Gov Quizzes 1-7 – Flashcards
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Which of the following is NOT a strategy for diversifying the Texas economy during the early 1980's? a. Improving the Houston Port facility b. Recruiting corporations from other states c. Focusing on developing a high tech industrial base in Texas d. NAFTA
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d. NAFTA
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Who is referred to as the cowboy president? a. George W. Bush b. George H. W. Bush c. Teddy Roosevelt d. Lyndon Johnson e. Ronald Reagan
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a. George W. Bush
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We all have a stake in what governments do because governments a. have a daily impact on our lives b. completely control our lives c. takes care of the poor and this raises taxes on those willing to work d. always want to take money from the wealthy and this is bad for the rest of society
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a. have a daily impact on our lives
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Organizing disputes, creating fair procedures for competing interests to communicate their needs and managing budgets to decide who will benefit and who will cover the costs is the providence of a. government b. business c. society d. religion
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a. government
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Which of the following best characterizes Texans' attitudes towards government? a. government is dangerous to the liberty of the people b. government should be used to achieve the good for all citizens c. paying higher taxes for helping the poor is good policy d. Texans believe that all interests should have an equal say in what government does
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a. government is dangerous to the liberty of the people
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What historically has been a major problem in Texas? a. funding public education b. the demands of an aging population c. antiquated transport system d. the power of railroads over the transportation costs e. how to deal with the federal government.
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a. funding public education
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Political culture can best be defined as __________ which give order and meaning to the political process. a. a set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments b. information and assumptions c. preconceived ideals d. economic beliefs and goals e. religious ideals
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a. a set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments
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The __________ subculture holds that political power should be concentrated in the hands of a few elite citizens who belong to established families or influential social groups. Public policy basically serves the interests of this small group. a. traditionalistic b. individualistic c. moralistic d. altruistic e. elitist
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a. traditionalistic
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For the most part, the highest concentration of African Americans is in what part of Texas? a. East Texas b. West Texas c. South Texas d. Panhandle e. Northeast Texas
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a. East Texas
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Texas population patterns show a. a return to the rural areas b. greater migration to Dallas and Forth Worth than ant other parts of Texas c. greatest growth occurring in West Texas and the Rio Grande Valley d. Urbanization and suburban sprawl
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d. Urbanization and suburban sprawl
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Which of the following groups has the lowest percent of high school graduates? a. African Americans b. Anglos c. Asian d. Hispanics e. people of mix race
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d. Hispanics
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Education not only helps determine a person's employment and income potential, it also affects his or her participation in a. church b. politics c. culture d. family life
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b. politics
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Historically, the health of the Texas economy has been linked to a. manufacturing and space industries b. cool and sulfer production and to an extent atomic energy c. medical research and biotech industries d. defense spending and military bases e. oil and natural gas
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e. oil and natural gas
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Texas diversifies economically by shifting to a. organic agricultural production b. clothing manufacturing c. oil and gas production d. foreign trade with Mexico e. high tech industries
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e. high tech industries
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Which of the following three cities are among the ten largest cities in the United States? a. Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio b. Dallas, El Paso, and Houston c. Austin, Houston, and San Antonio d. El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio
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a. Dallas, Houston and San Antonio
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Why have the Texas myths primarily been the myths of Anglos and not of other groups? a. Non-Anglos had been excluded from participation in many facets of Texas life until recently. b. Anglos have been responsible for all of Texas's achievements since its creation. c. Other groups have refused to take part in the political, social, and economic development of Texas. d. In the interest of self-preservation, other groups have kept their myths to themselves. e. It is a common misconception that the myths have been embraced solely of Anglos.
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a. Non-Anglos had been excluded from participation in many facets of Texas life until recently.
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An indication of the recent change in the political power of the African American population in Texas is the increased numbers of African American a. faculty in higher education b. businesses on the Fortune 500 list c. elected officials at all levels of government d. government services in the state e. upper level officers in military service
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c. elected officials at all levels of government
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Texas currently has the ________ largest economy in the nation. a. first b. second c. third d. fourth e. fifth
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b. second
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Political culture can best be defined as ________ that give order and meaning to the political process. a. economic beliefs and goals b. preconceived ideals c. religious ideals d. information and assumptions e. a set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments
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e. a set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments
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Although the Asian American population in Texas is relatively small, which of the following is an example of increased political power among this ethnic group? a. the election of Asian Americans to major political offices b. legislation giving Asian Americans special status in Texas c. judicial decisions favoring Asian Americans d. more state scholarship money going to Asian Americans than any other group e. a special executive branch board set up to deal with Asian American issues
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a. the election of Asian Americans to major political offices
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Which of the following governors held office under a Constitution that granted the governor more power than the current constitution? a. Richard Coke b. William Clements c. Richard Cook d. Edmund Davis
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d. Edmund Davis
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In what year was Texas's current constitution ratified? a. 1828 b. 1845 c. 1876 d. 1999
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c. 1876
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Approximately how often has the Texas constitution been amended? a. fewer than 30 times b. between 50 and 75 c. over 470 times d. over 750 times
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c. over 470 times
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Who made up the Grange? a. They were a consortium of railroad entrepreneurs who wanted a constitution that would aid business interests. b. They were a group of pro-Union Republicans who controlled the state after the Civil War. c. They were an agricultural group who wanted a government that wanted to severely limit governmental power. d. They were early wildcatters who wanted land grants from the state so they could explore for oil.
