Ch.7

From colonial times, a requirement for the right to vote was property ownership. The last area in which this practice was declared unconstitutional was voting in a. general elections. b. special elections. c. bond elections. d. runoff elections in primaries. e. primary elections

bond elections

PACs have become more important to campaigns at the state and local level because they a. bring sophisticated fundraising skills to political races. b. supply people with general nonpolitical information. c. they represent only public lobby interests. d. give equally to all candidates. e. they pay for all political advertising.

bring sophisticated fundraising skills to political races

2. Political culture in Texas has no "unwritten rules" as to how elections should be conducted and what candidates should and should not do.

false

8. Voter disfranchisement in Texas was never aimed at low-income whites.

false

Individuals and PACs making large political contributions usually say they are doing so in order to a. gain access to the politician. b. buy a representative's vote. c. buy electoral insurance. d. increase advocacy. e. change public policy.

gain access to the politician

As of 2012, women in Texas a. held nine statewide offices including state comptroller. b. were still fighting an uphill battle in politics with few prospects for change. c. held thirteen statewide offices including attorney general. d. held only three statewide offices including U.S. senator. e. held a majority of the state senate and legislative seats

held nine statewide offices including state comptroller

are more likely to participate in political activities . a. Less educated older people b. Younger high-income earners c. Low-income minorities d. Female low-income earners e. Highly educated older people

highly educated older people

What is the effect of dividing election cycles so that state and local elections are separate? a. The cost of holding elections is drastically reduced as is the cost of campaigns. b. Issues that are unique to state and local races are converged. c. Voter turnout increases when voters are faced with fewer candidates. d. Candidates are typically forced to campaign for shorter periods. e. Voter fatigue increases due to disinterest in participating in so many elections

voter fatigue increases due to disinterest in participating in so many elections

The poll tax was outlawed by the Twenty-fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution adopted in1964. Several southern states continued the practice despite the amendment and required two________ in order to vote in both national and state elections. a. separate fees b. primary elections c. general elections d. voters registration cards e. special elections

voters registration cards

If third-party candidates wish to have their names included on the ballot, they must collect petitions bearing the names of registered voters equal to ________ of the vote in the last gubernatorial election. a. 1 percent b. 2 percent c. 3 percent d. 4 percent e. 5 percent

1 percent

The 2002 governor's race between Republican Rick Perry and Democrat Tony Sanchez was the most expensive governor's race up to that point in Texas state history with both spending nearly a. $25 million. b. $50 million. c. $75 million. d. $100 million. e. $150 million

$100 million

During the Vietnam War, many people believed that individuals who were required to comply with the draft and risk death should no longer be denied the right to vote. This movement culminated with the a. Twenty-seventh Amendment. b. Twenty-fourth Amendment. c. Twenty-first Amendment. d. Twenty-sixth Amendment. e. Twenty-second Amendment

26 amendment

helped lead Texas to adopting the primary in 1903. Prior to this, political parties nominated candidates in party conventions. a. The Texas state Republican Party b. Governor Davis c. President William McKinley d. A Progressive reform movement e. The Populist Party

A progressive reform movement

A person who votes but rarely engages in collective activity or campaigns would be considered a. a parochial participant. b. apathetic. c. a communalist d. voting specialists. e. political gladiators.

a parochial participant

15. As a campaign proceeds, benchmark surveys are used to determine attitudes, perceptions, and support for the candidate.

f

What role did negative ads play in the 1990 gubernatorial race between Democrat Ann Richards and Republican Clayton Williams? a. Despite spending millions for his controlled media events, Williams was still defeated by Richards who used ads that painted Williams in a negative light. b. Richards won despite negative ads used against her, but public fury over the use of negative ads in 1990 led to legislation prohibiting them the following year. c. Because of the intensity of negative ads and the public outcry against them, both candidates were banned from using them two months prior to the election. d. The intensity of negative ads in the 1990 race and issues over defamation of character produced by them led the Federal Election Commission to block them. e. Negative ads were repeatedly use by both campaigns, though the ads used by Williams were considered racist and helped turn public opinion against him.

