Unit 1 Exam

Identify some informal reasons why third parties have been unsuccessful at gaining elected office.

o Major parties make a conscious effort to absorb them by adopting their issues. o Third-party candidates often lack funding and media attention. o Voters believe that third parties are unable to win, so they vote for one of the two major parties.

Study the chart below and determine which of the following statements accurately reflect the data.

o More voters participate in Republican primaries than in Democratic primaries o Presidential general election turnout is higher than either party's presidential primary election turnout o Statewide general elections in non-presidential years draw fewer voters than in presidential election years

Identify the functions of political parties.

o Political parties are held accountable to the electorate. o Political parties raise money for candidates' campaigns. o Political parties select candidates to run as members of the party.

In which of the following ways do political parties play a role in our society?

o Recruit organization volunteers and leaders o Organization of government officials o Provide a label for the public

Which of these statements are associated with the growth of the Republican Party in Texas?

o Republicans have dominated the state legislature since the early 2000s. o Since the 1980s, Texans have been consistently supportive of Republican candidates for president. o Presidential Republicanism began after a split between conservative and liberal Democrats during the 1952 presidential election.

Which of the following statements about the growth of the Republican Party in Texas are accurate?

o Since 2002, most members of the Texas House and Texas Senate have been Republicans. o Republicans have dominated statewide offices since 1998.

Which statements are true about how the U.S. Constitution separates the power to regulate commerce?

o State governments may regulate commerce within states. o Congress may regulate interstate commerce.

What are three emerging trends that could change the state of partisan politics in Texas?

o Tea Party-backed Republicans could move too far to the right. o New residents from out of state could change the Texas electorate. o Texas Democrats might adopt more moderate positions on some issues.

· What are the requirements for an independent candidate to get on the ballot in Texas?

o The candidate must obtain a number of signatures equal to one percent of the total votes in the last governor's race. o The candidate must obtain signatures on a petition from registered voters. o The candidate must obtain signatures only from registered voters who did not participate in either party primary or runoff primary election.

· The following excerpt from the opinion in Shelby County v. Holder makes what justification for the ruling of the Court in the case?

o The court held that while remedy in the law was justified at the time, the new status of minority participation in voting no longer justified states being treated unequally.

· Evaluate the information in the table to determine which statements are best supported by the data.

o The dominance of Republican candidates in statewide races is reflected in their ability to raise funds. o Democratic candidates running for judicial office are more competitive than Democrats running for other offices.

Reapportionment

o The process of determining how many congressional seats each state will receive

Motor voter law

o a national act that allows people to register to vote when applying for a driver's license

Early voting

o allows voters to cast ballots during the two-week period before the regularly scheduled election date

· Texas voters use elections to do which of the following?

o authorize government borrowing o select leaders o authorize action by the government o determine party candidates for office

· The intent of the framers of the Texas Constitution was to create strong popular control of government by making both government actions and offices subject to popular vote. What have been the effects?

o low voter turnout o reliance on cues

Which of the following demographic factors have affected Texas politics?

o more white Texans moving to suburbs o increasing urbanization o interstate migration

· Which of the following are the most likely reasons for low voter turnout in Texas?

o the voter identification law o too many low-visibility offices o too many elections and too many candidates o a younger and less educated population o the voter identification

Which of the following industries helped contribute to Houston's growth over time?

oil cotton trade

The dominance of business interests in Texas politics is best supported by which of the following statements?

- Business groups are major players in the funding of political campaigns and the hiring of lobbyists. - Consumer interests in Texas are poorly organized. - Labor unions are rare in Texas.

Which of the following are changes in campaign financing allowed by the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision?

- Certain types of interest groups can avoid having to disclose their political contributors. - Interest groups can spend unlimited funds on behalf of candidates so long as the efforts are not coordinated with a campaign.

How do both the U.S. and Texas constitutions seek to prevent tyranny?

- Checks and balances - Separation of powers - Natural self-interests

Which economic factor(s) does San Antonio rely on?

- Educational institutions - Tourism - National military bases

Which of the following goals would be consistent with the La Raza Unida Party platform?

- Expand voting access for Latino citizens - Increase the number of Latino officials in public office

Which of the following are examples of incentives that interest groups use to overcome free rider problems?

- Invitations to special conferences - An organizational magazine or newsletter - Listing an individual's name as a sponsor of an organization - Discounts on insurance and travel

Analyze the infographic below, and then determine which of the following statements about contributions to the Texas legislature in 2016 are correct.

- Labor contributed more money to Democrats than to Republicans. - Finance, insurance, and real estate interest groups contributed more money than any other interest groups. - Lawyers and lobbyists give about equally to Democrats and Republicans.