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c. They were an agricultural group who wanted a government that wanted to severely limit governmental power.
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Which of the following is true about an amendment to the Texas Constitution? a. It must be proposed by the Texas legislature. b. Citizens must approve of amendments. c. Amendments are referred to as propositions. d. all of the above
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d. all of the above
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A constitution reflects the way society structures conflict through its a. institutional arrangements c. comparative perspective c. consensus agreements d. parliamentary procedures e. important rituals
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a. institutional arrangements
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Which Texas constitution created the Republic of Texas? a. 1824 b. 1827 c. 1876 d. 1836
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d. 1836
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Texas was once linked with a. Louisiana b. Chihuahua c. Coahuila d. Great Britain e. Mississippi
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c. Coahuila
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Today, the property rights of married women in Texas are protected because of a. British common law. b. feminist movement of the 1970s. c. Mexican law. d. the adoption of U.S. laws when Texas became a state.
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c. Mexican law
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President Johnson's mild reconstruction policies were reflected in the a. Constitution of 1836 b. Constitution of 1845 c. Constitution of 1861 d. Constitution of 1866
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d. Constitution of 1866
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The Constitution of 1876 a. created a very strong government b. created a mildly strong government c. created a mildly weak government d. created a very weak government e. created a weak executive branch but a very strong legislative branch
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d. created a very weak government
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Under the 1876 constitution a. the legislature is unicameral with 181 members b. there is a highly centralized executive c. the governor appoints members of the judicial branch with senate confirmation d. a & b e. none of the above
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e. none of the above
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Which term refers to the idea that the people control their government? a. limited government b. popular sovereignty c. political equality d. social contract e. separation of powers
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b. popular sovereignty
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Which of the following statements is true? a. The US Consitution is easy to amend. b. Compare to the US Constitution the Texas Constitution is harder to amend. c. In terms of over all governmental power, the Texas constitution creates a weaker government than the government created under the US Constitution. d. The Texas Constitution creates a federal distribution of power. e. Both a & d
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c. In terms of over all governmental power, the Texas constitution creates a weaker government than the government created under the US Constitution.
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Which of the following statements is true? a. Texans have the right of initiative at the state and local level. b. There were major constitutional revisions in 1974. c. The way the current constitution is written provides special interest groups with greater power over the political system than the citizens of the state. d. Texans tend to be very attentive to state politics. e. All of the above.
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c. The way the current constitution is written provides special interest groups with greater power over the political system than the citizens of the state.
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Which governor of Texas refused to leave office although he had lost the election? a. Richard Coke b. George W. Bush c. Edmund Davis d. William P. Clements e. James Ferguson
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c. Edmund Davis
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The purpose of statutory law a. is to expand upon general provisions laid out in a constitution through legislative laws. b. is to require voter approval on amendments to a constitution. c. is to lay the basic principles of a constitution to later be expanded upon. d. is to allow the executive of a state to issue laws without legislative approval. e. is to specifically replace unconstitutional laws with constitutional amendments.
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a. is to expand upon general provisions laid out in a constitution through legislative laws.
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Scholars believe that constitutions should a. be incredibly hard to change. b. be vague on general principles. c. be written in a restrictive fashion. d. not grant authority to specific constitutions. e. include specified detailed instructions.
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b. be vague on general principles.
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What was one reason cited by the text for the conflict between Mexico and Texas in 1836? a. Mexico failed to protect Texas from incursions by the United States army. c. Mexico had imposed the institution of slavery. d. Texas supported the deposed President Santa Anna. e. A new Mexican constitution established a unitary system of government. f. New settlers arrived from southern Europe, invited by the Mexican government.
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e. A new Mexican constitution established a unitary system of government.
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The current Texas Constitution is ridiculed by scholars as being a. burdened by excessive detail and obsolete and contradictory provisions. b. too hard to amend, consequently it is outdated in most aspects. c. too vague in outlining the separation of powers which exists in Texas. d. overly protective of the legislature at the expense of the judiciary branch. e. pompous and pretentious and overstating the importance of Texas within America.
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a. burdened by excessive detail and obsolete and contradictory provisions.
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Which program made it possible for temporary workers from Mexico to enter the United States to Work? a. Mexican Inclusion Act b. Nationalization Act c. Bracero Program d. Sancturary Cities Program e. Dream Act
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c. Bracero Program
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Which of the following reduced tariffs among the United States, Mexico, and Canada? a. transnational regionalism b. the maquiladora program c. The North American Free Trade Agreement d. The Central American Free Trade Agreement e. General Agreement on Tariff and Trade
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c. The North American Free Trade Agreement
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When analyzing the impact of federalism on state finances, we can say that Texas a. pays more in federal taxes than it receives in federal expenditures. b. receives more in federal expenditures than it gives in federal taxes. c. pays more in federal taxes than any other state in the union. d. receives more in federal expenditures per capita than any other state in the union. e. pays as much in federal taxes as it receives in federal expenditures.
