Comparative State Politics Study Guide Questions
Course Introduction
Comparative State Politics explores the structures, functions, and processes of state governments within a federal system, with a primary focus on the United States. The course examines how political institutions, party systems, policy agendas, and social dynamics vary across states and influence governance at the subnational level. Students will analyze patterns of political behavior, intergovernmental relations, election dynamics, policy innovation, and responses to contemporary challenges such as economic inequality and social justice. By comparing different states, learners will gain insight into the factors shaping state policies, the impact of local cultures and economies, and the implications of diversity within federal systems, equipping them with a nuanced understanding of state-level politics and its role in the broader political landscape.
Recommended Textbook
Government and Politics in the Lone Star State 8th Edition by L. Tucker Gibson
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13 Chapters
1040 Verified Questions
1040 Flashcards
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Chapter 1: The social and economic milieu of texas politics
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In the early 1980s, about ________ of the economy of Texas was reliant upon energy-related industries.
A) 12 percent
B) 21 percent
C) 23 percent
D) 27 percent
E) 31 percent
Answer: D
Q2) Which of the following three cities are among the ten largest cities in the United States?
A) Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio
B) Dallas, El Paso, and Houston
C) Austin, Houston, and San Antonio
D) El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio
E) Dallas, El Paso, and San Antonio
Answer: A
Q3) In 2010, Hispanics made up approximately 37.6 percent of the state's population.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
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Chapter 2: The texas constitution
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79 Verified Questions
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Sample Questions
Q1) The first Texas constitution was adopted in A) 1824.
B) 1827.
C) 1836.
D) 1861.
E) 1869.
Answer: B
Q2) The Constitution of 1866 was brought about by the policies of President Abraham Lincoln who envisioned
A) a state government with power shared between civilians and the military.
B) a long, drawn out process whereby southern states had to meet multiple demands to reintegrate.
C) a rapid return to civilian governments for Southern states and their quick reintegration into America.
D) a quick reintegration of Southern states into the Union but lacking equality in many ways.
E) a state government with weak powers and dominated by the national government. Answer: C
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Chapter 3: Intergovernmental relationships
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) A systematic transfer of authority from the federal government to the states would be considered ________ in the United States.
A) super nationalism
B) evolution
C) absolution
D) devolution
E) degeneration
Answer: D
Q2) President Ronald Reagan expressed a commitment to increasing federal programs, especially welfare.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) President Ronald Reagan's efforts to reduce federal funding of social services were especially harsh on state and local governments, which had to take on responsibilities for the administration of public assistance.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
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Page 5
Chapter 4: Interest groups and political power in texas
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) During the 1970s, political power was spread out to minorities, Republicans, and liberal Democrats more evenly through the utilization of ________, which eroded the strength of conservative Democrats.
A) multimember districts
B) at-large elections
C) single-member districts
D) proportional representation
E) bi-member districts
Q2) Most of the ________ interest groups in Austin are concerned primarily with protecting consumers and the environment from big business.
A) business
B) public
C) private
D) charitable
E) professional
Q3) It is unclear whether pluralism or elitism prevails in Texas because of insufficient data to support either side.
A)True
B)False
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Page 6
Chapter 5: The mass media in texas politics
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Most state Capitol reporters believe they are
A) objective, required to print any information they happen to learn, and interesting.
B) dedicated to principles of fairness and balance, interesting, and required to help people in need.
C) required to report events as they happen, objective, and morally bound to help people in need.
D) morally bound to help people in need, interesting, and objective.
E) objective, dedicated to the principles of fairness and balance, and required to report events as they happen.
Q2) Describe at least three ways in which modern political campaigns are shaped by the mass media.Give specific examples that compare modern campaigns and the modern media to past campaigns and earlier types of media.
Q3) Individuals and groups argue that the media are biased.What evidence can you offer to support or negate these claims? Discuss the extent to which you believe the Texas media to be biased and give specific examples to support your view.
Q4) What role do the media play in the policymaking process? Discuss the media's role, giving specific examples.
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Chapter
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Sample Questions
Q1) By 1941, liberal Democrats dominated the party and were great supporters of the New Deal.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Generally college-educated, higher-income suburbanites identify themselves as Texas Republicans.
A)True
B)False
Q3) State laws outline the formal party structure
A) and its vitality and strength rarely vary from one area of the state to another.
B) and define the vitality and strength of its local party organizations.
C) but its vitality and strength vary widely from one area of the state to another.
D) and ensure it dominates local politics.
E) and regulate all aspects of the primary election system.
Q4) Political parties are indistinguishable from interest groups.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Define political parties.How do they differ from interest groups?
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Chapter 7: Elections, campaigns, and political behavior
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Sample Questions
Q1) ________ lead many observers to worry about democratic practices in Texas.
A) Distrust of public officials and apathy
B) High Hispanic voter turnout
C) Education levels and incomes
D) Public protests and sit-ins
E) Grassroots campaigns and protests
Q2) The poll tax had to be paid between October 1 and January 31 in order to vote.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Beginning 1995, the Texas state legislature has
A) placed campaign contribution limits in judicial races.
