GOVT-2306 (Veronica Reyna) Austin Community
College EXAM #3 Latest Update
1. CH.8 What was established from Reynolds V. Simms of 1964? - ANSWER
Although the legislature drew new legislative districts after the federal censuses
of 1950 and 1960, the Texas Constitution's apportionment formulas for the Texas
House and Senate discriminated against heavily populated urban counties.
These formulas were not changed until the U.S. Supreme Court held in Reynolds
v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964) that "the seats in both houses of a bicameral state
legislature must be apportioned on a population basis." This "one person, one
vote" principle was first applied in Texas by a federal district court in Kilgarlin v.
Martin, 252 F. Supp. 404 (1965).
2. The Texas Legislature is made up of the house of Representatives and the
Senate; How long do house members serve? How long do Senate members
serve? - ANSWER House members serve for 2 years and Senators serve for 4
years.
3. CH.9 What does the Governor's compensation consist of? - ANSWER A salary
of 150,000 per year, retirement benefits from the state which amounted to more
than 92,000 per year. Not only is he compensated with a salary but he is also
compensated with staff members, residency at the Governor's mansion which
comes with its own staff and maintenance.
4. CH.8 Know the Texas Ethics Commission: - ANSWER Lobbyist are responsible
for registering with them and create state required lobbying reports to the TEC.
5. What are the basics of the legislature? When do they meet? For how long do
they meet? What is their salary and other compensations if any? - ANSWER The
Legislature of the State of Texas, operating under the biennial system, convenes
its regular sessions at noon on the second Tuesday in January of odd-numbered
years. The maximum duration of a regular session is 140 days. Texas Legislature
is made up of the upper chamber which is the Senate and the lower chamber
which is the House of Representatives. Compensation of Texas Legislators as
set in the constitution consists of a Salary of $7200 a year. $150 per diem
expense for 2013 regular session set by Texas Ethics Commission. Regular
session: (140 days) ($150) = $21,000) Legislative pensions tied to state district
judge salary ($140,000) eligible to collect pension after 8 years of service
starting at age 50. A member with 20 years of service retiring now would receive
a pension of $64,400 per year.
, 6. When it comes to the speaker of the house we have the House of
Representatives which is led by the speaker. The Senate is led by who? -
ANSWER The Senate is led by the lieutenant Governor.
7. Who succeeds the Governor is they die, resign, or are unable to fulfill their
duties? - ANSWER A successor serves for the remainder of the 4-year term, the
lieutenant governor heads the constitutional order of succession. Next in line is
the president pro tempore of the Senate. After these two officials, the legislature
has designated the following line of succession: Speaker of the House, Attorney
General, and Chief Justices of the 14 courts of Appeals in ascending numerical
order, beginning with the Chief Justice of the First Court of Appeals and ending
with the chief justice of the fourteenth Court of Appeals, both of whom have their
primary seats in Houston.
8. Know the definition of Gerrymandering: - ANSWER Drawing the boundaries of
a district, such as a state senatorial or representative district, to include or
exclude certain groups of voters and thus affect election outcomes.
9. Who oversees the Senate and how is the leader of the Senate chosen? What is
their compensation? - ANSWER The lieutenant governor oversees the senate
and is designated by the Texas Constitution. The lieutenant Governor is chosen
by a statewide election for a 4-year term and is first in line to be governor should
something occur leaving the position empty. Compensation includes a salary of
$600 per month or about $20 a day.
10. If there is a vacancy in the House of Representatives or the Senate from
death, resigning, or the inability to fulfill their duties, how is said vacancy filled? -
ANSWER Filled by a special election.
11. CH.9 know the general roles of the Governor. Serves in different capacities
in his legislative roles, what are these roles and what do they encompass? (i.e.
as commander in chief, what does he do; What is his prime legislative role?) -
ANSWER Delivering messages to the legislature, signing bills, vetoing bills, and
calling special sessions. Article 4, Section 9, of the Texas Constitution requires
the governor to deliver a State of the State address at the "commencement"
(beginning) of each regular session of the legislature.
12. CH.9 One of the roles of the Governor is the ability to give a conditional
pardon or full pardon; what is the difference between the conditional pardon and
full pardon? - ANSWER A conditional pardon does not restore all rights which all
those who have not committed crimes get to enjoy, to the person being
pardoned. In a full pardon, the person convicted of said crimes is released from
all consequences and granted all rights as well.
