Exam 3 Final
What are the three components that make up an iron triangle
legislators, government bureaucrats, and interest groups
What is a public interest group
A group that promotes policies that produce widely distributed benefits.
Which of the following is true of an open primary?
An open primary does not require voters to declare the party with which they are affiliated.
What is one way texas based interest groups may attempt to influence national policy
By filling lawsuits in federal court to challenge or shape national law
Which of the following is a way the interest groups commonly seek to get their members into government
By making strategic campaign contributions
Which of the following do interest groups use to show candidates compare in their support for issues that matter to the group choose the best answer
Candidate scorecards
What is the most important task for candidates to accomplish during a campaign
Candidates must motivate voters to show up and vote.
What were the two major pieces of civil rights legislation signed into law under president Lyndon Johnson
Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act
Where did the term "yellow dog democrat come from
Democratic voters acquired this name when they vowed that they would vote for a yellow dog before voting for a republican
Who benefited the most from Jim Crow laws
Democrats
What is one trend that occurs when one party is dominant in state or national politics
Divisions within the dominant party tend to become more important than divisions between the parties.
Which of the following statements is true regarding voting during the civil rights era
For the first time, many Southern Democrats voted for non-Democratic Party candidates in the 1968 presidential election.
While the Democratic Party was dominant within Texas, the Republican Party dominated national politics. Which president brought the Democratic Party to national dominance?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Which of the following is an example of"earned media coverage "
Gaining media attention by using events or by providing assistance with a story
What is public policy?
Government action that has taken to address a social problem or issue
What three types of lobbyist constitute the lobby
In house, contract and public advocacy firm lobbyists
What is distinction between an interest group and a group of people with common interests
Interest groups are politically active around particular topics, while people with common interests are not.
Why might public officials listen to interest groups?
Interest groups develop expertise on the policies they seek to influence and provide that expertise to public officials, thus reducing information costs.
How does the "the lobby" in Texas compare to that of many other states?
It has relatively strong political power.
What is the political effect of holding executive branch elections in Texas in off years?
It insulates the election of statewide offices from national politics
Why might a group prefer a public demonstration to letter writing or petitions?
Letters and petitions are comparatively discreet, while demonstrations may call broader public attention to an issue.
Major and minor parties are treated differently under Texas law. What is the difference between a major party and a minor party?
Minor parties are those parties that received less than 20 percent of the vote in the previous general election.
Why did the majority of Americans judge John F. Kennedy the winner of the first televised presidential debate in 1960?
Most Americans watched the debate on television, and Kennedy looked fresher and more vibrant than Nixon.
Which of the following patterns is a characteristic of the succession of party systems In Texas?
One party tends to dominate elections for long periods of time.
What role do parties play in deciding which Candidates will appear on the ballot under a party's name
Parties have a very little direct control over who can run under a party's name though they do tend to be involved in recruiting potential candidates to do so
How do political parties link state governments to national governments?
Parties often serve as a career network that allows candidates and political professionals to progress from state-level to national-level politics.
Which of the following connects district and state level part organizations to their members
Party officials recincts
What party posed the most significant challenge to the post-Reconstruction Democratic Party?
People's Party
How are political parties "participatory vehicles
Politically involved members determine both shape and leadership of a party
Which of the following is true regarding the relationship between public and private interest groups
Public and private interest groups are not necessarily adversarial, as their goals may directly overlap in some cases.
Which party enjoys the advantage of organizational strength in Texas?
Republican Party
Why was voter participation higher in the Democratic primaries than in the general elections during the 1950s?
Republicans didn't stand a chance in the general elections.
Which statement best describes a difference in voting requirements between Texas and the New England states of Maine and New Hampshire
Texans have to register to vote earlier
How do republicans in texas compare to republicans at the national level
Texas Republicans are more conservative and their policy models influence national Republican Party policies.
Which of the following statements is true regarding Texas early years in the Union?
Texas was deeply divided regarding slavery
What was the effects of the citizens United decision
The Decision let individuals unions and corporations donate unlimited amounts anonymously to political action committees
Why has the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) faced severe criticism over its enforcement of campaign laws?
The TEC does not sufficiently investigate complaints of violations.
Why is the influence of watchdog groups limited?
The appointment of interest group members to state and local boards is not illegal under state law.
