question

According to 2010 census, the population of Texas is approximately

answer

25 Million

question

Among the 50 States, Texas currently ranks ______ in population.

answer

Second

question

The process that involves conflict by groups seeking to influence public policy is referred to as

answer

Politics

question

"A pubic institution that is authorized to allocate values in society" defines

answer

government

question

When the Texas legislature increase the tax on cigarettes, it is implementing.

answer

public policy

question

the "value, attitudes, traditions, habits, and general behavioral patterns that develop over time and shape the politics of a particular region," is reffered to as political culture

answer

political culture

question

The approximate land area of Texas, in square miles is

answer

267,000

question

Which of the following land-based industries have been influential in the development of Texas?

answer

cotton, cattle, oil, and timber

question

Approximately what precent of Texans currently live in metropolitan areas?

answer

85%

question

Which group of the population in Texas is growing most rapidly?

answer

Hispanic/Latino

question

Texas Education Agency reports that apprximately ___ of the states 250,000 teachers quit per year

answer

one-fifth

question

Texas has the __ largest number of African Americans in the nation after New York and California

answer

third

question

The Asian American population of Texas is _____

answer

primarily immigrants, having come from Southeast Asia

question

The process of mixing chemicals with sand and water and jecting them into the ground to force out oil and gas from shale below is referred to as ____

answer

Fracking

question

Person who enters the US in vioulation of federal immigration laws are referred to as ___

answer

undocumented immigrants

question

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) uis currently under the Department of ___

answer

Homeland Security

question

Which of the following is currently responsible for federal oversight of immmigration issues?

answer

Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

question

Which of the following created in 1957 for purposes of state mandated water planning?

answer

Texas Water Development Board

question

Texas faces water challenges due to which of the following factors?

answer

increased population, urbanization, and fracking

question

The Environmental Protection Agency has required that

answer

plants in Texas upgrade their equipment to reduce toxic emissions

question

Education in Texas confronts shortages of ____________to instruct at elementary and secondary schools

answer

certified personnel

question

Texas ranks ________ in addressing poverty and social problems.

answer

near the bottom of the fifty states

question

The two sources for the powers of the Texas government to govern are the

answer

Texas Constituion and Texas's membership in the federal Union

question

A system of government in which power is divided between a general government and associted regional governments is a(n)

answer

federal system

question

Understanding the difference between state government and federal government involves

answer

understanding that state constitutions are subject to the US Constituion

question

the Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution

answer

reserves to the state those powers not delegated to the federal government

question

The national supremacy clause is found in which article of the US constituion

answer

Article VI

question

According to the national supremacy clause,

answer

federal laws enacted under the U.S. Constituion take precedence over state law

question

Powers specifically stated in the US constituion are refreed to as ____

answer

delegated powers

question

The "necessary and proper" clause found in Article I, section 8 of the US constituion is an example of which of the following?

answer

Implied powers

question

The regulation of commerce among the several states by the US congress is an example of a(n)

answer

delegated powers

question

Congress has expanded the scope of the national government through its grant of

answer

Implied powers

question

The tend in federal-state relations since the 1980s can best described as the

answer

federal govrnment transferring more responsibility to the states but recuding funding

question

In which of the following ways can the federal government influence state policymaking?

answer

Offer federal grants-in-aid

question

During the twentieth century the federal government extended its jurisdiction into areas traftionally within the realm of state and local governments principally through

answer

broad interpretation of the interstate commerce clause

question

The decline in natonal control over state government is referred to as

answer

devolution

question

How many amendments to the Texas Constitution were adopted between 1876 and 2014?

answer

484

question

The Texas Constituion has needed hundreds of amendments due to

answer

its specificity and detail

question

According to the text, Texas has had _____ constitutions.

answer

seven

question

A good description of the 1876 Texas Constitution would be that it is

answer

lengthy, confusing, and badly written

question

Amendments to the Texas constitution are proposed by the

answer

Texas Legislature

question

Proposed amendments to the state constituion are ratified by

answer

Texas voters

question

Voter turnout for amendments

answer

is typically low

question

in Texas v. White (1869) the US Supreme Court found that _______

answer

The US Constitution does not provide for states to leave the Union

question

In Texas, local government come in different forms, which include

answer

special districts, counties, and cities

question

Approximately how many incorporated municipalities are there in Texas?

answer

1,200

question

Which of the following views of local government powers dictrates that local government should only have those powers expressly granted by the state?

answer

Dillion's Rule

question

Approximately ____ % of Texans resides in cities.

