Exam 2 TX GOVT (Ch 6, Ch 5, Ch 4)
Texas Democrats have been relegated to a minority status at the state level since
1994
Although the Democratic Party dominated state politics for much of the twentieth century, by the 1950s it faced internal divisions between ________ and ________ Democrats. a. liberal; conservative b. moderate; liberal c. conservative; moderate d. Blue Dog Democrats; Yellow Dog
a
As in the U.S. Congress, most campaign contributions in Texas go to a. incumbents. b. supporters of environmental interests. c. Democrats. d. political parties.
a
By focusing on influencing the Republican primary elections, the Tea Party in Texas is trying to a. get Tea Party-supported candidates on the ballot, but under the Republican party label. b. get the experience necessary to become a major party. c. split the vote among multiple candidates to force runoff elections. d. bypass state ballot access guidelines for third party candidates.
a
Conservative Democrats in Texas are also known as a. Blue Dog Democrats. b. Yellow Dog Democrats. c. Republicans. d. Libertarians.
a
EMILY's List is a national PAC that is funded by women and focuses on raising money for women candidates at which part of the campaign cycle? a. the early part of the campaign cycle b. the end of the campaign cycle c. the middle of the campaign cycle d. throughout the whole campaign cycle
a
Early voting in Texas has been shown to produce ________ in voter turnout. a. a modest increase b. a significant increase c. a modest drop d. a drastic drop
a
How long must a former member of a governing body or former executive head of a regulatory agency wait before he or she can lobby that agency? a. 2 years b. 5 years c. 10 years d. Texas law prevents individuals from lobbying an agency where they were previously employed.
a
In his book The Logic of Collective Action, Mancur Olson argues that which of the following creates a fundamental dilemma in interest group politics? a. free rider problem b. game theory c. proportional theory d. multi-party theory
a
In order to vote in Texas, you must meet which of the following requirements? a. be a resident of Texas, a U.S. citizen, and at least 18 years of age b. be a resident of Texas, a U.S. citizen, and at least 21 years of age c. be a resident of Texas, a legal permanent resident of the U.S, and at least 18 years of age d. own property in Texas, be a U.S. citizen, and be at least 18 years of age
a
In order to win statewide elections, Democrats in Texas want to mobilize which of the following to vote? a. Latinos b. African Americans c. Asian Americans d. women living in rural areas
a
In what case did the Supreme Court rule that a key section of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional, thereby affecting new districts being approved by the U.S. Department of Justice? a. Shelby County v. Holder b. Shelby County v. Obama c. Smith v. Allwright d. Texas v. Holder
a
In which of the following elections is voter turnout the highest? a. presidential elections b. gubernatorial general elections c. off-year congressional elections d. runoff elections
a
Interest groups are best seen as a. organizations established to influence the government's programs and policies. b. basically the same as political parties. c. largely irrelevant in Texas politics today. d. corrupt entities that harm democracy.
a
Interest groups use judicial strategies in order to a. challenge existing policies and laws within the court system. b. mobilize citizens. c. testify before legislative committees. d. inform and educate public officials.
a
Once a lobbyist has access to a member of the legislature, the lobbyist can a. provide information about how specific policies can benefit the legislator's district. b. vote on legislation. c. testify at judicial hearings. d. provide bribes to lawmakers.
a
One major way for interest groups to promote the political interests of elected officials who support their viewpoints and oppose the interests of those who do not is by engaging in a. campaign contributions. b. hiring staff personnel. c. buying media access. d. letter writing.
a
Similar to other southern states, Texas is a. religious and socially conservative. b. socially liberal and not religious. c. ethnically homogenous. d. ideologically diverse.
a
Texas ranks ________ in the nation in voter participation. a. 50th b. 1st c. 35th d. 20th
a
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) focuses on a. monitoring changes in electoral law that may suppress the votes of minorities. b. providing legal support for Latino candidates for public office. c. getting out the vote of minority voters across Texas. d. providing information and voters guides to help voters make informed decisions.
a
The States' Rights Party, also known as the Dixiecrats, split with the national Democratic Party over which issue? a. racial integration b. military intervention in Vietnam c. education policy d. economic policy
a
The Texas Medical Association is best described as what kind of interest group? a. professional b. public employee c. public interest d. ideological
a
The Voting Rights Act has been renewed several times since 1965, and new provisions have been added since then. For example, a. bilingual ballots are now required in certain areas where more than 5 percent of voters speak another language. b. a current form of photo identification is now required to vote. c. proof of residency is now required to vote. d. proof of American citizenship is now required to vote.