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b. receives more in federal expenditures than it gives in federal taxes.
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Which of the following has the primary responsibility to lobby the federal government for additional federal dollars? a. State Treasurer b. Governor c. Attorney General d. Comptroller of Public Accounts e. None of the above
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e. none of the above
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When did all levels of government begin to work together to deal with problems? a. All levels of government always worked together. b. The levels of government began cooperating after the Great Depression. c. The level of cooperation we have today did not begin until the Great Society programs. d. After the Civil War the levels of government began to cooperate in order to develop American industry. e. Cooperation began after Andrew Jackson was able to promote democracy throughout the nation.
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b. The levels of government began cooperating after the Great Depression.
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The idea that federal law or the US Constitution trumps state law is based on a. full faith clause b. necessary and proper clause c. Tenth Amendment d. expressed powers e. supremacy clause
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e. supremacy clause
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If you are someone that believes in states rights you would support a strong interpretation of a. necessay and proper clause b. full faith clause c. Tenth Amendment d. expressed powers e. supremacy clause
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c. Tenth Amendment
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Which of the following would create the most centralized form of government? a. liberal b. confederation c. federal d. unitary e. sovereign
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d. unitary
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What is federalism? a. A system of government in which the central government can command at will all lower governments. b. A system of government in which the parts (states) are more powerful than the whole (national lgovernment). c. Originally, it was a structure of government devised by the British and later adapted by the Americans. d. A system of government in which there are two sovereigns.
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d. A system of government in which there are two sovereigns.
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The __________ clause of the Constitution requires that states normally recognize the laws, acts, and judicial decisions of other states. a. supremacy b. full faith and credit c. concurrent power d. equal protection of law e. states rights
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b. full faith and credit
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The three fundamental systems for structuring government are a.national, international, and transnational. b. confederation, federalism, and unitary. c. local, state, and national. d. local, regional, and global. e. democracy, autocracy, and oligarchy
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b. confederation, federalism, and unitary.
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Most official proceedings concerning our daily lives come from ________ governments. a. state and local b. regional and county c. national and state d. state and regional e. national and local
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a. state and local
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The ability to ________ is a concurrent power shared by the national and state governments. a. coin money b. declare war c. tax d. regulate interstate commerce e. raise an army
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c. tax
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What effect has the Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland had on the U.S. political system? a. This case asserted the sovereignty of state governments when faced by encroachment from the federal government. b. It revealed that the Supreme Court is ill-suited to arbitrate disputes between state and federal authority. c. It upheld the supremacy clause of the Constitution and prevented the states from taxing national, a principle that remains to today. d. This case was pivotal in outlining the concurrent powers of the states and the national government and codifying them. e. The ruling reached in this case is considered an unwritten amendment to the Constitution, and it has never been challenged in court since.
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c. It upheld the supremacy clause of the Constitution and prevented the states from taxing national, a principle that remains to today.
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Those supporting the development of cooperative federalism a. believe that state and local governments should control domestic policy. b. embrace implicit or sole authority of governments over specific domestic policy. c. believe that the national government is the dominant authority in all policy. d. embrace the concept that all three levels of government share authority over policy. e. believe the Constitution must be rewritten to specify cooperation between governments.
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d. embrace the concept that all three levels of government share authority over policy.
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Categorical grants-in-aid have been used over the past fifty years a. as a way to encourage states to develop autonomy. b. to limit the autonomy of state governments. c. to fund 90 percent of social programs in states. d. to shape and implement domestic programs. e. as a way to control state economies by the national government.
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d. to shape and implement domestic programs.
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In the past twenty years, Congress has a. increased the number of mandates and preemptions forced on the states. b. decreased the number of mandates and preemptions forced on the states. c. eliminated mandates and preemptions forced on the states. d. superseded mandates and preemptions with the concept of federalism. e. decreased the federal role in policymaking in favor of the states.
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a. increased the number of mandates and preemptions forced on the states.
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Money from the federal government accounts for approximately ________ of the total Texas budget. a. 17 percent b. 25 percent c. 30 percent d. 39 percent e. 66 percent
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d. 39 percent
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What was the primary purpose of the maquiladora program? a. It was an initiative launched by the Johnson administration to increase jobs on the Texas side of the border and ease trade with Mexico. b. It was an idea of the Texas state legislature, which was later adopted by neighboring states in Mexico, aimed at improving border control efficiency. c. It was an initiative launched by the Mexican government with American support to boost employment and industrial development. d. It was a pilot program used to test the viability of future joint economic endeavors between the U.S. and Mexico, specifically NAFTA. e. The purpose of this program was to create a free trade zone in the border region between Mexico and the United States.
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c. It was an initiative launched by the Mexican government with American support to boost employment and industrial development.
