Deck 5: Elections in Texas

Question 1

Which of the following was NOT regularly used in Texas as a method of disenfranchising many minorities before the 1960s?

A) the white primary
B) early registration
C) poll taxes
D) the Jaybird primary
E) the requirement of a federal citizenship test

Answer 1

E

Question 2

A ________ was a tax charged to voters as a prerequisite for registration.

A) registration tax
B) voter tax
C) registration fee
D) poll tax
E) ballot fee

Answer 2

D

Question 3

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
E) 1964; 1971

Answer 3

D

Question 4

In Texas, primary elections are usually held in

A) March.
B) April.
C) May.
D) August.
E) November.

Question 5

The poll tax disenfranchised

A) farmers.
B) poor people.
C) Black people.
D) Hispanic people.
E) women.

Question 6

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.
E) The Court declared the use of poll taxes a violation of the equal protection clause.

Question 7

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.
E) Texas was the last state to allow women to vote.

Question 8

What is the 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
E) to elect candidates directly to office

Question 9

Runoff primaries are generally held

A) the day after the party primary.
B) the second Tuesday in August.
C) the second Tuesday in April.
D) thirty days before the general election.
E) thirty days after the party primary.

Question 10

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.
E) Tuesday in January of odd-numbered years.

Question 11

Why should it matter who is elected governor?

A) The governor of Texas has national stature.
B) The governor has the power to set the agenda.
C) The governor has the power to veto legislation.
D) The governor has the power to influence public policy in the state.
E) All of the above.

Question 12

The purpose of a(n) ________ is to allow any registered voter to cast a ballot in either primary, but not both. There are no party restrictions.

A) primary election
B) runoff primary
C) split primary
D) open primary
E) closed primary

Question 13

Major state officials are elected in nonpresidential years because

A) it is possible that independent and minor party candidates also appear on general election ballots.
B) it prevents popular presidential candidates from influencing the outcomes 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.
E) it decreases voter turnout.

Question 14

The poll tax was made illegal in federal elections with the passage of the

A) Voting Rights Act of 1965.
B) Nineteenth Amendment.
C) Twenty-Fourth Amendment.
D) Civil Rights Act of 1964.
E) Fifteenth Amendment.

Question 15

Wendy Davis had an uphill battle to win the Texas governor's race because

A) she appealed to suburban and urban liberal voters.
B) she won the Latino vote in the Rio Grande Valley.
C) her personal story was riddled with inconsistencies.
D) she won the pro-choice Latino votes.
E) she had the endorsement of Reynaldo Madrigal.

Question 16

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.
E) Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Question 17

Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn ran for governor as ________ in 2006.

A) Republicans
B) Democrats
C) Tea Party candidates
D) Reform Party candidates
E) independents

Question 18

For an independent candidate to get on the ballot in Texas, which requirement must they 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 gain petition signatures from registered voters who did not previously participate in any political party primary election.
C) He or she must begin collecting signatures before the major party primaries are held.
D) They must convince voters who have signed other candidate's petitions to switch to their petition.
E) He or she must hold a party convention and adopt a party platform.

Question 19

In Texas, special elections are held for all of the following reasons EXCEPT to

A) give approval to borrow money.
B) ratify amendments to the Texas Constitution.
C) fill vacancies in office.
D) allow government agencies to undertake long-term debt.
E) impeach a corrupt politician.

Question 20

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.
E) join the Confederacy.

Question 21

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
E) primary elections

Question 22

According to political scientist Daniel Elazar, Texas's political culture is traditionalist and

A) individualistic.
B) moralistic.
C) socialistic.
D) communal.
E) innovative.

Question 23

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
E) no discernible change

Question 24

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.
E) allows only citizens with valid Texas driver's licenses to register to vote.

Question 25

Historically, Texans rank in the ________ in terms of national voter participation.

A) bottom third
B) top third
C) bottom half
D) top half
E) bottom quarter

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT a requirement to vote in Texas?

A) U.S. citizenship
B) being at least 18 years of age
C) being a resident of Texas
D) being a resident of the county for 30 days
E) property ownership

Question 27

Early voting increases the polling period from 12 hours to

A) 2 weeks.
B) 2 days.
C) 4 weeks.
D) 30 days.
E) 60 days.

Question 28

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
E) polarization

Question 29

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.
E) age and education.

Question 30

In Texas, the ________ Party usually experiences higher voter turnout than the ________ Party.

A) Republican; Democratic
B) Democratic; Republican
C) Reform; Democratic
D) Reform; Republican
E) Independent; Democratic

Question 31

In ________ the U.S. Supreme court held that the state executive committees were acting as agents of the state and were discriminating in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.

A) Nixon v. Condon
B) Grovey v. Townsend
C) Newberry v. United States
D) Smith v. Allwright
E) Terry v. Adams

Question 32

Which offshoot 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
E) the Dixiecrats

Question 33

In Texas, ________ is/are responsible for redistricting.

A) the governor
B) the legislature
C) the courts
D) county courts at law
E) precinct captains

Question 34

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.
E) proof that one is at least 18 years of age is now required to vote.

Question 35

In what case did the Supreme Court rule that a key section of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional, which affects a key provision requiring Texas to have its new districts 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
E) Abbott v. Holder

Question 36

The most important federal law involved in the expansion of the franchise 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.
E) Motor Voter Act of 1993.

Question 37

Approximately what percentage of the state's voting-age population is registered to vote?

