GOVT Final
Article VI of the U.S. Constitution contains the a. supremacy clause. b. separation of powers clause. c. necessary and proper clause. d. delegate powers.
a. supremacy clause
In a few words define Public Policy (in a narrow sense), and name the four different stages of the policy-making process.
Exposes goals of a government backed by incentives or sanctions. 1. Problem identification . 2. Policy formulation . 3. policy imp???
Define the term federalism
System of government where power is divided between central government and regional government
What is political Socialization? Name at least, four agents of political socialization.
Teaching introduction of individuals into the political culture leaning the ???????? and values
The Texas Supreme Court consists of ________ justices. a. 9 b. 7 c. 12 d. 3
a. 9
In the state of Texas, what is the policy for felons' right to vote? a. Felons are allowed to vote upon full discharge of their sentences. b. Felons are allowed to vote upon full discharge of their sentences and completed community service. c. Felons are allowed to vote only if their convictions involved crimes lesser than third-degree felonies. d. Felons are allowed to vote only upon governor approval.
a. Felons are allowed to vote upon full discharge of their sentence
In 2014, ________ was elected governor of Texas. a. Greg Abbott b. Wendy Davis c. Rick Perry d. Bill Clements
a. Greg Abbott
In Texas, primary elections are usually held in a. March. b. April. c. May. d. August.
a. March
________ is the degree to which Republicans have become more conservative and Democrats have become more liberal. a. Partisan polarization b. The party line c. The party platform d. Party identification
a. Partisan polarization
________ refers to the idea that policy makers have formulated and implemented policy that addresses problems in an optimal or efficient manner. a. Rationality b. Bounded rationality c. Policy accountability d. Systemic agenda
a. Rationality
Interest groups are best seen as a. an organization 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. an organization established to influence the government's programs and policies
Federal judges are a. appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. b. appointed for seven years and then run for election. c. elected in partisan elections. d. appointed by the president and confirmed by the House of Representatives.
a. appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
What types of cases does the Texas Supreme Court hear? a. civil appeals b. appeals on civil and criminal cases c. both trial and appeals in tort-law cases d. final appeals on all civil and death penalty cases
a. civil appeals
A system of government in which power is divided between a central government and regional governments is known as a. federalism. b. unitarianism. c. confederation. d. separation of powers.
a. federalism
The system of distributing powers between states and a central government is called a. federalism. b. separation of powers. c. constitutionalism. d. filtration.
a. federalism
A serious criminal offense that subjects a person to state prison punishment is a(n) a. felony. b. indictment. c. petty crime. d. misdemeanor.
a. felony.
For a county to have a fire code, state law requires the county to a. have a population of more than 250,000. b. have a population of more than 1 million. c. have a full-time fire department. d. have a special district called emergency services.
a. have a population of more than 250,000.
Which of the following types of political culture stresses the importance of the individual and private initiative? a. individualistic b. traditionalistic c. moralistic d. socialistic
a. individualistic
Federal judges have a. lifetime appointments. b. to serve eight years before they are considered for reappointment. c. to serve with the consent of the voters. d. to be pro-life.
a. lifetime appointments
Which of the following would best characterize traditional, individualistic political culture? a. low taxes and minimized social services b. government is expected to take action to advance the public welfare c. government policies designed to benefit the political elite d. encouragement of active participation in government
a. low taxes and minimized social services
During the Nullification Crisis of 1833, South Carolina tried to assert the right to veto (or nullify) a. national legislation passed by Congress. b. actions taken by the North Carolina and Georgia militias. c. Supreme Court rulings. d. presidential cabinet appointments.
a. national legislation passed by congress
A defining characteristic of federalism is that a. rather than being held exclusively or primarily by one body, governing authority is divided at different levels between several bodies. b. the federal government wields ultimate authority in all matters. c. state governments can nullify the exercise of unpopular federal laws within their own states' boundaries. d. state governments exist primarily to enact laws established by the national government.
a. rather than being held exclusively or primarily by one body, governing authority is divided at different levels between several bodies
Which amendment was commonly referred to as the States' Rights Amendment? a. the Tenth Amendment b. the Seventeenth Amendment c. the Nineteenth Amendment d. the Sixteenth Amendment
a. the Tenth Amendment
In 2003, state political leaders found themselves staring at a $10 billion shortfall in the upcoming budget period. One way to close the budget gap without raising taxes was a. to cut higher education funding. b. to allow universities the option to approve a four-year fixed tuition program. c. to allocate monies to UT Austin from the state's Permanent University Fund. d. to allocate monies to other Texas schools from the Available University Fund.
