Deck 5: Campaigns and Elections

Question 1

Which of the following does not describe Texas campaign finance regulations for state offices?

A) There are no dollar limits on contributions.
B) There are no disclosure requirements by candidates.
C) Some contributions must be made through PACs.
D) The Texas Ethics Commission is responsible for enforcing state laws.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What percentage of Texas's African American citizens say that they are Democrats?

A) 20 percent
B) 45 percent
C) 80 percent
D) 95 percent

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A device used in Texas to prevent many lower-income persons and blacks from voting during much of the twentieth century was the

A) grandfather clause.
B) good character test.
C) poll tax.
D) white primary.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The ability of almost all citizens 18 years of age and older to vote is referred to as

A) due process of law.
B) popular sovereignty.
C) selective franchise.
D) universal suffrage.

Question 5

In the U.S. Supreme Court case of Guinn v. United States (1915), the court ruled that

A) poll taxes were illegal.
B) literacy tests were constitutional.
C) the grandfather clause was illegal.
D) the Fifteenth Amendment was unconstitutional.

Question 6

In which case did the Supreme Court overturn a ban on unlimited independent expenditures made by corporations, unions, and nonprofit organizations in federal elections?

A) Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
B) McConnell v. FEC (2003)
C) Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)
D) Bush v. Gore (2000)

Question 7

Which U.S. amendment prevents states from requiring payment of a poll tax as a condition for voting?

A) Fifteenth Amendment
B) Thirteenth Amendment
C) Twenty-Fourth Amendment
D) Fourteenth Amendment

Question 8

The Latino community showed its political strength in May of 2010 by

A) holding a support rally for the Arizona Immigration law.
B) contributing millions of dollars to the Republican Party.
C) organizing the new Raza Unida Party.
D) having 28,000 protesters in Dallas opposing the Arizona immigration law.

Question 9

Texas employed which of the following methods at one time or another during the twentieth century to deny the vote to large groups of individuals?

A) Literacy tests, good character tests, and poll taxes.
B) Literacy tests, poll taxes, and white primaries
C) Supremacy clause, white primaries, and poll taxes.
D) Minimum voting age of 35, literacy tests, and good character tests.

Question 10

Organizations created to collect and distribute contributions to political campaigns are referred to as

A) federal reserve banks.
B) political interest groups.
C) lobbies.
D) political action committees.

Question 11

Which of the following is the most likely reason that Raza Unida did not continue to be politically effective?

A) Third parties are not legally allowed to participate in Texas politics.
B) The Texas Democratic Party has adopted issues appealing to Hispanic voters.
C) The Republican Party has pushed all other parties out of existence.
D) The Hispanic population in Texas has declined since the 1970s.

Question 12

Which of the following is the most important communication tool during a campaign?

A) Twitter
B) Television ads
C) Newspaper ads
D) Debates

Question 13

As a percentage, Texas's Latino population is

A) less than half of the white population.
B) more than twice the white population.
C) more than half of the state's total population.
D) about the same as the Anglo population.

Question 14

During the first half of the twentieth century, large numbers of African American voters were disqualified from voting as a result of

A) literacy tests.
B) poll taxes.
C) grandfather clauses.
D) All of the above are true.

Question 15

Literacy tests were implemented to ensure

A) voters cast an informed ballot.
B) minorities could not vote.
C) the financial stability of the voter.
D) voters were citizens.

Question 16

For most Texans, their principal political activity consists of

A) voting in elections.
B) calling their elected officials.
C) writing letters to elected officials.
D) going on Talk Radio to complain.

Question 17

Which amendments to the U. S. Constitution were intended to prevent denial of the right to vote for African Americans?

A) Fourteenth and Fifteenth
B) Thirteenth and Fifteenth
C) Nineteenth and Fourteenth
D) Eighteenth and Nineteenth

Question 18

The Raza Unida Party was founded by several Latino leaders including

A) Tony Sanchez.
B) José Ángel Guitérrez.
C) Ruben Bonilla.
D) Mario Cantu.

Question 19

According to studies, negative commercials

A) are generally not aired by the networks.
B) draw voter preference away from the candidate being attacked.
C) result in a decrease of support for the candidate financing the ads.
D) have no measurable effect on voter support.

Question 20

Which of the following statements regarding the Campaign Reform Act of 2002 is false?

A) It prohibits soft money to political parties.
B) It has increased individual contribution limits.
C) It applies to candidates running for President of the United States.
D) It applies to candidates running for seats in the Texas legislature.

Question 21

Manipulating legislative district lines to favor a political party or group is referred to as

A) grandfathering.
B) gerrymandering.
C) cracking and packing.
D) carpetbagging.

