Texas Gov (Exam 2) Ch. 3-5 – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
What is Dillon's rule?
answer
A local government should only have those powers expressly granted by the state.
question
What is the minimum population requirement in Texas for becoming a city?
answer
201
question
Texas communities with a population of less than 5,000 may become what kind of city?
answer
General-law city
question
Texas communities with a population over 5,000 may become what kind of city?
answer
Home-rule city
question
What is the main advantage that a home-rule city has over a general-law city?
answer
Greater flexibility in its organization and operation
question
What form of government influences the daily lives of citizens the most?
answer
Municipal government
question
What is an initiative?
answer
A proposed law arising from a citizen petition.
question
In Texas home-rule cities, which form of municipal structure prevails?
answer
Council-manager form
question
Is a mayor with power to veto council actions a characteristic of the council-manager form of government?
answer
NO
question
What is the role of political parties in Texas municipal elections?
answer
Political parties have no formal involvement in these nonpartisan elections
question
Historically, at-large elections in Texas cities have resulted in what?
answer
Less diversity of representation
question
What are the two largest tax sources for Texas municipalities?
answer
Sales tax and property tax
question
Under the Texas Constitution, what local governments are administrative arms of the state?
answer
Counties
question
How many counties are there in Texas?
answer
254
question
N/A
answer
N/A
question
Which county official has both administrative and judicial responsibilities?
answer
County judge
question
Who is responsible for keeping the peace in each county?
answer
County sheriff
question
Which county official is responsible for collecting vehicle registration fees and registering voters?
answer
County tax assessor-collector
question
Which county official is responsible for record-keeping and conducting elections?
answer
County clerk
question
Are congressional districts considered special districts?
answer
No/ Is not
question
What segment of Texas higher education receives support from property taxes?
answer
Junior and community collges
question
Define political party
answer
An organization of individuals/ Interested in controlling government/ By winning elections
question
In Texas, what are the two leading political parties?
answer
Democratic and Republicans
question
When is a general election held?
answer
November of even-numbered years
question
The American political party system consists of what levels?
answer
National, state, county, and precinct levels.
question
When are the primary elections in Texas usually held?
answer
March of even-numbered years
question
What is the lowest level of the temporary party organizations in Texas?
answer
Precinct conventions
question
Who is nominated at a party's precinct convention?
answer
Delegates to the county convention
question
Describe the usual attendance level at precinct conventions in Texas.
answer
Lightly or sparsely attended
question
Where are the resolutions adopted at the precinct convention submitted first?
answer
County or district convention
question
What is the main business of county and district conventions?
answer
Select delegates to the state convention
question
What happens at the party state convention during presidential election years only?
answer
Select potential presidential electors.
question
The number of electoral voters each state receives is equal to what?
answer
The number of seats each state has in Congress.
question
As mandated by Texas state law, how much each party's state executive committee be comprised?
answer
Be composed equally of men and women
question
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?
answer
Conserative
question
Since the 1930's what terms have meant more to many Texas voters than the names of political parties?
answer
Liberal and Conservative
question
The history of the Texas political party system has tended toward what?
answer
Texas being a one-party state
question
After Reconstruction, what political party dominated in Texas for more than 100 years?
answer
Democratic
question
What Texas governor was successful at the Republican Party's candidate for President in 2000?
answer
George Bush
question
In what case did the Supreme Court overturn a ban on unlimited independent expenditures made by corporations, unions, and nonprofit organizations in federal elections?
answer
In Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission (2010)
question
What did Raza Unida lose political effectiveness?
answer
because The Texas Democratic Party has adopted issues appealing to Hispanic voters
question
What percent of Texas's African Americans citizens say that they are Democrats?
answer
80%
question
For most Texans, their principal political activity consists of what?
answer
Voting in elections
question
What is gerrymandering?
answer
Manipulating legislative district lines to favor a political party or group.
question
In Texas, who has the responsibility or redistricting?
answer
State legislature
question
What was the purpose of the so called "motor-voter law"
answer
To expand the voting registering process
question
Compared to the rest of the country, voter turnout in Texas is higher or lower than the national average?
answer
Lower
question
Of the various socioeconomic factors that influence voter turnout, what is considered the strongest?
answer
Education
question
What is the purpose of primary election?
answer
To select candidates to run for public office
question
What size vote is necessary for a candidate to win a general election?
answer
Plurality
