Texas Government

swing voters

Voters who are not bound by party identification and who support candidates of different parties in different election years.

Dealignment

When increasing numbers of voters choose not to identify with either of the two parties and consider themselves to be independents.

Crossover voting

When members of one political party vote in the other party's primary to influence the selection of the nominee.

Historical Legal barriers

White Primary

position issues

issues on which the public is divided

straight ticket voting

practice of voting for candidates of only one party in an election

early voting

the option in some states to cast a vote at a polling place or by mail before the election

electronic voting

voting by using touch screens

two-party system

A political system characterized by two dominant parties competing for political offices. In such systems, minor or third parties have little chance of winning.

presidential preference primary

A primary election that allows voters to express their preference among the candidates seeking to become their party's presidential nominee.

direct primary

A primary where voters directly select the candidates who will run for office

runoff primary

A second primary election that pits the two top vote-getters from the first primary against each other when the winner of the first primary did not receive a majority.

negative campaigning

A strategy used in election campaigns in which candidates attack their opponents' issue positions or character.

party column ballot

A type of ballot used in a general election in which all of the candidates from each party are listed in parallel columns under the party label.

Office block ballot

A type of ballot used in a general election in which the names of the parties' candidates are listed randomly under each office.

open primary

A type of party primary in which a voter can choose on election day in which primary to participate.

closed primary

A type of primary in which a voter is required to specify a party preference when registering to vote.

split ticket voting

A voter selecting candidates from one party for some offices and candidates from the other party for other offices.

Which group is more likely to vote?

An association of lawyers is more likely to vote when considering education, income, a age as predictors for voting behavior.

plurality vote

An election rule in which the candidate with the most votes wins even if that candidate get less than 50 percent.

To register to vote you must:

Be registered 30 days prior to an election to be eligible to vote in texas

valence issues

Economic prosperity is an example of

decentralization

Exercise of power at the state and local levels of government in addition to the national level.

Candidates can use their campaign funds for any purpose, once they have received them, true or false?

FALSE

Texas is known as a blue state. True or false?

False

Pragmatism

How we evaluate policy ideas.

Voter participation

Identification with a major political party makes a person more likely to vote.

county elections administrator

In many counties, the official appointed by the county elections commission to manage most election functions.

Which is a feature of bipartisanship in the Texas legislature?

Leadership from either party has appointed members of the other party to chair committees.

Candidate issue positioning

Loosening business regulations is an issue position that would most likely lead a Texas republican politician to success.

Ballot Construction

Minor political parties prefer the office block ballot because it makes straight ticket voting to the major parties more difficult.

Political action committees (PACs)

Organizations that raise and then contribute money to political candidates.

super PACs

Political action committees that do not contribute to political parties or candidates, but instead make their own separate, independent political expenditures.

Sample arguments for voter ID laws

Republicans support stricter voter ID laws to protect ballot integrity and prevent fraud.

Which of the following is an example of how a third party might influence politics in Texas?

Siphoning off enough votes to sway the election toward one candidate

Political culture

Strong connections to the traditional south strongly and contribute to the political culture in texas and minimize the value of political participation

Demographic Factors

Texas's large population of young and minority voters explain the lower voter turnout among texans.

Which of the following is currently the majority party in Texas?

The Republican Party

With which entity must Texas candidates file campaign finance reports?

The Texas Ethics Commission

participation paradox

The fact that citizens vote even though a single vote rarely decides an election.

party platform

The formal issue positions of a political party; specific elements are often referred to as "planks" in the party's platform.

polarization

The growing gap between liberals and conservatives in American politics.

party realignment

The long-term transition from a system in which one party is consistently dominant to one in which another party is consistently dominant.

voter turnout

The proportion of eligible Americans who actually vote.

Sample arguments against voter ID laws

The strongest challenge to the premise of the Texas voter ID law was that there was no real evidence of people impersonating other voters in Texas.

voting-age population (VAP)

The total number of persons in the United States who are 18 years of age or older.

What is the maximum contribution you can receive as a candidate for a legislative seat in Texas?

There are very few contribution limits.

Which of the following is required by law before a candidate holds fundraising events for their campaign for office in Texas? Select all that apply.

They must appoint a campaign treasurer. They must file documentation with the appropriate filing authority.

Australian ballot

A ballot printed by the government (as opposed to the political parties) that allows people to vote in secret.

evangelical or fundamentalist Christians

A bloc of conservative Christians who are concerned with such issues as family, religion, abortion, gay rights, and community morals, and often support the Republican Party.

Scenario when a person would most likely engage in crossover voting

A democrat believes that no matter which democratic candidate is chosen that person will not win the general election.

movement conservatives

A faction or group of very conservative Republicans generally resistant to any compromise of its principles.

precinct convention

A gathering of party members who voted in the party's primary for the purpose of electing delegates to the county or district convention.

partisan identification

A person's attachment to one political party or the other.

tipping

A phenomenon that occurs when a group grows large enough to change the political balance in the electorate.