Study Questions

 

  1. Discuss the following legislative terms: logrolling, coalition building, filibusters, and riders.
  2. What are the lawmaking, representation, and oversight functions of state legislatures?
  3. What is constituent service, and how does it affect the legislative process?
  4. What is the difference between redistricting and apportionment? Gerrymandering and malapportionment? What are majority-minority districts?
  5. How do professional and part-time legislatures differ?
  6. What is the nature of public opinion on state legislatures? Has an increase in the professionalization of state legislatures improved the public's perception of them?
  7. According to the public, are term limits effective? According to individual state legislators, are term limits effective?