UT Austin Texas Government Credit Exam
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
True or False: The Texas Legislative Branch is the least weak of the three branches -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- True
How senators are in the Texas Senate? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- 31
How many representatives are in the Texas House of Rep. ? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-
150
Connecticut Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Proposed two chambers for
legislative branch: one with the number of representatives based on state population and the
other with fixed number of senators per state.
Different for Texas legislature: Senate represents larger districts and more broad concerns for
state (have longer terms than House of Rep. reps). Representatives in the House have shorter
terms and represent smaller districts. They are more in tune with the ever changing needs of
the people.
How often does the Texas Legislature hold its regular session? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-
For 140 days every other year.
What happens to a bill at the end of the regular sessions if it hasn't been passed or denied? -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- It dies
What are Special Sessions - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Special sessions are legislative
sessions that the governor can call for after the regular session is over. He can call for as
many as he or she wants and the governor dictates the content of the session.
True or False: Texas legislatures are elected in single-member districts and districts are
redrawn ever 10 years - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- true
, Who is given the position of President of the Senate - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The
Lieutenant Governor is given this position by the Texas Constitution. The Lt. Gov. is an
elected via a statewide election.
T or F: The Texas House has always had single-member districts - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- False, up until a Supreme Court decision in 1972, House reps where elected
in multi-member districts
How long are the terms of office for legislative positions? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The
house have elections every two years where all seats are up for grabs
The senate has elections every two years where only half the members are up for re-election.
Which half is up for election is rotated every two years. Each term is four years long. This
staggering restarted after re-redistricting. Senators draw straws for who gets a four-year or
two-year term.
Requirements to run for the Texas House of Reps. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- - must be at
least 21
- legal resident of the state for the past two years
- resident of their district for at least one year
- US citizen
Requirements to run for the Texas Senate - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- - must be at least 26
- legal resident of the state for the past 5 years
- resident of their district for at least one year
- US citizen
private interest group - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- groups that seek to influence public
policy for the specific and often exclusive benefit of their members or people with similar
interests
public interest group - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- groups that seek influence public policy
for the benefit of the general population
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
True or False: The Texas Legislative Branch is the least weak of the three branches -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- True
How senators are in the Texas Senate? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- 31
How many representatives are in the Texas House of Rep. ? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-
150
Connecticut Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Proposed two chambers for
legislative branch: one with the number of representatives based on state population and the
other with fixed number of senators per state.
Different for Texas legislature: Senate represents larger districts and more broad concerns for
state (have longer terms than House of Rep. reps). Representatives in the House have shorter
terms and represent smaller districts. They are more in tune with the ever changing needs of
the people.
How often does the Texas Legislature hold its regular session? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-
For 140 days every other year.
What happens to a bill at the end of the regular sessions if it hasn't been passed or denied? -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- It dies
What are Special Sessions - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Special sessions are legislative
sessions that the governor can call for after the regular session is over. He can call for as
many as he or she wants and the governor dictates the content of the session.
True or False: Texas legislatures are elected in single-member districts and districts are
redrawn ever 10 years - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- true
, Who is given the position of President of the Senate - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The
Lieutenant Governor is given this position by the Texas Constitution. The Lt. Gov. is an
elected via a statewide election.
T or F: The Texas House has always had single-member districts - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- False, up until a Supreme Court decision in 1972, House reps where elected
in multi-member districts
How long are the terms of office for legislative positions? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The
house have elections every two years where all seats are up for grabs
The senate has elections every two years where only half the members are up for re-election.
Which half is up for election is rotated every two years. Each term is four years long. This
staggering restarted after re-redistricting. Senators draw straws for who gets a four-year or
two-year term.
Requirements to run for the Texas House of Reps. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- - must be at
least 21
- legal resident of the state for the past two years
- resident of their district for at least one year
- US citizen
Requirements to run for the Texas Senate - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- - must be at least 26
- legal resident of the state for the past 5 years
- resident of their district for at least one year
- US citizen
private interest group - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- groups that seek to influence public
policy for the specific and often exclusive benefit of their members or people with similar
interests
public interest group - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- groups that seek influence public policy
for the benefit of the general population
