Test Questions Flashcards
1
Q
The word politics simply refers to
A
the process of forming relationships based on shared interests
2
Q
When someone refers to government, they are really speaking about __________
A
public institutions
3
Q
What determines which group of people will get to implement their policies and spend taxpayer dollars to carry out their goals?
A
Power in government
4
Q
In what year did the French settle in Texas and declare the land for France?
A
1684
5
Q
How did Spain establish dominion over the Texas territory?
A
Spain established missions and attempted to convert Native Americans to Catholicism
6
Q
What was the main reason Anglos settled in Texas?
A
Plentiful open land
7
Q
Which slogan was inscribed on a banner at the decisive battle of San Jacinto?
A
Come and Take It
8
Q
Which of the following was a major factor in allowing Texas to benefit from the raising and selling of beef?
A
Refrigerated railcarts
9
Q
What features make Texas a desirable place for industry and companies? (Select all that apply)
A
cheap space
low taxes
hands-off approach by state government
10
Q
The 1901 discovery of massive oil deposits boosted the Texas economy due to a shortage of fossil fuels in the Middle East at the time.
A
False
11
Q
Which of the following is considered reflective of Texas conservative values? (Select all that apply)
A
distrust of government
resistance to change
12
Q
The U.S. Constitution provides for a structure of government that__________________
A
grants state and national governments delineated authority
13
Q
When the U.S. Supreme Court rules that a state law is unconstitutional, which level of government is it affirming as supreme?
A
National
14
Q
The national government can control the states by providing or withholding federal money.
A
True
15
Q
What would be required to legalize casino gambling in the state of Texas? (select all correct answers)
A
It would have to be changed by a constitutional amendment.
16
Q
Texas was under the governing authority of the Coahuila state in Mexico
A
1827 Constitution
17
Q
Texas became a republic after Sam Houston’s victory at San Jacinto.
A
1836 Constitution
18
Q
Texas seceded from the union to join the Confederate State of America
A
1861 Constitution
19
Q
Texas rejoined the union and denied African Americans the right to vote.
A
1866 Constitution
20
Q
gave the government more power during Reconstruction
A
1869 Constitution
21
Q
The Texas Grange was a group of Radical Republicans who greatly influenced the creation of the 1876 Constitution.
A
False
22
Q
Under the 1876 Constitution, the Texas Governor’s power was greatly reduced by the limitation of appointment powers.
A
True
23
Q
With _____ provisions, the Texas Bill of Rights has significantly more than the U.S. Bill of Rights.
A
thirty
24
Q
To amend the Texas Constitution, ________ of both houses and ___________ of Texas voters must approve.
A
two-thirds, a majority
25
After Union troops withdrew from Texas and Republicans were ousted from political office, which of the following were passed to both sanction racial segregation and deny equal rights to African Americans
Jim Crow Laws
25
Imagine a young African American female in the year 1919. What are the barriers to this person voting in the Texas primary election?
Poll tax
Lack of suffrage
White primary system
25
The Supreme Court ended the state poll tax in Texas in 1966
True
26
If the Texas legislature were to draw political districts in a way that discriminated against minority groups in the voting or registration process, it would be a violation of
the Voting Rights Act
27
Dave, a Tarrant County College student, moved from Hays County to Tarrant County in August of the academic school year. For Dave to vote in the upcoming November election in Tarrant County, he must re-register with his new address within __________ days of the election.
30
28
Family tradition is the most significant factor that determines voter turnout in Texas
False
29
Primary election in Texas are
partisan
30
If Miguel considers himself a Republican, when does he make a formal declaration of his political party affiliation?
He does this when he votes a primary election
31
To win a general election, a candidate must receive ________
A plurality of the votes
32
Which of the following situations require a special election? (Select all that apply)
A school board needs voter approval to pass a bond to build a new school
Allow voters to decide a constitutional amendment passed by the Texas legislature
Select a new person to fill a vacancy for a legislator who left office before the end of their tenure
33
Texas corporations may not contribute directly to a political candidate's campaign.
True
34
Which is one of the main objectives of a political party?
Win elections
35
A coalition is the formal meeting of a political party to select its leadership.
False
36
What is the basic unit of the Texas political system?
Precinct
37
Which of these factors are true for a precinct chair? (Select all that apply)
1. selected by the party's primary voters
2. responsible for running the primary election in their precinct
3. serves a two-year term
38
The election of Texas governors like Miriam "Ma" Ferguson, Pat Neff, and William Hobby in the 1910s and 1920s illustrated that political success in this era ______
depended more on personality than philosophy
39
In 1990, Ann Richards was the last ______ to be elected Governor of Texas
Democrat
40
Why was a special election held in Texas after the presidential election of Lyndon Johnson in 1960?
The U.S. Constitution prohibits a person from holding seats in two different governmental branches
41
Which of the following is a primary reason for interest groups?
To influence elected officials
42
Interest groups primarily ______ while political parties ________
seek to influence elected officials; seek to nominate candidates to run for office
43
_______ interest groups bring monetary benefit to their members
Economic
44
A public employee interest group, such as the Texas State Teachers Association, can have both economic and non-economic concerns.
True
45
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP
Ethnic/gender/age group
46
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
Labor group
47
Texas Taxpayer and Research Association
Business group
48
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
Single-issue groups
49
Humane Society
Public Interest group
50
Interest groups provide ________
the life blood of the legislative process.
information
51
What is the role of a lobbyist? Select all that apply.
1. speak on behalf of a special interest group
2. make personal contact with a legistlator
3. provide a position paper on a proposed bill
4. appear at public hearings
52
Why do Texas legislators rely on expertise from lobbyists in crafting and understanding laws?
They cannot be experts in all technical matters for which they must write legislation
53
Interest groups rely heavily on individual contributions from members to provide campaign contributions to candidates.
