Deck 3: Local Government and Politics in Texas

Question 1

A political party's official platform is adopted at the___________convention.

A) precinct
B) county
C) state
D) state senatorial district
E) ward

Answer 1

state

Question 2

The final results of each party's primary votes are certified at the

A) primary conventions.
B) state conventions.
C) county conventions.
D) precinct conventions.
E) national party headquarters.

Answer 2

state conventions.

Question 3

The party in the electorate consists of

A) members of political parties who hold elective offices.
B) people who identify with a political party and consider themselves members.
C) people who attend a political party's convention.
D) members of the state executive committee.
E) dues-paying members.

Answer 3

people who identify with a political party and consider themselves members.

Question 4

Currently, Texans are most likely to be

A) Democrats.
B) Republicans.
C) Independents.
D) Libertarians.
E) Populists.

Question 5

Realignments are triggered by

A) low voter turnout.
B) stable party identification.
C) critical elections.
D) a decline in independent voting.
E) state election laws.

Question 6

The Texas Republican Party adopted a platform that declares

A) "The United States is a free nation"
B) "We support the separation of Church and State"
C) "The United States is a Christian nation"
D) "Abortions are not an option"
E) None of the above

Question 7

Interest groups in Texas that represent businesses generally

A) agree that corporate taxes in Texas ought to be higher.
B) agree that taxes should be lower.
C) have very little in common.
D) favor a state income tax.
E) favor labor unions.

Question 8

Which of the following trends began emerging among lobbyists in the past two decades?

A) Lobbyists' salaries began declining rapidly.
B) There was greater gender and ethnic diversity among lobbyists.
C) Lobbyists began to work for only one client rather than several clients.
D) There was less gender and ethnic diversity among lobbyists.
E) Fewer and fewer groups were hiring lobbyists.

Question 9

Attempting to influence public officials through direct contacts is referred to as

A) grassroots lobbying.
B) electioneering.
C) litigation.
D) direct lobbying.
E) bribery.

Question 10

Political Action Committees (PACs) are groups formed to solicit funds that are used to

A) elect or defeat candidates.
B) boost lawmakers' salaries.
C) improve public education.
D) fund interest groups.
E) support third parties.

Question 11

Electioneering

A) has become a less important political activity of interest groups since the 1970s.
B) was never an important political activity of interest groups.
C) has become a major political activity of interest groups since the 1970s.
D) is a minor political activity of public interest groups but is not practiced by business interest groups.
E) is illegal while the Texas Legislature is in session.

Question 12

Under which of the following circumstances would Texas NOT need to have a special election?

A) to fill a vacancy in the Texas Senate
B) to fill a vacancy in the Texas House
C) to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate
D) to fill a vacancy in the U.S. House
E) to fill a vacancy in the Texas Supreme Court

Question 13

General elections are administered and funded by

A) political parties.
B) the state government.
C) the national government.
D) local government.
E) the victorious candidate.

Question 14

The geographic size of Texas

A) makes money more important in electoral campaigns.
B) makes money less important in electoral campaigns.
C) has no impact on the relationship between money and electoral campaigns.
D) makes money important in presidential elections, but not Senate elections.
E) impacts local elections but not state-wide races.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT an eligibility requirement for voting in Texas?

A) Voters must be residents of Texas and United States citizens.
B) Voters must be at least 18 years of age.
C) Voters must be registered to vote in Texas.
D) Voters must be mentally competent.
E) Voters must be Texas residents for six months prior to the election.

Question 16

The motor-voter registration system

A) prohibits drunk drivers from registering to vote.
B) allows voter registration at driver's license offices.
C) prohibits those with unpaid parking tickets from voting.
D) encourages the mentally incompetent and convicted felons currently serving their sentences to register to vote.
E) makes voter registration mandatory when you turn 18.

Question 17

Early voting

A) has dramatically increased voter turnout.
B) has dramatically decreased voter turnout.
C) has had little effect on voter turnout.
D) dramatically increased voter turnout in local elections, but not state elections.
E) is only allowed if you registered to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Question 18

Voter turnout in Texas is highest in which type of election?

A) special elections
B) local elections
C) primary elections in presidential election years
D) congressional elections
E) presidential elections

Question 19

Political parties' permanent organizations are tied to electoral districts.

Question 20

Each level in the political party organization is highly dependent upon the levels below and above it.

Question 21

Party identification among Texans tends to favor the Republican Party over the Democratic Party.

Question 22

In a dealignment, party affiliations weaken.

Question 23

The executive branch may consist of officers from different political parties.

Question 24

Partisanship is a dominant factor that governors use when appointing judges to fill vacancies caused by death, resignation, retirement, or impeachment.

Question 25

Texas professional associations are represented by some of the weakest interest groups in Texas.

Question 26

The groups most likely to pursue litigation are those that have been unsuccessful at lobbying and electioneering.

Question 27

In Texas, elections are infrequent, and the ballot tends to be shorter than in other states.

Question 28

Much of the increased use of litigation by interest groups can be attributed to the new judicial federalism, which has made state courts more likely to entertain such lawsuits.

Question 29

Special elections are always held during the time of general elections or primary elections.

Question 30

There are no limits on the amount PACs and individuals can donate to legislative candidates.

Question 31

The most important consultants operate in the area of opinion polling and media services.

Question 32

Texas is eliminating optical-scan voting systems and replacing them with punch-card voting systems.

Question 33

In 1998, the Texas legislature outlawed early voting due to corruption associated with early voting.

Question 34

Briefly explain Texas laws regulating campaign contributions.

Question 35

Why are political consultants so important to modern campaigns?

Question 36

Explain the four different types of elections.

Question 37

Briefly explain the political activities of interest groups.

Question 38

How has the influence of the Democratic and Republican Parties changed? Be sure to include changes in the party in the electorate and changes in the party in government.

Question 39

Discuss voter registration, early voting, and voter turnout in Texas.

Question 40

Explain the realignment and dealignment process. Is Texas experiencing a realignment? Is Texas experiencing a dealignment? Provide evidence to support your position.

Question 41

Describe the levels of the political party organization and what each level does.

Question 42

Explain how party politics impacts the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch.

Question 43

What are the various types of interest groups? What policy changes do they seek, and how do they attempt to achieve their goals?