Inquizitive Chapter 4

Which method did groups like MALDEF and the NAACP use with great success to expand voting rights?

litigation

What was the basis of the Supreme Court ruling (Smith v. Allwright) that ended the White primary in Texas?

parties carry out an important state function

Local elections, like those for city council or school boards of trustees, are nonpartisan elections. However, many candidates in major urban centers use party labels in their campaign material. What is the logic behind this behavior?

party labels are used as information shortcuts by voters

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

White primary

Texas shifted from a Democratic-dominated state to a Republican-dominated state as Texas voters adopted a more conservative political ideology.

false

Candidates running for state offices must file detailed ____ reports listing campaign donations and expenditures with the ____.

quarterly Texas Ethics Commission.

What are the three most powerful partisan factions in the state?

Correct Answer(s) Democrats business-friendly Republicans Tea Party groups Incorrect Answer(s) environment-focused Democrats

Why is the characterization of Texas as a "deep red" state misleading?

The republican party is divided

For much of the twentieth century, why was the Texas Democratic primary election so important?

The winner would nearly always win the general election

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

-party primary -precinct convention -county/ district convention -state convention

No Democratic presidential nominee has won Texas since (1). Republicans captured most statewide offices in Texas for the first time in (2). In recent years, the most competitive statewide election was the (3) Senate race between Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke

1)1976 2)1994 3)2018

Match each party office or committee to the function it carries out.

Precinct Chair: represents a portion of the county on the county executive committee and is the head of precinct convention 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 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 County Executive Committee: runs the county primary and convention and sets policy for the county party

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

- midterm - presidential candidates

Conservative Democrats, also known as ____, have been marginalized in the national party because of their ____.

Blue Dog Democrats social conservatism

Identify the functions of political parties.

Correct Answer(s) Political parties raise money for candidates' campaigns. Political parties select candidates to run as members of the party. Political parties are held accountable to the electorate. Incorrect Answer(s) Political parties are responsible for enforcing "ideological purity."

Which of the following do opponents of voter ID laws in Texas argue?

Correct Answer(s) Voter ID laws do not preserve the integrity of the electoral system. Voter ID laws address a problem that does not exist. Voter ID laws minimize Democratic turnout in order to help state Republicans. Incorrect Answer(s) Voter ID laws have little public support.

The ____ has established itself as a party of limited government that is liberal on social issues, whereas ____ established itself as a political force to get Latino officials elected to public office.

Libertarian Party La Raza Unida

Match the voting reform with the effect it had on elections.

Smith v. Allwright: ended the use of the white primary Twenty-Fourth Amendment: eliminated the poll tax in federal elections Voting Rights Act of 1965: granted the federal government authority to register voters and enforce voting laws Nineteenth Amendment: granted women's suffrage in federal elections

What is the relationship between the temporary party organizations and the permanent party organizations?

Temporary organizations determine the leadership and direction of the party

In 2018, in Harris County alone, the Houston Chronicle documented a total of 76 contested judicial races. More than 20 contested district and county judicial races appeared on the Bexar County ballots. What is the biggest effect that electing so many public officials has on voters?

Voters rely on part labels

Because Texas requires voters to declare which party primary they wish to vote in when they arrive at the polling place, the Texas primary system is technically which of the following?

closed primary

Campaigns spend millions of dollars on printing, transportation, media advertising, and other expenses, which explains why many have turned to which of the following to reduce the costs of campaigning?

social media

Which of the following years were important turning points in the Republican Party's growth in Texas?

Correct Answer(s) 2002 2015 1984 Incorrect Answer(s) 1965

Which voter groups are most likely to be part of the Democratic Party electoral coalition?

Correct Answer(s) African Americans liberal Whites Latinos Incorrect Answer(s) evangelical Christians Catholics suburban Whites

Study the information in the Texas and the Nation infographic to determine which of the following statements are accurate.

Correct Answer(s) Black Texans were more likely to support Biden for president than Black Californians were. Latinos in Texas were more likely to support Trump for president than were Latino Americans in general. White Texans supported Trump for president at a much higher rate than White Americans in general did. Incorrect Answer(s) Asian voters in Texas were more likely to support Biden than Asian voters in California were. In both Texas and California, White voters gave a majority of their support to Trump.

What are the consequences of the continued growth of party polarization?