Why are suburban areas
The cost of living in Urbana areas has driven younger and more diverse people to the suburbs
How does one become an election judge for general election?
The county commissioner's court appoints a presiding judge and an alternate judge.
A communication director who works for the republic can National committee would represent semi distinct group within the Republican Party
The party organization
Which organization filed charges against the individuals involved in the sharpstown stock fraud scandal
The u.s securities and exchange Commission
What is grassroots mobilization?
The use of strategic efforts by ordinary citizens to organize political actions
What happens if no candidate wins a majority of votes in a Texas primary election?
There is a runoff election between the two candidates with the most votes to decide who will run in the general election.
What is the primary function of local candidate rallies and public events
They are used to reinforce strategic images the campaign seeks to promote.
What does polarization in politics mean?
Two opposing or conflicting principles, tendencies, or points of view exist on a topic, with the majority of opinions being at extremes.
How might voters exposed to poll results be influenced by the "bandwagon effect"?
Undecided voters are likely to cast their ballots for the candidate they think is the probable winner.
What practice did Pappy o'Daniel help to make common
Using radio addresses to create a sense of familiarity with voters
Why does support for third-party candidates rarely translate into votes?
Voters who express support for third parties often revert to the major parties on Election Day.
Which of the following is a requirement to be able to vote in the state of Texas
You must be a citizen who is at least 18 years of age by Election Day.
Which of the following individuals would be allowed to vote in Texas?
a 25-year-old U.S. citizen who has been a Texas resident for ten years
Which of the following would the Republican Party most likely support
a limited government involvement in economic activity
Which type of organization allows individuals to run for office under the organizations name
a political party
A shift in the makeup and power of political parties often marked by a critical election is called what?
a political realignment
The history of political parties can be thought of as which of the following ?
a series of long, fairly stable periods that are interrupted by brief episodes of dramatic change
At a basic level what is the primary goal of most political advertising
achieving name recognition for a candidate
Why are businesses so influential in shaping texas policy
because of the efficiency needed to accommodate the short legislative sessions
Which types of interest groups are often formed as nonprofits? Choose the BEST answer.
both public and private interest groups
How can interest groups be most effective at achieving their policy goals when attending public meetings?
by bringing a large number of members and articulating a clear and persuasive message
How might a political party leverage public debate in its favor?
by framing an issue in a way that is favorable to the party's position
How might interest groups be involved in campaigns
by sponsoring or funding public events for a candidate
What must an independent candidate do to be listed on the general election ballot?
collect signatures on a nominating petition
Which of the following activities are interest groups prohibited by law from engaging in
coordinating their campaign efforts on behalf of a candidate with that candidate's campaign
in order to be listed on the Republican or Democratic primary ballot in Texas, what must a candidate do?
either collect signatures on a nominating petition or pay a filing fee
When did modern campaign finance regulation begin in the United States
in 1972, with the adoption of the Federal Election Campaign Act
Sub-governments are often known by what other name?
iron triangles
What was the central issue in Texas during the pre party era
opposition to the leadership and government in Mexico
Which of the following groups works within a party at the government level to set priorities and develop a legislative strategy?
party caucuses
What did the 1991 law creating the Texas ethics Commission (TEC) fail to do?
place a cap on campaign contributions
All registered lobbyists must divulge the interests they are registered to represent. What does this allow the state to do?
prevent conflicts of interest arising for clients who employ contract lobbyists
What type of election is held when a legislative or congressional seat becomes vacant before the end of the current occupant's term?
special election
Which two authorities regulate campaign financing for elections in Texas?
the Federal Election Commission and the Texas Ethics Commission
What is data mining?
the collection and analysis of massive amounts of information
Apart from internal divisions in the Democratic Party, what contributed to the growth of the Republican Party in Texas?
the growth of Texas suburbs and the migration of people in from other states
What is the purpose of a primary?
to allow party members to choose the party's nominees for an upcoming general election
How do campaigns typically use successful poll results?
to establish their candidate's credibility
Which of the following lobbying activities is illegal
trading a vote on public policy for money or other benefits
How much power do party organizations generally have over candidates
very little power, as they do not exercise centralized control over nominations or campaign funding
what is the effect of non partisan elections
voters have a difficult time choosing between candidates