a. to cut higher education funding
Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment enabled people to join together and seek policy change in a number of ways EXCEPT by a. providing like-minded individuals an organizational structure for discussing problems and offering solutions. b. providing a vehicle for working with other organizations like the Texas Association of School Administrators, which was also concerned with testing. c. raising money to help pay for their efforts. d. successfully removing the end-of-year course exams.
a. to select a party's candidate for the general election
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. to select a party's candidate for the general election
The highest fine an individual can receive upon criminal sentencing is a. $5,000. b. $10,000. c. $20,000. d. $50,000.
b. $10,000.
Why must the Texas legislature maintain a balanced budget? a. It is required by the U.S. Constitution. b. It is required by the Texas Constitution. c. Each legislative session decides to balance or not balance the state budget. d. The Texas Office of the Comptroller writes the state budget.
b. It is required by the Texas Constitution.
Which of the following is NOT a function of county government in Texas? a. supervising road and bridge maintenance b. administering water districts c. setting a county's tax rates d. maintaining the county jail
b. administering water districts
The most serious felony is ________, for which the penalty can be death or life imprisonment without parole. a. aggravated assault b. capital murder c. aggravated kidnapping d. aggravated sexual assault
b. capital murder
The governor of Texas has a. strong formal powers granted by the Texas Constitution. b. few formal powers, so the office is one of the weakest chief executives in the United States. c. the power to appoint all officials in the executive branch. d. the sole responsibility for budget making.
b. few formal powers, so the office is one of the weakest chief executives in the United States.
The most important goal of political parties is to a. fund political candidates. b. gain control of government through popular elections. c. organize political rallies. d. organize PACs.
b. gain control of government through popular elections
The Texas legislature takes office in January a. biennially. b. in even-numbered years. c. every year. d. in odd-numbered years.
b. in even-numbered years
Texas counties have their origins a. in the Texas Constitution. b. in municipalities. c. in the federal government. d. with the United States Supreme Court.
b. in municipalities.
Which of the following is a step in the policy-making cycle? a. agenda setting b. policy evaluation c. agenda formulation d. agenda identification
b. policy evaluation
States that exhibit a distinctive culture that is the "product of their entire history" are an example of a. political behavior. b. political culture. c. politics. d. state's rights.
b. political culture
Which of the following steps in the policy-making cycle occurs first? a. formulation b. problem identification c. evaluation d. agenda setting
b. problem identification
County commissioners are often called a. little legislatures. b. road commissioners. c. little council. d. special district.
b. road commissioners.
The Texas governor was very powerful, and many regarded state government as oppressive and corrupt, under which constitution? a. the Constitution of 1976 b. the Reconstruction Constitution of 1869 c. the Constitution of 1866 d. the Constitution of 1861
b. the Reconstruction Constitution of 1869
In the Texas legislature, the House has ________ members and the Senate has ________ members. a. 435; 100 b. 100; 25 c. 150; 31 d. 31; 150
c. 150; 31
What do some argue is the one advantage of a plural executive in Texas? a. It allows the governor to pursue innovative policymaking. b. It decreases conflict between the executive and legislative branches. c. It constrains the governor in the pursuit of excessive policies. d. It facilitates the coordination of public policy.
c. It constrains the governor in the pursuit of excessive policies.
________ are less serious crimes. a. Felonies b. Juvenile crimes c. Misdemeanors d. Aggravated assaults
c. Misdemeanors
Why does it matter who is Speaker of the Texas House? a. The Speaker is as powerful or more powerful than the governor. b. The Speaker must be able to appoint key Democrats as chairs of committees that support the Republican agenda. c. The Speaker sets the legislative agenda. d. The Speaker must be able to work with the Tea Party on issues.
c. The Speaker sets the legislative agenda.
Why are Texas counties important? a. They create and regulate cities. b. They act as legislative bodies, making most of the local laws. c. They provide the main form of government in rural areas. d. They have very broad governmental powers.
c. They provide the main form of government in rural areas.
