Texas Surveyors Practice Exam

What authority did the legislature have regarding State lands before 1883?

1. The authority to delegate sales to private companies

2. The authority to grant sales on an individual basis

3. The authority to classify lands into regions

4. No authority at all

The correct answer is: The authority to grant sales on an individual basis

The correct answer is that before 1883, the legislature had the authority to grant sales on an individual basis. This reflects the legal and administrative framework that governed land management practices of that time. The legislature was responsible for enacting policies and laws that dictated how state lands could be sold, and this included the power to approve specific transactions involving individual parcels of land. During this period, land transactions often required direct legislative action to facilitate sales directly to purchasers. This approach allowed the state to manage its resources with a degree of oversight and control over how lands were transferred from state ownership to private ownership, thereby maximizing benefits for the state and ensuring that lands were sold according to established legal frameworks. Other options do not accurately capture the legislative powers relating to state lands before 1883. The authority to delegate sales to private companies lacked the direct involvement of the legislature necessary for such significant transactions. Additionally, while classifying lands into regions may seem like a useful administrative tool, it does not reflect the specific powers related to sales and transactions that were granted to the legislature. Lastly, the assertion that there was no authority at all is incorrect, as the legislature indeed had specific powers and responsibilities concerning state lands.