answer 79

Metropolitan area

Question 80

An independent, local government entity created to perform a specific function—such as water supply, fire protection, or transportation—operating separately from municipalities or counties.

Answer 80

Special districts

Question 81

The single most important source of revenue among the states today; a tax on the purchase of goods and services; a regressive tax.

Answer 81

Sales tax

Question 82

A direct tax upon a person's earnings.

Answer 82

Income tax

Question 83

A tax levied against a person's inherited share of an estate.

Answer 83

Inheritance tax

Question 84

A tax many states levy when one gives a large gift of money or property to another person.

Answer 84

Gift tax

Question 85

The chief source of income for local governments; a direct tax on real property---includes land, buildings, and improvements on the land---or personal property, which includes personal possessions.

Answer 85

Property tax

Question 86

The act of determining property value for tax purposes.

Answer 86

Assessment

Question 87

A levy imposed by local, state, or federal governments on the income, revenue, or operations of a business, including corporate income taxes, payroll taxes, and licensing fees.

Answer 87

Business taxes

Question 88

A tax imposed on the extraction of nonrenewable natural resources, such as oil, gas, or minerals, to compensate the government for the depletion of public resources.

Answer 88

Severance tax

Question 89

One source of non-tax revenue that has increased noticeably in recent years; charged by special government districts for such services as water and utilities.

Answer 89

Fees