13. CH.9 When it comes to special sessions, how many special sessions can the
Governor call and for how long can he call the special session for? - ANSWER
College EXAM #3 Latest Update
1. CH.8 What was established from Reynolds V. Simms of 1964? - ANSWER
Although the legislature drew new legislative districts after the federal censuses
of 1950 and 1960, the Texas Constitution's apportionment formulas for the Texas
House and Senate discriminated against heavily populated urban counties.
These formulas were not changed until the U.S. Supreme Court held in Reynolds
v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964) that "the seats in both houses of a bicameral state
legislature must be apportioned on a population basis." This "one person, one
vote" principle was first applied in Texas by a federal district court in Kilgarlin v.
Martin, 252 F. Supp. 404 (1965).
2. The Texas Legislature is made up of the house of Representatives and the
Senate; How long do house members serve? How long do Senate members
serve? - ANSWER House members serve for 2 years and Senators serve for 4
years.
3. CH.9 What does the Governor's compensation consist of? - ANSWER A salary
of 150,000 per year, retirement benefits from the state which amounted to more
than 92,000 per year. Not only is he compensated with a salary but he is also
compensated with staff members, residency at the Governor's mansion which
comes with its own staff and maintenance.
4. CH.8 Know the Texas Ethics Commission: - ANSWER Lobbyist are responsible
for registering with them and create state required lobbying reports to the TEC.
5. What are the basics of the legislature? When do they meet? For how long do
they meet? What is their salary and other compensations if any? - ANSWER The
Legislature of the State of Texas, operating under the biennial system, convenes
its regular sessions at noon on the second Tuesday in January of odd-numbered
years. The maximum duration of a regular session is 140 days. Texas Legislature
is made up of the upper chamber which is the Senate and the lower chamber
which is the House of Representatives. Compensation of Texas Legislators as
set in the constitution consists of a Salary of $7200 a year. $150 per diem
expense for 2013 regular session set by Texas Ethics Commission. Regular
session: (140 days) ($150) = $21,000) Legislative pensions tied to state district
judge salary ($140,000) eligible to collect pension after 8 years of service
starting at age 50. A member with 20 years of service retiring now would receive
a pension of $64,400 per year.
, 6. When it comes to the speaker of the house we have the House of
Representatives which is led by the speaker. The Senate is led by who? -
ANSWER The Senate is led by the lieutenant Governor.
7. Who succeeds the Governor is they die, resign, or are unable to fulfill their
duties? - ANSWER A successor serves for the remainder of the 4-year term, the
lieutenant governor heads the constitutional order of succession. Next in line is
the president pro tempore of the Senate. After these two officials, the legislature
has designated the following line of succession: Speaker of the House, Attorney
General, and Chief Justices of the 14 courts of Appeals in ascending numerical
order, beginning with the Chief Justice of the First Court of Appeals and ending
with the chief justice of the fourteenth Court of Appeals, both of whom have their
primary seats in Houston.
8. Know the definition of Gerrymandering: - ANSWER Drawing the boundaries of
a district, such as a state senatorial or representative district, to include or
exclude certain groups of voters and thus affect election outcomes.
9. Who oversees the Senate and how is the leader of the Senate chosen? What is
their compensation? - ANSWER The lieutenant governor oversees the senate
and is designated by the Texas Constitution. The lieutenant Governor is chosen
by a statewide election for a 4-year term and is first in line to be governor should
something occur leaving the position empty. Compensation includes a salary of
$600 per month or about $20 a day.
10. If there is a vacancy in the House of Representatives or the Senate from
death, resigning, or the inability to fulfill their duties, how is said vacancy filled? -
ANSWER Filled by a special election.
11. CH.9 know the general roles of the Governor. Serves in different capacities
in his legislative roles, what are these roles and what do they encompass? (i.e.
as commander in chief, what does he do; What is his prime legislative role?) -
ANSWER Delivering messages to the legislature, signing bills, vetoing bills, and
calling special sessions. Article 4, Section 9, of the Texas Constitution requires
the governor to deliver a State of the State address at the "commencement"
(beginning) of each regular session of the legislature.
12. CH.9 One of the roles of the Governor is the ability to give a conditional
pardon or full pardon; what is the difference between the conditional pardon and
full pardon? - ANSWER A conditional pardon does not restore all rights which all
those who have not committed crimes get to enjoy, to the person being
pardoned. In a full pardon, the person convicted of said crimes is released from
all consequences and granted all rights as well.
13. CH.9 When it comes to special sessions, how many special sessions can the
Governor call and for how long can he call the special session for? - ANSWER