a
The next census will be conducted in 2020, with a reapportionment completed soon after based on its results. Assuming the Texas population will increase from its 2010 total, as a result of this reapportionment, Texas will most likely a. gain seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. b. see no change in its allocation of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. c. lose seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. d. gain seats in the U.S. Senate.
a
The situation in which individuals receive the benefits of collective action without contributing is known as a. the "free rider problem." b. the "welfare state." c. "benefit stealing." d. "coattailing."
a
Ultimately, what do interest groups want from policymakers? a. They want policy that is beneficial for their groups. b. They want information that benefits their groups. c. They want monies for their special projects. d. They want unlimited access to the policymakers.
a
What is the main purpose of a primary election? a. to select a party's candidate for the general election b. to select a party's delegates for the state convention c. to select precinct chairs throughout the state d. to select a party's delegates for the precinct convention
a
When intraparty disputes split members into different groups, these groups are referred to as a. factions b. teams c. enemies d. subparties
a
Which individuals are legally disqualified from voting? a. individuals who have been legally declared mentally incompetent b. convicted felons who have received a pardon c. individuals who have been incarcerated in the past d. individuals who have lost their voter registration card
a
Which movement has had the largest impact on state legislative races in recent years? a. the Tea Party movement b. La Raza Unida c. the Libertarian movement d. the Green Party movement
a
Which of the following allowed the federal government to oversee the operation of elections at the state level until a Supreme Court ruling in 2013? a. the Voting Rights Act b. Article 10 of the U.S. Constitution c. the ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas d. the ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court case Nixon v. Condon
a
Which of the following tends to lower voter turnout? a. most elections are for low-visibility offices b. early voting c. detailed voter guides d. local elections occurring at the same time as presidential elections
a
Which party usually has the higher levels of turnout in Texas? a. Republican b. Democrat c. Tea Party d. Libertarian
a
Why don't Texans vote for third parties? a. Because Texas employs what is known as a "first past the post," single-member district electoral system, it makes it difficult for third party candidates to win elections. b. Third-party candidates really do not make a real effort to win. c. Third-party candidates do not establish clear-cut positions on issues where there is broad agreement. d. Third-party candidates develop a campaign strategy that is too narrowly focused.
a
a. Proportional representation b. Duverger's Law c. A single-member district d. Multimember representation
a
If an interest group "gets on the late train," it means a. the group's lobbyists are unable to gain access to key politicians until after all opposing lobbyists have been heard. b. an interest group gives contributions after the election to a winning candidate the group had earlier opposed. c. a political action committee donates money for a candidate in the general election but not in the primaries. d. an interest group picks up on an issue only after public-opinion polling shows a great deal of support.
b
In Grovey v. Townsend (1935), the U.S. Supreme Court found that the political parties could limit membership to white citizens only because a. the separate but equal interpretation of the Constitution applied since there were multiple parties in the state. b. the equal protection clause of the Constitution only applied to state action and not action by private groups. c. the establishment clause of the Constitution prevented the federal government from getting involved in the regulation of political parties at the state level. d. the elastic clause of the Constitution allows parties to limit their membership in any manner they see fit.
b
In a "nonpartisan" election, a. anyone voting in the election must not be a member of a political party. b. the party affiliations of candidates are not listed on the ballot. c. candidates participating in the election cannot be affiliated with a political party. d. only members of "third parties" can participate.
b
In order to gain access to politicians, interest groups will often a. provide the infrastructure, such as campaign signs and office staff, needed for the politician to get reelected. b. spend money on entertaining politicians. c. spend money to reward people for voting. d. threaten elected officials.
b
In recent presidential elections, Texas has: a. consistently supported the Democratic nominee. b. consistently supported the Republican nominee. c. consistently supported the Independent nominee. d. never consistently supported only one party's nominee.
b
Major state officials are elected in nonpresidential years because a. it is possible that independent and minor party candidates will also appear on general election ballots. b. it prevents popular presidential candidates from influencing the outcome of Texas races. c. it allows popular Republican presidential candidates to draw more than the usual number of Republican votes. d. it increases voter turnout.
