Deck 5: Campaigns and Elections

Question 1

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)
E) Roe v.Wade (1973)

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What does the term midterm election refer to?

A) Elections held by a political party to nominate candidates
B) General elections held in nonpresidential election years
C) Elections for purpose of filling office vacancies
D) Elections for purposes of recalling a government official
E) Elections called by special court order

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Who was the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S.city?

A) Annise Parker,sworn in as mayor of Houston in 2010
B) Harvey Milk,sworn in as mayor of San Francisco in 1974
C) Barney Frank,sworn in as mayor of Boston in 1980
D) Reginald Dwight,sworn in as mayor of Dallas in 1992
E) David Cicilline,sworn in as mayor of Providence,Rhode Island in 2002

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is the most likely reason that La 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.
E) Most of its members were undocumented and not eligible to vote.

Question 5

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
E) Tenth Amendment

Question 6

What is the principal political activity of most Texans?

A) Voting in elections
B) Calling their elected officials
C) Writing letters to elected officials
D) Going on talk radio to complain
E) Posting negative comments on social media

Question 7

How many days prior to the actual date of the election do early or absentee voting in Texas for general elections begin?

A) 7 days
B) 17 days
C) 30 days
D) 14 days
E) 60 days

Question 8

Which of the following is now required by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its subsequent amendments?

A) Literacy tests are not required for voter registration.
B) A formula must be followed for determining which jurisdictions need preclearance from the U.S.Department of Justice.
C) Some jurisdictions must not use bilingual ballots and other election materials.
D) No states are allowed to provide some form of absentee or early voting.
E) Voters are provided an interpreter.

Question 9

Who draws voting precincts in the 254 Texas counties?

A) City councils
B) Election judges
C) The secretary of state
D) The county commissioners' courts
E) The Texas Supreme Court

Question 10

What is an election in which party members choose a candidate to run for office in a general election called?

A) Special election
B) Primary election
C) General election
D) Proposition election
E) Runoff election

Question 11

In modern elections,what do candidates increasingly rely on to communicate information to voters?

A) Social media such as Facebook and Twitter
B) Newspaper advertisements
C) Interviews on network television and radio stations
D) Direct mail
E) Stump speeches

Question 12

What was the primary purpose of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (motor-voter law)?

A) It required states to make voter registration available at driver licensing,military recruitment,welfare,and disability offices
B) It prohibited states from setting payment of a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting
C) It forbid states from creating permanent systems of voter registration
D) It required states to allow voter registration over the Internet
E) It increased the voter turnout among young,African American men

Question 13

How much of the popular vote must a candidate receive in order to obtain a primary nomination in Texas?

A) A plurality
B) An absolute majority
C) 60 percent
D) A two-thirds majority
E) Proportional

Question 14

What amount of total votes cast must a candidate receive in order to win a general election?

A) Plurality
B) Simple majority
C) Two-thirds majority
D) Three-fourths majority
E) A proportional vote

Question 15

What is a primary system in which voters must declare their party affiliation when they register to vote called?

A) Blanket primary
B) Open primary
C) Closed primary
D) Runoff primary
E) Crossover primary

Question 16

What did the U.S.Supreme Court rule in the case of Guinn v.United States (1915)?

A) Poll taxes were illegal.
B) Literacy tests were constitutional.
C) The grandfather clause was illegal.
D) The Fifteenth Amendment was unconstitutional.
E) White primaries were unconstitutional.

Question 17

Which of the following was a device used in Texas to prevent many lower-income persons and blacks from voting after the Civil War?

A) Grandfather clause
B) Terrorist tactics by the Ku Klux Klan and other lawless groups
C) Poll tax refunds
D) White-only general elections
E) Gerrymandering

Question 18

Which of the following persons is eligible to vote in Texas?

A) A convicted felon who has completed every aspect of his sentence
B) A person who had his or her 18th birthday 10 days after Election Day
C) A person who has been declared mentally incompetent by a court of law
D) An immigrant who has not officially become a naturalized citizen
E) An undocumented immigrant who is seeking asylum

Question 19

What is voter turnout like in Texas compared to the rest of the country?