Correct Answer(s) Fewer moderates are elected to public office. Gridlock has increased in legislatures. Incorrect Answer(s) Voter turnout has decreased. Elections for public office are more competitive.

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

Correct Answer(s) New residents from out of state could change the Texas electorate. Tea Party-backed Republicans could move too far to the right. Texas Democrats could begin attracting stronger statewide candidates. Incorrect Answer(s) The large secession movement in Texas might grow in strength.

Which of the following statements about party platforms are accurate?

Correct Answer(s) Party platforms state the beliefs and policy goals candidates will pursue if elected. Incorrect Answer(s) Members of a party pledge to follow each part of the party's platform. Most voters study party platforms closely. Party platforms are published by major newspapers before primaries to inform voters.

Evaluate the information in the table to determine which statements are best supported by the data. Table 5.3

Correct Answer(s) Republican Party dominance provides the party's candidates with fund-raising advantages. Significant fund-raising advantages do not always translate into large electoral victories. The difference in base party support between Republicans and Democrats is around 10 percent. Incorrect Answer(s) Democratic candidates raise about one-fourth of the funds their Republican opponents do.

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

Correct Answer(s) Republicans have dominated the state legislature since the early 2000s. Since the 1980s, Texans have been consistently supportive of Republican candidates for president. Presidential Republicanism began after a split between conservative and liberal Democrats during the 1952 presidential election. Incorrect Answer(s) Republicans have enjoyed unprecedented unity within their party which has allowed them to largely achieve their goals. Republicans have seen their base expand in urban areas as the population has grown.

Which of the following are the most likely causes for low voter turnout in Texas elections?

Correct Answer(s) Texas holds its elections during nonpresidential election years. There are so many candidates for office that voters are simply overloaded with elections and candidates. Incorrect Answer(s) The Texas government makes every effort to enhance voter knowledge of candidates. Voters tend to be overwhelmed with information about their candidates.

Which of the following factors may contribute to low voting participation rates in Texas?

Correct Answer(s) income education low levels of knowledge about political candidates Incorrect Answer(s) high levels of competition between parties

What are the likely effects of continued party polarization in state and national politics?

Correct Answer(s) increased levels of rhetoric and hyperbole as politicians attempt to be seen as strong by party voters an increase in the ideological extremism of appointees increased gridlock and a reduction in the passage of legislation Incorrect Answer(s) increased split-ticket voting by voters in general elections

Which of the following demographic factors have affected Texas politics?

Correct Answer(s) interstate migration increasing urbanization mixed party affiliation in the suburbs Incorrect Answer(s) growing support for Democrats in rural areas increasing Latino political participation in rural areas

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

Correct Answer(s) party label interest group endorsements endorsements from large newspapers incumbency Incorrect Answer(s) televised debates

Texas voters use elections to do which of the following?

Correct Answer(s) select leaders authorize action by the government determine party candidates for office authorize government borrowing Incorrect Answer(s) approve appointees of the governor impeach elected officials

In the early twentieth century, some male public officials argued that women should not be allowed to vote because they could not perform other functions considered part of the basic duties of citizenship, since these were also illegal for women to do. Which of the following were considered to be the most basic responsibilities of citizenship?

Correct Answer(s) serve as a juror in a trial serve as an authorized deputy in emergencies serve in the military Incorrect Answer(s) serve as a public employee

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.

In which of the following ways does the population of Texas differ from that of other states in the American South?

Texas has a smaller African American Population

Which of the following statements about Republican performance in presidential elections in Texas is accurate?

For the last decade, the Republican share of the Texas vote in presidential elections has been in decline.

Match each election type with its correct descriptions.

Primary Election: - Voters determine the candidates who will run for office for each party - The winner is the candidate who receives a majority of the votes Special Election: - Voters approve or reject borrowing by government entities to assume long-term debt - Elections called by the governor to fill vacancies - Voters approve amendments to the Texas Constitution

The major cities of Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Austin, and El Paso have all emerged as Democratic strongholds in the state of Texas. What other area of the state is also considered a Democratic stronghold?