· Which of the following are reasons why interest groups form political action committees (PACs)?

- PACs can send a message to a candidate. - Substantial contributions from PACs mean greater attention from candidates. PACs can serve as an intermediary between parties

How has Texas benefitted from the United States' membership in NAFTA?

- Texas goods have had more access to foreign markets. - Trade stimulated growth along Texas's border. - NAFTA helped speed up a diversified economy.

Which physical regions of Texas are most likely to remain unified Republican?

- The Interior Lowlands - The Great Plains

What were the political impacts of the trend shown in the chart?

- The population shift means politics in the state are increasingly dominated by the growing and diverse urban and suburban areas of the state. - The state's economy has become less focused on traditional industries like farming, ranching, and oil.

Which of the following are the most common ways lobbyists influence members of the Texas legislature?

- entertainment - information on pending bills - campaign contributions - gifts

Select which individuals below may become lobbyists for interest groups through the "revolving door" without restrictions.

- former legislators - former senior legislative staffers - former executive branch officials

Which county least reflects the demographic breakdown of the rest of the state?

El Paso

Interest groups use ___ to combine contributions from many donors into one large contribution in order to _____ the group's impact on the candidate.

Interest groups use *bundling* to combine contributions from many donors into one large contribution in order to *increase* the group's impact on the candidate.

The process of turning over public lands to private individuals for cultivation and development is called which of the following?

Privatization

Relative to the U.S. Constitution, the Texas Constitution is ___ and adopts a tone of __ governance.

Relative to the U.S. Constitution, the Texas Constitution is *longer* and adopts a tone of *limited* governance.

Who among the following first established cities in Texas?

Spanish settlers

When Texas entered the Union in 1845, what did Texas do with its public lands?

Texas retained control of its public lands.

· The Supreme Court case Smith v. Allwright ended which election practice?

The white primary

*State executive committee*

accepts filings from candidates for statewide office, establishes party policy, and raises funds for the party

*County chair:*

is head of the county executive committee and runs the daily business of the county party

Watch the animation on lobbying in Texas, and then determine which of the following statements are accurate.

- Because of Texas's large population, a relatively large number of lobbyists seek to influence state government.

Examine the infographic of population changes in the United States, and answer the question below. Which of the following statements accurately characterize the country's population change from 2000 to 2010?

- Florida had more of its counties gain population over the decade than had Texas. - Texas's population increased more rapidly than did Oklahoma's.

Texas is often characterized by which two political cultures?

- Individualistic - Traditionalistic

What is the significance of the Veasey v. Abbott case?

- It illustrated that states could still be challenged under the Voting Rights Act. - Voter ID laws have a racially discriminatory effect.

Which factors gave the Tea Party high rates of success in influencing the outcomes of recent amendment elections in Texas?

- Low voter turnout - Unity behind an issue

· Study the information in the chart to make a decision about what caused the change in polling places in the following states.

-The Supreme court ruling in Shelby County v. Holder

Which statement(s) regarding the number of amendments to the Texas Constitution over time is/are correct?

Attempts to amend the constitution since 2000 have largely been successful.

What is the greatest cause of turnover for Republican incumbents running for office today?

Challenges from Tea Party-supported candidates in the primaries.

Which of the following statements about the cotton economy in Texas are accurate?

It established an underclass in Texas society. It helped bolster the Populist movement.

Major, large city newspaper endorsements often carry important weight, especially in down ballot races for local offices.

True

The 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision on Obergefell v. Hodges ruled that marriage was a liberty guaranteed to all Americans, including same-sex couples. Texas has sought to limit the impact of the ruling by

creating policy with language that allows private organizations to refuse service based on religious beliefs.

Place the following party organization in order from the lowest level of temporary party organization to the highest level of temporary party organization.

o Party primary o Precinct convention o County/ district convention o State convention

Redistricting

·The process of redrawing electoral districts and redistributing legislative representatives

Drag the following provisions of the Texas Constitution of 1876, the U.S. Constitution, or both to their proper place on the Venn diagram.

*Texas Constitution of 1876:* complex, specific, and long document; free and equitable public schools; victims' rights *U.S. Constitution:* single executive, short document with flexible language, supreme law *Both:* bicameral legislature, popular sovereignty,

The authority to regulate production and transport of oil and natural gas in Texas belongs to which agency?

*Texas Railroad Commission*

Relative to the rest of the country, Texas has *more* of its population under 18 years old and *less* of its population over 65 years of age.