A) It is higher than the national average.
B) It is about the same as the national average.
C) It is lower than the national average.
D) It is not calculated.
E) It varies from election to election.

Question 20

What is the name for organizations created to collect and distribute contributions to political campaigns?

A) Federal reserve banks
B) Political interest groups
C) Lobbies
D) Political action committees
E) Political advertising committees

Question 21

How is the cost of primary elections in Texas paid?

A) Filing fees charged to candidates,subsidized by state funds
B) State funds only
C) Candidate filing fees only
D) An admission fee charged to each voter
E) Campaign contributions

Question 22

What does the Texas Election Code require of closed primary voters?

A) To keep their party affiliation secret until all votes have been counted
B) To never declare their party affiliation
C) To declare their party affiliation when registering to vote
D) To declare their party affiliation at the time of voting in the party's primary
E) To be well informed about the issues

Question 23

What happens if a candidate wins a plurality but not a majority of votes cast in a special election in Texas?

A) She or he still wins the special election.
B) A runoff contest between the two top contenders must be conducted.
C) She or he loses the election.
D) Runoff contests must be conducted until one candidate wins at least a three-fourths majority.
E) She or he must go to court.

Question 24

Which of the following amendments to the U.S.Constitution broadened the franchise,extending the right to vote to new groups?

A) Thirteenth,Eighteenth,and Twenty-Second
B) Fifteenth,Sixteenth,and Twentieth
C) Nineteenth,Twenty-First,and Twenty-Third
D) Fifteenth,Nineteenth,and Twenty-Sixth
E) Eighth,Ninth,and Tenth

Question 25

What is the purpose of a general election?

A) To elect officeholders
B) To determine platform issues
C) To nominate candidates to run for office
D) To assign voter party affiliation
E) To determine who will compete in the primary election

Question 26

What is the ability of almost all citizens 18 years of age and older to vote called?

A) Due process of law
B) Popular sovereignty
C) Selective franchise
D) Universal suffrage
E) Universal coverage

Question 27

What is a true about ballots in all Texas counties and is a major requirement of the 1975 extension of the Voting Rights Act?

A) They are cast on a touch screen machine
B) They are available in braille
C) They are bilingual
D) They are counted by a bipartisan commission
E) They are available on audio

Question 28

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

A) Fourteenth and Fifteenth
B) Thirteenth and Fifteenth
C) Nineteenth and Fourteenth
D) Eighteenth and Nineteenth
E) Tenth and Twelfth

Question 29

About what percent of Texas's population consists of Latinos and African Americans?

A) About one-quarter
B) Over three-quarters
C) More than half
D) Just under one-third
E) Nearly two-thirds

Question 30

Which of the following is a reason that fewer women than men seek elected office?

A) Women are not allowed to run for elected office unless they have completed a graduate degree.
B) Women face greater difficulty in raising money to pay campaign expenses.
C) Women tend to shoulder fewer responsibilities for home and family than men do.
D) Women face no age-old prejudices.
E) Women are simply less qualified than men.

Question 31

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

A) Gender
B) Religion
C) Party affiliation
D) Education
E) The economy

Question 32

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

A) Raiding
B) Crossover voting
C) Swing voting
D) Carpetbagging
E) Straight ticket voting

Question 33

Why were literacy tests implemented?

A) To ensure voters cast an informed ballot
B) To ensure minorities could not vote
C) To ensure the financial stability of the voter
D) To ensure voters were citizens
E) To determine literacy rates among voters

Question 34

Which of the following statements regarding the Campaign Reform Act of 2002 is not true?

A) It prohibits soft money donations to political parties.
B) It has increased individual hard money contribution limits.
C) It restricted the ability of corporations to run certain "electioneering" ads.
D) None of its provisions have been overturned by the Supreme Court.
E) It prohibits money used to fund election activities that is not directly donated to a political campaign.

Question 35

When are political parties in Texas required to conduct direct primaries?

A) When they expect to run candidates for more than three statewide offices
B) Whey they will have a slate of candidates for presidential electors
C) When they have run statewide candidates in three of the last five gubernatorial elections
D) When they received 20 percent or more of the votes in the most recent gubernatorial election
E) When they raise at least $1 million in campaign contributions

Question 36

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

A) Congressional district
B) Voting precinct
C) County commissioner precinct
D) Municipality
E) Constable precinct

Question 37

What was the result of the Shelby v.Holder case for the state of Texas?

