Texas Gov (Exam 2) Ch. 3-5 – Flashcards
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What is the main advantage that a home-rule city has over a general-law city?
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Greater flexibility in its organization and operation
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What form of government influences the daily lives of citizens the most?
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Municipal government
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What is an initiative?
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A proposed law arising from a citizen petition.
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In Texas home-rule cities, which form of municipal structure prevails?
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Council-manager form
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Is a mayor with power to veto council actions a characteristic of the council-manager form of government?
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NO
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What is the role of political parties in Texas municipal elections?
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Political parties have no formal involvement in these nonpartisan elections
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Historically, at-large elections in Texas cities have resulted in what?
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Less diversity of representation
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What are the two largest tax sources for Texas municipalities?
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Sales tax and property tax
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Under the Texas Constitution, what local governments are administrative arms of the state?
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Counties
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How many counties are there in Texas?
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254
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N/A
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N/A
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Which county official has both administrative and judicial responsibilities?
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County judge
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Who is responsible for keeping the peace in each county?
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County sheriff
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Which county official is responsible for collecting vehicle registration fees and registering voters?
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County tax assessor-collector
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Which county official is responsible for record-keeping and conducting elections?
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County clerk
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Are congressional districts considered special districts?
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No/ Is not
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What segment of Texas higher education receives support from property taxes?
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Junior and community collges
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Define political party
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An organization of individuals/ Interested in controlling government/ By winning elections
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In Texas, what are the two leading political parties?
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Democratic and Republicans
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When is a general election held?
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November of even-numbered years
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The American political party system consists of what levels?
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National, state, county, and precinct levels.
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When are the primary elections in Texas usually held?
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March of even-numbered years
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What is the lowest level of the temporary party organizations in Texas?
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Precinct conventions
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Who is nominated at a party's precinct convention?
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Delegates to the county convention
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Describe the usual attendance level at precinct conventions in Texas.
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Lightly or sparsely attended
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Where are the resolutions adopted at the precinct convention submitted first?
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County or district convention
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What is the main business of county and district conventions?
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Select delegates to the state convention
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What happens at the party state convention during presidential election years only?
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Select potential presidential electors.
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The number of electoral voters each state receives is equal to what?
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The number of seats each state has in Congress.
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As mandated by Texas state law, how much each party's state executive committee be comprised?
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Be composed equally of men and women
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Concerning the "left-right" political divide in Texas, what term would most likely describe a politician that is generally opposed to government-managed or government-subsidized programs?
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Conserative
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Since the 1930's what terms have meant more to many Texas voters than the names of political parties?
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Liberal and Conservative
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The history of the Texas political party system has tended toward what?
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Texas being a one-party state
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After Reconstruction, what political party dominated in Texas for more than 100 years?
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Democratic
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What Texas governor was successful at the Republican Party's candidate for President in 2000?
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George Bush
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In what case did the Supreme Court overturn a ban on unlimited independent expenditures made by corporations, unions, and nonprofit organizations in federal elections?
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In Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission (2010)
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What did Raza Unida lose political effectiveness?
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because The Texas Democratic Party has adopted issues appealing to Hispanic voters
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What percent of Texas's African Americans citizens say that they are Democrats?
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80%
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For most Texans, their principal political activity consists of what?
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Voting in elections
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What is gerrymandering?
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Manipulating legislative district lines to favor a political party or group.
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In Texas, who has the responsibility or redistricting?
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State legislature
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What was the purpose of the so called "motor-voter law"
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To expand the voting registering process
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Compared to the rest of the country, voter turnout in Texas is higher or lower than the national average?
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Lower
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Of the various socioeconomic factors that influence voter turnout, what is considered the strongest?
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Education
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What is the purpose of primary election?
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To select candidates to run for public office
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What size vote is necessary for a candidate to win a general election?
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Plurality
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