Deck 1: The Environment of Texas Politics

Question 1

The "values, attitudes, traditions, habits, and general behavioral patterns that develop over time and shape the politics of a particular region," is referred to as

A) political culture.
B) political socialization.
C) political economics.
D) political geography.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

"A public institution that is authorized to allocate values in a society" defines

A) politics.
B) public policy.
C) government.
D) justice.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

When the Texas legislature increases the tax on cigarettes, it is implementing

A) public policy.
B) a federal mandate.
C) justice.
D) regulatory authority.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The interior lowlands of Texas includes the cities of

A) San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
B) Houston, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, and Austin.
C) Wichita Falls, San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas.
D) Dallas, Fort Worth, Abilene, and Wichita Falls.

Question 5

The development of which industry transformed Texas from a predominantly agricultural culture into an industrial society?

A) Cotton
B) Cattle
C) Steel
D) Oil

Question 6

According to the 2010 census, the population of Texas is approximately

A) 5 million.
B) 17 million.
C) 25 million.
D) 37 million.

Question 7

According to Karen O'Conner, "the process by which policy decisions are made" includes

A) legislative actions.
B) court proceedings.
C) lobbying activities.
D) All of the above are true.

Question 8

Which of the following is true regarding the Interior Lowlands region of Texas?

A) It is the greenest region of the state.
B) It is home to the state's chief petrochemical industries.
C) It includes Dallas and Fort Worth.
D) It is mostly known for its large-scale cotton and grain production.

Question 9

Of the 50 states, Texas ranks __________ in land area.

A) first
B) second
C) fifth
D) tenth

Question 10

Among the 50 states, Texas currently ranks __________ in population.

A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fifth

Question 11

The origin of Texas cattle ranching can be traced to

A) Mayor Walter McAllister and his comments in a documentary titled, "Hunger in America."
B) Samuel Maverick and the Knights of the Golden Circle.
C) John "Rip" Ford and the slave-owning class that existed before the Civil War.
D) Gregorio de Villalobos and the Spanish-Moorish cattle brought from Spain to Mexico.

Question 12

The only region of Texas classified as mountainous is the

A) Basin and Range Province.
B) Gulf Coastal Plains
C) Great Plains.
D) Interior Lowlands.

Question 13

The approximate land area of Texas, in square miles, is

A) 167,000,000.
B) 267,000.
C) 65,000.
D) 949.

Question 14

Houston is situated in the

A) Gulf Coastal Plains.
B) Interior Lowlands.
C) Great Plains.
D) Basin and Range Province.

Question 15

In 2011, land-based industries in Texas experienced record financial losses as a result of

A) increased taxes.
B) a drought.
C) immigration.
D) fraud.

Question 16

Which statement defines the concept of public policy?

A) It is set in motion by the media.
B) It rarely involves conflict.
C) It is of no importance to most citizens.
D) It often involves governmental and nongovernmental groups.

Question 17

According to Professor Daniel Elazar, the political culture of Texas is

A) individualistic.
B) individualistic and traditionalistic.
C) moralistic and traditionalistic.
D) moralistic and individualistic.

Question 18

Which of the following land-based industries have been influential in the development of Texas?

A) Cotton, cattle, and oil
B) Cattle, oil, and real estate speculation
C) Mining, cattle, and oil
D) Manufacturing, oil, and cotton

Question 19

The process that involves conflict by groups seeking to influence public policy, is referred to as

A) politics.
B) public policy.
C) government.
D) justice.

Question 20

Cotton production in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains is possible because of

A) a substantial increase in rainfall there since 1950.
B) the development of hybrid strains that require minimal water.
C) the Ogallala Aquifer.
D) water brought from the Gulf of Mexico.

Question 21

Prior to the Civil War, more than one-half of the Anglo residents in Texas had migrated from

A) Southern states.
B) Mexico.
C) California.
D) New England.

Question 22

German immigrants to Texas opposed slavery and the Confederacy, and as a result voted __________ against secession in 1861.

A) 40 percent or higher
B) 50 percent or lower
C) 35 percent or lower
D) 61 percent or lower

Question 23

In the 1980s and 1990s, population shifts in Texas

A) were much different than the national pattern.
B) indicated movement from rural to urban areas.
C) showed movement from suburbs to cities.
D) revealed movement primarily toward areas dependent on oil and agriculture.

Question 24

Before the Civil War, the hill country west and north of San Antonio was settled by

A) Mexican immigrants.
B) German immigrants.
C) Irish immigrants.
D) Anglo immigrants.

Question 25

Texas has the __________ largest number of African Americans in the nation after New York and California.

A) second
B) fourth
C) fifth
D) third

Question 26

Migration of people from rural regions to cities is referred to as

A) appropriation.
B) metropolitanization.
C) absorption.
D) urbanization.

