Government and Public Policy Final Exam
Course Introduction
This course offers an in-depth exploration of the structures, principles, and processes underlying government and public policy. Students will examine the theoretical foundations of policymaking, the roles of various governmental institutions, and the impact of public opinion, interest groups, and media on policy formation and implementation. Through the analysis of case studies from local, national, and international contexts, the course encourages critical thinking about contemporary policy issues and ethical considerations. By the end, students will develop an understanding of how policies are crafted, adopted, and evaluated, as well as the tools available for effective public decision-making.
Recommended Textbook
The State of Texas Government Politics and Policy 2nd Edition by Sherri Mora
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12 Chapters
547 Verified Questions
547 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/3149 Page 2
Chapter 1: Introduction to Texas History and Politics
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50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62366
Sample Questions
Q1) Which region of the state is known primarily for its production of citrus fruits and vegetables?
A) Plains region
B) Gulf Coast region
C) border area
D) Central Corridor
Answer: C
Q2) Which tribe primarily settled in the eastern part of what we now call Texas?
A) Caddo
B) Creole
C) Comanche
D) Kiowa
Answer: A
Q3) Members of which of the following groups most overwhelmingly identify themselves as Republican?
A) evangelical Protestants
B) Protestants of the black church tradition
C) Roman Catholics
D) agnostics
Answer: A
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Chapter 2: The Texas State Constitution and the American
Federal System
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46 Verified Questions
46 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62365
Sample Questions
Q1) Why does the Texas Constitution create a fragmented executive branch?
A) to limit the power of the governor
B) poor writing that had the effect of fragmenting the executive, though this was not intended
C) to raise the status of the legislature
D) a requirement established by the U.S. Congress in order for Texas to be readmitted to the Union
Answer: A
Q2) The notion that all individuals possess inalienable rights and willingly submit to government to protect those rights is embodied in
A) the traditionalistic subculture.
B) social contract theory.
C) the individualistic subculture.
D) popular sovereignty.
Answer: B
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Page 4
Chapter 3: The Texas Legislature
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50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62364
Sample Questions
Q1) The lieutenant governor is not formally a senator and cannot vote except in cases of a tie,yet he or she has great power over the senate.Why?
A) the bully pulpit and the ear of the governor
B) senatorial tradition
C) powers similar to those of the speaker of the house
D) a popular sovereignty mandate
Answer: C
Q2) Which of the following describes how major and minor bills submitted in the Texas legislature are similar?
A) They are equally distributed among the standing committees.
B) They are equally likely to pass the legislature.
C) They are equally likely to have companion bills submitted in the other chamber.
D) They receive final action toward the end of the legislative session.
Answer: D
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Chapter 4: The Executive Department and the Office of the
Governor of Texas
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47 Verified Questions
47 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62363
Sample Questions
Q1) What are the informal powers of the Texas governor?
Q2) In 2014,____________ was elected governor of Texas.
A) Greg Abbott
B) Wendy Davis
C) Rick Perry
D) Bill Clements
Q3) Identify the six variables used to measure the formal powers of the office of governor.
Q4) The office of lieutenant governor is different from the office of the vice president in that
A) the office of lieutenant governor has a two-year term versus the vice president's four-year term.
B) when governors leave their states, lieutenant governors become acting governors.
C) lieutenant governors are usually from the opposition party, whereas vice presidents are not.
D) lieutenant governors have powers nearly coequal with governors, whereas the vice presidents have few formal powers.
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Chapter 5: The Court System in Texas
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46 Verified Questions
46 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62362
Sample Questions
Q1) In Texas,criminal appeals involving the death penalty are heard by
A) the Court of Appeals.
B) superior courts.
C) the Court of Criminal Appeals.
D) district courts.
Q2) How does income level affect the amount and quality of legal services a person receives in Texas?
Q3) How are supreme court judges selected in Texas?
A) the Missouri system
B) retention election
C) partisan election
D) gubernatorial appointment
Q4) In 2013,Texas's incarceration rate was _____ in the nation.
