Comparative State Politics
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Course Introduction
Comparative State Politics examines the structures, processes, and outcomes of political systems at the subnational level, with a primary focus on the diversity of state governments within federal countries such as the United States, India, or Germany. The course explores how institutional arrangements, political culture, party systems, and socio-economic factors shape governance and policy choices in different states or regions. Students analyze topics including state-level electoral politics, federal-state relations, policy innovation and diffusion, and the impact of state politics on social, economic, and civil rights issues. Through comparative analysis, the course aims to deepen understanding of how and why states adopt distinct approaches to common challenges and to illuminate the impact of state politics on national trajectories.
Recommended Textbook
Practicing Texas Politics 16th Edition by Lyle Brown
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Page 2
Chapter 1: The Environment of Texas Politics
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Q1) The fact that Texas has a limited government with restricted powers and low per capita government spending demonstrates the strength of the ___________ political subculture in the state.
A) individualistic
B) traditionalistic
C) moralistic
D) hedonistic
Answer: A
Q2) Based on current trends, some demographers project that by 2040 Texas Latinos will make up approximately ___________ of the state's population.
A) 28 percent
B) 38 percent
C) 48percent
D) 58 percent
Answer: B
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Page 3
Chapter 2: Federalism and the Texas Constitution
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Q1) The constitution submitted by the legislature in April 1975 to the voters was recognized as being
A) twice as long as the 1876 Constitution.
B) concise, orderly, and well-drafted.
C) essentially the same as the 1876 Constitution, though it was better organized.
D) a clearly confusing and unworkable document.
Answer: B
Q2) Proposed amendments to the state constitution are ratified by A) the legislature.
B) the governor.
C) Texas voters.
D) county commissioners.
Answer: C
Q3) The governor's role in the constitutional amendment process
A) is to initiate the proposed amendment.
B) includes the ability to veto the legislative proposal.
C) is limited to the use of personal influence to sway the outcome.
D) is to sign the final outcome into law.
Answer: C
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Page 4
Chapter 3: Local Governments
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Q1) Who has responsibility for enforcing the law and keeping the peace in each county?
A) County sheriff
B) County judge
C) Justice of the peace
D) County court of law judge
Answer: A
Q2) Approximately _______ percent of Texans reside in cities.
A) 3
B) 52
C) 80
D) 97
Answer: C
Q3) The segment of Texas higher education that receives support from property taxes is the
A) junior and community colleges.
B) University of Texas system.
C) State Technical Institute system.
D) Texas A&M system.
Answer: A
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Page 5
Chapter 4: Political Parties
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Q1) Which of the following is not true of the 2008 election?
A) Democrats gained a majority in the Texas Senate for the second straight election.
B) Obama carried four of the state's five most populous counties.
C) Democrats gained seats in the Texas House of Representatives for the third straight general election cycle.
D) Democrats won a majority of countywide offices in Harris county for the first time in more than 20 years.
Q2) When Congress passed the Reconstruction Acts, former slave owners and supporters of the Confederacy were
A) purged as officeholders and denied the vote.
B) welcomed to the electoral process.
C) allowed to seek office and votes.
D) allowed to vote in all elections.
Q3) Candidates who run for office with no party affiliation are referred to as
A) partisan seekers.
B) independents.
C) green.
D) reformers.
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Chapter 5: Campaigns and Elections
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Q1) Which of the following amendments to the U.S. Constitution broadened the franchise, extending the right to vote to new groups?
A) Thirteenth, Eighteenth, and Twenty-Second.
B) Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Twentieth.
C) Nineteenth, Twenty-First, and Twenty-Third
D) Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty-Sixth.
Q2) The increased presence of women in policymaking positions has resulted in such changes as
A) increased punishments for family violence and sexual abuse of children.
B) fewer restrictions on the rights of gun owners.
C) increased use of the death penalty.
D) decreases in funding to education and social services.
Q3) Describe the provisions in the Texas Election Code relating to the conducting, financing, and scheduling for primary, general, and special elections.
Q4) Discuss the three types of elections, i.e., primary, general, and special. Explain the purpose of each and describe how each is administered and regulated. Describe when they occur.
Q5) Trace the progress of women in winning electoral office in Texas.
Q6) How are primary elections funded in Texas?
Page 7
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Chapter 6: The Media and Politics in Texas
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Q1) The trend in media ownership in Texas has been that
A) ownership of Texas media outlets by Texas companies has declined.
B) ownership of Texas media outlets by Texas companies has increased.
C) ownership of Texas media outlets by Texas companies has stayed the same.
D) no Texas media outlets are owned by Texas companies.
Q2) Give a critique of professionalism in journalism. What is the evidence as to whether there is ideological or partisan bias in the Texas media?
Q3) In the 19th century (1800s), newspapers in Texas and the other American states were
A) highly partisan but always truthful.
B) highly partisan and not always truthful.
C) unbiased and objective but focused on scandal and entertainment.
D) unbiased, objective, and dedicated to presenting only the facts.
Q4) Which of the following is true of public radio stations like KERA and KUHT?
A) They are entirely funded by tax money.
B) They provide substantial coverage of local, state, and national news.
C) They are purely for entertainment purposes and include no news.
D) They only include brief news headlines for about five minutes every hour.
Q5) 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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Q1) Which of the following would a government employee interest group be least likely to pursue?