What type of primary allows a voter to choose on Election Day which party they will vote for? a. closed primary b. semiclosed primary c. open primary d. crossover voting primary
c. open primary
Texas officially uses which method to select state judges? a. nonpartisan election b. merit plan c. partisan election d. appointment by governor
c. partisan election
All Texas legislators are elected using a. multiple-member districts. b. floating districts. c. single-member districts. d. regional districts.
c. single-member districts.
Traditionalistic political cultures, according to Daniel Elazar, are typically found in the a. Northeast. b. West. c. South. d. Midwest
c. south
The primary goal of interest groups is to a. influence all branches of government at all levels. b. mobilize citizens. c. testify before legislative committees. d. inform and educate public officials.
c. testify before legislative committees.
Political culture is a term used to describe a. the level of education and learning in a particular state. b. the degree of public support for the arts. c. the broadly shared values and beliefs about government. d. the amount of partisan bickering in a state.
c. the broadly shared values and beliefs about government
Political parties to some extent help in a. assisting candidates with legal challenges to policy. b. raising money for constitutional amendments. c. training for a campaign. d. negative campaigning.
c. training for a campaign
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. All of these are correct.
Which factor(s) related to public finance will work against a return to highly regulated tuition and fees? a. State political leaders want costs held down, but few want to return all decision making about tuition back to the legislature. b. Most political leaders recognized that if Texas wants to build high-quality universities, someone has to pay for them. c. The legislature has been unwilling to allocate more general revenue monies directly to fund higher education, even in an era of rapidly escalated costs in the industry. d. All of these are correct.
d. All of these are correct.
What does the Texas Constitution contain that the U.S. Constitution does not? a. Bill of Rights b. separation of powers c. supremacy clause d. equal rights amendment
d. Equal rights amendment
________ percent of the world's population lives in the countries that are organized around a federal principle where there is a national government and regional government. a. Ten b. Twenty c. Thirty d. Forty
d. Forty
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. James Madison
Which of the following ideas does NOT unite the U.S. and Texas constitutional experiences? a. Political power in both the United States and Texas is derived from the people. b. Political power is divided by both the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitutions into three separate parts and placed in separate branches of government. c. The idea of individual rights. d. The subordinate role that Texas has in the federal system.
d. The subordinate role that Texas has in the federal system.
Elections are the mechanism people use to a. select leaders. b. authorize actions by government. c. borrow money on behalf of government. d. All of these are correct.
d. all of these are correct
Why should it matter who is mayor? a. Mayors often have important national stature. b. They sometimes become cabinet secretaries. c. They sometimes move to statewide offices. d. All of these are correct.
d. all of these are correct
What is a political party? a. a special type of interest group b. a group that represents a narrower range of policy interests than an interest group c. any group that opposes those who hold political power d. an organization that seeks to elect officeholders under a given label
d. an organization that seeks to elect officeholders under a given label
Prior to 2003, tuition rates for public colleges and universities in Texas tended to be a. slightly above the national average. b. slightly below the national average. c. much higher than the national average, because Texas has no state income tax. d. low compared to other states.
d. low compared to other states.
Why is the Texas governor's power exceptionally weak as compared to that of the governors of some other states? a. lack of a line-item veto b. inability to appoint any administrative heads c. tenure limits d. plural executive system
d. plural executive system
Which of the following in the policy-making cycle occurs last? a. policy adoption b. policy implementation c. problem identification d. policy evaluation
d. policy evaluation
Which is the most important function of parties in Texas? a. recruit candidates b. mobilize voters c. contest elections d. provide a party label with which voters can identify
d. provide a party label with which voters can identify
Texas senators serve ________-year terms and House members serve ________-year terms. a. two; four b. four; six c. four; two d. six; four
d. six; four
Prior to 2003, tuition for public colleges and universities in Texas was set by the a. Board of Education. b. state Department of Education. c. governor's Department of Education. d. state legislature.
d. state legislature
Public policy refers to a. rules, regulations, and orders from authorized public agencies. b. legislation, passing it and getting it signed. c. the implementation of laws. d. the expressed goals of a governmental body backed by incentives or sanctions.
d. the expressed goals of a governmental body backed by incentives or sanctions
Which of the following is a function of a state constitution? a. to ensure the safety of its citizens by building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border b. to concentrate power in the executive branch c. to set the proper tax rates for state and county authorities d. to forbid certain government actions by establishing civil liberties
d. to forbid certain government actions by establishing civil liberties