Despite spending millions for his controlled media events, Williams was still defeated by Richards who used ads that painted Williams in a negative light.

lead many observers to worry about democratic practices in Texas. a. Distrust of public officials and apathy b. High Hispanic voter turnout c. Education levels and incomes d. Public protests and sit-ins e. Grassroots campaigns and protests

Distrust of Public officials and apathy

Why did it take four rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court to bring an end to the white primary? a. The president used executive order to overturn the first three rulings. b. The first three rulings were later declared invalid as a result of mistrials. c. Texas state courts repeatedly overturned the rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court. d. The Texas legislature and parties kept finding ways to circumvent the Supreme Court's rulings. e. Only under threat of imposing martial law in the fourth ruling could the Supreme Court enforce it.

The texas legislature and parties kept finding ways to circumvent the supreme Court's rulings

How does Texas differ from the federal government with regards to campaign contributions? a. Unlike the federal government, Texas does not require campaign donors who live in the state to reveal their name and information. b. Unlike the federal government, Texas allows donations received for state and local races to be tax deductible and written off at the end of the year. c. Unlike the federal government, Texas has rules limiting the amount of time prior to an election in which a candidate can raise money. d. Unlike the federal government, Texas places no limits on the amount of money a person or PAC can contribute to most political candidates. e. Unlike the federal government, Texas places no limits on how much a candidate can raise and spend for an election.

Unlike the federal government, Texas places no limits on the amount of money a person or PAC can contribute to most political candiddates

If no candidate in a primary election receives an absolute majority of the votes cast, a. a special election is held to determine the winner. b. a runoff primary between the top two candidates is held. c. a nominating convention is convened to pick a candidate. d. the winner is determined with a coin toss. e. the primary is held a gain with the same candidates.

a runoff primary between the top two candidates is held

By today's standards, political campaigns through the 1950s were a. reasonably professional. b. very professional and dry. c. professional and sophisticated. d. amateurish and unsophisticated. e. simple and easy to follow

amateurish and unsophisticated

The ruling reached by the U.S. Supreme Court in Smith v. Allwright a. declared that gerrymandering based on race is unconstitutional. b. brought to an end the white primary by declaring it unconstitutional. c. ruled that parties had to open their membership to all races. d. found that Jim Crow laws were unconstitutional and banned them. e. brought an end to the poll tax by declaring it unconstitutional

brought to an end the white primary by declaring it unconstitutional

Knowing that people like to receive mail, the direct mail business has become a major tool in a. campaign fundraising and persuasion. b. seeing that all households receive educational materials. c. insuring that both candidates receive equal mailings. d. ensuring that no candidate is omitted from this information pool. e. opinion polling and campaign fundraising

campaign fundraising and persuasion

Elections enable voters to replace public officials or force office holders to a. change their policies. b. face an opponent in the opposite party. c. face an opponent in their own party. d. keep their policies the same. e. rethink their policies

change their policies

In a democracy, elections enable individuals to a. prove the saying that "it doesn't matter who gets elected." b. control their leaders and provide judgment on past actions. c. support certain interest groups and political action committees. d. place grand expectations on the media and politicians. e. vote for their preferred politicians and issues

control their leaders and prove judgment on past actions

The________ is responsible for the administration of the general election in November. a. precinct b. county c. national government d. state e. city government

county

are partisan and held in November of even-numbered years. a. City council elections b. County government elections c. School board elections d. Special district elections e. Single-purpose district elections

county government elections

18. Positive news stories about the candidate and campaign are probably less valuable than paid advertising, because they do not cost the campaign money.

f

9. Texas employed the white primary to eliminate Hispanic participation in key elections.

f

Overall, how successful have efforts been in Texas to facilitate and expand voter participation? a. Numerous provisions in state election law still limit minority voting rights. b. Not very successful—attempts to increase and expand participation have failed to be instituted. c. Discriminatory laws have been removed, but there are still problems within the system. d. They have been totally successful at eliminating all laws and policies that can limit participation. e. Discriminatory laws have been repealed, but party provisions still limit participation

discriminatory laws have been removed, but there are still problems within the system

Focus groups include________ participants with specific ________ to help media consultants decide which political ads to use. a. eight to twelve; income levels b. eight to ten; racial identities c. eight to twelve; demographic characteristics d. five to eight; likes and dislikes e. twelve to sixteen; party preferences

eight to twelve; demographic characteristics

A period before the regularly scheduled election date during which voters are allowed to cast ballots is called a. general voting. b. primary voting. c. partisan voting d. preferred voting. e. extended early voting

extended early voting

10. The Twenty-second Amendment lowered the voting age from twenty-one to eighteen.

f

11. At-large elections increase minority representation because campaigns are usually less expensive.

f

12. In 1965, the U.S. Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, which made it possible for African Americans to vote.