*more and less*

The Texas state comptroller's office describes the difference in types of grant funding from the federal government as

- *Block grants* such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) have relatively few 'strings' attached, meaning states have *broad latitude* in using money; *categorical grants* such as those for the Head Start program are *more restrictive.*

Match each government feature to its appropriate level in the constitutional system. Some features of government may apply to more than one level of the constitutional system.

- *Local government:* Derives power from the state government, Most impact on daily lives of citizens - *National government:* Sovereign over the country and derives power from the people - *State government:* Derives power from the people

Which of the following statements about similarities between the Texas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution are true?

- Both provide the power for branches to limit the actions of one another. - Both establish the people as the foundational source of government power. - Both give the distinct branches of government autonomous powers. - Both protect the rights of individual citizens.

Match each Supreme Court case or law to the impact it had.

- Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka: Ended the policy of "separate but equal" in public schools - Plessy v. Ferguson: Gave states constitutional protection to create race-based laws - Voting Rights Act of 1965: Gave the federal government the power to approve or reject election laws in states with history of race-based voting restrictions -Sweatt v. Painter: Struck down legal segregation in admission to higher education institutions

Which of the following descriptions of interest groups are accurate?

- Business interests often have more influence than other interests. - Groups that represent a narrow set of interests are often more successful than those that represent broad interests. - Groups provide valuable research and education to policymakers and the public on specific issues.

Which of the following would be considered an interest group?

- Doctors who join together to lobby for more funding for hospitals - Members of a community who join together to advocate for improvements in their neighborhood Citizens from across Texas who join an organization that advocates standardized testing reforms in schools.

What effect did the creation of decentralized boards and districts outside the authority of the governor have on the Texas government?

- It made it more difficult to revise and reform policies affecting government power. - It created a system more susceptible to special interests.

Which of the following statement(s) about the Latino population in Texas are true?

- Latinos are concentrated in south and west Texas. - Latinos have become the majority in major Texas cities. - Latinos are a diverse population.

Watch the animation on campaign spending by employees of different industries, and then determine which of the following statements are accurate.

- Most campaign donations go to Republicans in the Texas legislature. - Groups representing finance, insurance, and real estate were the largest contributors in 2016

Texas is often described as sharing features of both individualistic and traditionalistic political cultures for which of the following reasons?

- Political elites, such as business leaders, have a dominant voice in how the state is run. - Taxes are kept low, and social services are minimized. - Texas limits the amount of regulation it places on businesses and individuals.

Which of these rights from the First Amendment most guarantees the right of individuals to become a part of interest groups?

- Right of the people to peaceably assemble

Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society programs introduced greater national government intervention into which policy areas?

- Social Security - Civil rights - Health care - Welfare

What important functions are performed by state constitutions?

- Specify the limits and uses of power by state institutions and individuals - Clarify the source of a state's political power - Divide authority within the political institutions of the state

Which of the following characteristics have been central in all of Texas's constitutions since Texas joined the United States?

- Strong popular control - Division of power - Federalism - Individual rights

Which of the following statements can be supported by the information provided in the table below?

- The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United vs. FEC led to a dramatic increase in campaign spending by outside groups in presidential elections. - Citizens United vs. FEC led to the creation of large and well-funded super PACs. - Republican candidates for president have been the most likely to benefit from the impacts of the decision in Citizens United vs. FEC.

Why is voter participation in Texas constitutional amendment elections so low?

- The elections are held on-off years from major general elections. - There are no candidates on the ballot. - Many amendments are insignificant to voters.

Which of the following are examples of federal preemption?

- The federal government forbidding states from establishing their own air pollution standards - The federal government requiring certain subject areas be tested by states to measure achievement

Analyze the infographic below, and then determine which of the following statements are accurate.

- The northeastern region of the U.S. has more lobbyists per capita than Texas. - Texas has fewer registered lobbyists per capita than just about any other state.

Which of the following statements about political culture accurately describe Texas?

- The political culture of Texas is being influenced by changing demographics. - The political cultures in urban and suburban areas have increasingly diverged. - Values in urban areas are strongly influenced by the diverse populations living there

Which of the following were characteristics of the era of dual federalism?

- The states and national government held distinctly separate areas of sovereignty. - The national government was small and dealt mostly with issues of foreign policy and national security. - The power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce was narrowly defined. - It defined the time period from Reconstruction to the New Deal.

What characteristics make former legislators effective lobbyists?

- They have intimate knowledge of the government process. - They are often close to or friendly with other lawmakers.

Innovations like the steel plow and barbed wire affected the Texas economy in what ways?

- They virtually ended open-range grazing and cattle drives. - They increased cotton production.

Provincialism in Texas has historically contributed which of the following feature(s) to the state's political culture?

