Question 1

The Terrell Election Law of 1903 instituted what kind of primary election system?&#10;A) closed&#10;B) open&#10;C) white&#10;D) two-stage

Accepted Answer

The Terrell Election Law of 1903 instituted a white primary election system, effectively disenfranchising Black voters by allowing only white citizens to participate in primary elections.

Question 2

The Voting Rights Act requirement that states with a history of discrimination must secure Department of Justice approval before putting election law changes in place is called&#10;A) green light&#10;B) approval&#10;C) preclearance&#10;D) prior restraint

Accepted Answer

The requirement is known as preclearance. States must receive approval from the Department of Justice before implementing any changes to their voting laws or procedures. This requirement was put in place by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to protect the voting rights of minority groups who have historically faced discrimination in accessing the ballot box.

Question 3

For decades, voter turnout in Texas has been below the national average by about how many percentage points?&#10;A) two to four&#10;B) six to eight&#10;C) ten to twelve&#10;D) about fifteen

Accepted Answer

Voter turnout in Texas has consistently been below the national average by six to eight percentage points. According to the United States Election Project, the average voter turnout in Texas from 1980 to 2020 was 47.85%, while the national average was 55.20%.

Question 4

Which of the following socio-demographic groups in Texas has the lowest voter turnout rates?&#10;A) Anglos&#10;B) Asians&#10;C) Blacks&#10;D) Hispanics

Accepted Answer

Hispanics have the lowest voter turnout rates in Texas. According to the Census Bureau, in the 2018 midterm elections, only about 29% of eligible Hispanic voters in Texas cast a ballot, compared to about 50% of eligible non-Hispanic white voters.

Question 5

Who was the 2002 Democratic candidate that poured $70 million of his own money into a losing race for Governor?&#10;A) Bill Ratliff&#10;B) Bill White&#10;C) Tony Sanchez&#10;D) Tom Craddick

Accepted Answer

Tony Sanchez, a businessman and philanthropist, spent over $70 million of his own money in his campaign for Governor of Texas in 2002. Despite his significant spending, Sanchez lost the race to incumbent Governor Rick Perry.

Question 6

In a major statewide race, about what proportion of campaign money goes to buy television time?&#10;A) one-quarter&#10;B) one-third&#10;C) one-half&#10;D) two-thirds

Accepted Answer

Two-thirds of campaign money goes to buy television time in major statewide races. This is because television advertising is one of the most effective ways for campaigns to reach a large number of voters at once, and the cost of running advertisements on TV can be very high. Therefore, campaigns often prioritize TV advertising over other forms of outreach, such as direct mail or phone banking.

Deck 2: Political Participation in Texas: Voters, Campaigns, and Elections