Question 22

A Texas citizen's status as a registered voter is suspended if he

A) changes his permanent address to another county and fails to notify the voting registrar within three years or lose their eligibility to register in some other way.
B) regularly visits a psychiatrist.
C) receives three or more parking tickets.
D) receives Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.

Question 23

The primary purpose of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 was to

A) require states to make voter registration available at welfare and driver licensing offices.
B) prohibit states from setting payment of a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting.
C) forbid states from creating permanent systems of voter registration.
D) require states to allow voter registration over the Internet.

Question 24

In order to be qualified to vote in Texas, one must meet all of the following qualifications except be

A) 18 years of age on Election Day.
B) a citizen of the United States.
C) a registered voter for at least 30 days prior to the election.
D) a two-year resident of the state.

Question 25

Amendments to the federal Constitution, which broadened the franchise, were the

A) Thirteenth, Eighteenth, and Twenty-Second.
B) Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Twentieth.
C) Nineteenth, Twenty-First, and Twenty-Third
D) Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty-Sixth.

Question 26

In Texas, the responsibility of redistricting rests with the

A) governor.
B) state legislature.
C) sunset advisory board.
D) steering committee of the majority party.

Question 27

Of the various socioeconomic factors that influence voter turnout, which is considered the strongest?

A) Gender
B) Religion
C) Party affiliation
D) Education

Question 28

A political district from which two or more representatives are elected is

A) unconstitutional.
B) rarely used.
C) a non-single-member district.
D) an at-large majority district.

Question 29

The purpose of the so called "motor-voter law" is to

A) allow for drive-through voting.
B) let anyone with a driver's license vote.
C) expand the voting registration process.
D) prevent non-motorists from voting.

Question 30

The amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibited the states from denying the vote due to race was the

A) Thirteenth Amendment.
B) Fifteenth Amendment.
C) Nineteenth Amendment.
D) Twenty-Sixth Amendment.

Question 31

The color of voter registration certificates is determined by the

A) Texas Attorney General.
B) Voter Registrar of Texas.
C) Texas Secretary of State.
D) county that mails your voter registration card.

Question 32

Low voter turnout in Texas is attributed to all of the following, except

A) voter fatigue from too many elections.
B) negative campaigning by candidates.
C) lack of information about candidates.
D) the repeal of laws that expanded suffrage.

Question 33

In which of the following cases did the Supreme Court disallow racial gerrymandering?

A) Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
B) Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
C) U.S. v. Jones (2012)
D) Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Question 34

The case of Smith v. Allwright overturned the

A) Plessey v. Ferguson decision.
B) Arizona Immigration law (SB 1070).
C) white-only primary elections in Texas.
D) 1923 Texas law that allowed blacks to vote.

Question 35

Some of the key factors that affect voter turnout include education, gender,

A) credit history, and available credit.
B) sexual orientation, hair and eye color.
C) regular income, age, and ethnicity.
D) voter status and party affiliation.

Question 36

All of the following describe the voting process in Texas, except

A) Texas uses a permanent voter registration system.
B) eligible voters may register by mail.
C) voters must pay an annual poll tax.
D) Texas mails a voter registration card to voters.

Question 37

The case of Shaw v. Reno (1993) prohibited

A) the poll tax or voter registration fee.
B) racial gerrymandering to favor ethnic minorities.
C) at-large election districts for state legislatures.
D) the requirement that voters register more than once every five years.

Question 38

Compared to the rest of the country, voter turnout in Texas is

A) higher than the national average.
B) about the same as the national average.
C) lower than the national average.
D) not calculated.

Question 39

Early or absentee voting in Texas for general elections begins how many days prior to the actual date of the election?

A) 7 days
B) 17 days
C) 30 days
D) 14 days

Question 40

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its subsequent amendments were aimed primarily at increasing political participation among

A) women.
B) ethnic minorities.
C) persons in the armed services.
D) those between the ages of 18 and 21.

Question 41

The basic geographic area for conducting national, state, district, and county elections is the

A) congressional district.
B) voting precinct.
C) county commissioner precinct.
D) municipality.

Question 42

A major requirement of the Voting Rights Act of 1975 is that ballots must be

A) on a touch screen machine.
B) available in braille.
C) bilingual.
D) counted by a bipartisan commission.

Question 43

The size of the vote necessary for a candidate to win a general election is a

A) plurality.
B) simple majority.
C) two-thirds majority.
D) three-fourths majority.

Question 44

In Texas, the decision of which type of voting system will be used in a county is made by the

A) County Commissioners Court.
B) Texas Secretary of State.
C) Texas legislature.
D) Texas Supreme Court.

Question 45

Under current law, the first primary election in Texas is held on the

A) second Saturday in May of even-numbered years.
B) fourth Saturday in July of even-numbered years.
C) second Tuesday in April of even-numbered years.
D) first Tuesday in March of even-numbered years.