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Texas exported more than ________ worth of goods to Mexico in 2011. a. $13.4 billion b. $62 billion c. $87 billion d. $124 billion e. $223 billion
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c. $87 billion
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What is an interest group? a. An organization that seeks to elect its members to government. b. An organization that seeks to promote the common good of society. c. Are organizations that occupy the economic sphere but have no interest in the political sphere. d. Are organizations that seek to influence policy making.
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d. Are organizations that seek to influence policy making.
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What term refers to the ideal that American politics operates according to competition among groups? a. interest group b. pluralism c. factions d. lobbying
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b. pluralism
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Why is there a class bias in the interest groups system in Texas? a. Because people from higher socioeconomic levels are more likely to join than those from lower socioeconomic levels. b. Because women are more likely to join than men. c. Groups that tend to not pay federal income taxes (Mitt Romeny's 47% of Americans) join interest groups in order to pressure government to give them more services while those that do pay income taxes want nothing from government and so do not join interest groups. d. People with lower education levels want more education spending and so they join interest groups at higher rates than those who have higher levels of education. e. both c & d
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a. Because people from higher socioeconomic levels are more likely to join than those from lower socioeconomic levels.
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Which of the following statements is false? a. An interest group gains more strength if it is internally unified. b The most important minority interest group in Texas is the GOP. c. In Texas many business interests organize through their trade associations. d. If hunting or owning firearms are important to you then you might consider joining the NRA.
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b The most important minority interest group in Texas is the GOP.
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Organized labor a. is very strong in Texas politics. b. are strengthened by Texas "right to work" law. c. will side with trial lawyers and public interest groups on some issues. d. was responsible for helping elect a number of Democrats to statewide offices during the 1940s and 1950s. e. all of the above
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c. will side with trial lawyers and public interest groups on some issues.
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A public interest group a. seeks to promote the public good. by helping to remove regulations on big business and banks. b. want to protect consumers and the environment. c, have had a lot of success with influencing policy. d. all of the above
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b. want to protect consumers and the environment.
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Agricultural interest groups a. tend to support worker rights. b. were big supporters of Jim Hightower against Rick Perry. c. work closely with religious groups. d. tend to work more closely with rural legislators than urban legislators. e. all of the above
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d. tend to work more closely with rural legislators than urban legislators.
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The right to try and influence an elected official is based on a. federal statutory law. b. right to petition government under Article 1, Section 27 of the Texas Constitution. c. First Amendment of the US Constitution. d. both b & c e. all of the above
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d. both b & c
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Lobbying for change in public elementary and secondary education is complicated by the fact that a. teachers' association tend to support the same goals as school boards. b. public schools rarely face budget cuts. c. different educational associations sometimes seek conflicting interests and goals. d. university alumni are politically influential. e. the state usually raises taxes when schools need money.
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c. different educational associations sometimes seek conflicting interests and goals.
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Interest groups a. tend to favor the Republican Party. b. never use the media to get attention because it costs too much. c. donate money to candidates in order to gain access to policymakers. d. all of the above
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c. donate money to candidates in order to gain access to policymakers.
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State law prohibits donations ________ directly to political candidates. a. from employees b. by corporate officers c. from customers d. of corporate funds e. of PAC funds
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d. of corporate funds
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What has allowed for the emergence of influential pressure groups to develop in states such as Texas? a. Strong governors who hold considerable power over the legislature are more susceptible to interest group influence. b. Strong political parties can only emerge through coordination with various interest groups, and as a result, the groups hold considerable influence. c. Weak political parties in a state are less able to coordinate their activities and are prone to factionalism, off of which interest groups feed. d. Weak education systems limit the political knowledge of a state's population, which results in interest groups gaining considerable influence. e. Weak governors have little control over their legislatures and of the state's policy agenda, allowing them to be easily influenced by interest groups.
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c. Weak political parties in a state are less able to coordinate their activities and are prone to factionalism, off of which interest groups feed.
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Collectively, women or African Americans would be considered as belonging to a(n) a. categorical group. b. pressure group. c. feminist group. d. interest group. e. environmental group.
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a. categorical group.
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The waves that David Truman spoke of are periods a. in which political gridlock is constant for no less than 5 years. b. in which there is a rapid explosion of groups in response to political, economic, or social upheaval. c. when interest groups wield considerable power over a legislature and times when they do not. d. in which numbers of interest groups dwindle to reestablish equilibrium in the political system. e. between the collapse and reestablishment of a government that has fallen because of interest groups.
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b. in which there is a rapid explosion of groups in response to political, economic, or social upheaval.
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Michels's iron rule of oligarchy was applicable to any organization and was a ________ law applied to all social systems. a. universal b. parochial c. regional d. territorial e. national
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a. universal
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According to Chandler Davidson, the extremely wealthy, though a minority in society a. have little political power or influence. b. usually prevail when objectives are clear and they are united. c. do not receive help from the state economic and political structure. d. have little group cohesiveness or common values. e. have so much money, they have no need to rely on government.
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b. usually prevail when objectives are clear and they are united.