answer

80

question

A typical percentage of voters turnout in a Texas muncipal election is ___

answer

10 % or less

question

The minimum population requirement in Texas for becoming a city is ___

answer

201

question

In Texas, a community with a population of less than 5,000 may become a(n) ___

answer

general-law city

question

In Texas, a city with a population over 5,000 may be incorporated as a _____

answer

home-rule city

question

A city charter does all of the following, except ____

answer

establish state law

question

A city law is referred to as a city

answer

ordinance

question

The form of government that influences the daily lives of citizens the most is ______

answer

municipal government

question

In House, a strong mayor-council city, ________ appoints the chief of polic and possesses veto power over ordinary majorities in the city council

answer

the mayor

question

strong mayour council form of government has ______ characteristics

answer

council members elected by single member districts, a mayor elected at-large within the city, and a mayjor with power to veto council actions

question

In Texas home-rule cities, which form of municipal structure prevails?

answer

The council-manager form

question

Which of the following is not a characteristics of council-manager form of government?

answer

A mayor with power to veto council actions

question

Cities must redistrict every _____ years.

answer

10

question

The two largest tax sources for Texas municipalities are _____

answer

sales tax and property tax

question

Adopting the county's budget and setting the property tax rate is the duty of the county

answer

commissioners court

question

Which Supreme Court case applied the "one-peso, one-vote"principle to county precincts?

answer

Avery v. Midland County (1968)

question

Which county officials has both adminstrative and judicial responsibilities?

answer

County judge

question

Who has responsibility for keeping the peace in each county?

answer

County sheriff

question

__________ is appointed

answer

County auditor

question

School districts in Texas must operate under the guidelines of

answer

the federal government, TEA, and relevant state law

question

The segment of Texas higher education that receives support from property taxes is the ____

answer

junior and community colleges

question

An organization that consist of individuals interested in controlling government by winning elections is referred to as a(n)

answer

political party

question

In Texas, the two leading political parties are the ___

answer

Democratic and Republican

question

A general election is held in ______

answer

November of even-numbered years

question

Primary elections in Texas are usually held

answer

In March of even-numbered years

question

The lowest level of the temporary party organization in Texas are the

answer

precinct conventions

question

Which of the following would be performed at a party's precinct convention?

answer

Nomination of delegates to the county convention

question

Which of the following tasks is performed every two years at the state party convention?

answer

Adoption of a party platform

question

The number of electoral voters each state receives is equal to the

answer

number of seats each state has in Congress

question

Which policy would a conservative most likely support?

answer

Reduction of elimination of the graduated income tax

question

Concerning the "left-right" political divided in Texas, which term would most likely describe a politicians that is generally opposed to government-managed or government-subsidized programs?

answer

Conservative

question

Since the 1930s, the terms ____ have meant more to many Texas voters than the names of political parties

answer

Liberal and conservative

question

A history of the Texas political party system has tended toward

answer

Texas being a one-party state

question

During the period of Reconstruction that has followed the Civil War (1865-1873) the _______ Party controlled Texas Politics

answer

Republican

question

After Reconstructon, which political party dominated in Texas more than 100 years?

answer

Democratic

question

Between 1900 and 1950, the main political conflict in Texas was between

answer

Liberal and conservative Democrats

question

Who was the first woman to represent Texas in the US Senate?

answer

Kay Bailey Hutchison

question

Which Texas governor elected in 1994 was successful as the Republican party's candidate for President in 2000?

answer

George W. Bush

question

In the 2002 general elections, Republicans

answer

won all statewide races

question

The first Texas candidate to receive more than 4 million votes was

answer

Kay Bailey Hutchison

question

In the closest presidential election of modern times, Governor Bush deferated Democratic nominee Al Gore by ____ in 2000.

answer

four electoral votes (271 to 267)

question

In the 2010 Texas gubernatorial race, Kay Bailey Hutchison was deferated most likely due to her

answer

being portrayed as "Washington insider."

question

Which of the following geographic areas is a Democratic stronghold in Texas?

answer

El Paso Area

question

Which geographic area of Texas is a Republican stronghold?

answer

Texas Pandhandle and Texas South Plains

question

A political party that is note one of the two major parties is referred to as a

answer

third party

question

Candidates who run for office with no party affiliation are referred to as

answer

Independents

question

Which of the following is the most important communication tool during a campaign?

answer

Television ads

question

According to studies, negative commercials

answer

draw voter preference away from the candidate being attacked

question

Organization created to collect and distribute contributions to political campaigns are referred to as

answer

political action commitees

question

the Campaign Reform Act of 2002

answer

It applies to candidates running for seats in the Texas legislature

question

Which of the following does not describe Texas campaign finance regulations for state offices?