A) Texas may once again institute a poll tax or voter registration fee.
B) Texas is no longer required to obtain preclearance from the U.S.Department of Justice for its electoral district maps.
C) Texas must create multimember,at-large election districts for seats in the state legislature.
D) Texas must now require that voters register more than once every five years.
E) Texas must have election results confirmed by an international team of inspectors.

Question 38

Why was the white primary so effective at preventing minorities from exercising their right to vote?

A) People who do not vote in the primary are not allowed to vote in the general election.
B) White Democrats nominated white candidates who virtually always won the general elections in the south.
C) It made primary elections too expensive for minorities to afford.
D) White primaries were really organizing meetings for the Ku Klux Klan.
E) It wasn't effective at all because only white Democrats voted.

Question 39

Who prepares the official ballot for general elections in the county?

A) Clerk or elections administrator
B) Sheriff or constable
C) Elections board
D) Commissioners court
E) County judge

Question 40

What are the key factors that affect voter turnout?

A) Credit history and available credit
B) Sexual orientation and hair and eye color
C) Income,age,gender,and ethnicity
D) Social status,religion,and party affiliation
E) The economy,race,and sexual orientation

Question 41

What is a political district from which two or more representatives are elected called?

A) Unconstitutional
B) Rarely used
C) A non-single-member district
D) An at-large majority district
E) A multimember district

Question 42

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)
E) Roe v.Wade (1973)

Question 43

In order to be qualified to vote in Texas,what qualifications must one meet?

A) Being 21 years of age on Election Day
B) Being a citizen of the United States
C) Being a registered voter for at least 60 days prior to the election
D) Being a two-year resident of the state
E) Being a high school graduate

Question 44

By 2019,Texans had elected Latino candidates to which offices?

A) State Board of Education and agriculture commissioner
B) Texas legislature,governor,and attorney general
C) Only local governments
D) The Texas Supreme Court,U.S.Senate,U.S.House,and Texas legislature
E) The U.S.Supreme Court,U.S.Senate,U.S.House,and Texas legislature

Question 45

According to studies,what is true about negative commercials?

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

Question 46

To which of the following is low voter turnout in Texas attributed?

A) Same-day voter registration
B) Positive campaigning by candidates
C) Mail-in ballots
D) The repeal of laws that expanded suffrage
E) Voter fatigue

Question 47

Why was the La Raza Unida Party founded by several Latino leaders?

A) To support the Democratic Party and its candidates
B) To field candidates for office and mobilize Mexican American voters
C) To undermine the primary elections of the Republican Party
D) To offer an alternative to political participation for Latino voters
E) To field candidates for office and mobilize members of the caravans

Question 48

What is the name for independent expenditure-only committees that may raise unlimited sums of money to support or oppose political candidates?

A) Super PACs
B) Six PACs
C) Political parties
D) Interest groups
E) Action networks

Question 49

Which amendment to the U.S.Constitution prohibited the states from denying the vote due to race?

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

Question 50

Who was the first African American appointed to the Texas Supreme Court in 2001?

A) Morris Overstreet
B) Louis Sturns
C) Wallace Bernard Jefferson
D) Dale Wainwright
E) Ron Kirk

Question 51

What is the process of manipulating legislative district lines to favor a political party or group called?

A) Grandfathering
B) Gerrymandering
C) Cracking and packing
D) Carpetbagging
E) Apportionment

Question 52

Normally,when is the first primary election in Texas held?

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

Question 53

What is the main reason for the development of direct primaries?

A) Protecting party decisions from the influence of uninformed voters
B) Decreasing the domination of party bosses and allowing more participation by party members
C) Ending the interference of progressives in party business
D) Saving money and making things more efficient
E) Ending discrimination

Question 54

Which of the following statements regarding Texas campaign finance regulations for state offices is not true?