Question 27

By 2010, Texas Latinos made up more than ___________ of the state's population.

A) one-half
B) one-third
C) one-fourth
D) four-fifths

Question 28

After WWII, increased numbers of Latinos in Texas sought employment in

A) the agricultural sector.
B) the industrial sector.
C) the Mexican markets.
D) the Canadian markets.

Question 29

Which of the following statements regarding the population of Texas is false?

A) The state population has grown at a rate faster than the national average.
B) Urbanization has occurred.
C) During the twentieth century the state shifted from an urban to a rural society.
D) Texas is experiencing suburbanization on a very large scale.

Question 30

The African American population of Texas

A) comprises over one-half of the state's population.
B) resides primarily on farms and in rural villages.
C) is concentrated in Lubbock, Laredo, and El Paso.
D) resides mainly in urban counties of north central, northeast, and southeast Texas.

Question 31

According to Fortune's 2010 listing, three of the four largest private corporations in Texas were

A) energy related.
B) technology related.
C) cotton related.
D) manufacturing related.

Question 32

The __________ were the most important Native American tribe shaping Texas history.

A) Lipan Apaches
B) Cherokee
C) Comanche
D) Tonkawa

Question 33

According to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau, which of the following is the about percentage of individuals that identify themselves as Hispanic/Latino in the state of Texas?

A) 45%.
B) 38%.
C) 11.5%.
D) 4%.

Question 34

Approximately what percent of Texans currently live in metropolitan areas?

A) 20 percent
B) 51 percent
C) 69 percent
D) 85 percent

Question 35

The Asian American population of Texas is

A) descended from Chinese laborers.
B) primarily immigrant, having come from Southeast Asia.
C) concentrated in rural areas of the state.
D) is statistically less likely than other groups to attend universities.

Question 36

The collapse of Enron occurred because of

A) a glut of electricity.
B) the fall in grain prices.
C) a major pipeline disaster on its network.
D) improper accounting and business practices.

Question 37

The Hispanic population of Texas

A) is slowly shrinking.
B) is concentrated in Northeast Texas.
C) constitutes a majority of the population in 50 Texas counties.
D) has a higher median age than does the Anglo population.

Question 38

Texas ranks ______________ in the nation in the number of Latino residents.

A) third
B) fourth
C) second
D) fifth

Question 39

Which group of the population in Texas is growing most rapidly?

A) Hispanic/Latino
B) Native Americans
C) Black/African Americans
D) White/Anglo

Question 40

The origin of the name of the State of Texas comes from

A) the Native American Caddo word "tejas," which means friendly.
B) the Anglo settler movement.
C) the ideas of manifest destiny.
D) the Comanche word "tejas," which means Texas.

Question 41

Persons who enter the United States in violation of federal immigration laws are referred to as

A) undocumented aliens.
B) naturalized residents.
C) temporary citizens.
D) asylum recipients.

Question 42

The service industry in Texas

A) pays lower wages and salaries than manufacturing firms.
B) is one of the slowest growing economic sectors in Texas.
C) created genetically modified organisms (GMO's).
D) employs over one-half of all Texas workers.

Question 43

Some of the criticism over NAFTA has included

A) loss of clothing manufacturers.
B) increased air pollution.
C) damage to fruit and vegetable producers.
D) All of the above are true.

Question 44

Which of the following is a true statement?

A) Education in Texas has produced the highest literacy rate among adults of any of the fifty states.
B) Education in Texas is adequately preparing Texas's citizens for careers in science and technology.
C) Education in Texas could probably get by on about one-half of the state funds now spent on it.
D) Education in Texas confronts shortages of certified personnel to instruct at elementary and secondary schools.

Question 45

The Environmental Protection Agency has required that

A) Texas create its own emissions standards.
B) plants in Texas upgrade their equipment to reduce toxic emissions.
C) all emissions in Texas must stop by 2020.
D) Texas be exempt from the Clean Air Act.

Question 46

As a result of the Immigration Control and Financial Responsibility Act of 1996

A) employers are no longer penalized for hiring illegal immigrants.
B) there has been an increase in border patrol officers.
C) illegal immigration is no longer a problem for Texas.
D) smuggling of immigrants ceased.

Question 47

The immigration of undocumented immigrants into Texas

A) was stopped by federal legislation in 1986, 1996, and 2002.
B) has declined because Texas employers are unwilling to hire this class of workers.
C) continues because of the stressed economic conditions of the Mexican economy.
D) has been encouraged by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Question 48

More than __________ percent of U.S. exports to Mexico are produced in Texas.

A) 50
B) 70
C) 60
D) 80

Question 49

The North American Free Trade Agreement (1993)

A) reduced tariffs between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
B) created a superhighway from Mexico to Canada.
C) lowered vehicle emission standards for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
D) opened trade relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

Question 50

Which is a true statement regarding agriculture in Texas?