b
Texans are increasingly identifying themselves as a. Republican b. Independent c. Democratic d. Libertarian
b
Texas was the first state in the South to a. impose a poll tax. b. ratify the women's suffrage amendment. c. elect a black governor. d. elect a Latino governor.
b
The Libertarian Party can be considered a. fiscal and social liberals. b. fiscal conservatives and social liberals. c. fiscal and social conservatives. d. fiscal liberals and social conservatives.
b
The Motor Voter Act of 1993 a. allows states to offer voters "drive-through" voting booths. b. allows citizens to register to vote while applying for a driver's license. c. restricts one's right to vote because of unpaid traffic tickets. d. was declared unconstitutional by the Texas Supreme Court.
b
The general election is held the first a. Monday in November of even-numbered years. b. Tuesday following the first Monday in November of even-numbered years. c. Tuesday following the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years. d. Monday in November of odd-numbered years.
b
The main role of the precinct conventions is to select delegates to the ________ and possibly to submit resolutions that may eventually become part of the party platform. a. state executive committee b. county convention c. precinct convention d. state convention
b
The mass exodus of more affluent whites from urban areas to suburban areas is sometimes referred to as a. urban withdrawal. b. white flight. c. tax-base erosion. d. urban racism.
b
The poll tax disenfranchised a. farmers. b. poor people. c. only Republicans. d. only Democrats.
b
The process of ________ involves recalculating how many congressional districts each state will receive based on the state's population. a. redistricting b. reapportionment c. preclearance d. census taking
b
Which of the following is the largest expense for most campaigns? a. transportation b. media ads c. staff salaries d. legal filings
b
Which of the following is/are employed to express the values of interest groups? a. pressure group b. lobbyists c. executive appointees d. legislative assistants
b
Which of these political action committees spend the least amount of money in Texas elections? a. agriculture b. labor unions c. business groups d. political parties
b
Which portion of the Texas government is responsible for redistricting in Texas? a. the governor b. the legislature c. the courts d. county courts at law
b
Why might parties at the state level have less power than those at the national level? a. The creation of party primaries took control of the nomination from party leaders and gave it to the voters. b. Voters are more concerned with policy proposals, such as public works programs, rather than partisanship. c. The rise of media campaigns made candidates more reliant on money than local party volunteers. d. Much needed funding is usually donated to the national party level, leaving states without much influence.
b
In Texas, political parties help candidates by providing a. legal assistance to respond to policy challenges. b. fundraising for constitutional amendments. c. training for a campaign. d. materials needed to run a negative campaign.
c
Members of the Texas Republican Party have become more conservative and members of the Texas Democratic Party have become more liberal. This evolution best defines a. partisan drift. b. partisan allegiance. c. partisan polarization. d. the two-party system.
c
Most lobbyists a. are women. b. are less educated but politically astute. c. have expertise in policy matters or personal relationships with legislators. d. are corrupt.
c
No Democrat has won Texas in a presidential race since ________. a. Barack Obama b. Bill Clinton c. Jimmy Carter d. Ann Richards
c
One of the advantages incumbents have when running for reelection is a. automatic funding from the state. b. automatic ballot access. c. name recognition and visibility. d. that they do not have to compete in primary elections.
c
One possible solution to reforming redistricting in Texas is to a. allow the lieutenant governor to break ties in the legislature. b. do away with redistricting altogether. c. take the process away from the legislature. d. take the process away from the precinct captains.
c
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. a. redistricting b. reapportionment c. preclearance d. external validation
c
What is the significance of the Supreme Court case Smith v. Allwright? a. The court declared the use of literacy tests a violation of the equal protection clause. b. The case compelled Texas to integrate Hispanic students into "whites only" public schools. c. It announced that in primary elections states could not restrict voters on account of race. d. It restricted the use of closed primaries.
c
Which of the following groups have had notable political success by litigating in federal courts? a. professional groups b. public employee interest groups c. civil rights groups d. chemical company lobbyists
c
Which of the following is most likely to happen when a public interest group mobilizes its members to support a piece of legislation? a. The interest group would deliver bundled funds to supportive members of the legislature. b. The interest group would have its members write a sample piece of legislation that could be used as a template by members of the legislature. c. The interest group would have its members write or call legislators urging them to vote for the legislation. d. The interest group would offer campaign support for friendly members of the legislature.
