VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
◉ Tx 7: What is an example that illustrates legislative oversight?
Answer: Legislators hold hearings to examine potential wasteful
spending in an agency such as the Health and Human Services
Commission.
◉ Tx 7: Which of the following are characteristics of a conference
committee? Answer: A conference committee is temporary, consists
of members from each chamber, and resolves differences between
the house and senate versions of a bill.
◉ Tx 7: What is a consequence of both chambers of the state
legislature having nonpartisan institutions that will provide
information to the legislators? Answer: These nonpartisan
institutions reduce legislators' dependence on special interests and
administrative agencies for information.
◉ Tx 7: Which type of committee screens bills by holding hearings,
debating, and marking up bills before allowing them to be
considered by the whole House or Senate? Answer: Standing
◉ Tx 7: What is the process of drawing district lines in such a way as
to give an advantage to candidates from a certain party, ethnic
,group, or faction at the expense of other groups? Answer:
Gerrymandering
◉ Tx 7: What are the terms for office for members of the legislature?
Answer: Texas senators are elected for four-year staggered terms;
representatives are elected for two-year terms.
◉ Tx 7: The redistricting process is necessary to address what issue?
Answer: Population shifts
◉ Tx 7: What rule ensures that legislation is not rushed through the
voting process without proper consideration? Answer: A bill must be
read on three consecutive days in each chamber.
◉ Tx 7: What representative type would rely upon town hall
meetings and deliberative polls to make decisions on bills before
voting? Answer: Delegate
◉ Tx 7: The fact that the Texas legislature is disproportionately
white and male compared to the population of Texas means that it
lacks what? Answer: Descriptive representation
◉ Tx 7: What is the gerrymandering technique that divides up a
minority party's voters into so many geographical districts that their
, voting power in any one district is negligible (thus diluting their
votes)? Answer: Cracking
◉ Tx 7: Which is a true characterization of the short 140-day
biennial legislative sessions in Texas? Answer: They create the need
for more 30-day special sessions.
◉ Tx 7: Which method of prolonged debate can be used only in the
Senate to delay and maybe cause the bill to be changed or to not
reach the floor? Answer: Filibuster
◉ Tx 7: What is one consequence of gerrymandering? Answer:
Gerrymandering results in vote dilution of certain individuals.
◉ Tx 7: What rule makes quick and efficient law making in the Texas
state senate difficult? Answer: Three-fifths rule
◉ Tx 7: To what does suspension of the rule refer? Answer: Setting
aside the rule that puts bills in chronological order so that other bills
can be considered
◉ Tx 7: What was the consequence of the Shelby v. Holder Supreme
Court decision? Answer: It weakened the Voting Rights Act, and
Texas no longer is required to get preclearance for changes in
electoral rules.