f

Through the selection of leaders, elections provide the general public with an opportunity to shape public policy a. indirectly. b. directly. c. decisively. d. comprehensively. e. immediately

indirectly

According to the text, some observers believe that the real brokers of politics and public policy in Texas are a. the governor and lieutenant governor. b. lobbyists and pollsters. c. politicians and political action committees. d. interest groups and political action committees. e. interest groups and the governor

interest groups and political action committees

Hispanic political clout a. is dropping, as shown by the 5 percent decrease in Hispanic elected officials from 2006 to 2011. b. has remained the same, and there are still the same number of Hispanic elected officials now as in 1974. c. probably will not rise anymore due to dropping immigration rates from Mexico. d. is so strong that most elected officials in Texas are of Hispanic descent. e. is growing as shown by the 450 percent increase in Hispanic elected officials from 1974 to 2011.

is growing as shown by the 450 percent increase in Hispanic elected officials from 1974 to 2011

What is the primary purpose of a campaign in dividing voters by segmenting the population? a. It allows a campaign to take full advantage of gerrymandering in finding supporters. b. It allows a campaign to target its messages to small well-defined populations. c. It allows a candidate to speak and interact with a greater percentage of the population. d. It allows a campaign to eliminate competitors through targeted messages. e. It allows a candidate to develop a general message that can be utilized across the district.

it allows a campaign to target its messages to small we'll-defined populations

What is the purpose of a benchmark survey? a. It is used to determine the share of votes a candidate is expected to receive. b. It is used to assess public opinion relating to the office the candidate seeks. c. It is used to gauge which candidate should represent the party in a general election. d. It is used after an election to gauge the performance of a candidate's campaign. e. It is used to assess how much a person can raise in contributions before declaring their candidacy

it is used to assess public opinion relating to the office

is the responsibility of a party's county chairman and county executive committee. a. Fully paying for a primary b. Locating polling places c. Printing the ballots d. Notifying the public of an election e. Providing security for elections

locating polling places

In most elections, one of the most disturbing aspects of the contemporary Texas political system is the a. low voter turnout. b. lack of voter choice. c. unqualified candidates. d. number of people casting protest votes. e. number of write-in candidates

low voter turnout

Several reasons have been given for ________ in Texas. Some Texans only care about their own selfish needs; others feel a sense of disenchantment, disillusion, or downright alienation; and still others care, but feel that a single vote is not enough to make a difference. a. low voter registration b. no political involvement c. low public involvement d. low voter turnout e. political distrust

low voter turnout

In the most basic sense, elections serve to a. make governments legitimate and assure popular support for those who make decisions. b. make government legitimate and assure that a majority of adults vote in favor of a policy. c. assure popular support for decision makers and that a majority of adults voted for the policy. d. eliminate the opposition party and assure continuity and expertise. e. eliminate the opposition party and assure popular support for those who make decisions.

make governments legitimate and assure popular support for those who make decisions

The 1965 Voting Rights Act which was extended to Texas in 1975 allows a. minorities to refuse to show identification when voting in Texas. b. women to run for public office in all state and local elections in Texas. c. minority coalitions to dispute state and local election systems in court. d. interest groups to dispute state and local elections systems in court. e. minorities to vote in all state and local elections in Texas

minority coalitions to dispute state and local election systems in court

Recent legislation allows local government to call off an election if a. no offices are contested. b. only one office is contested. c. no one is running for the office. d. there are no voters in the precinct. e. there are no candidates for some positions

no offices are contested

Beginning 1995, the Texas state legislature has a. placed campaign contribution limits in judicial races. b. sought to remove limits placed on donations to federal campaigns for congressional seats. c. incrementally placed limits on corporate contributions to state legislative races. d. imposed limits on the amount non-taxable, charitable institutions can contribute to state races. e. removed campaign contribution limits from all statewide races

placed a campaign contribution limits in judicial races

Family, school, and church are all agents of a. educational socialization. b. moral education. c. political indoctrination. d. political socialization. e. doctrinal socialization

political socialization

Contemporary local, state, and national campaigns increasingly rely on a. professional campaign consultants. b. political parties. c. the ability of the candidate. d. the amount of money the candidate has to spend. e. conservative social issues.

