A referendum is a process in which a(n)

bill is passed by legislature and then approved or rejected by popular vote

All of the following are things that could be fixed with state constitutions EXCEPT

many state constitutions don't include a process to amend the constitution

Which of the following statements regarding the Missouri Plan is true?

sitting judges run in unopposed retention elections

Which of the following is the responsibility of a grand jury?

deciding whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime

Which of the following is NOT a common requirement to be governor?

live in the state capital for at least 5 years

All of the following are true of Iowa's amendment process EXCEPT

Iowans may bypass the state legislature and write amends via initiative

What does common law consist of?

judge-made law and the precedents that guide future decisions

What is the difference between civil and criminal law?

civil law involves disputes between two parties & no criminal activity

Supporters of the jury system argue

juries have a long tradition of providing fair trials

Every state election district must

have roughly the same number of people

Which of the following is included in the governor's military powers?

calling up the National Guard to assist with a hurricane

official who hears small cases or preliminary matters

All of the following are part of the 6 basic elements found in state constitutions EXCEPT

process for ratifying foreign treaties

What are intermediate appellate courts responsible for?

reviewing decisions of the trial court

What is administrative law?

regulations and rules issued by executive officers

The secretary of state is responsible for what in most states?

being the state's chief record keeper

court decision used as a guide to be followed in later, similar cases

emphasize rehabilitation rather than punishment

A unified court system

distributes cases to judges based on subject matter, not geography

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State & Local - Governing the States

