Civics Exam Practice Tests
Course Introduction
Civics explores the rights and responsibilities of citizens within a society, the structure and functions of government, and the principles of democratic participation. Students examine key aspects of political systems, the role of law, citizenship, and public policy. The course encourages an understanding of how individuals and groups can influence decision-making processes on local, national, and global levels, and fosters informed, responsible civic engagement.
Recommended Textbook
Practicing Texas Politics 16th Edition by Lyle Brown
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13 Chapters
1009 Verified Questions
1009 Flashcards
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Chapter 1: The Environment of Texas Politics
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75 Verified Questions
75 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Texas ranks __________ among the states in the amount of hazardouswaste generated, carbon dioxide emissions, and toxic chemicals released into the air and into the groundwater.
A) first
B) third
C) last
D) fifth
Answer: A
Q2) Which of the following have become effective campaign tools because they allow users to engage in social networking and create online communities?
A) Bit torrents
B) Social media
C) Traditional media
D) Data mines
Answer: B
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Page 3
Chapter 2: Federalism and the Texas Constitution
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81 Verified Questions
81 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) After considering Texas'schallenge to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court ruled that
A) the U.S. government may penalize those without insurance, but may not withdraw Medicaid funding from states that refuse to expand the program.
B) the entire Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional.
C) the U.S. government may withdraw Medicaid funding from states that refuse to expand the program, but may not penalize those without insurance.
D) the entire Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is constitutional.
Answer: A
Q2) In its capacity as the state's fundamental law, the Texas Constitution
A) spells out the size and salary of the legislature.
B) creates governmental institutions, assigns them powers, and places limitations on them.
C) determines the property tax rate.
D) provides for revision once in each generation.
Answer: B
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Chapter 3: Local Governments
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76 Verified Questions
76 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Briefly describe the three powers held by home-rule cities that are not held by state government or general-law cities. Explain how the exercise of these powers by citizens may be slowed or blocked.
Answer: Home-rule cities have three powers that are not held by state government or general-law cities. These powers include the ability to create and enforce local ordinances, the ability to manage their own finances and budget, and the ability to establish their own form of government.
The exercise of these powers by citizens may be slowed or blocked in a few ways. First, state governments may impose limitations or restrictions on the powers of home-rule cities through legislation or legal challenges. Second, special interest groups or individuals may lobby against certain local ordinances or budget decisions, leading to delays or changes in the implementation of these powers. Finally, the complexity of local government processes and bureaucracy may also slow down the exercise of these powers by citizens, as it can be difficult to navigate and influence decision-making within the local government structure.
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Chapter 4: Political Parties
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79 Verified Questions
79 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is not one of a party precinct chair's duties?
A) Representing the party in lawsuits
B) Registering and persuading voters in the precinct
C) Getting people to the polls
D) Distributing candidate literature and info
Q2) The trend of voters abandoning their traditional political party allegiance is referred to as
A) dealignment.
B) realignment.
C) reshuffling.
D) coalition building.
Q3) In 2008, one reason why Obama won in Harris, Travis, Bexar, and Dallas counties was because of
A) strong Republican support.
B) strong conservative Tea Party support.
C) solid support from independents and right-wing Republicans.
D) solid support from Latino and African American voters.
Q4) Briefly explain why conservatives tend to support the Republican party and liberals tend to support the Democratic party.
Q5) Explain the difference between temporary and permanent party organizations.
Page 6
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Chapter 5: Campaigns and Elections
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city was
A) Annise Parker, sworn in as mayor of Houston in 2010.
B) Harvey Milk, sworn in as mayor of San Francisco in 1974.
C) Barney Frank, sworn in as mayor of Boston in 1980.
D) Reginald Dwight, sworn in as mayor of Dallas in 1992.
Q2) As a result of the Shelby v. Holder case, the state of Texas
A) may once again institute a poll tax or voter registration fee.
B) is no longer required to obtain preclearance from the U.S. Department of Justice for its electoral district maps.
C) must create multi-member, at-large election districts for seats in the state legislature.
D) must now require that voters register more than once every five years.
Q3) The amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibited the states from denying the vote due to race was the
A) Thirteenth Amendment.
B) Fifteenth Amendment.
C) Nineteenth Amendment.
D) Twenty-Sixth Amendment.
Q4) Trace the progress of women in winning electoral office in Texas.
Q5) How are primary elections funded in Texas?
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Chapter 6: The Media and Politics in Texas
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75 Verified Questions
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Sample Questions
Q1) When it comes to measures of civic engagement like voter turnout, being involved in groups, donating to charity, volunteering and discussing political issues online,
A) Texans are the most active in the nation.
B) Texans are above the national average.
C) Texans are exactly at the national average.
D) Texans are below the national average.
Q2) Texas newspapers have generally supported
A) conservative political candidates.
B) moderate political candidates.
C) liberal political candidates.
D) no political candidates.
Q3) What happened when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) abolished the Fairness Doctrine in 1987?
A) Conservative and liberal talk-radio hosts had about equal success.
B) Liberal talk-radio hosts quickly outpaced conservatives.
C) Conservative talk-radio hosts quickly outpaced liberals.
D) Talk radio virtually disappeared from both AM and FM radio.
Q4) Evaluate the media's roles in furthering democracy.Describe these roles in Texas politics.
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Chapter 7: The Politics of Interest Groups
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76 Verified Questions
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following would not be among the interest groups that Texas legislators identify as most powerful?
