Briefly explain the roles of legislative proposals and revision commissions in amending state constitutions
What will be an ideal response?
An ideal response would be:
All states permit their legislatures to propose constitutional amendments; in fact, this is the most common method. Although provisions vary, the general practice is to require the approval by a supermajority, usually two-thirds or three-fifths, of each chamber of the legislature. Some states, however, permit proposal of an amendment by a simple majority in two successive legislatures.
A legislature may appoint a revision commissionto make recommendations for constitutional change that, except in Florida, have no force until acted on by the legislature and approved by the voters. The legislature creates a commission of a relatively small number of people—some selected by the governor and some by the legislature—and charges it with presenting proposals for constitutional revision. A commission is less expensive than a full-blown constitutional convention, does not require initial voter approval, and gives the legislature final control of what is presented to the electorate.
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Authorization bills establish or modify government programs; __________ bills allocate money for authorized programs
Fill in the blanks with correct word
Judges cannot decide to render an opinion unless a case is brought before the court
Indicate whether this statement is true or false.
Registering, canvassing, and mobilizing voters is an example of
A. grassroots organizing. B. party organization. C. the responsible party model. D. the party in the electorate. E. interest group activity.
Which of these is the defining characteristic of a federal system of government?
A) Elected representatives make decisions for the nation B) Power is divided between central and regional bodies C) Separate branches have different areas of responsibilities D) Legislative actions are limited by a set of written guidlines