State Government Review

1 They establish the structure of state government Provide for local government Establish state agencies Regulate the raising and spending of money

2 They are long, detailed, and all contain a bill of rights.

3 Proposal by state legislature Ratification by popular vote

4 Bicameral- legislature with two chambers Unicameral- legislature with one chamber

5 Lower house is led by the Speaker of the House Upper house is led by the Lt. Governor

6 Many are lawyers They serve part-time Are paid less than $20,000 a year Have another job or occupation

7 Age and residency

8 Governors can: Propose legislation Sign or veto bills Call special sessions

9 More than one person is elected to an executive branch office. This limits the power of the governor.

10 Retention Election Voters will vote yes or no to retain a judge

11 State court systems contain: Minor Courts General Trial Courts Appeals Courts

12 State courts interpret and apply state laws, they decide misdemeanor and felony cases

13 Missouri Plan Independent Commission which screens applicants and recommends three to the governor. Governor appoints 1 as judge. Retention election by voters.

14 A general sales tax is applied to a broad range of items A selective tax (excise tax) is placed on certain items for sale

15 Progressive tax- tax rate increases as income increases Proportional tax- tax rate is the same for all levels of income

16 Other sources of state revenues: Licenses and fees Lotteries

17 Texas House of Representatives Members must be 21 years old 150 members and 2-year terms Texas Senate Members must be 26 years old 31 members and 4-year terms

18 Partisan election –Candidates are identified with a political party label Non-Partisan election –Candidates are identified by name only

19 Must be 30 years old Resident of Texas for 5 years U.S. citizen

20 In Texas, we have two supreme courts; one for civil cases, one for criminal cases.

21 True

22 False, a coalition government is represented by several political parties

23 Third party

24 Primary General

25 False, platform not plank

26 Plank

27 Yes on research and writing of bills, and providing information No, a lobbyist does not provide office staff and supplies

28 True

29 False, representative sample

30 False, random sampling