answer

There are no disclosure requirements by candidates

question

As a percentage, Texas's Latino population is

answer

more than half of the state's total population

question

The Lation community showed its political strength strength in May of 2010 by

answer

having 28,000 protesters in Dallas opposing the Arizona immigration law

question

What percentage of Texas's African American citizens say that they are Democrats?

answer

80%

question

For most Texans there principal political activity consist of

answer

voting in elections

question

African American voters were disqualified from voting as a result of

answer

literacy test, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses

question

Manipulating legislative district lines to favor a political party or group is referred to as

answer

gerrymandering

question

In Texas, the responsibility of redistricting rest with the

answer

state legislature

question

Compared to the rest of the county, voter turnout in Texas is

answer

lower than the national average

question

Low voter turnout in Texas is attributed to all of the following except

answer

the repeal of laws that expanded suffrage

question

In order to be qualified to vote in Texas, one must meet all of the following qualification except be

answer

a two-year resident of the state

question

voting process in Texas is

answer

Texas uses permanent voter registration system, eligible voters may register by mail, and Texas mails a voters registration card to voters

question

Preparing the official ballot for general elections is done by the county

answer

clerk or elections administrator

question

A primary system in which voters must pre-register their party affiliation is referred to as a(n)

answer

closed primary

question

Primaries have been possible in Texas since the Terrell Election Law of

answer

1905

question

Texas primary elections are, by law, classified as

answer

closed primaries, where voters declare party membership by voting in the party's primary

question

The practice of many Texans of voting in the Democratic primary and then voting Republican at the general election is called

answer

crossover voting

question

Under current law, the first primary election in Texas is held on the

answer

first Tuesday in March of even-numbered years

question

The date of general elections in Texas is the

answer

Tuesday following the first Monday in November of even-numbered years

question

The number of senators in Texas Legislature is

answer

31

question

The Texas House of Representatives consists of ___ members.

answer

150

question

The terms of office for members of the Texas legislature are

answer

Senate, four years; House of Representative, two year; no term-limit

question

Regular sessions of the Texas legislature meet for

answer

140 days, in odd-numbered years

question

Redistricting may be politically difficult for a legislator primarily because it may

answer

take away previous voter support

question

To enact a law applying to the city of Temple, the Texas legislature would pass a

answer

local bill

question

A bill submitted to the senate at the same time as in the house is referred to as a

answer

companion bill

question

On its first reading in the House of Rep a bill is then

answer

referred to the appropriate committee

question

An organization that works with government officials for the purpose of influencing public policy is referred to as a(n)

answer

interest group

question

Interest groups try to influence public policy by

answer

lobbying government officials regardless of party affiliation

question

Which of the following would NOT be a goal of an interest group

answer

getting it members elected to public office

question

Any organization is considered an interest group when it

answer

seeks influence a governmental policy decision

question

which occupational group is least likely to have a large representation in an interest group?

answer

Receptionist

question

Which of the following techniques do interest groups use to influence policy decisions?

answer

lobbying, campaign financing, providing favors and gifts

question

In recent years, registered lobbyists in Texas have

answer

Increased to over 1,800

question

Ethics laws prohibit a candidate or official from receiving a contribution inside

answer

the Texas state capitol building

question

In the House and Senate, ills are most likely to be debated and perhaps amended

answer

On the second reading

question

A representative seeking help in drafting a bill would probably turn to the

answer

Texas Legislative Council

question

The governor of Texas is constitutionally allowed to serve

answer

unlimited terms

question

The governor of Texas may be removed from office through a precedure known as

answer

impeachment

question

Unlike the President, the Texas governor may influence state spending by use of their

answer

line-item veto

question

When the governor promises not to deny funding for legislator's pet project, in exchange for support of a governor's bill, it is referred to as

answer

pork-barrel politics

question

The strongest legislative power of the governor is his

answer

veto authority

question

Through 2005, which governor had vetoed the largest number of bills?

answer

Rick Perry

question

Which of the following officials primarily serves legislative functions?

answer

Lieutenant Governor

question

Rendering opinions on law and serving as the state's representative in civil cases is the

answer

Texas Attorney General

question

Promiting consistency in accounting across state agencies is the job of the Texas

answer

Comptroller of Public Accounts

question

The state official for elections and voter registration is the

answer

Secretary of State

question

Fragmentation of the Texas executive branch into independent agencies was done by various legislatures to

answer

Avoid the issue of power becoming too centralized

question

How many state agencies in Texas are substantially independent from the governor?