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________ is a professional group that has had a significant role in Texas politics and the policy-making process. a. The Texas Medical Association b. The Texas Automobile Dealer Association c. Common Cause d. The Texas Association of Independent Business e. The AFL-CIO
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a. The Texas Medical Association
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Groups that combine Christian rhetoric, anti-communism, and anti-labor stands are often referred to as a. New Deal Republicans. b. Anti-Liberal Populists. c. the Religious Right. d. Neocon Republicans. e. the Religious Establishment
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c. the Religious Right.
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People who join interest groups do so for a variety of reasons, including a. personal and material benefits, direct access to legislators, and a sense of pride. b. social benefits, a sense of pride, and direct access to legislators. c. a sense of purpose, personal and material benefits, and direct access to legislators. d. material beneifts, social benefits or a sense of purpose. e. a sense of pride, direct access to legislators, and a sense of purpose.
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d. material beneifts, social benefits or a sense of purpose.
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How has the ruling reached in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commissionchanged the way that candidates are funded? a. PACs can now coordinate their activities with political campaigns. b. Individuals who donate up to $4,999 no longer have to reveal their personal information. c. Corporations are now limited to donating a maximum of $20,000 to super-PACs. d. Independent super-PACs can now make unlimited contributions to federal races. e. The government has to match 25 percent of the money raised by federal candidates.
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d. Independent super-PACs can now make unlimited contributions to federal races.
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The major criticism of the media's coverage of campaigns is that it tends to a. pay too much attention to the substantive policy positions of candidates. b. rely too much on party identification to report on races. c. report on campaigns as a horse race. d. All of the above
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c. report on campaigns as a horse race.
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When making statements about issues politicians tend to rely on _________ which tend to be meaningless or lack analytical depth regarding their position on issues. a. news filtration b. sound bites c. spin d. media biases
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b. sound bites
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Governor Rick Perry has shown that a. he is a strong fundraiser. b. has the backing of the conservative primary voter. c. refused to meet with the editorial boards of the major Texas newspapers during the 2010 campaign. d. All of the above
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d. all of the above
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Which of the following politicians did not win his/her bid to become governor because of a bad joke told to reporters at a camp out? a. Democrat Ronnie Earle b. Democrat Gib Lewis c. Democrat Ann Richards d. Republican Clayton Williams
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d. Republican Clayton Williams
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When it comes to media bias, we can say that a. television reporters are more liberal and newspaper reporters are more conservative. b. the new world of online blogging has made media coverage of politics more susceptible to viewpoint biases. c. corporate media ownership tends to skew news coverage in a more liberal direction. d. the fact that media outlets are businesses has no impact on news coverage decisions.
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b. the new world of online blogging has made media coverage of politics more susceptible to viewpoint biases.
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The news media in Texas began to challenge the political and business establishment with the a. decline of frontier newspapers. b. runoff elections between conservative Allan Shivers and liberal Ralph Yarborough c. consolidation of media ownership d. all of the above
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c. consolidation of media ownership
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Governmental bodies are required to post advance notices of all its meetings because of a. Open Forum Act b. Open Meetings Act c. Right to Know Act d. Freedom of Information Act
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b. Open Meetings Act
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When it comes to ignorance of public affairs, we can say that a. there are few opportunities to lean what is going on in the political arena because there are less newspapers. b. Americans actually consume more news now than ever before. c. younger people are now consuming more news than ever because of the internet d. young people rather seek entertainment opportunities than pay attention to the news.
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d. young people rather seek entertainment opportunities than pay attention to the news.
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What does research about American consumption of news find? a. Younger Americans rely more on the Internet than traditional media outlets. b. Radio is a more frequently used medium for news than television. c. The print media tend to take their cues about what to cover from television and radio. d. Twitter users link more to political stories than bloggers
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a. Younger Americans rely more on the Internet than traditional media outlets.
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Trying to control how a story or information affects the image of an elected official or candidate is called a. agenda setting b. editorials c. issue-control d. spin
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d. spin
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The media have become a major institution linking governments to a. their political parties. b. their fellow mass media members. c. their constituents. d. the Internet. e. each other.
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c. their constituents.
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Some scholars and media experts believe one of the major contributions of the media to politics is a. agenda setting. b. information processing. c. policy clarification. d. sound bites. e. information distribution.
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a. agenda setting.
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The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund ________, which forced the media to take notice of the issue. a. won a state court judgment declaring the school finance system unconstitutional b. protested daily on the steps of the state capital over discriminatory hiring procedures c. brought suit to the U.S. Supreme Court on overcrowding in Texas state prisons d. staged a two-week strike with Mexican faculty at universities over unfair treatment e. marched on Austin in response to the governments lack of concern over immigration
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a. won a state court judgment declaring the school finance system unconstitutional
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The ________ is a pattern advanced by Anthony Downs that describes the stages of increasing and waning news coverage and public interest in an issue. a. attention-deficit cycle b. issue-attention cycle c. issue-development cycle d. action-reaction cycle e. issue-reaction cycle
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b. issue-attention cycle
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Most traditional journalists believe their job is to be as ________ as possible when reporting the news. a. contrived b. interesting c. biased d. objective e. exploitative
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d. objective
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Most Texas voters get to know a candidate through a. televised images. b. print media. c. radio spots. d. personal contact. e. Internet images.