A) 40 percent
B) 55 percent
C) 60 percent
D) 70 percent
E) 80 percent

Question 38

Redistricting in Texas occurs

A) every 10 years.
B) every 4 years.
C) after every general election.
D) after a new governor is elected.
E) after each legislative session.

Question 39

Highly partisan legislation passed in 2011 now requires Texans to

A) vote in only one party primary.
B) provide photo identification when voting.
C) register 60 days before the general election.
D) pass an English language competency test before voting.
E) show their birth certificates before voting.

Question 40

Which of the following statements is NOT a possible explanation for why Texas currently has low voter turnout?

A) Texas has so many elections that voters are often overwhelmed with elections and candidates.
B) The Texas political culture has been one in which elites have discouraged voting.
C) The average age of Texans is younger than the national average, and younger voters are less likely to vote.
D) The residency requirement for new voters is six months.
E) Texas has weak political parties.

Question 41

General elections for all national, state, and local offices must be held in November.

Question 42

Preclearance is required by the

A) Texas Constitution.
B) Voting Rights Act of 1965.
C) U.S. Constitution.
D) U.S. Supreme Court, as in the case of Smith v. Allwright.
E) Texas legislature.

Question 43

In order for the Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis to win the governor's race, she would have to win the suburban Republican women voters.

Question 44

One possible solution to reforming redistricting in Texas is to

A) allow the courts to redraw the districts.
B) allow the governor to appoint a commission to redraw the districts.
C) take the process away from the legislature.
D) take the process away from the precinct captains.
E) allow the county courts at law to redraw the districts.

Question 45

One effect of the high cost of campaigns in Texas is that

A) parties become more important in organizing and funding candidates.
B) candidates are often very wealthy individuals willing to use their own money in campaigns.
C) sometimes there is no one willing to run for major statewide office.
D) candidates increasingly turn to illegal sources of funds.
E) candidates drop out of high-profile races when the money dries up.

Question 46

The Texas Constitution and election laws call the Texas primary system an open primary.

Question 47

The Texas Constitution and election laws call the Texas system a closed primary, because one must declare one's party affiliation before voting.

Question 48

Campaigns attempt to reach voters through all of the following EXCEPT

A) print and electronic media.
B) door-to-door campaigning.
C) involvement in high-profile litigation.
D) telephone solicitation.
E) mailed campaign fliers and information.

Question 49

There is no question that ________ is/are important for candidate success in Texas.

A) the media
B) money
C) face-to-face encounters
D) negative campaigning
E) televised debates

Question 50

The procedure by which certain states, such as Texas, are required to obtain approval every time they make changes to districts is called

A) redistricting.
B) reapportionment.
C) preclearance.
D) external validation.
E) judicial review.

Question 51

________ 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
E) Kay Bailey Hutchison

Question 52

Name recognition often gives ________ a distinct advantage in Texas elections.

A) Republicans
B) Democrats
C) incumbents
D) wealthy challengers
E) women

Question 53

Primary elections in Texas are generally held in March.

Question 54

Had Democratic candidate Wendy Davis been elected to the governor's office, she would have become the second Democratic woman to be elected governor in Texas since World War II.

Question 55

In Texas elections, the ________ play(s) the largest role in running campaigns.

A) national party
B) state party
C) candidates
D) media
E) local party

Question 56

________ is the traditional start of the general election campaign in Texas.

A) Independence Day
B) Memorial Day
C) Labor Day
D) Halloween
E) Thanksgiving

Question 57

The primary elections are the second elections held in an electoral cycle.

Question 58

Some blame the relatively low voter turnout for Texas elections on the frequency of elections and the large number of candidates.

Question 59

The most costly item for most political campaigns is

A) travel.
B) security.
C) fund-raising.
D) media advertising.
E) food.

Question 60

All of the following are modern-day tactics for preventing certain groups from voting EXCEPT

A) the presence of broken or malfunctioning voting machines.
B) voter intimidation.
C) reducing the number of polling places in certain areas.
D) canceling an election at the last minute.
E) providing misleading information to voters.

Question 61

It is relatively easy for an independent candidate to get on the Texas ballot.

Question 62

Texans tend to vote less than the national average.

Question 63

Which type of primary (for example, open, closed, or wide open) do you prefer? Why?

Question 64

Anglo Texans have voter turnout levels that are higher than Latino turnout levels.

Question 65

The Republican Party was the dominant force in Texas politics throughout most of the twentieth century.

Question 66

Reapportionment involves recalculating how many congressional districts each state will receive based on the state's population.

Question 67

Discuss and explain at least four reasons why Texas voter turnout is so low. What can be done to increase voter participation?

Question 68

Do large contributors have undue influence on Texas politics?

Question 69

One reason for low levels of voter turnout in Texas is the low level of educational attainment in the state.

Question 70

List and discuss the reasons why campaigns in Texas are so expensive.

Question 71

Is the U.S. Supreme Court correct in declaring campaign contributions to be free speech? Why or why not?

Question 72

Republicans have won every statewide election in Texas since 1994.

Question 73

Poll taxes, such as those used in Texas, disenfranchised poor voters.

Question 74

Texas instituted early voting in order to expand participation.

Question 75

To register to vote in Texas, a person must have been a resident of Texas for at least 30 days.

Question 76

Explain why it is difficult to be elected as an independent candidate in Texas.

Question 77

Discuss how political parties organize elections and the electorate in Texas.

Question 78

Reapportionment involves the determination of how district lines will be drawn in each state for the state legislature and Congress.

Question 79

The Motor Voter law requires a voter to have a driver's license.