A) It is hampered by poor rail, road, and harbor facilities.
B) It sells most of its output in Texas grocery stores.
C) It produces commodities that are largely processed outside the state.
D) It is characterized by an increasing number of farms with small acreages.

Question 51

Which of the following is currently responsible for federal oversight of immigration issues?

A) Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
B) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
C) Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
D) Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Question 52

Complete the following sentence regarding Maquiladoras. They

A) were eliminated by NAFTA.
B) take advantage of low-wage Texas and high-wage Mexican labor.
C) are confined largely to food-processing industries.
D) enabled U.S. goods to be made with cheaper labor.

Question 53

Which of the following was created in 1957 for purposes of state mandated water planning?

A) Texas Education Agency
B) Texas Department of Water
C) Texas Environmental Protection Agency
D) Texas Water Development Board

Question 54

Which one of the following products would be classified as high technology?

A) Farm tractor
B) Spatula
C) Portable compact disc player
D) Gas space heater

Question 55

The process of mixing chemicals with sand and water and injecting them into the ground to force out oil and gas from the shale below, is referred to as

A) pumping.
B) fracking.
C) hydroplaning.
D) turbining.

Question 56

Which of the following is a multibillion-dollar industry that produces products, such as medicines and vaccines, to benefit medical science?

A) Biotechnology
B) High technology
C) Nanotechnology
D) Robotics

Question 57

Texas ranks __________ in the amount of carbon dioxide and heat-trapping gases generated.

A) first
B) third
C) last
D) fifth

Question 58

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is currently under the Department of

A) State.
B) Defense.
C) Homeland Security.
D) Texas Immigration.

Question 59

Texas faces water challenges due to which of the following factors?

A) Increased population
B) Urbanization
C) Fracking
D) All of the above are true.

Question 60

The overwhelming share of alternative fuel strategies in Texas is generated by

A) water.
B) fracking.
C) wind.
D) coal.

Question 61

Imagine that a separate state was created for each of Texas's four principal physical regions. Given the differences in population, culture, industry, and climate, among other things, what political outcomes can you imagine for each state? For example, explain the potential differences in political decisions between the Gulf Coastal Plans, with its emphasis on petrochemical industries, and the Interior Lowlands, with its emphasis on farming and ranching.

Question 62

Immigration is currently a hot topic in the United States, and particularly in the state of Texas. Discuss the different state and federal actions over the years to address immigration issues. Identify your political position on immigration laws and assess each action (i.e., 1994 lawsuit by Texas to recover various costs, Immigration Control and Financial Responsibility Act of 1996, Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002, and Secure Fence Act of 2006) in light of your political views on the issue.

Question 63

Trace the historical development and current status of the cotton, cattle, and oil industries in Texas. Based on what you know about work in these industries, in which would you have preferred working? Why, and in what capacity?

Question 64

Assume that you have been given autocratic power over Texas. It comes with one condition: you must reduce the percentage of persons living in poverty to 5 percent or less. What would you do? In your discussion, explore the causes and incidence of poverty. You may also want to speculate on whether a high degree of poverty is inevitable.

Question 65

Between 2000 and 2010, Texas's population grew by approximately

A) 4 percent.
B) 20 percent.
C) 8 percent.
D) 32 percent.

Question 66

Discuss the political culture of Texas. From where did it come? What have been its implications for state policy regarding race relations and government regulation of the economy? Do you accept what Professor Elazar has identified as the dominant political culture in Texas?

Question 67

Discuss the role of white supremacy and racial injustice in Texas. What evidence exists to shed light on the degree to which racial oppression played in the role of Texas History? Was the Battle of the Alamo an extension of white supremacy against Mexicans? Justify your answers.

Question 68

There are three ethnic groups that constitute 95 percent of the Texas population. Trace the history of each in the state. What are their present approximate percentages in the population, and what future trends are probable in the next generation? As you are probably a member of one of the three, what are your attitudes toward other two?

Question 69

Texas ranks __________in addressing poverty and social problems.

A) in the top ten states
B) first in the nation
C) near the bottom of the fifty states
D) fifth in the country

Question 70

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was created in order to lower tariffs between three trading partners (the United States, Canada, and Mexico). Provide an explanation of the advantages/benefits of the agreement, followed by an understanding of the disadvantages/criticism of the agreement.

Question 71

The 2011 drought had a severe impact on the state of Texas. Explain the impact the drought had on the Texas economy, specifically identifying the effects on land-based industries, as well as the indirect effects for other industries within the state. Include in your discussion an understanding of how the process of urbanization will most likely be affected.

Question 72

Discuss the principal industries in Texas at the beginning of the twenty-first century, their origins, and future prospects. Based on what you know, evaluate the future prospects of the field for which you are training. In light of this knowledge, could you have a more stable and secure economic future if you changed plans? Explain.