TX Chapter 5
The poll tax was made illegal in federal elections with the passage of the
24th Amendment
Texas ranks ________ in the nation in voter participation.
50th
Approximately what percentage of the state's voting-age population is registered to vote?
79%
Which of the following is the largest expense for most campaigns?
Advertising
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?
Allow politicians in the legislature to devise and implement electoral districts (WRONG)
A closed primary allows only those individuals who________ to participate.
Are a registered member of their political party
In order to vote in Texas, you must meet which of the following requirements?
Be a resident of Texas, a U.S. citizen, and at least 18 years of age
The most recent census was conducted 2020, with a reapportionment completed soon after based on its results. Assuming the Texas population increased from its 2010 total, as a result of this reapportionment, Texas will most likely
Gain seats in the House of Representatives
Which individuals are legally disqualified from voting?
Individuals who have been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent
Why are statewide officials such as the governor and lieutenant governor elected in nonpresidential years?
It prevents presidential candidates from influencing the outcome of Texas races
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) focuses on
Monitoring changes in electoral law that may suppress the votes of minorities
One of the advantages incumbents have when running for reelection is
Name recognition and visibility
What type of primary allows a voter to choose on Election Day which party they will vote for?
Open Primary
Texas was the first state in the South to
Ratify the women's suffrage amendment
The process of ________ involves recalculating how many congressional districts each state will receive based on the state's population.
Reapportionment
Which scenario would make a runoff primary most likely to occur?
Six candidates are all running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate
Candidates for state office and lobbyists have to file quarterly reports detailing their spending and donations with which agency?
Texas Ethics Commission
Which offshoot of the Democratic Party preselected candidates for the Democratic primary and prohibited African Americans from participating?
The Jaybird Party
In 1923, the Texas Legislature established ____________________ to prohibit African Americans from voting in the Democratic primary.
The White Primary
Why is it so difficult to get on the ballot as an independent in Texas?
The parties that control government, and therefore control ballot access, want to maintain their power and make it harder for other parties to compete for votes during elections
What happens when a voter engages in straight-ticket voting?
The voter can check one box at the top of the ballot for one party and this will then cast a vote for each candidate on the ballot with that party's affiliation
How much can an individual donate to a campaign for a state-level, nonjudicial office, such as for governor?
There is no limit
Which of the following laws was written specifically to deal with expanding and protecting voting rights?
Voting Rights Act of 1965
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
Which of the following is the largest expense for most campaigns?
advertising
Jaybird Party
after the white primary was ruled unconstitutional, this offshoot Democratic party preselected candidates for the Democratic primary and prohibited African Americans from participating
The Motor Voter Law
allows citizens to register to vote while applying for a driver's license
In Texas, the ____________________ is responsible for redistricting.
legislature
Which of the following tends to lower voter turnout?
most elections are for low-visibility offices
A ________ was a state-imposed tax on voters as a prerequisite for voting.
poll tax
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
The White Primary
primary election in which Southern states allowed only whites to vote
In Texas, special elections are used to
ratify amendments to the Texas Constitution
When do Texans vote in general elections to elect members of Congress?
Tuesday following the first Monday in November of even-numbered years
Texas used a system of early registration in 1971 that required which of the following
Voters had to register to vote more than nine months before the general election and were required to register to vote every year
What is the most basic and fundamental duty citizens have in a democracy?
Voting
The Voting Rights Act has been renewed several times since 1965, and new provisions have been added since then. For example,
Bilingual ballots are now required in certain areas where more than 5% of voters speak another language
In 2011, the Texas legislature passed a voter identification law that requires a photo identification in order to vote. Which form of photo identification is acceptable?
DPS issued personal ID card
The _________________ begins with primary elections and concludes with general elections.
Electoral cycle
When deciding how to vote, people will use mental shortcuts. Political scientists call these shortcuts
cues
Which of the following are the most important factors that influence whether or not someone votes?
income level and education