B) sought to remove limits placed on donations to federal campaigns for congressional seats.
C) incrementally placed limits on corporate contributions to state legislative races.
D) imposed limits on the amount non-taxable, charitable institutions can contribute to state races.
E) removed campaign contribution limits from all statewide races.
Q4) Briefly describe the political gains made over the past thirty years by minorities and women in Texas.
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Chapter 8: The texas legislature
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80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Because the overriding consideration for most lawmakers is to get reelected, the interests of which source are most important in leading them to a decision on how to vote?
A) Campaign contributors are vital to a legislator so care must be taken not to alienate them.
B) They must carefully balance the interests of a variety of groups to ensure continued support.
C) The political party to which the legislator is a member of can make or break a legislator's career.
D) Legislators represent the people who put their faith in a legislator's personal convictions.
E) A legislator's senior colleagues are the biggest influence on how they will vote.
Q2) List and briefly explain some of the more serious ethical issues facing the Texas legislators and the efforts that have been made to enact and implement ethics reform.
Q3) What are the characteristics of the Texas state legislature? How does it compare to the legislatures of other states?
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Chapter 9: The texas executive
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Sample Questions
Q1) What was the purpose of the initiative initiated by U.S.House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in 2003, which Governor Perry heavily supported?
A) It was aimed at congressional redistricting to increase the number of Republicans elected to the U.S. Congress from Texas.
B) It sought to increase the number of U.S. border guards on the Texas border with Mexico and to empower the Texas Rangers with new duties.
C) It was aimed at renegotiating and reducing the interest on money owed to the federal government by Texas.
D) It sought to decrease unemployment in Texas through the introduction of several programs co- managed by the federal and Texas state governments.
E) It was aimed at building support within Texas for new additions to NAFTA and increased trade with Mexico.
Q2) The comptroller's powerful role in budgetary affairs was enhanced by auditing and oversight authority in 1990 and 1991, leading to the identification of billions of dollars in potential savings.
A)True
B)False
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Page 11
Chapter 10: The bureaucracy and policy implementation
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Sample Questions
Q1) Many of the best and brightest young people seek professional employment with government bureaucracies because of the high esteem the public holds for them.
A)True
B)False
Q2) In Texas, the role of the bureaucracy is enhanced because
A) the legislature meets every year for a limited time.
B) the governor has limited powers over the bureaucracy.
C) the state uses the spoils system of government.
D) the plural executive controls the bureaucracy.
E) sunset laws only apply to the legislative committees.
Q3) During the 2010-2011 biennium, the legislature appropriated almost
A) $75 billion.
B) $86 billion.
C) $142 billion.
D) $177 billion.
E) $182 billion.
Q4) The sunset process has reduced the size of the Texas bureaucracy.
A)True
B)False
Q5) How would you describe the personnel system in Texas? Defend your answer.
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Chapter 11: The judicial system in texas
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Under both the U.S.and Texas Constitutions, a person charged with a crime is presumed
A) guilty until proven innocent by an appointed attorney.
B) innocent until the state can prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to a judge or jury.
C) innocent until the state can prove reasonable guilt to a judge or jury.
D) guilty until the defendant convinces a jury of innocence beyond a shadow of doubt.
E) innocent until the federal government can prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Q2) Despite overlapping jurisdictions, a district court judge would first hear a(n) ________ because of original jurisdiction.
A) divorce, slander, or election dispute case
B) civil action case with damages between $200 and $10,000
C) misdemeanor case with fines greater than $500
D) municipal ordinance criminal case
E) appeal from a municipal court of record
Q3) Ruby Sondock of Houston was the first woman to serve on the Texas Supreme Court.
A)True
B)False
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Page 13
Chapter 12: Local government in texas: cities, towns, counties, and special districts
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Some areas, particularly in West Texas, still have a lot of elbow room, but most Texans live in cities.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Rather than creating an orderly, comprehensive educational system that assured a good education to every Texas child, the state decided to allow the creation of
A) 181 county educational districts.
B) one-room schools.
C) regional schools.
D) private schools.
E) community schools.
Q3) A __________ district can be created at the urging of property owners in a city to address a wide range of upgrades from libraries to sidewalks.
A) property enhancement
B) economic development
C) public improvement
D) revenue bond
E) special development
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Chapter 13: Contemporary public policy issues in texas
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Sample Questions
Q1) During the last decade, the requirements of federally driven programs and mandates
A) have decreased over the last five years
B) have had little effect on state budgets
C) have created the largest burden on state tax revenues
D) have been outpaced by CHIP and local programs
E) have been outpaced by locally driven programs and mandates
Q2) Revenues from gambling in Texas have helped justify lower tax rates.
A)True
B)False
Q3) In 2003, the Texas legislature ordered a major reorganization of the state's health and human services agencies, supported heavily by the in the legislature.
A) Republicans
B) Democrats
C) Independents
D) Greens
E) Tea Party
Q4) Why has there been so much resistance in Texas to the personal income tax and the corporate income tax?
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