Political Science Test 4 – Flashcards
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Traditionalistic political cultrures, according to Daniel Elazar, are typically found in the
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South
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Which of the following is the best description of Texas political culture
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Texas has mulitple political cultures within its borders
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Which of the following does not reflect one of the historic characteristics that make up Texas Political culture?
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The strong role of labor unions
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Which of the following has traditionally dominated the political culture of Texas?
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business interests
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Houston is found in the Texas
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Gulf Coastal Plains
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Which city is located in the Great plains of Texas?
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Lubbock
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The term creative destruction refers to the process by which
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the capitalist system undergoes periodic waves of transformation caused by new technologies
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Which of the following technological breakthroughs did not help stimulate the cotton industry?
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refrigerated storage units
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Which of the following did not contribute to the spread of cattle ranching in the 19th century?
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the anti grazing position of farm unions
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When in Texas History did cattle become big business?
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After the Civil War
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By 2008, approx. what % of Texans lived on farms or ranches?
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2%
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Which event occurred at Spindletop, Tx?
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Oil was discovered
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_____ was the chief economic product of Texas during the early 20th century
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oil
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The regulation of oil and energy in TX is performed by
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The texas railroad commission
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Currently, Texas's greatest export is
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computers and electronics
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What year was the NAFTA agreement signed?
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1992
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Appeox. what % of the current population of Texas is Hispanic?
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35%
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Which of the following contributed most to the increase in the population of Texas during 2006?
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natural increases of births, in proportion to deaths
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Which city in Texas currently has the largest population?
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Houston
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The supremacy clasue of the US Constitution states that
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laws passed by the national are supreme over all state laws
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Which of the following is not a similarity between the US const. and the Texas Const?
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Both const. have a clause providing the legislature with the authority to make all laws necessary and proper to carrying out its expressed powers.
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What is the most important difference between the US const. and the state constitutions?
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states are subordinate to the federal government
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Which of the following is the best definition of a confederation
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a system of government in which states maintain their sovereignty
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THe majority of delegates of the Convention of 1836 that drafted the constitution for a newly independent Republic of Texas were from
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Slave-owning southern states
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Under the 1836 Republic of Texas Constitution
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Congress was bicameral
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Texas became an independent republic in ___ and became part of the US in ____
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1836;1845
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Which of the following was not part of the annexation agreement between Texas and the US
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Texas could not maintain its own army and navy for 25 years
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The Texas constitutional convention of 1861 was dominated by
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lawyers and slaveholders
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Which of the following statements about the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1865 was not true?
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Texas had to return to the federal government parts of Oklahoma seized by Texas Confederate soldiers
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The Texas Constitution of 1869 was created
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by members of the Texas Republican Party
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which of the following was not a goal for those writing the Texas Const.?
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giving independence to the judiciary by making all judges appointed; instead of elected
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Which principle of government is the key to understanding the drafting of the Texas Const. of 1876
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the necessity of strong limitations on the authority of state officals
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What is the major difference between the bill of rights in the Texas constitution and the US bill of rights
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the texas constitution grants to Texans rights that are not found in the US Constitution
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WHich of the following describes a significant diff between the structure of the Texas executive department and the structure of the US exec branch?
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in Texas,the exec department is made up of several elected offices, instead of just one
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Which of the following statements best describes the structure of the Texas legislature
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since independence from Mexico, Texas has had a bicameral legislature
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Under the Texas constitution, who has the power of impeachment
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The HOuse of Rep has the power to impeach while the senate has the power to try and convict
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Philosophically the Texas constitution reflects a
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distrust of politicians and political power
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What is the function of the "local and consent" calendar
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It is reserved for uncontroversial bills that are not expected to have major opposition
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What is the yearly salary of a Texas Rep?
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less than $7500
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The agenda for special sessions in the Texas legislature are set by the
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governor
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What is the main difference between a bill and a resolution?
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unlike a bill, a resolution, if passed, lacks the force of a public law
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A bill in the Texas legislature that would allow a county to establish a new community college would be classified as a
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local bill
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if the legislature grants a particular corporation an exception from a state law, it is called
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a special bill
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Which of the following is not a non legislative power of the Texas legislature
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the power to overturn state supreme court decisions with a 2/3 majority
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Which of the following statements about the Texas legislature is incorrect?
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only the senate has the constitutional authority to launch investigations into problems concerning the state
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In texas, who can write a bill?
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anyone at all
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IN texas, why is a governors post-adjournment veto so powerful
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it cannot be overturned by the legislature
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Which of the following is not a legislative power of the Texas governor?
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removing, for suitable cause, the speaker or lieutenant governor?
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Why is the comptroller of public accounts so important to the legislature?
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the comptroller informs the legislature how much money it has to spend on the budgets
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IN the texas house of rep, who has the power to allow members to speak in floor debates?
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speaker of the house
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Which of the following is neither a duty nor a power of the lieutenant governor in Texas?
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the ability to call the Texas Senate into special session
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Legislative districts in the Texas House and Senate are
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single member districts
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Which of the following is not a qualification a person would need to be a viable candidate for governor of Texas?
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Born in texas
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What is the ultimate check on the governor?
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impeachment
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What is the most important funcion on the Texas governors staff?
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to keep the governor informed about problems and issues
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Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governors exercise of senatorial courtesy?
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the governor will not appoint someone to office unless that appointee's state senator agrees
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Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor's military powers?
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the governor can declare martial law during a natural disaster
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The Texas governor has all of the following legislative powers except the power to
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break tie votes in the senate
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What is the Texas governors greatest judicial power?
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the power to appoint judges to vacancies on the courts
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When the texas governors strikes out particular spending provisions in an appropriations bill, it is called
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a line item veto
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What makes the greatest difference between strong and weak governors of Texas
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the differences in personality
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Why did the Texas constitution establish a plural executive?
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there was suspicion of a strong chief executive
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IN Texas, which officer in the plural executive is not elected by voters
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the secretary of state
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Which of the following about the lieutenant governor in Texas is incorrect
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the lieutenant governor is a full member of the Texas Senate
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In Texas what is the most important power of the state comptroller
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estimating tax revenues for the legislature
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Which office is charged with ensuring the accuracy of official weights and measures
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the Department of Agriculture
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Authority over railroads throughout Texas was given to the ____ in 2005
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Texas department of Transportation
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The Texas state board of Education is responsible for all of the following except
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funding public school districts
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What is the purpose of the Sunset Advisory Commission in Texas
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it reviews state agencies every 12 years to see if they are still needed
