Deck 4: Political Parties

Question 1

An ideology is a system of beliefs and values about the nature of the good life in the good society, and the relationship of government and the economy, about moral values and the way they should be achieved, and about how to conduct government itself.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The basic principle underlying conservatism, at least in economic policy, is laissez-faire.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Liberals are generally suspicious of the workings of the unregulated market and place more faith in the ability of the government to direct economic activity.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Conservatives generally are suspicious of the government attempting to regulate personal beliefs and behaviors.

Question 5

An interest is something of value or some personal characteristic that people share and is affected by an activity of the government.

Question 6

Since there are seldom factional interests that command a majority of the population, political parties attempt to put together coalitions of interests in order to attract blocks of voters and campaign contributions.

Question 7

Conservatism is the dominant political philosophy among Anglos in Texas, with a majority of people polled declaring themselves as conservatives.

Question 8

All interests in politics are economic.

Question 9

After Reconstruction, the dominant political party in Texas was the Republican Party.

Question 10

The election of Ronald Reagan in 1984 broke the domination of the Democratic Party over Texas politics.

Question 11

At the present time, all of the state-wide elected offices in Texas are controlled by the Republican Party.

Question 12

The main function of the county conventions of the major political parties is to nominate candidates for county-wide office and to send delegates to the state convention.

Question 13

The state convention selects the State Executive Committee and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the party.

Question 14

The experience of the Republican Party since 1994 shows that persons who are nominated by the party must pledge to support the party platform.

Question 15

The County Executive Committee is responsible for the conduct of the party primaries.

Question 16

Political party organization is extremely important because the party organization selects the nominees of the party.

Question 17

The social conservatives of the Republican Party control the party machinery of the Republican Party.

Question 18

Party activists in the Republican Party come from a diverse social and economic background.

Question 19

The core strength of the Democratic Party in Texas is centered among minority voters, especially Hispanic and Afro American voters.

Question 20

According to the authors, it is possible that in the future Texas will have only a liberal Democratic Party and a conservative Republican Party.

Question 21

The Libertarian Party in Texas is consistently anti-government.

Question 22

Among conservatives, the base of the economic philosophy is

A) laissez-faire
B) governmental regulation
C) central planning
D) social equality

Question 23

A person who believes in governmental action to achieve social and economic equality would be classified as a:

A) conservative
B) laissez-faire market economist
C) liberal
D) libertarian

Question 24

A person who does not trust unregulated markets and favors little or no governmental regulation of personal and social behavior would be classified as a:

A) conservative
B) libertarian
C) liberal
D) laissez-faire market economist

Question 25

Which of the following would be most likely to oppose government action to regulate the economy and to regulate personal behavior would be classified as a"

A) conservative
B) libertarian
C) liberal
D) laissez-faire market economist

Question 26

Among the results of the fact that Texas was a one-party state until the 1970s, which of the following existed?

A) voter turnout was generally low in the General Elections
B) elections were decided in favor of the candidate who won the Democratic Primary
C) the party label "Democrat" gave little indication of the political beliefs of the candidate
D) all of the above were true

Question 27

The data seem to indicate that during the last two decades of the 20^th Century, a _______ occurred.

A) party realignment
B) party dealignment
C) party consolidation
D) party destruction

Question 28

Which of the following is not a major priority for political parties in Texas?

A) candidate recruitment
B) contesting of elections by fund raising and campaign assistance
C) setting the agenda for governmental actions
D) conflict resolution between various competing interests in society

Question 29

Membership requirements for the major political parties in Texas include

A) modest annual dues
B) attendance at a minimum of one party meeting a year
C) a minimum level of financial contributions to the party's nominees
D) none of the above

Question 30

The precinct chairs of the parties are selected in what manner?

A) they are generally elected by the voters in the precinct
B) they are appointed by the County Chairman
C) they are selected by the party's candidate for governor
D) they are appointed by the State Party Chairperson

Question 31

Which of the following is part of the temporary party organization in Texas?

A) Precinct convention
B) State executive committee
C) Members of the Electoral College
D) National committee of the party

Question 32

The major party state conventions do all except which of the following?

A) nominate a list of persons to be named as presidential electors if the party wins the presidential election
B) select the members of the state executive committee
C) select the state members on the national party committee
D) select the party's nominees for state-wide political office

Question 33

How is the State Executive Committee selected (for major parties)?

A) members are elected by the voters in each of the 31 Senatorial Districts
B) members are selected by the delegates to the State Convention
C) they are appointed by the State Chairman of the Party
D) they are appointed by the National committee of the party

Question 34

Which group is not a primary source of strength for the Republican Party in Texas?

A) Anglos voters
B) college graduates
C) Afro-American voters
D) migrants from other states, especially mid-western and northeastern states

Question 35

Of the groups listed, which provides the Democratic Party with the least support?

A) Hispanic voters
B) Afro-American Voters
C) lower income Anglo voters
D) Upper income Anglo voters

Question 36

In order to run as an independent candidate, one must do which of the following?

A) be nominated by a petition containing the signatures of the necessary number of voters who did not vote in the party primaries
B) be endorsed by a committee of independents
C) pay the required filing fee
D) all of the above

Question 37

What is the basic economic belief underlying conservatism in Texas? Do interests representing big business truly believe in laissez-faire economics?

Question 38

Select a major political issue of the day. What would be the position of liberals, conservatives, and libertarians on this position?

Question 39

Trace the history of one of the state's major political parties since Reconstruction.

Question 40

What are the main functions of political parties? How well do political parties in Texas perform these duties?

Question 41

Outline the structure of the permanent political party committees in Texas? How are the officers of these committees selected?

Question 42

What are the three major party factions in Texas? What are the problems each faces?

Question 43

How does one become an independent candidate for political office in Texas? What has been the fate of recent independent candidates for state-wide office?