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a. televised images.
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In the 2002 governor's race, Tony Sanchez spent ________ of his own money. a. $33 million b. $46 million c. $56 million d. $75 million e. $98 million
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c. $56 million
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In reporting Clayton William's "weather and rape" story, the press took into consideration a. embarrassing the candidate and society's increasing sensitivity to sexual abuse and harassment. b. that neither violent crime nor women should be compared to the weather. e. embarrassing women versus embarrassing the candidate. d. that all casual communication between candidates and the press is off the record. e. society's increasing sensitivity to sexual abuse and harassment and the lack of access to the man behind the campaign.
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e. society's increasing sensitivity to sexual abuse and harassment and the lack of access to the man behind the campaign.
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________ often take their cues about what to run from the ________ media. a. Newspapers and television; radio b. Radio and Internet; television c. Television and radio; newspaper d. Newspapers and television; mass publishing e. Newspapers and television; Internet
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c. Television and radio; newspaper
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A_____ is an attack by a candidate on his/her opponent with an ad that is often misleading or outright false. a. spin b. biased ad c. negative ad d. infomercial
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c. negative ad
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A political party a. is concerned with influencing policy. b. seeks to control the elected offices. c. tends to be made up of very like minded individuals. d. All of the above
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b. seeks to control the elected offices.
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La Raza Unida a. was primarily concerned with advancing conservative Hispanic candidates for office. b. was a militant Hispanic organization on par with the Black Panther Movement. c. was formed to advance the concerns of Hispanic voters. d. was violently suppressed by the Texas Rangers.
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c. was formed to advance the concerns of Hispanic voters.
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Simply stated, political parties link diverse segments of the population to government and thus contribute to the stability and _____ of government a. accountability b. homogeneity c. interests d. legitimacy
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d. legitimacy
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Primary elections are a. held to fill an elected office. b. held for filling an unexpected vacancy in an elected office. c. determined my a simple plurality of the vote. d. held to determine a political party's nominee for an elected office.
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d. held to determine a political party's nominee for an elected office.
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What helped bring an end to one-party politics in Texas? a. factionalism b. civil rights movement c. federal government intervention in southern state politics. d. All of the above
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b. civil rights movement
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Republican Party partisans would tend to support a. affirmative action programs to help promote equality in American society. b. more taxation on corporations as a way to pay for public education. c. eliminating unions. d. none of the above
answer
c. eliminating unions.
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The two-party system in Texas is protected by a. laws that ban third parties. b. the method of determining general elections. c. support each party gets from special interest groups. d. all of the above
answer
b. the method of determining general elections.
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Precinct conventions a. are held the day after the primary election. b. are held the night of the general election. c. elected the county chair of the party. d. None of the above
answer
d. None of the above
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When one group in society switches it support from one political party to another this is a. a critical election. b. reflects the influence of third parties on elections. c. factionalism. d. realignment.
answer
d. realignment.
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Which of the following groups tends to support the Republican Party more so than the Democratic Party? a. Hispanics b. Religious Right c. Labor Unions d. African Americans
answer
b. Religious Right
question
Why is the creation of political parties necessary in a representative democracy? a. They are necessary mechanisms to ensure that the individuals we choose to represent us are responsive and responsible. b. The existence of political parties is necessary to ensure order in a democracy, otherwise anarchy would exist. c. They are necessary mechanisms to ensure accountability of elected officials through the exercising of a variety of controls on politicians. d. Political parties provide elected officials with support and legal strength when confronted by corrupt special interest groups. e. They are necessary to maintain balance and order and to prevent any single person from gaining too much strength politically.
answer
a. They are necessary mechanisms to ensure that the individuals we choose to represent us are responsive and responsible.
question
Leon D. Epstein best described Texas parties as a. "any group, however loosely organized, seeking to elect governmental officeholders under a given label." b. "a coherent group, tightly organized, seeking to elect officeholders under the Republican label." c. "a loose group, however organized, seeking to elect government officeholders under a Democratic process." d. "any group, however tightly organized, seeking to elect officeholders under the Democratic label." e. "a coherent group, tightly organized seeking to elect officeholders under a given label."
answer
a. "any group, however loosely organized, seeking to elect governmental officeholders under a given label."
question
The difference between an interest group and a political party is that a. an interest group exists to run the day-to-day business of government. b. a political party seeks to enlist and nominate candidates. c. a political party is only interested in certain issues. d. an interest group seeks to enlist and nominate candidates. e. a political party lobbies governmental officeholders.
answer
b. a political party seeks to enlist and nominate candidates.
