Deck 1: The social and economic milieu of texas politics

Question 1

Political culture can best be defined as ________ that give order and meaning to the political process.

A) economic beliefs and goals
B) preconceived ideals
C) religious ideals
D) information and assumptions
E) a set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Sustained population growth in Texas has

A) resulted in massive deforestation on the Texas-Mexico border.
B) led to increasing clogging of roads and highways in urban and suburban areas.
C) led to the rapid construction of nuclear power plants to alleviate energy needs.
D) resulted in increasing numbers of Democrats being elected to the state legislature.
E) led to a steep economic decline as the state is ill prepared to manage it.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The Hispanic proportion of the population in Texas has increased because of

A) white flight to northern states.
B) intermarriage between ethnic and racial groups.
C) an effort by the Anglo elites to bring Hispanic workers to Texas.
D) a history of tolerance of cultural diversity in Texas.
E) immigration and higher birth rates among Hispanic women.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Why have the Texas myths primarily been the myths of Anglos and not of other groups?

A) Non-Anglos have been excluded from participation in many facets of Texas life until recently.
B) Anglos have been responsible for all of Texas's achievements since its creation.
C) Other groups have refused to take part in the political, social, and economic development of Texas.
D) In the interest of self-preservation, other groups have kept their myths to themselves.
E) It is a common misconception that the myths have been embraced solely of Anglos.

Question 5

Organizing disputes, creating fair procedures for competing interests to communicate their needs, and managing budgets to decide who will benefit and who will cover the costs is called

A) business.
B) society.
C) religion.
D) government.
E) order.

Question 6

Which of the following best characterizes Texans' attitudes toward government?

A) Government is a means to achieve good for all citizens.
B) Many are suspicious of government.
C) Most are willing to pay higher taxes for more government services.
D) Texas elections are clean, and candidates campaign on issues.
E) All interests in Texas have an equal say.

Question 7

Why does the individualistic subculture hold that government should be limited?

A) Government exists strictly for utilitarian reasons and to ensure stability in a society.
B) Government should never be trusted and accordingly its roles should be limited.
C) Individuals can look out for themselves more effectively than the government can.
D) Government has a corrupting influence on a population as a whole.
E) Judeo-Christian beliefs embody the idea of limited government in which individualism is rooted.

Question 8

How did Mirabeau B.Lamar, president of the Republic of Texas, differ from his predecessor Sam Houston in his feelings toward the Native Americans?

A) He felt they should be honored and praised for their bravery.
B) He felt they should have their lands returned to them.
C) He felt they should be expelled, defeated, or exterminated.
D) He felt they should be supported in their wars against Mexico.
E) He felt they should be offered peace and friendship.

Question 9

The ________ subcultures dominate general views in Texas of what government should do, who should govern, and what constitutes good public policy.

A) moralistic and traditionalistic
B) altruistic and individualistic
C) individualistic and traditionalistic
D) moralistic and individualistic
E) elitist and traditionalistic

Question 10

Because the government impacts on our lives daily,

A) it should be allowed to operate with minimal influence by the citizenry.
B) it should only be viewed with suspicion by the citizenry.
C) only the most qualified people should be allowed to run it.
D) we should all take interest in it as we all have a stake in it.
E) the only way to influence it is to vote in every election.

Question 11

Currently, the Native American population living in Texas is ________ of the population.

A) almost 4 percent
B) less than one-half of 1 percent
C) almost 6 percent
D) nearly 3 percent
E) a little over 2 percent

Question 12

Why was there an effort to strip Hispanics of the right to vote at the Constitutional Convention of 1845?

A) It was to nullify the Texas independence movement, which sought to join Mexico.
B) It was to prevent the Hispanic majority from dictating policy to the Anglo population.
C) It was an attempt to further weaken the power of Hispanics in Texas life.
D) It was to prevent the official language from becoming Spanish in a referendum at the end of the year.
E) It was meant to ensure the loyalty of Texas to the Confederacy, to which Hispanics were opposed.

Question 13

The moralistic subculture believes that public policy initiatives can come from

A) foreign officials.
B) other levels of government.
C) those outside formal governmental structure.
D) officeholders only.
E) business and corporate interests.