- a narrow worldview and intolerance of diversity - a belief that the public interest is not served by spending on social services and education - a rejection of modern urban lifestyles

What is the usefulness of "late-train" contributions?

- contributions to the winning candidates to try to build a relationship after the election - help retire campaign debt of winning candidates

Which of the following do voters primarily use in making their decisions about which candidates to support?

- endorsements from large newspapers - interest group endorsements - party label - incumbency

Which of these have served as sources of frustration for states in their relationship with the federal government?

-Necessary and proper clause - Supremacy clause - Fourteenth Amendment

Local governments, such as the City of Houston, derive their authority from which sources?

-The Texas Constitution - The citizens of Texas

If the state of Texas were permitted to tax the land used by the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, it would be inconsistent with which of the following precedents?

-The ruling of McCulloch versus Maryland

Which of the following is the correct definition of the term unicameral?

A legislature that has only one body

After the Supreme Court decision in ____ Texas no longer had to submit changes to voting procedures to the _____ and obtain preclearance.

After the Supreme Court decision in *Shelby county v. Holder,* Texas no longer had to submit changes to voting procedures to the *Department of Justice* and obtain preclearance.

Which of the following is a factor that shifted national and state governments toward cooperative federalism?

As the nation began to face more complex problems in the 1930s and 1940s, multiple levels of government were required to step in.

· Because Texas generally has low rates of ______, individual effects on the Texas political process are likely to be ___.

Because Texas generally has low rates of *civic engagement,* individual effects on the Texas political process are likely to be *low.*

Watch the animation on party identification in Texas and America, and determine which of the following statements are accurate.

Compared to all other states, Texas is near the median in terms of how much it leans Republican.

Watch the animation on federal funding and determine which of the following statements are accurate.

Compared to all other states, the level of federal funding to Texas is nearer the median than either extreme.

Congress had little ability to fund the government under the ___. Instead, Congress had to raise money from ____.

Congress had little ability to fund the government under the *articles of confederation.* Instead, Congress had to raise money from *states.*

Which of the following statements accurately characterizes the state of federalism during the New Deal period?

Congress regularly invoked the commerce clause to influence state policy.

*State chair: *

is elected every two years at the convention to run the daily business of the state party and head the state executive committee

Which statement(s) best characterize the relationship between Dallas and Fort Worth?

Dallas and Fort Worth are joined by a variety of surrounding suburban cities.

By looking at the slate of statewide candidates Democrats deemed the "Dream Team" in 2002, what can we deduce about the Democratic Party's strategy in recruiting these individuals?

Democrats believed that recruiting a demographically and ideologically diverse slate of candidates would mobilize their base and break away some voters from the Republican party.

During the era of __, an attempt by Congress to create a national minimum wage would have likely been struck down by the Supreme Court because it would have been outside of the __ listed in of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

During the era of *dual federalism*, an attempt by Congress to create a national minimum wage would have likely been struck down by the Supreme Court because it would have been outside of the *enumerated powers* listed in of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

In Texas, state party chairs are selected through which process?

Election by the delegates to the state convention

Texas is near the top of the nation in measures of social connectedness that lead to civic engagement.

False

Texas shifted from a Democratic-dominated state to a Republican-dominated state because Texan voters adopted a far more conservative ideology.

False

The U.S. Constitution specifies how powers are allocated within state-level institutions.

False

· Political participation is a measure of participation in voting.

False

· In which type of election does the Democratic Party's nominee run against the nominee from the Republican Party and any independent or third-party candidates to win an office?

General election

In general terms, how did Justice John Marshall treat issues of federalism in his Supreme Court rulings?

He tended to expand the national government's powers relative to the states

· Use the figure below and your knowledge of Texas as a one-party dominated state to decide which of the following statements is accurate.

In non-presidential election years, the person who wins the office of governor could be chosen by less than percent of the overall voters in the state.

· In order to limit partisan ____ in the redistricting process, some states have taken the responsibility for drawing electoral maps away from ______ and given it to an independent ______.

In order to limit partisan *gerrymandering* in the redistricting process, some states have taken the responsibility for drawing electoral maps away from *state legislatures* and given it to an independent *redistricting comission.*

· No Democratic presidential nominee has won Texas since 1976. Republicans captured most statewide offices in Texas for the first time in ____. In recent years, the most competitive statewide election was the ____ Senate race between Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke.

No Democratic presidential nominee has won Texas since 1976. Republicans captured most statewide offices in Texas for the first time in *1994.* In recent years, the most competitive statewide election was the *2018* Senate race between Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke.

Which of the following statements about party platforms are accurate?

Party platforms state the principles and policies that the party's candidates will pursue when they win an election.