answer

Around 200

question

The mission of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is to

answer

recommend the merging, abolition, or continuation of state agencies

question

State agencies are occasionally reorganized, merged, or abolished under a process called

answer

sunset review

question

"Red Tape" contributes to the image of most bureaucracies as

answer

inefficient

question

The largest single employers in Texas is

answer

the state of Texas

question

Decisions by local school boards and superintendents are primarily shaped by

answer

state rules

question

One of the most contentious issues facing the State Board of Education in recent years has been

answer

review of textbooks

question

The Texas Commissioner of Education gets into office as a result of an appointment by the

answer

Texas governor, with confirmation by the Texas senate

question

The Texas Education Agency is headed by the

answer

commissioner of education

question

The two "flagship" state universities in Texas are

answer

The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University -College Station

question

The Health and Human Services Commission in Texas administers are the following except

answer

Social Security Benefits

question

The Lone Star Card is used by a recipient of public assistance

answer

to obtain food items in a grocery store

question

The state-federal program that provides direct cash payments to poor children and their familes is

answer

TANF

question

The purpose of the payroll tax collected by the Texas Workfore Commission is to

answer

provide unemployment compensation

question

Probably the most important duty of the Texas Railroad Commission from the standpoint of the rest of

answer

regulation the production of oil and natural gas

question

Electric providers in Texas are regulated by the

answer

Public Utilities Commission

question

Elimination of government restrictions and allowing free market forces to prevail is called

answer

deregulation

question

The ability of the Public Utilities Commission to regulate communication in Texas is somewhat

answer

policies of the national government

question

The Texas Dept of Transportation (TXDOT) has constructed and maintains more than __________ miles of road and highways

answer

80,000

question

Tourism is the ________ largest industry in the Lone State State

answer

Third

question

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

answer

enforces state and some federal air and water quality standards

question

Because of its growing population, industry, and irrigation-based agriculture, Texas faces serious shortage of

answer

Water

question

Texas leads the nation in which renewable energy source?

answer

Wind

question

Under the "rule of capture," underground water is controlled by

answer

individual landowners

question

Which scientific development has shown that some persons sentenced to death actually did not commit the crime?

answer

DNA Testing

question

Disputes concerning business contracts, divorce, family matters and personal injury involve

answer

Civil law

question

The term misdemeanor refers to a

answer

crime less serious than a felony

question

A court that has specific authority to decide a particular type of case has

answer

exclusive jurisdiction

question

A party to a civil case who was dissatisfied with the outcome in the trial court could next proceed to a court with

answer

appellate jurisdiction

question

Justices of the peace in Texas have jurisdiction over all the following, except

answer

divorces

question

The term court of record means that the

answer

transcript of court proceeding is made by a stenographer

question

The type of case appealed directly to the Texas Court of Ciminal Appeals is that of a

answer

capital felony conviction with imposed death sentence

question

Which of the following courts lack criminal jurisdiction?

answer

Texas Supreme Court

question

In Texas, nearly all judges are chosen by a

answer

partisan election

question

A Citizen who believes an attorney has behaved unethically while representing him or her should file a complaint with the

answer

Commission on Judicial Conduct

question

The State Bar of Texas performs all the following functions

answer

provide continuing legal education, discipline, suspended or disbar attorney, and promte high standards of ethical conduct

question

Grand Juries in Texas are composed of __ members

answer

twelve

question

Indictment are prepared in grand jury proceeding if at least _____ members decided that there is enough evidence to warrant a trail

answer

Nine

question

The process by which attorneys question potential jurors is called

answer

voir dire

question

The term plaintiff refers to the person who

answer

initiates a civil suit

question

The minimum sentence for a capital felony is

answer

life without parole

question

Another name for the state's Economic Stabilization Fund is the

answer

"rainy day" fund

question

Taxes that are a greater burden on lower incomes and less so on higher incomes are known as

answer

regressive taxes

question

Taxes that rely more heavily on revenues from higher incomes are known as

answer

progressive taxes

question

Which group of Texans pay the most in taxes proportional to their income?

answer

Poorest 20 %

question

The "pay-as-you-go" system means that the Texas Legislater must

answer

not pass a deficit budget

question

Sin Taxes

answer

alcohol, mixed drinks, and tobacco

question

In Texas, projected revenue levels are provided to the governor and legislature by the

answer

State Comptroller of Public Account

question

Under the Robin Hood Plan, Chapter 41 school is a identified as a

answer

Wealthy school required to help support a poor school

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