c
Which offshoot of the Democratic Party preselected candidates for the Democratic primary and prohibited African Americans from participating? a. the La Raza Unida b. the Ku Klux Klan c. the Jaybird Party d. the Shivercrats
c
Who plays the largest role in running political campaigns in Texas? a. the national party b. the state party c. the individual candidates d. social media
c
Women were given the right to vote in the United States with the passage of the a. Voting Rights Act of 1965. b. Fifteenth Amendment. c. Nineteenth Amendment. d. U.S. Supreme Court decision Newberry v. United States.
c
Political campaigns tend to spend the most money on which of the following? a. travel b. security c. fundraising d. media advertising
d
Scandals about the "steak men," Bo Pilgrim, and Gib Lewis resulted in a. restrictions on speaking fees. b. the creation of a state ethics commission. c. restrictions on pleasure trips. d. All of these are correct.
d
Since 1994, the state government of Texas a. has been controlled equally by the two major parties. b. often shifts in terms of which party is in control. c. has been dominated by the Democratic Party. d. has been dominated by the Republican Party.
d
The fundamental principles and positions supported by a political party are explained in the a. party guidebook. b. party primary. c. party manifesto. d. party platform.
d
The most important federal law involved in the expansion of voting rights and protections in Texas was the a. Civil Rights Act of 1964. b. passage of the Fifteenth Amendment. c. One-Person, One-Vote Act of 1972. d. Voting Rights Act of 1965.
d
The poll tax was made illegal in federal elections in ________ but remained legal in state elections in Texas until ________. a. 1966; 1964 b. 1902; 1966 c. 1902; 1964 d. 1964; 1966
d
The process of ________ occurs throughout our early years, when parents, religious leaders, teachers, and others influence our partisan identifications. a. acculturation b. political partisanship c. political culture d. political socialization
d
The requirements for getting on the ballot are set by a. the federal government. b. the parties. c. the county. d. the state.
d
What is the most basic and fundamental duty citizens have in a democracy? a. signing a petition b. attending a rally c. financial contributions d. voting
d
What is the most basic level of the permanent party organization in Texas? a. ward chair b. district chair c. county chair d. precinct chair
d
What resource(s) are interest groups able to use to influence politics? a. members b. ability to raise money c. credibility d. All of these are correct.
d
When deciding how to vote, people will use mental shortcuts. Political scientists call these shortcuts a. rubrics. b. mapping. c. work-arounds. d. cues.
d
When does interest-group capture occur? a. when the state agency refuses to meet with lobbyists from the interest group b. when the interest group takes over the get-out-the-vote effort for the candidate c. when the interest group mobilizes resources to challenge policy through the court system d. when the state agency primarily serves the objectives of the interest group
d
Which incentives do interest groups engage in to overcome the free rider problem? a. special discounts b. subscription to a magazine c. access to special information on the Internet d. All of these are correct.
d
Which of the following advantages do better-funded interest groups have? a. time b. money c. expertise d. All of these are correct.
d
Which of the following is a way in which parties help voters during elections? a. recruit nominees for office b. raise money c. provide volunteers to serve as election judges d. give voters a party label they can identify with when deciding how to vote
d
Which statement correctly describes the requirements for membership in a major political party in Texas? a. An individual must apply for membership through a formal process. b. An individual must have voted in two party primaries in successive elections. c. One must be a registered voter in the state of Texas and 21 years of age. d. With no requirements, a registered voter simply chooses which party primary to vote in.