A) Public interest groups advocating campaign finance reform
B) An interest group representing oil and gas companies
C) A professional association representing physicians
D) A trade association representing the tobacco industry
Q2) The Christian Coalition would be most likely to promote which of the following?
A) Banning same-sex marriage
B) Allowing women unrestricted access to abortion and contraception
C) Keeping prayer out of public schools
D) Programs to provide food and health care to the poor
Q3) Which of the following is among the oldest and most effective racial and ethnic interest groups in Texas?
A) National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
B) League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
C) Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)
D) All of these choices are among the oldest and most effective racial and ethnic groups in Texas.
Q4) What is an interest group and how is it different from a political party?
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Chapter 8: The Legislative Branch
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is true of members of the Texas House of Representatives?
A) They serve terms of four years and are limited to 3 terms.
B) They serve terms of four years with no term limits.
C) They serve terms of two years and are limited to 3 terms.
D) They serve terms of two year terms with no term limits.
Q2) In Texas, the second 30 days of the legislative session are mainly reserved for
A) any non-legislative duties.
B) introduction of new legislation.
C) action on concurrent resolutions.
D) standing committee action on bills.
Q3) Compare the structure, membership, and sessions of the Texas legislature with those of other large states, or those of states bordering Texas. What similarities or differences stand out as significant?
Q4) The redistricting practice of drawing legislative districts to favor one group or party is called
A) electioneering.
B) packing.
C) gerrymandering.
D) filibustering.
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Chapter 9: The Executive Branch
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75 Verified Questions
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Sample Questions
Q1) Limitations to the governor's appointment powers includes all the following, except A) a lack of removal power.
B) a requirement of Senate approval.
C) many overlapping six-year terms.
D) a lack of recess appointment power.
Q2) Which executive official primarily serves legislative functions?
A) Lieutenant governor
B) Attorney general
C) Secretary of state
D) Comptroller of public accounts
Q3) In times when quick but limited action is needed, a direct law-enforcement power that may be exercised by the governor is
A) conscripting county sheriffs into state service to enforce criminal law.
B) assuming direct command of the state highway patrol.
C) ordering district attorneys to prosecute persons engaging in criminal conduct.
D) taking command of the Texas Rangers.
Q4) Explain how the governor may get involved in pork-barrel politics.
Q5) Describe the sources and uses of a governor's informal powers.
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Chapter 10: Public Policy and Administration
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82 Verified Questions
82 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Electric providers in Texas are regulated by the
A) Public Utilities Commission.
B) Railroad Commission.
C) Ethics Commission.
D) Commission on Environmental Quality.
Q2) Conservative members of the State Board of Education tend to be
A) Anglo Republicans.
B) African American Democrats.
C) Anglo Democrats.
D) Latina Republicans.
Q3) The system that replaced the merit system in Texas was a
A) centralized testing system.
B) centralized compensation and classification system.
C) decentralized compensation plan.
D) fragmented classification system under a plural executive.
Q4) "Red tape" contributes to the image of most bureaucracies as A) in need of reform.
B) dictatorial.
C) inefficient.
D) out of touch.
Page 12
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Chapter 11: The Judicial Branch
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Sample Questions
Q1) Texas is divided into ______ appeals court districts?
A) 10
B) 12
C) 14
D) 16
Q2) The court system has the legal authority to the make the rules of civil procedure, however, these rules
A) may not conflict with any general laws of the state.
B) may not conflict with the rules of the State Bar of Texas.
C) often conflict with the rules of the State Bar of Texas.
D) often do conflict with the general laws of the state.
Q3) Which level of courts are constitutionally bifurcated in Texas?
A) Highest level appellate courts
B) Intermediate appellate courts
C) State trial courts
D) Local trial courts
Q4) Imagine that you were injured on the job and decided to sue your employer. Explain the process involved in making your civil case. In your judgment, should punitive damages in tort matters be limited?
Q5) Briefly explain the roles of the judge and jury in a civil trial.
Page 13
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Chapter 12: The Criminal Justice System
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Sample Questions
Q1) TDCJ has a policy of no fraternizing between inmates and correctional staff, but they allow staff and inmates to be "friends"on Facebook because
A) of the freedom of association guaranteed under the Constitution.
B) they have found no harm comes from this form of relationship.
C) it's too difficult to monitor online sites.
D) it creates a community between inmates and staff.
Q2) The stated purposes of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice include all the following, except to A) assist crime victims.
B) provide for public safety.
C) punish law breakers.
D) promote positive behavioral change.
Q3) How does the state decide on the proper punishment for an individual's criminal offenses? Should incarceration continue to be used as aggressively as it is today? Why or why not?
Q4) Explain capital felony law in Texas. Include in your discussion a definition of capital felony, what the jury must consider, and its sentencing options.
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Chapter 13: Finance and Fiscal Policy
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79 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The fund available to the Texas legislature for general appropriations purposes is called the
A) "rainy day" fund.
B) general obligation fund.
C) general revenue fund.
D) sales tax revenue fund.
Q2) The state of Texas provides workers compensation under monies collected from A) payroll taxes.
B) severance taxes.
C) selective sales taxes.
D) general obligation bonds.
Q3) Describe the rules regarding government debt in Texas. Why does the government borrow when it does? Describe both positive and negative aspects of the way that Texas handles government borrowing.
Q4) The second largest single expenditure item by functional class of the Texas government is A) debt service.
B) public elementary and secondary education.
C) public higher education.
D) public assistance.
Page 15
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