A) Restrictions on donation amounts apply only to some judicial candidates.
B) There are no disclosure requirements by candidates.
C) Lawmakers may not lobby for clients before state agencies.
D) Treasurers of campaign committees are required to file periodically with the Texas Ethics Commission.
E) State campaign finance laws have focused on making contributor information more readily available to citizens.

Question 55

What can cause a Texas citizen's status as a registered voter to be suspended?

A) If they change their permanent address to another county and fail to notify the voting registrar within three years
B) If they regularly visit a psychiatrist
C) If they receive three or more parking tickets
D) If they receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
E) If they wear a MAGA hat or other politically charged attire to vote

Question 56

Prior to 1990,how many women had been elected to statewide office in Texas?

A) 0
B) 4
C) 14
D) 40
E) 50

Question 57

Who does the responsibility of redistricting rest with in Texas?

A) Governor
B) State legislature
C) Sunset advisory board
D) Steering committee of the majority party
E) The Texas Supreme Court

Question 58

What is the date of general elections in Texas?

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

Question 59

Why are special elections held in Texas?

A) To select a winner when more than three candidates run for the same office
B) To elect a new governor or lieutenant governor
C) To fill interim vacancies in legislative and congressional districts
D) To deal with natural disasters that prevent voting on the regular election day
E) To allow felons to vote

Question 60

What has the increased presence of women in policymaking positions resulted in?

A) Increased punishments for family violence and sexual abuse of children
B) Fewer restrictions on the rights of gun owners
C) Increased use of the death penalty
D) Decreases in funding to education and social services
E) More claims of sexual harassment and sexual assault

Question 61

How are primary elections funded in Texas?

Question 62

What are three reasons why fewer women seek elective office than men?

Question 63

How do most voters in Texas learn about candidates for office?

A) Twitter
B) Television ads
C) Newspaper ads
D) Debates
E) Word of mouth

Question 64

Describe what candidates in Texas must do to run a successful campaign for office,including the need to both raise funds and communicate with voters.Explain one reform that might improve the system,or explain why you think the system needs no reform.

Question 65

What did the Supreme Court overturn in the case of Smith v.Allwright?

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
E) Grandfather clauses

Question 66

Describe the progress made by women seeking elected office in Texas.What challenges do female candidates still face in running for office?

Question 67

Explain why Latinos are such an important factor in Texas electoral politics,including what progress they've made in electoral politics and what obstacles still remain to exercising their political power.How might the growing Latino population change Texas elections in the future?

Question 68

Why have recent redistricting efforts in Texas been so controversial?

Question 69

Describe the efforts of the Democratic and Republican parties to win the votes of Latinos and African Americans in Texas.

Question 70

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 71

Describe the official qualifications to register and vote in Texas.What changes would you suggest to the official qualifications and why? If you would not suggest any changes,explain why you think Texas has the best possible voter qualification requirements.

Question 72

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

Question 73

Explain why voter turnout is so low in Texas.What steps have been taken to increase voter turnout,and what further steps might be necessary?

Question 74

According to a recent change in the law in Texas,voters must do which of the following?

A) Show a valid photo ID in order to cast a ballot
B) Register and vote by mail
C) Pay an annual poll tax
D) Perform community service in order to vote
E) Take a basic government education course

Question 75

Trace the progress of women in winning electoral office in Texas.

Question 76

Describe how potential voters in Texas learn about candidates and issues and what the primary factors are in voter choices (deciding who to vote for).Do you think voters receive accurate and unbiased information? How might voters become better informed?

Question 77

Briefly explain how television and social media have transformed electoral politics.​

Question 78

Discuss differences in voting behavior among groups in Texas.Which groups vote more than others and why? What might be done to make voting rates more equal among the various groups in Texas?

Question 79

Explain how 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,and are additional steps necessary?

Question 80

Which of the following accurately describes trends in suffrage in the United States?

A) Voting rights have progressed to the point that no one over 18 in the United States is excluded from the right to vote,and state voting policies have all become identical to one another.
B) There has been little change over time in voting rights and voting policies among states.
C) Voting rights have steadily expanded,and there has been a movement toward uniformity of voting policies among states.
D) More and more groups have been excluded from the right to vote over time,and state voting policies have become increasingly different from one another.
E) States have systematically found ways to disenfranchise noncitizens from voting.