Ch3 - Voting and Elections in TX

Question 1

Is voter turnout high or low in Texas?

Answer 1

Low

Question 2

Why was 1992 election special?

Answer 2

Because it took place in the middle of TX brief status as a true two-party state

Question 3

Universal suffrage

Answer 3

the concept that holds that virtually all adult citizens (felons & undocumented immigrants are excluded) have the right to vote.

Question 4

Jim Crow

Answer 4

laws enacted to deny equal rights to AA

Question 5

TX and 19th Amendment

Answer 5

TX was the 1st Southern state to approve 19th amendment

Question 6

1905

Answer 6

TX DP adopted the primary system to replace the party caucus

Question 7

Caucus

Answer 7

a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction usually to select candidates or to decide on policy.

Question 8

Primary

Answer 8

voters choose nominees

Question 9

White primary

Answer 9

the practice of allowing only whites to vote in the Democratic primary

Question 10

Smith v Allwright

Answer 10

1944
US SC case that overturned the white primary; ruled that political parties are “an agency of the state” thus they must abide by federal law regarding political participation and suffrage.

Question 11

Poll Tax

Answer 11

A tax paid for registering to vote

Question 12

What did poll tax do?

Answer 12

Lowered minority and poor voter turnout
Part of progressive reforms to pass alcohol prohibition

Question 13

24th Amendment

Answer 13

1964
Bans poll tax

Question 14

Texas v United States

Answer 14

1966. A dual-ballot system in Texas is struck down. Everybody got a federal ballot, but only those who paid poll tax get a state ballot

Question 15

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Answer 15

national act protecting minorities from discrimination in the voting or registration process

Question 16

Racial gerrymandering

Answer 16

the process of drawing district lines to dilute minority voting strength

Question 17

Barbara Jordan

Answer 17

the 1st AA elected to national office from TX since Reconstruction

Question 18

Shelby County v Holder

Answer 18

2013
SC struck down the provisions in the VRA that required federal approval for changes in voting practices for sts with the history of discrimination

Question 19

Turnout

Answer 19

percentage of registered voters who cast ballots.

Question 20

Off-year elections

Answer 20

general elections in non-presidential years

Question 21

Disenfranchised

Answer 21

persons who cannot vote or believe their votes don’t count.

Question 22

What causes low voter turnout in TX?

Answer 22

1. Election Burnout
2. Long Ballot

Question 23

Election burnout

Answer 23

occurs when citizens believe there are too many elections, and thus fail to vote

Question 24

Long Ballot

Answer 24

a system under which many officials are up for election at the same time.

Question 25

Primary election

Answer 25

The process through which major political parties choose their nominees for the general election

Question 26

What to you need to do to win a primary?

Answer 26

Get majority votes, more than 50%

Question 27

General election

Answer 27

The process through which officeholders are elected from party nominees

Question 28

What do you need to do to win a general election?

Answer 28

Get plurality of votes (more votes than any other candidate)

Question 29

Plurality

Answer 29

exists when a candidate has more votes than any other candidate, even if the total is less than 50%

Question 30

Gubernatorial elections

Answer 30

the election for governor and other executive offices

Question 31

When are gubernatorial elections held?

Answer 31

during even numbered years between presidential elections

Question 32

special election

Answer 32

an election to fill a vacancy, ratify a state constitutional amendment, or approve a local bond issue

Question 33

What is special about Texas campaign rules

Answer 33

With exceptions of judicial races, there are no limits on what an individual or a PAC can give to a candidate