professional campaign consultants

By the early twentieth century, ________ no longer had an impact on the political suffrage struggles faced by Texan minorities in primary and general elections. a. the poll tax b. property ownership laws c. the white primary d. restrictive registration laws e. Jim Crow laws

property ownership laws

13. Only six Hispanics have been elected to statewide office in Texas.

t

14. Normally between 80 percent and 90 percent of African Americans vote Democratic.

t

16. Segmentation of the electorate may lead to a fracturing of the political debate.

t

17. The media that is purchased by the candidate is often referred to as the controlled media.

t

19. No one knows precisely how much money is spent on political campaigns in Texas because there is no single place where all this information is collected.

t

20. Political socialization is the process through which people learn to behave politically.

t

What brought about the legislature's adoption of the poll tax in 1904? a. The increasing influence of the KKK in the legislature sought to diminish the power of minorities. b. The Republican Party sought to limit the numbers of those who could have a say in the party. c. A new source of revenue was required to fund roadwork programs in the state. d. The increasing influence of the Populist movements and the threat it posed to the Democrats. e. The cost of elections had skyrocketed and this was a way to effectively to pay for them

the increasing influence of the KKK in the legislature sought to diminish the power of minorities

Who opposed the motor voter registration law passed by the U.S. Congress in 1993? a. The Religious Right opposed it fearing that it would benefit the Libertarian wing of the GOP. b. The Republicans opposed it fearing that it would benefit the Democratic Party. c. The Texas state legislature opposed it fearing that it would be incapable of implementing it. d. President Bill Clinton opposed it because of several unnecessary provisions within it. e. Blue Dog Democrats opposed it fearing that it would limit their strength within the party

the republicans opposed it fearing that it would benefit the democratic party

For ideological reasons, primaries can result in an unbalanced ticket that has limited appeal in a general election and essentially produces a weak candidate. How is this possible? a. Negative primary campaigns leave the victor bruised and at an extreme disadvantage in the general election. b. Expensive primary battles can leave the victor underfunded for the general election. c. The victor tends to be more extreme in his or her views and less palatable to the general public. d. Primaries tend to fracture the organization of a party and reduce its ability to contest in the general. e. Bitter primaries tend to alienate and dissuade party members from assisting in the general election.

the victor tends to be more extreme in his or her views and less palatable to the general public

Why have minority groups such as Hispanics and African Americans criticized the current primary system in Texas? a. They argue that the county apparatus that manages the primary favors Caucasians. b. They believe that primary results can be easily distorted as they are not regulated by the government. c. They argue that the absolute majority requirement discriminates against their candidates. d. They believe that votes for their candidates are often contested and dismissed by party officials. e. They argue that the primary system should be changed to a double ballot system

they argue that the absolute majority requirement discriminates against their candiddates

Though elections provide broad statements of the voters' expectations, a. they seldom speak about specific programs. b. they often speak about specific programs. c. those expectations must be translated into a mandate. d. those expectations are always considered a mandate. e. they seldom talk about public policy

they seldom speak about specific programs

To win a modern statewide race, candidates must rely on________ rather than direct personal contact. a. thirty-second TV commercials b. door hangers c. political yard signs d. block walking

thirty-second TV commercials

1. Election mandates are most often mandates for a candidate, not a specific policy.

true

3. Before1980, participation in the Republican primary never exceeded 5 percent of the voting age population.

true

4. Prior to1972, the costs of the primaries were borne by the political parties.

true

5. In the election of1896, the turnout rate was more than 80 percent of the eligible voting-age population, but within twelve years it had fallen to approximately 35 percent as a result of the poll tax.

true

6. The governor can call special elections to fill vacancies in certain offices.

true

7. The poll tax had to be paid between October 1 and January 31 in order to vote.

true

Regarding women's suffrage, Texas a. was the first southern state to approve the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. b. preempted the Nineteenth Amendment by extending suffrage to women in 1915. c. was the last state in the country to approve the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. d. adopted the Nineteenth Amendment but the state parties still prevented women from voting in primaries. e. swiftly adopted the Nineteenth Amendment but it took nearly two decades to implement it.

was the first southern state to approve the nineteenth amendment to the U.S. consitution

Early voting in Texas makes it possible for a person to vote early a. without having to state a reason. b. after stating that he or she will be out of the county on election day. c. after stating that he or she is incapacitated and cannot get to get to the polls. d. by taking an oath to fulfill the duties of a voter. e. after he or she has been registered to vote for five years

without having to state a reason