TX Chapter 2

Question 1

Ballot wording

Answer 1

Description of a proposed amendment as it appears on the ballot; can be intentionally noninstructive and misleading to voters in order to affect voter outcome

Question 2

Bill of rights

Answer 2

A list of individual rights and freedoms granted to citizens within the state constitution

Question 3

Block grants

Answer 3

Grants that may be used for broad purposes that allow local governments greater discretion in how funds are spent

Question 4

Categorical grants

Answer 4

Grants that may be used to fund specific purposes as defined by the federal government

Question 5

Confederal system of government

Answer 5

A system of government that divides power between a weak national government and strong, independently sovereign regional governments

Question 6

Constitution

Answer 6

The basic document that provides a framework for government and limits what the government can do

Question 7

Constitutional convention

Answer 7

An assembly of citizens who may propose changes to state constitution through voter approval

Question 8

Due Process of Law Clause

Answer 8

Clause in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that requires all states to treat all citizens equally and that the state must follow certain rules and procedures

Question 9

Earmarks

Answer 9

Money dedicated to a specific expenditure; for example, the excise tax on gasoline funds highway infrastructure

Question 10

Equal Protection Clause

Answer 10

Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that requires all sates to treat all citizens equally

Question 11

Federal system of government

Answer 11

The division of powers between a national government and regional governments

Question 12

Initiative

Answer 12

A process that allows citizens to propose changes to the state constitution through the use of petitions signed by registered voters; Texas does not allow constitutional revision through initiative

Question 13

Interstate Commerce Clause

Answer 13

Article in the U.S. Constitution that gives Congress the exclusive power to regulate commerce between the states; Congress and the courts determine what is interstate commerce

Question 14

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Answer 14

Statement in Article 1, Section 8, paragraph 18 of the U.S. Constitution that says Congress can pass any law necessary and proper to carry out other powers

Question 15

Ordinances

Answer 15

Laws passed by local governments

Question 16

Plural Executive System

Answer 16

System in which executive power is divided among several statewide elected officials

Question 17

Popular sovereignty

Answer 17

The idea that power granted in state constitutions rests with the people

Question 18

Separation of powers

Answer 18

Power divided between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

Question 19

Social contract theory

Answer 19

The idea that all individuals possess inalienable rights and willingly submit to government to protect these rights

Question 20

Statutes

Answer 20

Laws passed by state legistlatures

Question 21

Supremacy clause

Answer 21

A clause that makes a state constitution superior to state and local laws

Question 22

Tenth Amendment

Answer 22

Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that delegates or reserves some powers to the state governments or to the people

Question 23

Unitary system of government

Answer 23

A system of government where all functions of government are controlled by the central/national government

Question 24

Principles of Constitutional government

Answer 24

• popular sovereignty
• social contract theory
• structure, divide, and limit power

Question 25

Characteristics Common to the State Constitution

Answer 25

• separation of powers
• plural executive system
• Bill of rights
• supreme law of state

Question 26

1st Texas Constitution

Answer 26

1827 Constitution of Coahulia y Tejas

• Texas became a single Mexican state with Coahulia
• Catholicism as state religion
• Unicameral

Question 27

2nd Texas Constitution

Answer 27

1836 Constitution of the Republic

• Broke away from Mexico
• Slavery legal
• No official state religion
• Republic for 9 years
• Clergy can’t be president or congress
• Bicameral

Question 28

3rd Texas Constitution

Answer 28

1845 Constitution of 1845

• Part of U.S.
• Slavery legal
• No official state religion
• Legislature meet biennially

Question 29

4th Texas Constitution

Answer 29

1861 Civil War Constitution

• TX seceded from Union
• provision to secede from the union and join the confederacy
• emancipation of slaves prohibited

Question 30

5th Texas Constitution

Answer 30

1866 Constitution of the Republic of Texas

• Texas goes back to Union
• abolished slavery
• blacks could own property
• blacks could not testify in court involving whites or vote
• black codes limited civil rights

Question 31

6th Texas Constitution

Answer 31

1869 Reconstruction Constitution

• weakened local gov.
• centralized power in state gov.
• gave blacks the right to vote
• gave governor martial law and power to suspend laws in any county
• created a state police force under governor’s control
• governor had a lot of power

Question 32

7th Texas Constitution

Answer 32

1876 Texas Constitution

• strict on the power of the governor, legislature, and other state officials
• centralization placed in local gov.
• limits placed on taxation
• still in effect