Texas Gov 1-14 Final Exam
In the Texas legislature, the House has ________ members and the Senate has ________ members.
150; 31
The Latino movement known as La Raza Unida occurred during the
1960s
Based on a 2017 Gallup poll, ____________ of Texans identified as being Republican or leaning Republican, while _______________ of Texans identified as being Democratic or leaning Democratic.
41 percent; 38 percent
While the governor's term in office used to be 2 years, it was changed to _____ years with a constitutional amendment adopted in _________.
4; 1972
Texas ranks ________ in the nation in voter participation.
50th
Texas has operated under how many constitutions?
7
In Texas, plea bargains are used to get convictions approximately ___________ of the time.
97 percent
Since the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, the Border region, including El Paso, McAllen, and Brownsville, has remained politically a ________ bastion.
Democratic Party
Which of the following is an example of states serving as "laboratories of democracy"?
Different states having different policies and regulations regarding things like the processes and procedures required to get a marriage license.
In which 1989 court case did the Texas Supreme Court unanimously declare that the huge disparities between rich and poor school districts were unacceptable and order changes in the financing of Texas's public schools?
Edgewood v. Kirby
Which of the following is found in the Texas Constitution, but not in the U.S. Constitution?
Equal Rights Amendment
According to the Texas Constitution, only the Texas legislature is permitted to borrow money using capital appreciation bonds.
False
All major statewide elected offices have been controlled by Republicans since 1988
False
Candidates running under a party label are bound and required to support everything in the party platform.
False
Compared to other states, Texas has some of the strictest laws dealing with lobbying from former government officials.
False
County civil courts are responsible for commitment of individuals to mental institutions and guardianship of those who are unable to handle their own affairs.
False
Drilling and fracking led to a new boom era of oil and gas production in Texas that lasted from 1973 through 2006.
False
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Texas was a competitive, two-party state.
False
Early voting was adopted in Texas to increase the chances of Republican candidates being elected to office.
False
In Texas, special purpose districts are run by a board of trustees appointed by the governor.
False
In Texas, the lieutenant governor runs on a joint ticket with the governor, and is therefore not a "full" member of the plural executive.
False
Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan.
False
Lawyers often take cases using contingent fee agreements in criminal cases.
False
Like the U.S. president, the governor of Texas can kill a bill by refusing to sign it.
False
Local issues are always ideological in nature.
False
Most Texans are actively engaged in what goes on in their neighborhoods and communities.
False
New Federalism often used categorical grants to help states fund programs.
False
Political culture is static and does not change.
False
Regulations for most of your day-to-day life including birth, death, marriage, and divorce are spelled out in federal law.
False
Special elections are used to ratify amendments to the Texas Constitution, fill vacancies in offices, set the dates for legislative sessions, and to allow the state to borrow money.
False
Texans tend to vote at higher rates than the national average.
False
The "Civil War Amendments" settled the question of whether or not secession of states from the United States is permissible in the future.
False
The Great Recession hit Texas particularly hard, with Texas being one of the first states to enter and one of the last to exit.
False
The Nullification Crisis of 1833 was caused by South Carolina's attempt to ignore key provisions of the New Deal.
False
The U.S. Supreme Court in Texas v. White et al. (1869) ruled that Texas did secede from the union.
False
The county commissioners' court has original jurisdiction for cases involving violation of county laws.
False
The incumbency disadvantage leads interest groups to work more with challengers, seeing them as a better investment of limited resources.
False
The redistricting process only impacts the districts for the U.S. House of Representatives.
False
There are no limitations or restrictions on when the governor can use the line-item veto.
False
In the Senate, the Speaker controls legislative debate by selecting who speaks and how long the debate will last.
Flase
In the post-Civil War era, the only parts of Texas that showed significant Republican leanings were
German counties in the Texas Hill Country.
Suppose you wanted to create a method of redistricting that would make races for the Texas legislature more competitive. Which plan would you recommend be enacted to do so?
Give the redistricting process to a non-partisan commission.
When would a judge have to run in a retention election?
In a system using merit selection of judges, after a set period of time the judge would have to run in a retention election to see if the voters think that judge is doing a good job and deserves to stay in office.
Who argued in Federalist 10 that "factions" would play an important role in American politics?
James Madison
The fastest-growing demographic group in Texas is ________, the majority of whom vote ________.
Latino; Democratic
Which of the following is a consequence of Texas having a part-time legislature?
Legislators have small staffs, and therefore rely on lobbyists to explain the details of a bill, such as how it may benefit their districts.
Which city is located in the Great Plains region of Texas?
Lubbock
As the number one importer of exports from Texas, which country has the most to lose from tighter restrictions on the border?
Mexico
Which event occurred at Spindletop, Texas?
Oil was discovered.
After the Civil War, much of the area that had been part of the former Confederacy was under military occupation. This period is known as
Reconstruction
Which court case in 2013 struck down the formula for determining the states covered under the Section 5 preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
Shelby County v. Holder
Which 1869 Supreme Court case resolved the debate over whether states can secede from the Union?