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The tea party, which became a driving force in Texas politics following the election of President Barack Obama, is a a. political party. b. political movement. c. fringe party. d. special interest group. e. social movement.
answer
b. political movement.
question
Since the 1970s, ________ helped to bring an end to one-party politics in Texas. a. unpopular national Democratic Party policies have caused the Texas Democratic Party to split, which has b. repeated scandals in the Democratic Party have c. national ideological movements brought about a change in statewide politics, which has d. social and economic changes have led to more competitive parties, which have e. legislation aimed at removing the influence of special interests that favored the Democrats has
answer
d. social and economic changes have led to more competitive parties, which have
question
What role did Governor Edmund Davis play in Texas becoming a one-party Democratic state by the 1870s? a. He led a mass defection of the Republican Party to the Democrats, effectively crippling the Republicans. b. In the years following the Civil War, his administration took steps to ban Republicans from being elected. c. His Radical Republican administration during Reconstruction generated strong-anti Republican feelings. d. The failure of his administration to tackle unemployment was directly blamed on the Republican Party. e. Rampant corruption within the Republican Party under his watch bankrupted and doomed the party.
answer
c. His Radical Republican administration during Reconstruction generated strong-anti Republican feelings.
question
What was the importance of the 1978 gubernatorial election in the realignment process in Texas? a. Despite a significant monetary advantage, Democrat John Hill lost to unknown Bill Clements. b. It was the first gubernatorial election since Reconstruction where a Democrat won by less than 1 percent. c. In defeating John Hill, Bill Clements became the first Republican governor elected since Reconstruction. d. The Republicans won by 10 percent, a 24 percent gain over their performance in the 1974 gubernatorial election. e. Not only did Republican Bill Clements win, but Republican Party enrollment jumped by nearly 30 percent.
answer
c. In defeating John Hill, Bill Clements became the first Republican governor elected since Reconstruction.
question
In 1998, Republican successes, led by the reelection of Governor George W. Bush, resulted in the capture of all a. Texas House seats. b. House and Senate seats in Austin. c. statewide offices. d. local offices. e. county judgeships.
answer
c. statewide offices
question
After voting in the primary of his choice in an even-numbered year on the second Tuesday in March, a voter would first attend a a. precinct convention held on the same day as the primary. b. county convention held on the same day as the primary. c. precinct convention held two weeks later. d. county convention held on the second Saturday after election day. e. state convention held one month after election day.
answer
a. precinct convention held on the same day as the primary.
question
Party conventions are about a. politics, the selection of candidates, and the running of campaigns. b. the selection of candidates, control of the party apparatus, and the running of campaigns. c. control of the party apparatus, the running of campaigns, and politics. d. the selection of candidates, the running of campaigns, and politics. e. politics, the selection of candidates, and control of the party apparatus.
answer
e. politics, the selection of candidates, and control of the party apparatus.
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Several reasons have been given for ________ in Texas. Some Texans only care about their own selfish needs; others feel a sense of disenchantment, disillusion, or downright alienation; and still others care, but feel that a single vote is not enough to make a difference. a. low voter registration b. no political involvement c. low public involvement d. low voter turnout
answer
d. low voter turnout
question
PACs have become more important to campaigns at the state and local level because they a. bring sophisticated fundraising skills to political races. b. supply people with general nonpolitical information. c. they represent only public lobby interests. d. give equally to all candidates. e. they pay for all political advertising.
answer
a. bring sophisticated fundraising skills to political races.
question
What is the effect of dividing election cycles so that state and local elections are separate? a. The cost of holding elections is drastically reduced as is the cost of campaigns. b. Issues that are unique to state and local races are converged. c. Voter turnout increases when voters are faced with fewer candidates d. Candidates are typically forced to campaign for shorter periods. e. Voter fatigue increases due to disinterest in participating in so many elections.
answer
e. Voter fatigue increases due to disinterest in participating in so many elections.
question
How does Texas differ from the federal government with regards to campaign contributions? a. Unlike the federal government, Texas does not require campaign donors who live in the state to reveal their name and information. b. Unlike the federal government, Texas allows donations received for state and local races to be tax deductible and written off at the end of the year. c. Unlike the federal government, Texas has rules limiting the amount of time prior to an election in which a candidate can raise money. d. Unlike the federal government, Texas places no limits on the amount of money a person or PAC can contribute to most political candidates. e. Unlike the federal government, Texas places no limits on how much a candidate can raise and spend for an election.
answer
d. Unlike the federal government, Texas places no limits on the amount of money a person or PAC can contribute to most political candidates.
question
If no candidate in a primary election receives an absolute majority of the votes cast, a. a nominating convention is convened to pick a candidate. b. a special election is held to determine the winner. c. a runoff primary between the top two candidates is held. d. the winner is determined with a coin toss. e. the primary is held a gain with the same candidates.
answer
c. a runoff primary between the top two candidates is held.
question
Beginning 1995, the Texas state legislature has a. placed campaign contribution limits in judicial races. b. sought to remove limits placed on donations to federal campaigns for congressional seats. c. incrementally placed limits on corporate contributions to state legislative races. d. imposed limits on the amount non-taxable, charitable institutions can contribute to state races. e. removed campaign contribution limits from all statewide races.
answer
a. placed campaign contribution limits in judicial races.
question
For ideological reasons, primaries can result in an unbalanced ticket that has limited appeal in a general election and essentially produces a weak candidate. How is this possible? a. Negative primary campaigns leave the victor bruised and at an extreme disadvantage in the general election. b. Expensive primary battles can leave the victor underfunded for the general election. c. The victor tends to be more extreme in his or her views and less palatable to the general public. d. Primaries tend to fracture the organization of a party and reduce its ability to contest in the general. e. Bitter primaries tend to alienate and dissuade party members from assisting in the general election.
