POLS 3314: State Legislatures Chapter 1

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Questions and Answers

Prior to the establishment of the U.S. Congress, what was the role of state legislatures?

They operated as advisory bodies to the British monarchy.

They were designed as direct imitations of the British Parliament.

They were formed concurrently with the U.S. Congress as equal governing bodies.

They existed as colonial legislative bodies that predated Congress. (correct)

Which structural feature of state legislatures was adopted in the design of the U.S. Congress?

Bicameralism, dividing legislative power between two chambers (correct)

Unicameralism, with all legislative power in a single house

Quadracameralism, separating legislative power into four distinct bodies

Tricameralism, distributing legislative power across three houses

In the 19th century, what was a significant trend in the relative power of state legislatures compared to the U.S. Congress?

State legislatures gained power as Congress became less effective.

State legislatures and Congress maintained a balance of power.

State legislatures were abolished and replaced by federal bodies.

State legislatures experienced a decline in power as Congress became more dominant. (correct)

Which factor is indicative of a 'professionalized' legislature?

Compensation that allows legislators to consider their service a full-time job. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common structural organization of state legislatures in the United States?

Bicameral, with two legislative chambers in nearly all states (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical range in size of state legislative bodies, particularly the lower house?

Size varies, from as small as 20 members to as large as 400 members. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributed to Congress becoming more professionalized and adaptable to policy changes compared to state legislatures during a certain period?

Congress developed more sophisticated institutions and resources while state legislatures lagged. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, enacted after the Civil War, affect the power dynamic between state legislatures and Congress?

They shifted power towards Congress by establishing federal oversight on certain state matters. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does the size difference between state legislatures' upper and lower houses affect their relationship?

It influences their relative capacity to gather and process information. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of term limits on state legislatures?

Less legislative oversight of the bureaucracy. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does the ratio of lower house seats to upper house seats relate to state expenditures?

As the ratio increases, state expenditures decrease. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What impact do supermajority voting rules have on the relationship between house size ratios and state expenditures?

They reverse the negative relationship. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does geographic size impact representation in state legislatures?

It can pose challenges to effective representation, especially in sparsely populated areas. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How do legislators from multimember districts (MMDs) tend to view their role compared to those from single-member districts?

They are more likely to see themselves as trustees, acting in the broader interests of their constituents. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does the collaborative nature of legislators from MMDs affect their legislative success?

It can hinder their success in moving legislation forward. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential impact of multimember districts (MMDs) on government spending?

They can lead to increased government spending in their districts. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

State Legislatures Today - Overview

Course: POLS 3314: Legislative Process
Textbook Authors: Peverill Squire and Gary Moncrief
Instructor: Dr. Bianca

Objectives

Trace the evolution of state legislatures
Explain the six characteristics of state legislatures

History of State Legislatures

Colonial legislatures predate Congress, and are not direct imitations
State legislatures influenced the design of the U.S. Congress
Bicameral structure, with houses having different characteristics (e.g., Senate terms longer than House terms)
Constitutions have differing provisions for separation of legislative powers

State Legislative Evolution (19th Century)

Power of state legislatures decreased as Congress grew more powerful
State legislatures developed well-established institutions with standing committees and sophisticated procedures.
Legislatures became more professionalized.
Post-Civil War amendments (13th, 14th, 15th) impacted state legislative power

Evolution in the 20th Century

Congress became more professional and equipped to address policy changes, while state legislatures lagged behind.
Professional legislatures meet continuously, have superior staff resources, and pay members well enough to make it a vocation.

Basic Characteristics of State Legislatures Today

Most states have bicameral legislature (except Nebraska)
House and Senate are common names, differing in size
Membership sizes vary greatly across states. The smallest is Alaska with 20 members and there are 400 members in the New Hampshire house.
U.S. Senate is larger than any state Senate; Minnesota being the largest, 67 members

Basic Characteristics of State Legislatures Today - (Continued)

Bicameral size differences may impact relationships, capacities to develop info, and creates bottlenecks
As the ratio of lower house to upper house increases, state expenditures decrease. Supermajority voting may reverse this relationship
Term limits (rotation) are present in 15 states, leading to consequences like greater turnover, instability in committees, and less investment in learning about policies which leads to potential disadvantages with the executive branch

Geographic Size

Significant implications for representative makeup

Multimember Districts (MMDs)

More likely to think of themselves as trustees than delegates.
Claim to spend more time providing constituent services.
Collaborate on legislative issues but not always successful in getting bills through
Bring more dollars in some states than others

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Description

This quiz explores the evolution and characteristics of state legislatures as discussed in POLS 3314: Legislative Process. Focus on the historical context, the influence of colonial legislatures, and the professionalization of legislative bodies over time. Test your understanding of key developments and institutional frameworks.