A) Higher wages
B) Better retirement packages
C) Increased health care benefits
D) Decreased levels of government spending
Q2) Which of the following is common in the last days of an election campaign?
A) Campaign laws are changed without public notice.
B) Interest groups make last minute contributions to campaigns.
C) Candidates change their positions on key issues.
D) Courts hear challenges to candidate qualifications.
Q3) Why does Texas have weak political parties and strong interest groups, when its characteristics would lead researchers to expect the opposite?
Q4) 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
Q5) Describe the different types of social groups in Texas and explain why they exist.
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Chapter 8: The Legislative Branch
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Q1) Which of the following is notlisted in the Texas Constitution as a qualification for membership in the Texas legislature?
A) U.S. citizenship
B) Residency in the district
C) College degree
D) Voter qualification
Q2) Which of the following is not a power accorded to the lieutenant governor by the Texas Constitution or Senate rules?
A) Voting on all bills before the Senate
B) Recognizing senators who wish to speak
C) Appointing the chairs of all Senate committees
D) Referring all bills to standing committees
Q3) Describe the various functions and duties of the Texas legislature. Identify those responsibilities that are unique to each chamber of the body. Identify any actions that must be initiated in one particular chamber.
Q4) Identify the term of office for members of the Texas legislature and their compensation for serving. Explain whether or not you think the compensation is fair.
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10
Chapter 9: The Executive Branch
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Q1) To gain support for their legislative agendas, Texas governors rely on all the following, except their
A) skills in personal relations.
B) strong constitutional powers.
C) competent staff assistance.
D) persuasion and arm-twisting.
Q2) Which of the following is not a role of the Texas agriculture commissioner?
A) Seeking markets for Texas goods
B) Administering the national school lunch program
C) Leasing public lands for mineral exploitation
D) Regulating pesticide and herbicide use
Q3) Which of the following is true regarding the Texas governor's removal power?
A) It extends to all state executive offices.
B) It may be exercised only as the legislature has directed.
C) It is limited to the governor's own agency board appointees.
D) It extends to all governor's appointments.
Q4) Describe the sources and uses of a governor's informal powers.
Q5) Identify and discuss the various roles and functions of the Texas comptroller of public accounts. What is the comptroller's most important power?
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Chapter 10: Public Policy and Administration
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Q1) Which of the following is true?
A) HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among Texans age 25-44.
B) The number of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is declining in Texas.
C) Texans age 15-24 account for the majority of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
D) Fewer Texans with HIV are surviving over time.
Q2) Fragmentation of the Texas executive branch into independent agencies was done by various legislatures to
A) avoid the issue of power becoming too centralized.
B) help Governor E. J. Davis deal with the former slave owners.
C) promote political patronage and kick-backs.
D) aid the power block of the petroleum producers in the legislature.
Q3) Under the national Affordable Care Act, Texas
A) has greatly expanded the number of people eligible for Medicaid.
B) developed one of the most successful state health insurance exchanges (also known as marketplaces).
C) refused federal funds for Medicaid expansion and has one of the highest rates of uninsured citizens of all the states.
D) abolished Medicaid altogether.
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Chapter 11: The Judicial Branch
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Q1) A court that hears and decides cases tried for the first time has
A) original jurisdiction.
B) appellate jurisdiction.
C) civil jurisdiction.
D) ultimate jurisdiction.
Q2) The goals of specialty courts are
A) efficiency and therapy.
B) institutionalization and incarceration.
C) effective child placement and punishment.
D) individualized treatment and retribution.
Q3) Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees legal representation to the poor in civil cases?
A) None
B) First
C) Sixth
D) Fourteenth
Q4) Describe the structure and roles of the highest appellate courts in Texas. Explain why Texas has two high courts of (final) appeals. What benefits or drawbacks might come along with a bifurcated court?
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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Q1) Explain the process that faces a juvenile accused of committing a crime in Texas.
Q2) In the 1972 Furman vs. Georgia case the death penalty was found unconstitutional because
A) the justices disagreed generally with the practice of executions.
B) the death penalty's use was arbitrary and its application was racially biased.
C) of the Eighth Amendment ban on "cruel and unusual punishment."
D) different methods of execution were being used in different states, making it unfair.
Q3) Explain how Texas handles juveniles who break the law. What changes to the juvenile justice system might you suggest? If you would recommend no change, explain why you think the Texas juvenile justice system is the best it could possibly be.
Q4) As of 2001, Texas counties with populations over ___________ are required by law to establish a drug court.
A) 250,000
B) 300,000
C) 450,000
D) 550,000
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Chapter 13: Finance and Fiscal Policy
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Q1) Government decisions regarding revenues, expenditures, and borrowing are referred to as
A) monetary policy.
B) foreign policy.
C) banking policy.
D) fiscal policy.
Q2) The state's Economic Stabilization Fund is
A) funded by proceeds from the state lottery.
B) used to fund local government operations.
C) used to supplement federal grants when those decline.
D) sometimes called the "rainy day" fund.
Q3) The "toilet-to-tap" program describes
A) the recycling of toilet water for human consumption.
B) a water conservation program for low-flow toilets.
C) a technology program that monitors home water consumption.
D) a state grant program to fund water conservation efforts.
Q4) What is the purpose of the Economic Stabilization Fund in Texas? Describe how it was created and isutilized.
Q5) Explain the state's role in helping students afford a higher education.
Q6) Explain the role of the comptroller of public accounts.
Page 15
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