Texas v. White
African Americans have been elected
mayor of the three largest cities in Texas.
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) focuses on
monitoring changes in electoral law that may suppress the votes of minorities.
Where are county courts located?
mostly in rural parts of Texas
Compared to the national average, Texans tend to rank ______________ on measures that are related to civic engagement.
near the bottom
Texas officially uses which method to select state judges?
partisan election
At the most basic and fundamental level, parties are organized into _______________________.
precincts
The _______________ requirement was included in the Voting Rights Act to ensure that states that had previously restricted the political participation of minorities could not use redistricting for partisan gain and against the interest of minority groups.
preclearance
Special districts in Texas are primarily paid for by revenue generated by
property taxes and user fees
The States' Rights Party, also known as the Dixiecrats, split with the national Democratic Party over which issue?
racial integration
Texas was the first state in the South to
ratify the women's suffrage amendment.
The Texas Department of Insurance
regulates the insurance market in Texas under the guidance of an appointed commissioner who serves a two-year term.
The ____________________ is the only member of the plural executive to be appointed rather than elected to office.
secretary of state
What kind of electoral districts are used in Texas?
single-member districts
Which of the following is the most common form of local government in Texas?
special districts
Which committee is a permanent committee that covers one particular subject area?
standing
With categorical grants,
states are given money from the federal government to spend on specific issues or to solve specific problems that are determined by the federal government.
According to the __________________, the U.S. Constitution takes precedence over the Texas Constitution.
supremacy clause
What stalled Texas's admission into the United States?
that Texas would be a proslavery state
The situation in which individuals receive the benefits of collective action without contributing is known as
the "free rider problem."
Big Bend is found in what region of Texas?
the Basin and Range Province
As the chief budget officer of Texas,
the Governor submits an executive budget that outlines his or her spending priorities for the next biennium.
The regulation of oil and energy in Texas is performed by
the Texas Railroad Commission.
In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment right to "keep and bear arms" was a fundamental right and also applied at the state level. This is an example of
the incorporation of the Bill of Rights.
Who is responsible for fundraising for the party and establishing the party's policies?
the state executive committee
State constitutions are designed to perform which of the following functions?
to define the limits of power, delegate power to different institutions and individuals, and set up local governments
Which of the following was the largest PAC in Texas in the 2018 election cycle?
The Texas Association of Realtors
Which of the following is most likely to happen when a public interest group mobilizes its members to support a piece of legislation?
The interest group would have its members write or call legislators urging them to vote for the legislation.
Which of the following rules applies to the filibuster in the Texas Senate?
The senator who has control of the floor must always speak in an audible voice, so that he or she can be heard and understood.
How much can an individual donate to a campaign for a state-level, nonjudicial office, such as for governor?
There is no limit.
The Texas Constitutional Convention of 1974
was unable to reach an agreement on a proposed new constitution.
In a "first past the post" electoral system, the winner of the election is
whoever gets the plurality of the votes.
If someone has a medical permit that allows them to possess and consume marijuana in one state, why can it still be illegal for that person to possess and consume marijuana in Texas?
Under the public policy exception, states do not have to give "full faith and credit" to actions by another state if those actions are viewed as being against the policy goals of the state.
The ________ convention is a meeting held by a political party following its precinct convention for the purpose of electing delegates to its state convention.
county
The main role of the precinct conventions is to select delegates to the ________ and possibly to submit resolutions that may eventually become part of the party platform.
county convention
Constituent service can play an important role in
creating a personal relationship between legislators and constituents, and gives legislators an advantage when running for reelection.
The _________________ begins with primary elections and concludes with general elections.
electoral cycle
Under Article 7 of the Texas Constitution, the State Board of Education has responsibility for which of the following?
elementary and secondary education
While the Texas Railroad Commission was originally established to regulate railroads, in 1917 it was also given powers to do which of the following:
ensure that petroleum pipelines were common carriers and transported oil and gas produced by any company on equal terms
In Texas, what is the most important power of the state comptroller?
estimating state revenues for the legislature
In spite of judicial campaigns, voters often know little about judicial candidates. As a result, they vote
for the party label.
Texas senators serve ________-year terms and House members serve ________-year terms.
four; two
A new trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico replaced NAFTA in 2018 known as USMCA. Among its provisions are
increased protections for intellectual property.
Most interest groups tend to give campaign contributions to ______________________.
incumbents
According to Section 33 of the Texas Bill of Rights (Article 1 of the Texas Constitution), Texans are guaranteed the right to use and access public beaches. This is not a right that is protected under the U.S. Constitution. Which concept allows Texas to grant its citizens more rights than those listed in the U.S. Constitution?
independent state grounds
Which individuals are legally disqualified from voting?
individuals who have been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent
The Texas Bill of Rights is different from the U.S. Bill of Rights because
it grants rights and protections that are not found in the U.S. Bill of Rights.
