American Government: State and Local Emphasis
Test Preparation
Course Introduction
This course provides an in-depth exploration of American government with a particular focus on state and local political systems. Students will examine the structures, functions, and powers of state governments, as well as the roles of governors, legislatures, and judicial branches. The course also covers the organization and responsibilities of local governments counties, cities, and special districts while analyzing how these entities interact with state and federal government. Key topics include public policy-making at the state and local levels, taxation and budgeting, representation and participation, intergovernmental relations, and the impact of historical and contemporary issues on governance. Through case studies and current events, students gain a practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing state and local governments in the United States.
Recommended Textbook
Texas Politics 12th Edition by Charldean Newell
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14 Chapters
798 Verified Questions
798 Flashcards
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Chapter 1: The Context of Texas Politics
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62 Verified Questions
62 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36014
Sample Questions
Q1) In 2002,Mexican President Vicente Fox cancelled a trip to Texas to visit President Bush because
A) the Mexican President is a socialist and President Bush is a Republican.
B) the Mexican President was unable to persuade the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles or Governor Rick Perry to stop the execution of a Mexican citizen.
C) the Mexican government was opposed to the North American Free Trade Agreement.
D) the American government was not cooperating with Mexico to reduce drug traffic.
E) Mexican trucking firms were being unfairly penalized for bringing unsafe trucks across the border.
Answer: B
Q2) The first native Texan to be elected governor was
A) Sam Houston.
B) Davy Crockett.
C) Richard Coke.
D) James S. Hogg.
E) J. Davis.
Answer: D
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Page 3
Chapter 2: The Constitutional Setting
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60 Verified Questions
60 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In spite of its length,the Texas Constitution is a well organized document.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) Special interests in Texas often attempt to have policies favoring them included in the constitution because
A) there is great prestige in having their "own" provisions in the constitution.
B) the constitution is more difficult to change than ordinary laws.
C) constitutional amendments can be approved more quickly than ordinary laws.
D) voters tend to pay little attention to what is done to the constitution.
E) all of the above.
Answer: B
Q3) The traditionalistic-individualistic political culture of Texas resulted in a constitution
A) that centralizes power in the governor.
B) with a heavy emphasis on limiting government's ability to act.
C) that does not have a bill of rights.
D) with unlimited controls on spending.
E) with a high degree of flexibility.
Answer: B
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Chapter 3: Interest Groups
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59 Verified Questions
59 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Because the state government has always protected the interests of petroleum producers,there are no significant groups representing the oil and gas industry in Texas.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) Which of the following is not correct about interest groups?
A) Interest groups provide information to officeholders in all branches of government.
B) Interest groups engage in the electoral process by nominating their members for public office.
C) Interest groups help to inform public opinion.
D) Interest groups engage in the electoral process by contributing money to candidates.
E) Interest groups politicize and inform members of their groups.
Answer: B
Q3) Many successful lobbyists are former state legislators or executives.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
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Page 5
Chapter 4: Political Parties
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54 Verified Questions
54 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In 1961,____ ended the Democrats' monopoly on offices at the state level by winning a special election for the U.S.Senate.
A) John Tower
B) Phil Gramm
C) Bill Clements
D) George Bush
E) Lyndon Baines Johnson
Q2) From the perspective of activists and candidates,the basic purpose of political parties is to
A) recruit political leaders.
B) stimulate political activity and provide information.
C) moderate differences between groups.
D) organize the decision-making activities of government.
E) win elections in order to gain control over public policy.
Q3) On matters of foreign policy,liberals and conservatives tend to follow partisan rather than ideological cues.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 5: Voting,campaigns,and Elections
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57 Verified Questions
57 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The framers of the U.S.Constitution gave the national government the power to determine the qualifications for voting in all elections.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The 24th Amendment to the U.S.Constitution outlawed
A) White-only primaries.
B) property qualifications for voting.
C) annual registration requirements for voting.
D) the poll tax.
E) literacy tests.
Q3) The campaign for governor in 2002 was a very spirited and positive campaign with few personal attacks.
A)True
B)False
Q4) The election of 2010 resulted in a sweep of winning statewide offices for the Republican Party.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 6: The Texas Legislature
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63 Verified Questions
63 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following factors causes the high turnover that characterizes the Texas legislature?
A) Running for higher office
B) Retirement
C) Taking a job in the private sector
D) Reapportionment/redistricting
E) All of the above
Q2) Political party affiliation and party organization have grown in importance as Texas briefly became a two-party state and as Texas moved toward becoming a one-party Republican-dominated state.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Annual sessions of the legislature would allow legislators to engage in more long-range planning of public policy than is now possible.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Filibusters are allowed in both the House and Senate.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 7: The Governor
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58 Verified Questions
58 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The Governor must be at least _____ years old to be elected.
A) 21
B) 25
C) 30
D) 35
E) 40
Q2) Texas Governors have nearly unlimited removal power.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Discuss the major factors that limit the Texas Governor's ability to function effectively as chief executive.Despite the limits,Governors can be effective in supervising the executive branch.Explain how.
Q4) The Texas Governor's veto power is absolute when
A) the bill being vetoed is produced during a special (called) session.