Question 14

The regressive tax system in Texas has resulted in

A) an unfair burden being placed on low- and middle-income families.
B) a budget surplus higher than in any other state.
C) an exodus of wealthy business owners due to high taxation rates.
D) the best-funded education system in the country.
E) the emergence of a underground black market.

Question 15

Most scholars believe that the Texas constitution is

A) well organized.
B) obsolete.
C) concise.
D) very modern.
E) exactly like the U.S. Constitution.

Question 16

What has been the role of the battle of the Alamo in creating its separate unique political order in Texas?

A) It showed that Texans cannot rely on the rest of the country in times of crisis.
B) It is seen as the event that galvanized the people of Texas into a singular group.
C) It is recognized as the birth of the Republic of Texas following the defeat of Mexican troops.
D) It has ingrained the belief that Texas is invincible when facing overwhelming odds.
E) It set a precedent that the federal government can never intervene in the affairs of Texas.

Question 17

The 2001 implosion of Houston-based Enron Corp.and subsequent loss of jobs revealed

A) a systematic failure of the Texas state government to adequately regulate the energy industry.
B) the impact that high taxation of corporations in Texas had on industry.
C) the weakness of the tech sector in Texas and its growing obsolescence.
D) the high degree of corruption and bribery within Texas state government.
E) the weakness of Governor Rick Perry in managing such economic crises.

Question 18

The cowboy's rugged individualism symbolizes a political culture that

A) features a strong reliance on religious and cultural resources.
B) expects the government to always act in the interests of the common good.
C) exhibits a high degree of reliance on government to solve its problems.
D) features a strong belief in self-reliance.
E) expects government to act moralistically by taking care of its poorest citizens.

Question 19

Which of the following three cities are among the ten largest cities in the United States?

A) Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio
B) Dallas, El Paso, and Houston
C) Austin, Houston, and San Antonio
D) El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio
E) Dallas, El Paso, and San Antonio

Question 20

Politics in Texas

A) is elitist, paternalistic, and concentrated in the executive branch.
B) encourages big government and has a strong tradition of separation of church and state.
C) is progressive and supports many social programs to help the needy.
D) is designed to minimize the role of government, averse to taxes, and manipulated by elites.
E) is moralistically based with a strong tradition of public service among its citizens.

Question 21

In 2010, what percent of the Anglo population in Texas had college degrees?

A) 10.0 percent
B) 30.5 percent
C) 40.3 percent
D) 49.0 percent
E) 52.1 percent

Question 22

What public policy issue is illustrated by the funding divide between non-minority and minority school districts and discussions concerning social service recipients?

A) employment discrimination
B) voting rights
C) the racial divide
D) education
E) housing discrimination

Question 23

The traditionalistic subculture was brought to Texas by

A) the Native American tribes that occupied Texas before the arrival of the colonists.
B) the cowboys who worked the cattle ranges.
C) the Mexican colonists who competed with Austin's colonists for land.
D) the African American slaves who were used to being cared for by the elites.
E) the slaveholding whites who migrated to Texas from the lower south.

Question 24

During the decades of the 1970s through the 1990s about ________ of Texans lived in urban areas.

A) 75 percent
B) 80 percent
C) 85 percent
D) 70 percent
E) 65 percent

Question 25

Why is it feared that poverty is likely to worsen in Texas in coming years?

A) If educational levels do not improve, opportunities for jobs will become limited.
B) The recent repeal of minimum wage requirements will set off a rapid increase in poverty.
C) Many corporations have threatened to leave Texas if taxes are increased, resulting in a loss of jobs.
D) Texas has more federal government employees than any other state that is under threat of layoffs.
E) Texas has experienced increasing migration of poor from other states.

Question 26

What in part explains the high population growth rate in Texas?

A) in-migration from other states and a higher than average death rate
B) a higher birth rate than other states and in-migration from other states
C) an unusually high per capita income and the lack of labor unions
D) a higher birth rate than other states and expanded employment opportunities in medicine and biotechnology
E) reduced medical malpractice awards and a higher birth rate than other states

Question 27

Urbanization and suburban sprawl

A) has been on the decline in Texas since Hurricane Katrina hit.
B) is characteristic of the current settlement pattern in Texas.
C) has brought about a significant increase in crime in Texas cities.
D) has slowed along the coastal regions but increased dramatically in West Texas.
E) been managed effectively by the government with regards to increasing services.

Question 28

What has indicated an improvement in the situation of minorities in Texas?