d
Who argued in Federalist 10 that "factions" would play an important role in American politics? a. George Washington b. Ben Franklin c. Thomas Paine d. James Madison
d
(TRUE/FALSE) 1. If everyone acted as free riders, there would be more interest groups and problems would be solved more quickly.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 1. Primaries are the final elections to be held in the election cycle.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 10. Texas has strong laws dealing with lobbying from former government officials.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 10. The Republican Party was the dominant force in Texas politics throughout most of the 1900s.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 12. Photo ID cards issued by colleges and universities in Texas are acceptable forms of identification to cast a vote in any Texas election.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 12. The Dixiecrat movement led by Strom Thurmond in 1948 opposed the segregationist ideas of President Harry S. Truman.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 14. The Motor Voter law requires a voter to have a driver's license.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 15. Blue Dog Democrats are becoming more and more popular in Texas.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 15. To register to vote in Texas, a person must have been a resident of Texas for at least 90 days.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 16. Latinos have the largest percentage share of voters in Texas.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 19. Dark money is political money that comes from donors whose names must always be disclosed.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 19. Reapportionment involves the determination of how district lines will be drawn in each state for the state legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 2. Local issues are always ideological in nature.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 20. Texans tend to be more politically involved than the national average.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 20. Texans tend to vote at higher rates than the national average.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 3. Texas Republicans have held all major statewide elected offices since 1980.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 4. Texas requires people to designate party affiliation when registering to vote.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 5. A lobbyist is an individual employed by a political action committee who tries to influence governmental decisions on behalf of that group.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 5. General elections in Texas are always held on the third Tuesday of November.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 5. The Libertarian Party is both socially and economically liberal.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 7. Dates for special elections are specified by the Texas Secretary of State, who oversees and administers all elections in Texas.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 8. Gaining access to politicians through personal connections is a violation of Texas state laws.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 8. In Texas, the most local level of a party organization is the county.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 8. It is relatively easy for an independent candidate to get on the Texas ballot.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 9. Only the federal government can set the requirements for getting on the ballot.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 9. The primary function of the precinct convention is to write the party platform.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 11. Most third-party candidates in Texas are unsuccessful in their electoral bids.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 16. EMILY's List is a national political action committee that provides campaign contributions to female candidates only during the 30 days immediately before the election.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 18. One proposal to reform redistricting in Texas is to remove the Texas legislature from the process.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 2. Interest groups typically have more time, money, and expertise to offer politicians than do average citizens.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 2. The Texas Constitution and election laws call the Texas system a closed primary because one must declare one's party affiliation before voting, but in practice it is an open primary.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 21. One reason for low levels of voter turnout in Texas is the low level of educational attainment in the state.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 22. Republicans won every statewide election in Texas between 1994 and 2018.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 3. Interest groups must make sure that they maintain their credibility with policymakers.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 3. Some blame the relatively low voter turnout for Texas elections on the frequency of elections and the large number of candidates.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 4. One important way of gaining access to those in government is to employ former officials as lobbyists.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 4. Primary elections in Texas are generally held in March.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 6. Entertaining politicians is one of the most critical ways for lobbyists to gain access.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 6. In Texas, special elections are used to fill vacancies in office and to give approval to borrow money.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 6. Texas Democrats have been relegated to minority status in the state since 1994.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 7. Interest groups offer incentives to join, such as selective benefits, to overcome the free rider problem.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 7. Partisan polarization makes it difficult to get legislation passed in the legislature.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 9. The influence on the political system that business leaders gain through lobbying fundraising can be viewed as part of the traditionalistic-individualistic political culture that is dominant in Texas.
t
Prior to the 1970s, how often did voters have to register to vote? a. every 5 years b. yearly c. only if they moved d. every 10 years
b
When individuals or interest groups take out ads concerning a campaign issue but do not tie them directly to any particular candidate, it is called a. soft money spending. b. bundling c. issue advocacy. d. direct advocacy.
c
In Texas, primary elections are usually held in
March
Interest groups will often try to get _______________ to write letters or call legislators to show their support for the group's position on a particular issue. a. constituents b. influencers c. lobbyists d. other government officials
a
The fastest-growing demographic group in Texas is ________, the majority of whom vote ________. a. Latino; Democratic b. white; Democratic c. Latino; Republican d. African American; Republican
a
A private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns is called a(n) a. interest group. b. political action committee. c. campaign revenue association. d. advocacy association.
b
Battleground Texas is a get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort undertaken by which group? a. The Texas Republican Party b. The Texas Democratic Party c. The Texas Medical Association d. The American Legislative Exchange Council
b
Between 1927 and 1949, how many Republicans were in the Texas legislature? a. 15 b. 0 c. 25 d. 50
b
By about the 1940s, a split between liberals and conservatives developed in the Democratic Party that focused on a. labor and civil liberties measures. b. New Deal economic policies and civil rights measures. c. education and civil rights measures. d. war and New Deal economic policies.
b
Compared to the national average, Texans tend to rank ______________ on measures that are related to civic engagement. a. in the top 5 percent b. near the bottom c. in the upper 25 percent d. in the middle
b
For an independent candidate to get on the ballot in Texas, which requirement he or she must meet? a. He or she must obtain signatures on a petition from registered voters. The signatures must equal 30 percent of the total votes in the last governor's race. b. He or she must get petition signatures from registered voters who did not participate in any political party primary election. c. He or she must begin collecting signatures before the major party primaries are held. d. He or she can only collect signatures from legal residents of Texas who are over the age of 21.