Question 46

Primaries have been possible in Texas since the Terrell Election Law of

A) 1876.
B) 1905.
C) 1965.
D) 2002.

Question 47

The cost of primary elections in Texas is paid for by

A) filing fees charged to candidates, subsidized by state funds.
B) state funds only.
C) candidate filing fees only.
D) an admission fee charged each voter.

Question 48

Political parties in Texas are required to conduct primaries if they

A) expect to run candidates for more than three statewide offices.
B) will have a slate of candidates for presidential electors.
C) have run statewide candidates in three of the last five gubernatorial elections.
D) received 20 percent or more of the votes in the most recent gubernatorial election.

Question 49

Voting precincts in the 254 Texas counties are drawn by

A) city councils.
B) election judges.
C) the Secretary of State.
D) the county commissioners courts.

Question 50

An election in which party members choose a candidate to run for office in a general election is a

A) special election.
B) primary election.
C) general election.
D) proposition election.

Question 51

Under what circumstance is a registered voter allowed to vote during "early" voting in Texas?

A) Illness
B) Any reason
C) Being out of the county on election day
D) Being an election official

Question 52

The term "midterm election" refers to those

A) elections held by a political party to nominate candidates.
B) general elections held in non-presidential election years.
C) elections for purpose of filling office vacancies.
D) elections for purposes of recalling a government official.

Question 53

The date of general elections in Texas is the

A) first Tuesday in December of even-numbered years.
B) Tuesday following the first Monday in November of even-numbered years.
C) second Tuesday in March of even-numbered years.
D) date set by the state legislature after every regular session.

Question 54

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a primary election?

A) Electing officeholders
B) Determining platform issues
C) Nominating candidates to run for office
D) Assigning voter party affiliation

Question 55

A primary system in which voters must pre-register their party affiliation is referred to as a(n)

A) blanket primary.
B) open primary.
C) closed primary
D) runoff primary.

Question 56

Arranging for voting places, preparing election materials, and canvassing the vote in the Dallas County Republican primary of 2004 was handled by the

A) Dallas county clerk.
B) Dallas County board of elections.
C) Dallas County Republican executive committee.
D) state Republican executive committee.

Question 57

In order to obtain a primary nomination in Texas, a candidate must receive what part of the popular vote?

A) A plurality
B) An absolute majority
C) Sixty percent
D) A two-thirds majority

Question 58

Preparing the official ballot for general elections is done by the county

A) clerk or elections administrator.
B) sheriff or constable.
C) elections board.
D) commissioners court.

Question 59

Texas primary elections are, by law, classified as

A) blanket primaries.
B) jungle primaries.
C) closed primaries, requiring voters to declare party affiliation when registering to vote.
D) closed primaries, where voters declare party membership by voting in the party's primary.

Question 60

The practice of many Texans of voting in the Democratic primary and then voting Republican at the general election is called

A) raiding.
B) crossover voting.
C) swing voting.
D) carpetbagging.

Question 61

Describe the provisions in the Texas Election Code relating to the conducting, financing, and scheduling for primary, general, and special elections.

Question 62

Describe how potential voters in Texas learn about candidates and issues. What appear to be the primary factors in voter choices (deciding who to vote for).

Question 63

Trace the various constitutional, legal, and judicial devices by which the franchise was broadened in Texas in the twentieth century.

Question 64

A vacancy in which of the following offices is not filled by a special election?

A) United States senator from Texas
B) Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
C) Texas governor or lieutenant governor
D) Member of the Texas House of Representatives

Question 65

Discuss voting behavior in Texas. Identify who votes and who does not. Explain why Texas ranks among the lowest in voting nationally.

Question 66

Though elections in Texas are essentially honest, occasionally fraud does occur. For example, in 1994, 136 absentee ballots were all mailed to the same address in Duval County and marked by the same hand. Identify any additional steps you think would contribute to the validity and honesty of the ballot.

Question 67

Identify and describe some of the elements of a successful campaign for public office. Which elements appear to be in need of reform and what would those reforms look like?

Question 68

Discuss the three types of elections, i.e., primary, general, and special. Explain the purpose of each and describe how each is administered and regulated. Describe when they occur.

Question 69

How do you explain the fact that, even though Texas has virtually universal adult suffrage, well under one-half of eligible Texas citizens vote? Do you vote? If you do, why do you? If you do not, why don't you?

Question 70

Explain how considerations of race and ethnicity factor into elections in Texas. Are traditional minorities adequately represented in the voting population? What steps have been taken to address this issue?

Question 71

Describe the official qualifications to register and vote in the state of Texas. What changes could you suggest to increase voter eligibility?

Question 72

The size of the vote necessary to win a special election in Texas is a

A) plurality.
B) simple majority.
C) two-thirds majority.
D) three-fourths majority.