A) There have been no cases of racial violence or cruelty since 1965.
B) Texas had its first African American governor in 1972.
C) Federal and state laws have given minorities more access to jobs.
D) The composition of the state legislature is roughly in proportion to Texas demographics.
E) Electoral districts are based on race providing minorities with more power.

Question 29

Texas is now the ________ most populous state in the nation.

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

Question 30

An indication of the recent change in the political power of the African American population in Texas is the increased numbers of African American

A) faculty in higher education.
B) businesses on the Fortune 500 list.
C) elected officials at all levels of government.
D) government services in the state.
E) upper level officers in military service.

Question 31

The poverty level for a family of four in Texas in 2010 was set at ________.

A) $9,359
B) $10,450
C) $17,307
D) $22,050
E) $30,200

Question 32

The increasing numbers of older Texans and their higher political participation rates

A) will result in more political clout for the group.
B) are nothing more than an urban myth.
C) are offset by a more youthful Hispanic population.
D) will lead to better funding for public education.
E) will lead to more political clout for minorities in Texas.

Question 33

Why has conflict in Texas politics been heavily influenced by the urban and rural divide?

A) Wealth in Texas is localized in rural rather than urban areas, resulting in conflict over taxes.
B) Rural regions are dominated by minority groups while rich Anglos live in urban centers.
C) Until recently, the legislature has been dominated by rural lawmakers insensitive to urban needs.
D) Republicans have their powerbase in urban areas, and Democrats have theirs in rural areas.
E) Constitutionally, rural districts have a far greater say in affairs than urban districts.

Question 34

By 2030, it is possible that about ________ of Texans will live in poverty.

A) 10 percent
B) 20 percent
C) 30 percent
D) 40 percent
E) 50 percent

Question 35

What effect will the aging population of Texas have on public goods and services?

A) Texas will have to cut public housing to pay for Medicare and other service for the elderly.
B) Funding will be increased for services as a result of the increased tax revenue from the elderly population.
C) Texas will be forced to sell its state colleges to afford increasing Medicare expenditures.
D) Expenditures on Medicaid and other programs will rise and strain the state's budget.
E) Texas will spend more in ten years than any other state on new hospital construction.

Question 36

Why do large numbers of African Americans reside in areas of East Texas?

A) Many African Americans migrated there in the early twentieth century for industrial jobs.
B) During the Civil War, slaves escaped to East Texas, which was not controlled by the Confederacy.
C) Many white southerners and their slaves originally settled in that region.
D) Following the Civil War, African Americans moved there to establish farms.
E) The climate of East Texas appealed to African Americans who sought lower humidity.

Question 37

The term "Anglos" refers to

A) whites.
B) Irish.
C) non-Hispanic whites.
D) Italians.
E) Anglo-Saxons.

Question 38

Approximately ________ Texans over the age of five do not speak English well.

A) 180,000
B) 630,000
C) 1 million
D) 6 million
E) 3.2 million

Question 39

Although the Asian American population in Texas is relatively small, which of the following is an example of increased political power among this ethnic group?

A) the election of Asian Americans to major political offices
B) legislation giving Asian Americans special status in Texas
C) judicial decisions favoring Asian Americans
D) more state scholarship money going to Asian Americans than any other group
E) a special executive branch board set up to deal with Asian American issues

Question 40

________ will be a primary factor in determining whether Texas can successfully compete in a new global economy.

A) Transportation
B) Public education
C) New communication strategies
D) Low taxes
E) Industrial diversification

Question 41

It is estimated that during 1986 and 1987 Texas lost a total of ________ jobs.

A) 23,000
B) 525,000
C) 84,000
D) 149,000
E) 233,000

Question 42

In the early 1980s, about ________ of the economy of Texas was reliant upon energy-related industries.

A) 12 percent
B) 21 percent
C) 23 percent
D) 27 percent
E) 31 percent

Question 43

The economic diversity of Texas can be described in terms of ________ distinct economic regions.

A) four
B) seven
C) eight
D) twelve
E) thirteen

Question 44

In addition to determining a person's employment and income potential, education also affects participation in

A) politics.
B) family life.
C) religious activities.
D) cultural events.
E) charitable organizations.

Question 45

Older Anglo farmers, dairy men, and loggers living in ________ may garner more political clout as a result of the aging population of Texas, even though their own population is dwindling.