b
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? a. photo ID card issued by colleges and universities b. Department of Public Safety-issued concealed handgun license c. a hunting and fishing photo ID d. an occupational photo ID
b
In Texas, special elections are used to a. determine election dates. b. ratify amendments to the Texas Constitution. c. approve a vote of no confidence. d. impeach a corrupt politician.
b
Political parties are now using social media in order to a. conduct exit polling. b. mobilize voters. c. filibuster in the Senate. d. facilitate nonpartisan elections.
b
Presidential Republicanism describes a pattern when Texan voters would vote for a Republican president and a. conservative Republicans for state offices. b. conservative Democrats for state offices. c. conservative Democrats for the U.S. House and Senate. d. conservative Republicans for the U.S. House and Senate.
b
The two most important factors that determine whether someone votes are a. age and income level. b. income level and education. c. education and ethnicity. d. ethnicity and age.
b
What was the problem Speaker Sam Rayburn identified with the "steak men" at the beginning of the twentieth century? a. They were politicians who were in the pocket of the cattle industry. b. They were legislators who would "sell" their votes on a bill for free steak dinners. c. They were legislators who would attempt to cut all the meat out of the budgets. d. They were lobbyists who Rayburn said were full of "bull."
b
When Tip O'Neill said, "all politics is local," he was talking about how a. powerful local interests are in state politics. b. local issues are not generally ideological. c. all meaningful decisions are made by state and local governments. d. the federal government only has powers granted to it by state governments.
b
Which U.S. Supreme Court case in 2009 created the opportunity for those opposed to powerful incumbents to create organizations without having to disclose their donors? a. Clinton v. Patriot Citizens b. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission c. McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission d. Bush v. Federal Election Commission
b
An interest group that serves as an umbrella organization to coordinate the activities of member groups in specific targeted areas is known as a(n) a. coordination association. b. facilitation cooperation. c. peak association. d. interest group coalition.
c
Arguably, the largest and most effective public employee interest group in Texas is made up of a. firefighters. b. police officers c. teachers. d. justices of the peace.
c
Between 2008 and 2018, countywide elections in Dallas County a. were split 50-50 by Democrats and Republicans. b. were swept by Republicans. c. were swept by Democrats. d. were split equally by Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians.
c
By forming a political action committee (PAC), the interest group can show a candidate that a. it has a strategy to maximize Astroturf lobbying to its fullest extent. b. it is prepared to give incidentals to the most deserving incumbent. c. its members care very deeply about an issue and are willing to donate money to support the group's position on the issue. d. it has a better strategy to write legislation than the member of the legislature.
c
Candidates for state office and lobbyists have to file quarterly reports detailing their spending and donations with which agency? a. Texas Financial Regulation Commission b. Texas Reporting Commission c. Texas Ethics Commission d. Texas Elections Commission
c
During the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875, which interest group played an important role? a. 8F Crowd b. Halliburton Company c. the Grange d. AAA
c
Duverger's Law states that a. proportional representation systems result in two-party systems. b. one-party systems are the result of white flight. c. single-member district systems result in two-party systems. d. presidential Republicanism results in ticket splitting.
c
Texas has ________ laws dealing with lobbying by former government officials. a. no b. numerous c. weak d. strong
c
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) provides what kind of assistance to conservative state legislators across the country? a. ALEC provides experienced campaign managers to help run reelection campaigns. b. ALEC sponsors voter registration drives. c. ALEC writes pieces of legislation and helps get the legislation passed. d. ALEC screens judicial nominees to ensure quality people are selected to serve as judges.
c
The Latino movement known as La Raza Unida occurred during the a. 1920s. b. 1940s. c. 1960s. d. 1980s.
c
The ________ convention is a meeting held by a political party following its precinct convention for the purpose of electing delegates to its state convention. a. city b. regional c. precinct convention d. state convention
c
The ________ movement was a movement during the 1950s in which conservative Democrats in Texas supported Republican candidate Dwight Eisenhower for the presidency because many of those conservative Democrats believed that the national Democratic Party had become too liberal. a. Dixiecrat b. La Raza Unida c. Shivercrat d. Constitutionalist
c
The poll tax was made illegal in federal elections with the passage of the: a. Voting Right Act of 1965 b. 19th Amendment c. 24th Amendment d. Civil Rights Act of 1964
c
The practice of combining several individual campaign contributions into one larger contribution from a group in order to increase the group's impact is known as a. bribery b. PAC-ing c. bundling d. soft money
c
Which statement concerning women's suffrage is correct? a. Women were given the right to vote in the original Constitution of 1876. b. The Texas Constitution was amended in 1899 to permit women to vote. c. Women were permitted to vote in all elections in Texas with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. d. Women were given full suffrage rights in Texas in 1932.