One goal of the deferred retirement option plan (DROP) was to
keep Dallas police officers and firefighters working on the job instead of retiring and collecting their pension after 20 years of service.
The ____________________ is responsible for a variety of elements throughout the state, including environmental quality on public lands and waters such as the beaches on the Gulf Coast.
land commissioner
In Texas, the ____________________ is responsible for redistricting.
legislature
When we talk about American political culture, we tend to refer to which set of values?
liberty, equality, democracy
If you have a job in a "government relations" department, you are a _____________ working for a ______________.
lobbyist; corporation or company
Which of the following are employed to express the values of interest groups?
lobbyists
The chief lawyer for Texas is the
attorney general.
According to the Tenth Amendment, any powers not delegated to the national government by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states,
belong to either the people or the state.
Cities and towns in Texas often see rapid population growth. Such growth requires school districts to quickly expand. In this type of situation, school districts use __________________ to borrow the necessary funds to achieve this goal.
capital appreciation bonds (CABs)
Which of the following groups have had notable political success by litigating in federal courts?
civil rights groups
La Raza Unida Party was established in the mid-1960s in order to
confront discriminatory practices that prevented Texas Latinos from participating in mainstream political and economic life.
One major way for interest groups to promote the political interests of elected officials who support their viewpoints and oppose the interests of those who do not is by
contributing to campaigns.
Primary elections in Texas are generally held in March.
True
Public opinion polling can play an important role in creating targeted messages during campaigns.
True
San Antonio and Dallas both have council-manager forms of government.
True
Since 2010, Republicans in Congress tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) over 70 times.
True
Some blame the relatively low voter turnout for Texas elections on the frequency of elections and the large number of candidates.
True
The Constitution of 1866 was written under the provisions of President Andrew Johnson's "Presidential Reconstruction" plan.
True
The Dixiecrats led by Strom Thurmond in 1948 opposed the civil rights and pro-integration policies of President Harry S. Truman.
True
The Secretary of State in Texas works with organizations to increase the number of registered voters.
True
The Texas Constitution became a place where special interests could seek to promote and protect their own agendas.
True
The Texas Constitution explicitly discusses the role of the state in providing education at all levels, including colleges and universities.
True
The Texas Constitution forbids the legislature to borrow money to conduct the daily operations of government.
True
The U.S. Army's largest active-duty armored post is located at Fort Hood, which is also the largest single-site employer in Texas
True
The comptroller of public accounts directs the collection of taxes for the state of Texas.
True
The concept of independent state grounds allows for states to provide additional rights and guarantees for their citizens beyond those listed in the U.S. Constitution.
True
The governor makes approximately 3,000 appointments to various state posts during a single term in office.
True
The most recent attempt to rewrite the Texas Constitution was in 1974.
True
Tort law deals with civil cases where one person has been harmed by the actions of another.
True
What is the importance of the Supreme Court's decisions in Reynolds v. Sims and Baker v. Carr?
They declared the constitutional principle of "one person, one vote."
Why are Texas counties important?
They provide the main form of government in rural areas.
Who made up the Grange, and what effect did they have on the writing of the Texas Constitution of 1876?
They were an agricultural group who wanted a government that would improve the plight of farmers.
Ann Richards was the second woman to serve as governor in Texas.
True
Between 2001 and 2010, the overwhelming majority of constitutional amendments have been approved by voters.
True
By focusing on some things and not others, the media can shape the legislative agenda and what becomes public policy in Texas.
True
Civil cases use a standard of proof called preponderance of the evidence.
True
Cotton is one of the oldest crops grown in Texas
True
County governments are most important for administering rural areas throughout Texas.
True
In Texas, teachers make up an important public employee interest group.
True
In big cities in Texas, Democratic judicial candidates have recently swept out many Republican incumbents.
True
Interest groups offer incentives to join, such as selective benefits, to overcome the free rider problem.
True
Law firms cannot give more than $30,000 to any candidate for statewide juridical position.
True
Most third-party candidates in Texas are unsuccessful in their electoral bids.
True
One of the proposed changes to public pensions in Texas is to increase the required years of service to be eligible to receive a pension.
True
One proposal to reform redistricting in Texas is to remove politicians who have an interest in the outcome from the process.
True
Which statement concerning women's suffrage is correct?
Women were permitted to vote in all elections in Texas with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
What is the composition of the county commissioner's court?
a county judge who is elected countywide and presides over the meetings, and four county commissioners who are each elected to represent about one-quarter of the population of the county
Impeachment is ___________________ and is an example of the Texas Legislature's ____________ power.
a formal charge by the House of Representatives that leads to a trial in the Senate that could result in the removal of an official from office; judicial
The Texas Bill of Rights includes the right to "a republican government." This means
a government comprised of officials selected through free and fair elections
Provincialism is best defined as
a narrow view of the world.
If the legislature grants a particular corporation an exception from a state law, it is called
a special bill.
The Constitution of 1869 created
a strong governor's office.