False
54
Which of these is NOT part of the Iron Triangle?
Governor
55
Woman's suffrage and the Ku Klux Klan dominated the Texas political news in the early 1900s.
True
56
At the turn of the 20th century, investigative journalism emerged and was often referred to as ________
muckracking
57
Which of the following agencies regulate public airways in Texas?
Federal Communication Commission
58
Coverage of local and state political news stories by the mainstream media tends to be
1. superficial
2. focused on the "horse race" of who is winning and losing
59
Which statement best explains how a tracking poll works?
A tracking poll compares the same questions from the same polling organization over time.
60
The terms of office for members of the Texas legislature are _______
two years for house members and four years for Senate members
61
Assume that the legislature is not going to have enough time to pass an important bill before the end of a session. Which of the following is one way of ensuring that a bill does get passed?
The governor calls the legislature into special session with instructions to pass the bill.
62
Andres wants to run for the open house seat in his area. He is 20 years old, is a U.S. citizen, has lived in his district for 3 years, and is a registered voter. As of today, could he run?
No, he can't because he does not meet the age requirement.
63
The U.S. Constitution requires that the Texas legislature redraw district lines every 10 years.
False
64
What is the primary consideration when redrawing district lines?
one person, one vote
65
Which of these are powers of the legislature? (Select all that apply)
oversee debate
appoint committee chairs
assign bills
create the budget
66
While the lieutenant governor is a position in the executive branch, this person holds tremendous power over public policy because they lead the Texas _________
Senate
67
Special committee
Temporary group to deal with issues
68
Interim committee
Group gathers info outside of session
69
Standing committee
Permanent group
70
Conference committee
Group strives for compromise
71
The Texas comptroller is vital to the legislative process because he/she certifies the state revenue.
True
72
Which of these statements are true for the Texas governor? Select all that apply.
1. appoints board and commission members
2. serves a 4-year term
73
People who donate to a gubernatorial campaign are often appointed to state boards.
True
74
Call out the national guard in an emergency
Military power
75
Say "no" to a bill passed by the legislature
Veto power
76
call an extra session of the legislature to highlight a bill
Session calling power
77
give the State of the State address as each legislative session begins
Message power
78
may grant a 30-day reprieve in a death penalty case
Clemency power
79
The governor has no authority to handle international affairs
False
80
Executive power is the power to
carry out the laws of the state
81
appoints members to boards and commissions
Governor
82
Oversees collection of child support payments
Attorney general
83
presides over the Texas Senate
Lieutenant Governor
84
Collects business taxes on behalf of the state
Comptroller
85
responsible for the Permanent School Fund (PSF)
Land Commissioner
86
responsible for weights and measures
Agricultural commissioner
87
Manages the state election process
secretary of state
88
2nd in the command of the Texas National Guard
Adjutant General
89
Texas has a ______ executive system, which means the governor does not appoint the major department heads
Plural
90
The primary responsibility of the Texas Railroad Commission (TRC) is to regulate railroad rates across Texas
False
91
Most functions of Texas government are overseen by _______
Commissions
Boards
92
The Texas Court system was established in 1891 by a constitutional amendment
True
93
The legal standard of guilt, beyond a reasonable doubt, is used in both civil and criminal cases.
False
94
Andrew was assaulted by a man during a late-night encounter in a bar. He wants the assailant to be criminally prosecuted and to still be able to sue for damages to cover his hospital bills. Is this possible under Texas law?
Yes. Some events can be the cause of both civil and criminal actions
95
Texas is one of a few states where judges run for office in _____
elections.
partisan
96
divorce and child custody
district court
97
appellate jurisdiction over civil cases
Texas Supreme Court
98
appellate jurisdiction over criminal cases
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
99
Class C and city ordinance violations
municipal court
100
What are the key features of a home rule city?
1. city-funded projects to improve quality of life
2. governed by a charter
3. approved by voters in cities with 5,000 or more people
101
group of individuals elected to oversee a particular operation
Commission
102
common in small Texas cities,: day to day operations carried out by one elected individual
Mayor-Council
103
mostly in medium to larger cities, allows for professional management and local control
Council- Manager
104
Sales tax revenue is the largest source of income for Texas cities.
False
105
The City of Austin needs to improve the streets and sidewalks along a major thoroughfare. This will require a large expenditure of monies that the city does not have. What is the best way the city can borrow the money for the project?
The city can issue general obligation bonds
106
Counties called the "administrative arms of state government are relatively weak and less autonomous compared to cities.
True
107
The city of Hurst needs to widen a road to accommodate increased traffic caused by development. However, one side of the street has several homes that are in the way of this expansion. What can the city do to complete this project?
The city can condemn the homes but then must compensate the owners
108
Which federal agency is responsible for collecting national crime statistics?
Federal Bureau of Investigations
109
According to the pie graph in Chapter 12 and the lecture video,
is the most common type of crime in Texas.
property crime
110
Illicit drugs account for the increase in arrests even though the overall crime rate has been decreasing.
True
111
It costs the State of Texas more to educate a young adult for one year than to keep that person behind bars.
False
112
Select the three (3) offenses that are eligible for a capital murder charge.
1. murder of a peace officer acting in official duty
2. murder while incarcerated and serving a life sentence
3. murder of a person under the age of 10
113
Why are executions in the State of Texas on the decline?
1. The Supreme Court ruled that persons with intellectual disabilities can not be executed.
2. The legislature gave juries the option to award a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
3. The Supreme Court ruled that persons 17 years or younger at the time of crime can not be executed.
114
The exclusionary rule protects citizens from ______
the use of evidence gathered during an illegal search.
115
The state laws that govern the conduct of individuals and groups is called ___
Texas Penal Code