c
6. A closed primary allows only those individuals who________ to participate. a. are registered voters b. possess a voter regristration c. are first-time voters d. are a registered member of their political party
d
A ________ was a state-imposed tax on voters as a prerequisite for voting. a. registration tax b. voter tax c. registration fee d. poll tax
d
Approximately what percentage of the state's voting-age population is registered to vote? a. 25 percent b. 55 percent c. 90 percent d. 70 percent
d
By allowing voters to make decisions on changes to the state constitution, Texas lets voters a. remove individuals from office for abuse of power. b. authorize cities and municipalities to borrow money. c. decide which components of the federal law will be integrated into state law. d. alter public policy within the state.
d
How much can an individual donate to a campaign for a state-level, nonjudicial office, such as for governor? a. $1500 b. $5000 c. $2500 d. There is no limit.
d
In Texas today, rural areas have become more ______________, while urban areas have become more ___________. a. nonpartisan; Libertarian b. Shivercrat; Tea Party c. Democratic; Republican d. Republican; Democratic
d
In the post-Civil War era, the only parts of Texas that showed significant Republican leanings were a. counties in the Panhandle. b. rural areas in East Texas. c. counties located along the Rio Grande River. d. German counties in the Texas Hill Country.
d
Interest groups often employ _____________________ as lobbyists in order to gain access to those in Texas government. a. retired sports stars b. political science majors c. Republican campaign consultants d. former legislators and government officials
d
Most of the African American population of Texas is concentrated in a. the Panhandle b. West Texas c. suburban Brownsville d. East Texas
d
What event marked a significant change in how Texans began to vote not only in presidential elections but also in state elections? a. Michael Dukakis won Texas in 1988. b. George H. W. Bush moved to Texas. c. George H. W. Bush won Texas in the general election of 2000. d. Ronald Reagan was elected as President.
d
Why are Texas Republicans considered to be in a divided moment? a. because Republicans are divided over Latino voter recruitment b. because coalition between the Latino and African American voters has dominated Texas politics in recent years, and the Tea Party movement is becoming more influential within Texas politics and government c. because of the rise of independent voters and the growing influence of the Tea Party movement d. because there is tension between pro-business Republicans, who have traditionally dominated Texas politics, and the Tea Party movement that is becoming more influential within Texas politics and government
d
________ was the first Republican to hold the office of Texas governor since the end of Reconstruction. a. Ann Richards b. George W. Bush c. Rick Perry d. William R. Clements
d
(TRUE/FALSE) 11. Some of Texas's biggest lobby spenders are groups that include the interests of consumers, the environment, or human services.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 14. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Texas was a competitive, two-party state.
f
(TRUE/FALSE) 17. Interest groups representing labor organizations dominate Texas politics.
f
Most Texas Democrats today would be classified as
liberal
4. What type of primary allows a voter to choose on Election Day which party they will vote for?
open primary
(TRUE/FALSE) 1. Texas voters often use the party affiliation of the candidates as a way to make voting decisions.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 10. Social media is an important fundraising tool because it is less costly to solicit campaign contributions using social media than through other methods.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 11. In 2011, the Texas legislature passed a voter identification law that requires a government-issued photo identification in order to vote.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 12. In Texas, teachers make up an important public employee interest group.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 13. Civil rights groups have had success using the court system to further their members' interests.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 13. Duverger's Law states that single-member districts result in two-party systems.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 13. Poll taxes, such as those used in Texas, disenfranchised poor voters.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 14. Because of the incumbency advantage, it is far safer for interest groups to try to work with incumbents than challengers.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 15. Political action committees help interest groups bundle campaign donations.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 16. Texas instituted early voting in order to expand participation.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 17. Anglo Texan voter turnout levels are higher than Latino turnout levels.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 17. The Tea Party movement is strong in Texas.
t
(TRUE/FALSE) 18. Incumbents are most likely to receive large campaign contributions.
t
