question

What is the most important communication tool during a campaign?

answer

Television Ads

question

According to studies, negative commercials...

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Draw voter preference away from the candidate being attacked

question

Organizations created to collect and distribute contributions to political campaigns are referred to as...

answer

Political Action Committees

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What is false about the Campaign reform act of 2002?

answer

It applies to candidates running for a seat in the Texas legislature.

question

In which case did the Supreme Court overturn a ban on unlimited independent expenditures made by corporations, unions, and nonprofit organizations in federal elections?

answer

Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission (2010)

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Are there disclosure requirements on candidates given by the campaign finance regulations for state offices?

answer

Yes

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As a percentage, Texas' Latino population is...

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More than half of the state's total population

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The Raza Unida Party was founded by several Latino leaders including...

answer

Jose Angel Guiterrez

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What is most likely the reason that the Raza Unida did not continue to be politically effective?

answer

The Texas Democratic Party has adopted issues appealing to Hispanic voters

question

The Latino community showed its political strength in May of 2010 by...

answer

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

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

answer

80%

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For most Texans, their principal political activity consists of...

answer

Voting in elections

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The ability of almost all citizens 18 years of age and older to vote is referred to as...

answer

Universal suffrage

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Literacy tests were implemented to ensure that...

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Minorities could not vote

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Which amendments to the United States Constitution were intended to prevent denial of the right to vote for African Americans?

answer

Fourteenth and Fifteenth

question

In the United States Supreme Court case of Guinn vs. United States (1915), the court ruled that

answer

The grandfather clause was illegal

question

Which United States amendment prevents states from requiring payment of a poll tax as a condition for voting?

answer

24th amendment

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A device used in Texas to prevent many lower-income persons and blacks from voting during much of the twentieth century was the

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Poll Tax

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During the first half of the twentieth century, large numbers of African American voters were disqualified from voting as a result of...

answer

Literacy tests, poll taxes and grandfather clauses.

question

Texas employed what methods at one time or another during the twentieth century to deny the vote to large groups of people?

answer

Literacy tests, poll taxes and white primaries

question

The case of Smith vs. Allwright overturned the

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White only primary election in Texas

question

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

answer

gerrymandering

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In which case did the Supreme court disallow racial gerrymandering?

answer

Shaw vs. Reno (1993)

question

The case of Shaw vs. Reno (1993) prohibited

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Racial gerrymandering to favor ethnic minorities

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In Texas, the responsibility of redistricting lies with the

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State legislature

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A political district from which two or more representatives are elected is

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Called an at-large majority district

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The Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its subsequent amendments were aimed primarily at increasing political participation among...

answer

Ethnic minorities

question

The amendment of the United States Constitution that prohibited the states from denying the vote due to race was the...

answer

Fifteenth amendment

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Amendments to the federal constitution which broadened the franchise were....

answer

the fifteenth, nineteenth and twenty sixth amendments

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The primary purpose of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 was to...

answer

require states to make voter registration available at welfare and driver licensing offices

question

The purpose of the 'motor-voter' law was to...

answer

Expand the voting registration policy

question

Compared to the rest of the country, voter turnout in Texas is...

answer

Lower than the national average

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Low voter turnout in Texas is attributed to...

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Voter fatigue from too many elections, negative campaigning by candidates and lack of information about candidates

question

Of the various socioeconomic factors that influence voter turnout, which is considered the strongest?

answer

Education

question

Some of the key factors that affect voter turnout include education, gender and

answer

regular income, age and ethnicity

question

In order to be qualified to vote in Texas, one must meet qualifications. What is not one of these qualification?

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Resident of the state for two years (the qualification says 30 days)

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A Texas citizen's status as a registered voter is suspended if he...

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Changes his permanent address to another county and fails to notify the voting registrar within three years of loses his eligibility to vote in some other way

question

What is not one of the aspects of the Texas voting process?

answer

Voters must pay an annual poll tax

question

Early or absentee voting in Texas for general elections begins how many days prior to the actual date of the election?

answer

17 days

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The color of the voter registration certificates is determined by the...

answer

Texas Secretary of State

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Under what circumstances is a registered voter allowed to vote early voting in Texas?