B) the bill being vetoed is an itemized appropriations bill.
C) the veto occurs within ten days of the time the bill is sent to the Governor.
D) the legislature adjourns prior to the exercise of the veto.
E) it is accompanied by an Attorney General's opinion declaring the law unconstitutional.
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Page 9
Chapter 8: The Administrative State
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55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Texas has among the fewest employees per 10,000 population among the states in all but which one of the following areas?
A) Higher education
B) Highways
C) Corrections
D) Hospitals
E) Public welfare
Q2) Bureaucracy is an administrative organization associated with red tape,specialization,and hierarchy.
A)True
B)False
Q3) In a civil service system
A) workers are hired based on merit.
B) workers are evaluated on job performance.
C) workers are insulated from undue interference from politicians.
D) workers are imperfectly accountable to the people.
E) all of the above are true.
Q4) Discuss the roles that clientele groups play in the survival and growth of bureaucracies.Explain the effect they have on bureaucratic orientation.
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Chapter 9: The Judiciary
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57 Verified Questions
57 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The Texas Fair Defense Act attempts to remedy the problem of unequal justice by establishing
A) a public defenders system in felony cases.
B) a strict code of conduct for attorneys.
C) limits on appeals in death penalty cases.
D) uniform sentencing guidelines.
E) an automatic appeals process for those convicted of crimes.
Q2) District and appellate judges in Texas may be removed from office
A) by impeachment after a vote of two-thirds majority of the legislature.
B) by the Attorney General.
C) by removing the judge's funding from the budget.
D) by a state-wide referendum.
E) by the governor.
Q3) Compare the functions of trial juries and grand juries in Texas.Explain how jurors are selected in most Texas counties.Take a position with regard to the following question: Is the usual method of jury selection adequate to insure fair trials?
Q4) Discuss the factors that account for charges of unequal justice in Texas and give examples.Explain how the state has acted to try to mitigate those problems.
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Page 11
Chapter 10: The Substance of Justice
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56 Verified Questions
56 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In November 2005,the Supreme Court of Texas declared the Robin Hood law unconstitutional on the grounds that the law forced school districts to assess a statewide property tax.
A)True
B)False
Q2) A majority of Texans oppose the death penalty for those convicted of murder.
A)True
B)False
Q3) In Texas,Democrats are generally more supportive of capital punishment than are Republicans.
A)True
B)False
Q4) The term civil liberties refers to
A) the right to run for office and to vote in free elections.
B) the right to fair and equal treatment under the law.
C) the right for all citizens to carry a concealed handgun.
D) the individual freedoms from government interference needed to sustain democracy.
E) all of the above.
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Page 12
Chapter 11: Local Government
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58 Verified Questions
58 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Describe the differences between partisan and nonpartisan elections and how that impacts city governance in Texas.Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of place systems and district systems for city elections.
Q2) In a strong mayor-council form of municipal government,the mayor
A) is elected by the city council.
B) is subject to recall by the city's voters.
C) is unable to influence the city budget.
D) has the power to appoint and remove other city executives.
E) has the power to remove council members.
Q3) Annexation has been used by Texas cities as a means of avoiding the erosion of the tax base caused by the migration of the middle class to the suburbs.
A)True
B)False
Q4) According to the 2010 Census,Loving County has fewer than 100 residents.
A)True
B)False
Q5) An ad valorem tax is a tax on property.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 12: The State Economy and the Financing of State Government
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55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following types of tax does Texas not have?
A) Motor fuels tax
B) Personal income tax
C) Inheritance tax
D) General sales tax
E) Severance tax
Q2) Taxes paid by businesses account for three times the taxes individuals pay.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The two state agencies that play a major role in the initial formulation of the budget are the Budget,Planning,and Policy Division and the
A) Legislative Budget Board.
B) Legislative Reference Service.
C) General Accounting Office.
D) Comptroller's Office.
E) Treasurer's Office.
Q4) The major tax in Texas levied on business is called the excise tax.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 13: Public Policypeople
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54 Verified Questions
54 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Of the 25 poorest counties in the United States,how many are in Texas?
A) 2
B) 4
C) 9
D) 14
E) 19
Q2) The use of race as a factor in admission to law school was outlawed in the case of
A) Grutter v. Bollinger.
B) Brown v. Board of Education.
C) Smith v. Allwright.
D) Texas v. Johnson.
E) Hopwood v. Texas.
Q3) The legacy of the traditionalistic-individualistic political culture in Texas that runs headlong into a moralistic group in Texas,often makes disagreements over public policy issues sharp.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 14: Public Policyresources
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50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Most of the coal mined in Texas is of what variety?
A) Lignite
B) Anthracite
C) Stalagmite
D) Bituminous
E) Graphite
Q2) Which energy resource is predicted to be the least costly per kilowatt hour in 2016?
A) Coal
B) Wind
C) Solar
D) Nuclear
E) Natural gas
Q3) The estuary formed by the entrance of the Guadalupe River into San Antonio Bay near Aransas Pass is the home of
A) feral pigs.
B) whooping cranes.
C) bluegill fish.
D) delicate orchids.
E) Texas bluebonnets.
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Page 16