Question 1

The Democratic state party chair in Texas is&#10;A) Kinky Friedman&#10;B) Lloyd Bentsen&#10;C) Chet Edwards&#10;D) Boyd Ritchie

Accepted Answer

The Democratic state party chair in Texas is Boyd Ritchie.

Question 2

Which interest groups dominated the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875?&#10;A) railroads&#10;B) agriculture&#10;C) populists&#10;D) retail

Accepted Answer

The Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875 was dominated by agricultural interests. This was a period when farmers and ranchers were a significant part of the Texas economy and society, and they sought to shape the state's constitution to protect and promote their interests.

Question 3

In what year did both Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison win their first statewide elections?&#10;A) 1980&#10;B) 1990&#10;C) 1994&#10;D) 1998

Accepted Answer

B

Question 4

The term &#34;gerrymander&#34; is named after&#10;A) a former Massachusetts governor&#10;B) Texas Supreme Court Justice Gerry Bowers&#10;C) Former Washington governor Gerry Locke&#10;D) a salamander named Gerry

Accepted Answer

The term "gerrymander" is named after former Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry, who in 1812 approved a redistricting plan that benefited his Democratic-Republican Party. One of the newly drawn districts was said to resemble a salamander, and a political cartoonist dubbed it a "Gerry-mander." The term has been used ever since to describe the practice of drawing district lines for political advantage.

Question 5

Following the 2003 redistricting in Texas, how many new U.S. House seats did Republicans pick up in the 2004 elections?&#10;A) four&#10;B) six&#10;C) eight&#10;D) ten

Accepted Answer

Republicans picked up six new U.S. House seats in the 2004 elections following the 2003 redistricting in Texas.

Question 6

Which political party in Texas tends to win the big cities and the Valley?&#10;A) Republicans&#10;B) Libertarians&#10;C) Democrats&#10;D) Greens

Accepted Answer

Democrats tend to win big cities like Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, as well as the Rio Grande Valley, due to their large minority populations and progressive leanings. The Republican party tends to dominate in rural areas and suburbs. The Libertarian and Green parties have smaller followings and are not as competitive in statewide elections.

Deck 4: Political Parties in Texas