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Answers

1
Iowa Supreme Court justices may serve for
until age 75
until age 72
until age 65
the rest of their life
2
How does Iowa choose judges for the state Supreme Court?
the Missouri Plan is used
they are chosen by the state legislature
the governor chooses and then they must be confirmed by the Senate
they are chosen by popular election
3
A referendum is a process in which a(n)
bill is placed on the ballot by petition and then voted on by the people
order is signed into law by the governor
amendment to the constitution is proposed in a constitutional convention
bill is passed by legislature and then approved or rejected by popular vote
4
Who represents you in the Iowa Senate?
Michael Fitzgerald
Roby Smith
Jeff Taylor
Skyler Wheeler
5
All of the following are things that could be fixed with state constitutions EXCEPT
many state constitutions don't include a process to amend the constitution
many state constitutions include a lot of outdated provisions
instead of including fundamental law, many states include statutory law
many state constitutions are too long
6
How long is a term in the Iowa Senate?
6 years
1 year
2 years
4 years
7
Which of the following statements regarding the Missouri Plan is true?
sitting judges run in unopposed retention elections
candidates must win an election before becoming a judge
judges are appointed for life by the governor
judges serve no more than two four year terms
8
Most governors have clemency powers, which enable them to
propose a budget
use the line item veto
call special sessions of the legislature
pardon convicted criminals
9
The state's chief lawyer is the
state treasurer
lieutenant governor
chief justice
attorney general
10
All states use a bicameral state legislature EXCEPT for
Iowa
South Dakota
California
Nebraska
11
A petition procedure by which voters may remove an elected official from office before their regular term is up is a
pardon
veto
referendum
recall
12
A state legislature's nonlawmaking powers include all of the following EXCEPT
executive power
constituent power
police power
judicial power
13
What party currently controls the Iowa House?
Libertarian
Republican
Green
Democrat
14
Which Iowa Senate district do we live in?
3
1
4
2
15
Which of the following is the responsibility of a grand jury?
hearing a case and making a decision on guilt or innocence
reaching a unanimous verdict
deciding whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime
filing an information against someone accused on a crime
16
Which of the following is NOT a common requirement to be governor?
live in the state for at least 5 years
live in the state capital for at least 5 years
minimum age of 25-30 years old
be an American citizen
17
All of the following are true of Iowa's amendment process EXCEPT
amendments are propsed by the state legislature
amends must be approved by majorities in two consecutive General Assemblies
Iowans may bypass the state legislature and write amends via initiative
amendments must be ratified by a simple majority of Iowa voters
18
What does common law consist of?
judge-made law and the precedents that guide future decisions
regulations and statutes
equity law
the U.S. Constitution and other statutes that apply to all states
19
In most states who replaces the governor if he or she dies in office, resigns, or is impeached?
speaker of the House
lieutenant governor
secretary of state
a special election is called to find a replacement
20
Who represents you in the Iowa House?
Brenna Bird
Paul Pate
Skyler Wheeler
Jeff Taylor
21
All of the following statements are true regarding initiatives EXCEPT
Iowa allows the initiative
a certain number of voters must sign a petition to propose a law
the most common form of the initiative is the direct inititative
the measure goes to voters for approval or rejection in a direct initiative
22
What is the difference between civil and criminal law?
civil law involves disputes between two parties & no criminal activity
criminal cases use grand juries while civil cases use petit juries
criminal law covers felonies while civil law deals with misdemeanors
civil law is judge made while criminal law is made by legislatures
23
Which power allows the governor to directly affect whether legislation is passed?
veto power
message power
appointment power
power of commutation
24
Who is the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court?
Dana Oxley
Susan Christensen
Edward Mansfield
Kim Reynolds
25
Who is Iowa's governor?
Joni Ernst
Adam Gregg
Kim Reynolds
John Wills
26
What Iowa House district do we live in?
4
2
3
1
27
How many people serve in the Iowa House?
50
25
100
150
28
How many justices sit on the Iowa Supreme Court?
9
7
5
12
29
In what year was Iowa's current constitution written?
1847
1865
1880
1857
30
Who is Iowa's Secretary of State?
Paul Pate
Tom Miller
Adam Gregg
Michael Fitzgerald
31
How long is a term in the Iowa House?
6 years
1 year
2 years
4 years
32
Supporters of the jury system argue
juries have low cost to the state
most Americans are eager to serve on a jury
juries have a long tradition of providing fair trials
juries come to decisions quickly and are correct every time
33
Which of the following is NOT a way state constitutions may be amended?
proposals from the state legislature
a constitutional convention
initiative
by the governor
34
How long is the governor's term in Iowa?
8 years
4 years
6 years
2 years
35
Every state election district must
have roughly the same number of Democrats and Republicans
have roughly the same number of people
be gerrymandered
have the same percentage of minorities as the state has
36
Which of the following is included in the governor's military powers?
directing the affairs of U.S. army bases in the state
calling up the National Guard to assist with a hurricane
calling up National Guard members into federal service
the governor has no military powers
37
A magistrate is a(n)
trial judge in a unified court system
official who hears small cases or preliminary matters
judge of the intermediate appellate court
court-appointed attorney
38
All of the following are key powers held by state legislators EXCEPT
tax
maintain public schools
regulate businesses within the state
pardon criminals
39
Most state legislature meet each year for
the entire year
9-12 months
6-8 months
3-5 months
40
All of the following are part of the 6 basic elements found in state constitutions EXCEPT
process for ratifying foreign treaties
government structure
protection of civil rights
miscellaneous provisions
41
What are intermediate appellate courts responsible for?
reviewing decisions of the trial court
deciding federal cases
determining the facts of the case
trying cases
42
Which of the following is the upper house of a state legislature?
House of Delegates
House of Representatives
General Assembly
Senate
43
What is administrative law?
regulations and rules issued by executive officers
judge-made law
laws passed by the legislature
a trial in which a jury of eight, rather than twelve is used
44
The secretary of state is responsible for what in most states?
being the state's chief record keeper
being the state's chief law enforcement officer
handling the state's finances
foreign relations for the state
45
The Iowa state legislature is called
the General Assembly
the House of Delegates
the Assembly
the Legislature
46
All of the following are basic principles found in state constitutions EXCEPT
popular sovereignty
strong authoritarian leaders
limited government
separation of powers
47
A precedent is a(n)
order preventing an action
court decision used as a guide to be followed in later, similar cases
form of statutory law
short, concise form of indictment
48
How many people serve in the Iowa Senate?
25
50
150
100
49
Juvenile courts
emphasize rehabilitation rather than punishment
do not handle criminal cases
never hear serious cases
never send juveniles to adult courts
50
A unified court system
distributes cases to judges based on subject matter, not geography
allows a single judge to hear both state and federal cases
does away with intermediate appellate judges
allows plaintiffs in one state to easily sue defendants in another state

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