Rio Grande Valley

Based on the information in the table and the fact that Republican candidates for statewide office who win the primaries have gone on to win the general election since 2000, what can we deduce about who is choosing the people who have led the state?

around 10 percent of voters have chosen the leaders of texas

What characteristic of political socialization is most likely to lead to the adoption of a political ideology?

consistent messages from external influences

Income and ____ are the two biggest factors considered in determining ____, a leading indicator of whether a person, or group of people, will be politically active.

education socioeconomic status

The exit poll information in the graph best illustrates which concept about the differences in voter preferences?

gender gap

Political parties conduct campaigns to achieve what goal?

get control of government

The elections in 2018 and 2020 showed what new trend in the geographic strengths of the political parties?

growing influence of democrats in suburbs

Third-party and independent candidates struggle to get on the ballot and effectively compete in elections because of formal and informal barriers. Match each barrier with the category of barrier in which it belongs.

informal barrier - The candidate needs to educate voters on issue positions. - Voters believe that third-party and independent candidates can't win. - The candidate lacks a party affiliation. formal barrier - The candidate can collect signatures only between the primary runoff and August. - The candidate must file an intent form. - The candidate must get 1 percent of eligible voters to sign a petition.

Match each characteristic with the type of election it describes.

primary election - held on the first Tuesday in March - includes all candidates who filed to be the party nominee general election - held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November - allows voters to choose who will hold office - includes third-party and independent candidates primary runoff - held in May - allows voters to choose between the top two candidates from a party who didn't get a majority

Match each issue with its corresponding faction of the Republican Party.

religious right - school prayer - abortion - birth gender bathroom use economic conservatives - reduced government spending - limited government regulation

In Texas, ____have a larger influence in the ____ than other groups because of their high voter turnout rate, even though they have a smaller population percentage than in other southern states.

African Americans Democratic Party

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

Correct Answer(s) A significant number of Latinos in Texas are not citizens and cannot vote. Many Latinos are too young to vote. Incorrect Answer(s) Latinos are not motivated by current political issues in Texas and the United States. Latinos have not been candidates for important offices in Texas, depressing turnout.

Which of the following factors help explain why Texas has the nation's lowest voter turnout?

Correct Answer(s) the voter identification law too many elections and too many candidates a younger and less educated population too many low-visibility offices Incorrect Answer(s) the practice of holding elections for Texas state office during presidential election years

Match the policy position with the party it most closely represents.

Democratic Party - expansion of access to health care - path for citizenship for undocumented workers - expansion of civil rights Republican Party - restrictions on abortion - deregulation of business - enforcement of immigration law by local governments

One way some states have tried to increase voter turnout is by expanding the period of time people are allowed to vote through early voting periods before Election Day. When early voting was introduced, many predicted this would favor ____. However, in 2020 ____ were more likely to vote early. And on Election Day more ____ also voted in person.

Democrats Republicans Republicans

The following excerpt from the opinion in Shelby County v. Holder makes what justification for the ruling of the Court in the case? The Voting Rights Act of 1965 employed extraordinary measures to address an extraordinary problem. Section 5 of the Act required States to obtain federal permission before enacting any law related to voting—a drastic departure from basic principles of federalism. And §4 of the Act applied that requirement only to some States—an equally dramatic departure from the principle that all States enjoy equal sovereignty.[...]Nearly 50 years later, they are still in effect; indeed, they have been made more stringent, and are now scheduled to last until 2031. There is no denying, however, that the conditions that originally justified these measures no longer characterize voting in the covered jurisdictions. By 2009, "the racial gap in voter registration and turnout [was] lower in the States originally covered by §5 than it [was] nationwide." ... Since that time, Census Bureau data indicate that African-American voter turnout has come to exceed white voter turnout in five of the six States originally covered by §5, with a gap in the sixth State of less than one half of one percent.

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

Which summary best captures the information found in the table below?

The Texas population change in the last 30 years has made Texas more closely resemble the American Southwest than the American South.

How did the Democratic Party of the 1940s and 1950s try to get around the Supreme Court's efforts to end the exclusion of non-Whites from the primary process in Smith v. Allwright?

democrats created an outside group to narrow the field of candidates

Determine which of the following statements is best supported by this quote from a New York Times article. The [North Carolina] congressional delegation, in a purple state in which neither party had a distinct edge, was at the time made up of 10 Republicans and three Democrats. A key goal, lawmakers said, was "to maintain the current partisan makeup of North Carolina's congressional delegation.""I think electing Republicans is better than electing Democrats," explained David Lewis, a Republican member of the General Assembly's redistricting committee. "So I drew this map to help foster what I think is better for the country." Source: Adam Liptak, "Supreme Court Bars Challenges to Partisan Gerrymandering," New York Times, June 27, 2019

redistricting is a purely political process

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

true