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Being out of the county on election day

question

The basic geographic area for conducting national, state, district and county elections is called the...

answer

voting precinct

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Voting precincts in the 254 Texas counties are drawn by...

answer

The county commissioner's courts

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

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Clerk or elections administrator

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In Texas, the decision of which type of voting system will be used in a county is made by the...

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County Commissioners Court

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A major requirement of the Voting Rights Act of 1975 is that ballots must be

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bilingual

question

An election in which party members choose a candidate to run for office in a general election is a...

answer

primary election

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What best describes the purpose of a primary election?

answer

Nominating candidates to run for office

question

In order to obtain a primary nomination in Texas, a candidate must receive what part of the popular vote?

answer

An absolute majority

question

A primary system in which voters must preregister their party affiliation is referred to as...

answer

a 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

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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

Arranging for voting places, preparing election materials, and canvassing the vote in the Dallas County Republican primary of 2004 was handled by...

answer

Dallas County Republican executive committee

question

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

answer

First Tuesday in March of even-numbered years

question

Political parties in Texas are required to conduct primaries if...

answer

they received 20% or more of the votes in the most recent gubernatorial election

question

The cost of primary elections in Texas is paid for by...

answer

Filing fees charged to candidates, subsidized by state funds

question

The date of general elections in Texas is the

answer

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

question

The size of the vote necessary for a candidate to win a general election is

answer

plurality

question

The term 'midterm election' refers to those

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General elections held in non-presidential election years

question

The size of the vote necessary to win a special election in Texas is a

answer

simple majority

question

A vacancy in what office position is not filled by a special election?

answer

Texas governor or lieutenant governor

question

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

answer

An interest group

question

Interest groups try to influence public policy by

answer

Lobbying government officials regardless of political affiliation

question

An organization of individuals with similar views that tries to influence government to respond favorable to its views is called

answer

An interest group

question

The principal purpose of political party activity is to

answer

Gain control of government by winning elections and thus achieve party goals

question

What is not a goal of an interest group?

answer

Getting it's members elected to public office

question

An interest group has as its primary objective the...

answer

influencing of government to respond to the group's objectives

question

Any organization is considered an interest group when it

answer

Seeks to influence a governmental policy decision

question

In the case of NAACP vs. Alabama (1958), the Supreme Court...

answer

Recognized the right of association as part of the First Amendment

question

Which Constitutional right is the foundation of the right to form and participate in interest groups?

answer

Right of association

question

The primary objective of an interest group is to promote

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The particular interests of its own members

question

Our federal system of government encourages interest groups to

answer

Be more inclined to form coalitions with other groups

question

The United States achieves a decentralized governing structure through

answer

Federalism and separation of powers

question

The decentralized structure of Texas policies and governance_____ the ability of interest groups to influence public policy

answer

Increases

question

Texas is among a group of states that has strong____ and weak _____.

answer

Strong interest groups and weak political parties.

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What occupational group is least likely to have large representation in an interest group: lawyers, accountants, physicians, receptionists?

answer

Receptionists

question

What is not true about interest group leadership?

answer

Most interest group members can afford to devote time to interest group activities

question

Most political interest groups represent

answer

Professional and managerial occupations

question

The Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce is an example of

answer

An umbrella organization

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Which of the following goals would a business organization be least likely to pursue?

answer

Increased safety and environmental standards

question

Who would be most supportive of the Texas right to work law?

answer

Labor groups

question

Which of the following interest groups would be an example of a professional group in Texas?

answer

Texas Trial Lawyers Association

question

Which of the following would a government employee interest group be least likely to pursue: Higher wages, better retirement, increased health care, decreased levels of government spending?