A) Atascosa County
B) the Metroplex
C) the South Texas Border Region
D) the Upper East Texas Region
E) suburban Houston

Question 46

The largest concentration of Asian Americans currently resides in Dallas.

Question 47

Texas currently has the ________ largest economy in the nation.

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

Question 48

In Texas politics, the term "Anglo" refers only to whites of German ancestry.

Question 49

Economic reversals including failing savings and loan institutions, falling property values, and falling property taxes happened during

A) the 1950s.
B) the 1960s.
C) the 1970s.
D) the 1980s.
E) the 1990s.

Question 50

More than 80 percent of Texans live in urban areas.

Question 51

What is the importance of the Ogallala Aquifer to the High Plains Region?

A) It provides the majority of energy production in the region through a dam at the Palo Duo Canyon.
B) It provides the majority of the water for agricultural production which dominates this region.
C) It is the only source of drinkable water in the region.
D) It provides the majority of drinking water for the Southern Plains states.
E) It serves as a vital waterway link between Austin and Dallas.

Question 52

The Texas mythology includes the Texas Rangers, but the cowboy plays only a small role.

Question 53

Texas citizens are well educated about their state and local governments.

Question 54

After the disasters of the 1980s, which were caused by an overreliance on energy, Texas diversified economically by shifting to

A) reliance on natural gas only.
B) high-tech industries.
C) a reduction in foreign trade.
D) agriculture.
E) manufacturing.

Question 55

In the early nineteenth century, there were at least twenty-three different Native-American groups residing in Texas.

Question 56

Three political subcultures have fused to form Texans' general views of what government should accomplish.

Question 57

How has the oil and natural gas industry benefitted Texas during times of national recession?

A) Texas has profited from the federal government, which buys oil for other states during recessions.
B) Texas sets the process of both commodities and can profit greatly during a recession because of this.
C) High prices of both commodities have insulated Texas from the effects of recessions.
D) High prices of both commodities have prevented Texas from seeking federal aid.
E) The non-taxation of these industries by the federal government prevents profit from leaving Texas.

Question 58

Over the past twenty years, Hispanics and African Americans in Texas have failed to make significant political or economic gains.

Question 59

Native Americans in Texas want to open casinos on their reservations as a way to create revenue, jobs, and economic development for their people.

Question 60

In 2010, Hispanics made up approximately 37.6 percent of the state's population.

Question 61

In 2010, the rural population of Texas was about 12 percent of the population.

Question 62

How have the political myths influenced the development of the state of Texas, specifically its politics? How have the historical and cultural experiences of Texas distinguish it from that of other states?

Question 63

Texas exported $281 billion in goods and services in 2011.

Question 64

On all measures of income, Hispanics and African Americans fall below the Anglo population.

Question 65

During the 1990s, 2.35 million jobs were lost in Texas.

Question 66

What impact does education and literacy have on the economy of Texas? Give examples.

Question 67

Briefly describe the myth of individualism in Texas.

Question 68

Discuss the boom-and-bust cycle of the Texas economy over the last 30 years.What were the underlying reasons for this? What global factors have influenced this cycle?

Question 69

What has been the impact of the federal Voting Rights Act on minorities in Texas?

Question 70

Compare and contrast two of the more significant public policy issues facing Texans at the start of twenty-first century.Which issue do you find more important? Defend your choice.

Question 71

In the first decade of the twentieth-first century, the state's population grew by over 4 million.

Question 72

The population of Texas now exceeds 25 million.

Question 73

The Upper East Texas Region includes Tyler, the "City of Roses."

Question 74

There has been little debate about redistricting to increase Hispanic and African American representation in the Texas state legislature and the U.S.Congress.

Question 75

Urban problems do not cut across political jurisdictions.

Question 76

Describe the rural-urban relationship in Texas.

Question 77

As the twenty-first century progresses, what changes do demographers anticipate in the composition of the state's population and income? Describe the political implications of these changes.

Question 78

The South Texas Border Region has been hurt by NAFTA.

Question 79

List and explain at least three issues that have resulted from recent population growth in Texas.

Question 80

Compare and contrast Elazar's three political subcultures.Which of these most accurately describes the Texas political culture? What explanations can you provide for the prevalence of these views and attitudes among Texans?