answer
c. The victor tends to be more extreme in his or her views and less palatable to the general public.
question
________ helped lead Texas to adopting the primary in 1903. Prior to this, political parties nominated candidates in party conventions. a. Radical Republicans b. Governor E.J. Davis c. President William McKinley d. A Progressive reform movement e. The Populist Party
answer
d. A Progressive reform movement
question
Why did it take four rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court to bring an end to the white primary? a. The president used executive order to overturn the first three rulings. b. The first three rulings were later declared invalid as a result of mistrials. c. Texas state courts repeatedly overturned the rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court. d. The Texas legislature and parties kept finding ways to circumvent the Supreme Court's rulings. e. Only under threat of imposing martial law in the fourth ruling could the Supreme Court enforce it.
answer
d. The Texas legislature and parties kept finding ways to circumvent the Supreme Court's rulings.
question
Why have minority groups such as Hispanics and African Americans criticized the current primary system in Texas? a. They argue that the county apparatus that manages the primary favors Caucasians. b. They believe that primary results can be easily distorted as they are not regulated by the government. c. They argue that the absolute majority requirement discriminates against their candidates. d. They believe that votes for their candidates are often contested and dismissed by party officials. e. They argue that the primary system should be changed to a double ballot system.
answer
c. They argue that the absolute majority requirement discriminates against their candidates.
question
In the most basic sense, elections serve to a. make governments legitimate and assure popular support for those who make decisions. b. make government legitimate and assure that a majority of adults vote in favor of a policy. c. assure popular support for decision makers and that a majority of adults voted for the policy. d. eliminate the opposition party and assure continuity and expertise. e. eliminate the opposition party and assure popular support for those who make decisions.
answer
a. make governments legitimate and assure popular support for those who make decisions.
question
In a democracy, elections enable individuals to a. prove the saying that "it doesn't matter who gets elected." b. control their leaders and provide judgment on past actions. c. support certain interest groups and political action committees. d. place grand expectations on the media and politicians. e. vote for their preferred politicians and issues.
answer
b. control their leaders and provide judgment on past actions.
question
________ are partisan and held in November of even-numbered years. a. City council elections b. general elections c. School board elections d. Special elections e. primary elections
answer
b. general elections
question
Early voting in Texas makes it possible for a person to vote early a. without having to state a reason. b. after stating that he or she will be out of the county on election day. c. after stating that he or she is incapacitated and cannot get to get to the polls. d. by taking an oath to fulfill the duties of a voter. e. after he or she has been registered to vote for give years
answer
a. without having to state a reason.
question
What brought about the legislature's adoption of the poll tax in 1904? a. The increasing influence of the KKK in the legislature sought to diminish the power of minorities. b. The Republican Party sought to limit the numbers of those who could have a say in the party. c. A new source of revenue was required to fund roadwork programs in the state. d. The increasing influence of the Populist movements and the threat it posed to the Democrats. e. The cost of elections had skyrocketed and this was a way to effectively to pay for them.
answer
d. The increasing influence of the Populist movements and the threat it posed to the Democrats.
question
From colonial times, a requirement for the right to vote was property ownership. The last area in which this practice was declared unconstitutional was voting in a. general elections. b. special elections. c. bond elections. d. runoff elections in primaries. e. primary elections.
answer
c. bond elections.
question
The 1965 Voting Rights Act which was extended to Texas in 1975 allows a. minorities to refuse to show identification when voting in Texas. b. women to run for public office in all state and local elections in Texas. c. minority coalitions to dispute state and local election systems in court. d. interest groups to dispute state and local elections systems in court. e. minorities to vote in all state and local elections in Texas.
answer
c. minority coalitions to dispute state and local election systems in court.
question
Hispanic political clout a. is dropping, as shown by the 5 percent decrease in Hispanic elected officials from 2006 to 2011. b. has remained the same, and there are still the same number of Hispanic elected officials now as in 1974. c. probably will not rise anymore due to dropping immigration rates from Mexico. d. is so strong that most elected officials in Texas are of Hispanic descent. e. is growing as shown by the increase in Hispanic elected officials from 1974 to 2011.
answer
e. is growing as shown by the increase in Hispanic elected officials from 1974 to 2011.
question
________ lead many observers to worry about democratic practices in Texas. a. Distrust of public officials and apathy b. High Hispanic voter turnout c. Education levels and incomes d. Public protests and sit-ins e. Grassroots campaigns and protests
answer
a. Distrust of public officials and apathy
question
The ruling reached by the U.S. Supreme Court in Smith v. Allwright a. declared that gerrymandering based on race is unconstitutional. b. brought to an end the white primary by declaring it unconstitutional. c. ruled that parties had to open their membership to all races. d. found that Jim Crow laws were unconstitutional and banned them e. brought an end to the poll tax by declaring it unconstitutional
answer
b. brought to an end the white primary by declaring it unconstitutional.