answer

Decreased levels of government spending

question

An example of a professional organization is the

answer

Texas Health Care association

question

In 1999, Texas became the first state to allow

answer

Doctors to collectively bargain with health maintenance organizations

question

Among state government employee interest groups, which is the largest?

answer

Texas Public Employees Association

question

Which organization would most likely mount a vigorous campaign to oppose a reduction in the staffing levels of the Texas Rehab Commission?

answer

Texas Public Employees Association

question

Ethnic minorities have found that their most successful political strategy has been to...

answer

Organize into political interest groups

question

A social interest group would not be involved in an issue concerning...

answer

Highway Funding

question

Social interest groups exist to address which of the following issues: Race, Gender, Religion, All?

answer

All of the Above

question

What would the Christian Coalition most likely not oppose?

answer

Abolishing religious invocations prior to legislative sessions

question

Common Cause of Texas is an example of

answer

A public interest group

question

Which of the following techniques do interest groups use to influence policy decisions: lobbying, campaign financing, providing favors and gifts, All?

answer

All of the above

question

The definition of a lobbyist is an individual who

answer

Attempts to influence the decision-making of lawmakers

question

What activities are interest groups most involved in?

answer

Electioneering

question

An individual seeking a favorable decision from government is most likely to succeed if he or she

answer

Works with a group having similar goals

question

In recent years, registered lobbyists in Texas have

answer

Increased to over 1800

question

Studies of lobbying in Texas indicate that the most commonly employed strategy of influencing legislation is...

answer

Providing the legislator with relevant information

question

A major benefit of interest groups to political officeholders is...

answer

they provide information and expertise

question

The political term grassroots refers to activity that

answer

Begins locally and spreaders to broader areas

question

A major result of grassroots activity by interest groups is that is

answer

Creates the appearance of public support for the group's program

question

Actively campaigning in support of candidates to office by an interest group is called

answer

electioneering

question

In electioneering, an interest group would be unlikely to...

answer

allow favored candidates to speak

question

Typically, in order to get people to the polls, what is employed?

answer

Mail-outs, telephone calls, door to door solicitation, and transportation to the polls

question

The device by which a corporation may contribute money to a political candidate is

answer

Through a political action committee

question

In Texas, corporations and labor unions may provide campaign contributions...

answer

through Political Action Committees

question

What is true about campaign finances for a candidate running for a seat in the Texas legislature?

answer

There is no limit on how much a PAC may contribute directly to a campaign

question

Following the Sharpstown Bank scandal, the Texas legislature...

answer

Prohibited speaker candidates from giving anything of value to supporters in the House

question

An interest group technique that is unethical would be..

answer

utilizing bribery

question

Which Texas House speaker was not the subject of an inquiry about potentially improper practices with regard to interest groups?

answer

Pete Laney

question

Texas Law prohibits a speaker candidate from giving money to...

answer

fellow house members

question

The details of political contributions and expenditures of candidates must be filed with the Texas Ethics commission....

answer

Between 2 and 7 times each year

question

The Texas Ethics Act of 1991 prohibited

answer

Lobbyists from spending more than $500 in entertainment expenses per legislator

question

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

answer

the Texas capitol building

question

In response to big spending by lobbyists, Texas voters in 1991 approved a constitutional amendment to create the eight member...

answer

Texas Ethics Commission

question

Members of the Texas Ethics commission are selected by

answer

Texas Governor

question

Texas state law requires all of the following except: Limits on campaign contributions, disclosure requirements for lawmakers and lobbyists, prohibition of honorarium, disclosure of any gift over $250?

answer

Limits on campaign contributions

question

Political races are most likely to be altered at the last minute as a result of

answer

last minute contributions from interest groups

question

An interest group with substantial financial resources, sizable membership, unity and a competent leader...

answer

should have success in getting its policy preferences honored

question

An interest group would be in a good position to achieve its goals if...

answer

It was well represented within government

question

The system of politics in Texas can be described as one with

answer

Weak parties and strong interest groups

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