What is the primary goal of interest groups when they interact with policymakers?

Policies that are beneficial for their groups

Which of the following characterizes the system of federalism?

Power is divided between the central and regional governments.

Identify which of the following characteristics are unique to the Texas Bill of Rights, and which apply to both the U.S. and Texas Bills of Rights?

Texas Bill of Rights: - Specifies the right to a republican government - Bill of Rights appears as Article 1 of the Constitution - Specifies provisions of public policy U.S. and Texas Bill of Rights: -liberty of speech and press -guarantees freedom of religious worship

The ___ has largely been applied to place restrictions on states through the equal protection clause of the ___.

The *Bill of Rights* has largely been applied to place restrictions on states through the equal protection clause of the *14th Amendment.*

The Texas Republican Party's time of greatest power was probably ___, when it sent large delegations to the U.S. House and the Texas Senate and won a near-record total number of seats in the Texas House. The ___ election was significant because it marks the largest increase in the Democratic Party's delegation since 2000.

The Texas Republican Party's time of greatest power was probably *2014,* when it sent large delegations to the U.S. House and the Texas Senate and won a near-record total number of seats in the Texas House. The *2018* election was significant because it marks the largest increase in the Democratic Party's delegation since 2000.

Judging from the excerpt in the text box, this civil rights organization believes that SB4, or the "sanctuary cities" law, violates which part of the U.S. Constitution?

The equal protection clause

Before voters participate in a constitutional amendment election, what step must happen first?

The legislature votes to put the amendment on the ballot.

The Latino population of Texas has grown considerably in recent years. Study the following image and determine which areas of Texas are majority Latino.

The southwest portion of Texas, especially along the Mexican border, has the highest concentration of Latino Texans

· Cases like *NFIB v. Sebelius and Shelby County v. Holder* illustrate what trend that has appeared in Supreme Court decisions since the 1990s regarding the relationship between states and the national government?

The supreme Court has supported the absolute autonomy of states from national government mandates

In January 2016, Governor Greg Abbott proposed a convention of states to consider a series of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, including one to "Restore the balance of power between the federal and state governments by limiting the former to the powers expressly delegated to it in the Constitution."This proposal counters the Supreme Court's interpretation of which part of the U.S. Constitution that led to an enormous net expansion of power?

necessary and proper clause

Urbanization began along the __ and gradually expanded along __.

Urbanization began along the *Gulf Coast* and gradually expanded along *rivers*

What are some factors that contribute to low voter turnout among Latino Texans?

o A significant number of Latinos in Texas are not citizens and cannot vote. o Many Latinos are too young to vote.

Watch the animation on how Texas voted in the 2016 presidential election and determine which of the following statements are accurate.

o Clinton won a higher proportion of voters who identify as African American, Latino, or Asian than Donald Trump. o White Texans were more likely than white Californians to support Donald Trump for president.

Which interpretations about electoral influence by turnout can be made from the information in the table?

o Democratic candidates have a better chance of winning general elections in presidential election years. o Republicans have a built-in advantage among registered voters. o Low overall turnout among minority groups makes it more difficult for Democratic candidates to win.

Which of the following statements about participation are accurate?

o Despite the large numbers of eligible Hispanic voters, turnout among this group is generally low. o Turnout is higher in presidential elections than in midterm elections.

What are some of the characteristics of primary elections in Texas?

o First elections held in an electoral cycle o Held on the second Tuesday in March of an election year

*Precinct chair:*

represents a portion of the county on the county executive committee and is the head of precinct convention

*County executive committee*

runs the county primary and convention and sets policy for the county party

Which of the following is the primary driver of Texas's population growth?

the natural difference between births and deaths

· In Texas, most statewide officials are elected in ___ election years to prevent _____ from influencing the outcomes of state races.

· In Texas, most statewide officials are elected in *midterm* election years to prevent *presidential candidates* from influencing the outcomes of state races.

· Primary elections in which only registered members of a particular party can vote for the party's candidates are called ___. In contrast, primary elections in which any registered voter can cast a vote for either party's candidate (but not for both) are called _____.

· Primary elections in which only registered members of a particular party can vote for the party's candidates are called *Closed primaries.* In contrast, primary elections in which any registered voter can cast a vote for either party's candidate (but not for both) are called *Open primaries.*

The _____ is responsible for regulating the oil and gas industry in Texas. Critics have accused it of being _______. Recent efforts at reforming it have been _______.

· The *Texas Railroad Commission* is responsible for regulating the oil and gas industry in Texas. Critics have accused it of being *captured by interest groups.* Recent efforts at reforming it have been *unsuccessful.*