A) the highest
B) fifth highest
C) fourteenth highest
D) thirty-first highest
Q5) Examine the Texas partisan judicial elective system and why it might be better called an "appointive-elective" system.
Page 7
Q6) Which Texas courts can hear appeals,and what types of appeals do they hear?
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Chapter 6: Local Governments in Texas
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48 Verified Questions
48 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62361
Sample Questions
Q1) How are independent school districts governed and operated?
Q2) What authority do state and city governments have that in counties is quite limited?
A) disbursement of funds
B) infrastructure maintenance
C) ordinance creation
D) law enforcement
Q3) The commission form of city government served as a transition from the
A) weak mayor form to the council-manager form.
B) strong mayor form to the council-manager form.
C) weak mayor form to the strong mayor form.
D) council-manager form to the weak mayor form.
Q4) The least common form of local government in the United States is the A) city.
B) county.
C) school district.
D) special district.
Q5) What are the key aspects of the structure of county government?
Q6) Argue for or against the reform of county government with an emphasis on county home rule.
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Chapter 7: Voting and Political Participation in Texas
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43 Verified Questions
43 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62360
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following helps increase voter turnout in an election?
A) party competition
B) closeness of the election
C) party competition in a district
D) All of these answers are correct.
Q2) What are the current laws in Texas that define what a person needs to do to register to vote and then actually vote on Election Day?
Q3) How does Texas compare to the rest of the country in terms of percentage of eligible voters who actually vote?
A) well above average
B) a bit above average
C) about average
D) below average
Q4) How did Texas act throughout its history to restrict the voting rights of poor people and minorities? How were these practices finally ended?
Q5) List the characteristics of a citizen who is more likely to vote than others in Texas,and discuss why this person would be more likely to vote.
Q6) Why is voter turnout typically quite low for local elections?
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Chapter 8: Elections and Campaigns in Texas
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43 Verified Questions
43 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62359
Sample Questions
Q1) Who oversees the administration of elections to ensure that the rules are followed?
A) the county sheriff
B) the party chairs
C) the secretary of state
D) the party executive committees
Q2) To qualify for minor-party status,a party must have won at least __ percent of the votes in a race for statewide office in the last general election.
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 5
Q3) Why has the Catholic vote in Texas migrated from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party?
A) social issues
B) immigration issues
C) natural gravitation to the right
D) the Republican's strong campaign to win over the Catholic vote
Q4) What are the three types of special election in Texas?
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Chapter 9: Political Parties in Texas
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45 Verified Questions
45 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62358
Sample Questions
Q1) What is the likelihood that Democrats will "Turn Texas Blue"? What would be the national political ramifications of such an achievement?
Q2) The Texas Election Code has its most profound impact on political party activity in what area(s)?
A) party organization and fundraising
B) candidate selection
C) conduct of primary elections
D) All of these answers are correct.
Q3) ________ is the basic belief system that guides the party.
A) Party ideology
B) The party line
C) The party platform
D) Party identification
Q4) What is the most important function of the precinct convention?
A) selection of delegates to the county convention
B) election of permanent officers
C) selection of candidates for local offices
D) nominating local delegates to the Electoral College
Q5) Explain how Phil Gramm "converted" from a Democratic senator to a Republican.
Page 11
Q6) What political reforms have weakened political parties?
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Chapter 10: Interest Groups and Lobbying in Texas
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43 Verified Questions
43 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62357
Sample Questions
Q1) When the economy of a state grows more diverse,
A) it is easier for a single rich interest to monopolize power.
B) the number of interest groups shrinks.
C) the influence of interest groups becomes greater.
D) no single industry or group can dominate.
Q2) Why and how do interest groups engage in electioneering?
Q3) Examine how having a high degree of legislative professionalism lessens the influence of interest groups.
Q4) What is the most important tool for interest groups seeking to influence election outcomes?
A) lawyers
B) public relations
C) money
D) connections
Q5) As an interest group,what is the Texas Municipal League's strength?
A) organization
B) size
C) status
D) number of groups
Q6) Compare and contrast retail trade associations and professional associations.
Page 12
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Chapter 11: Public Policy in Texas
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44 Verified Questions
44 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62356
Sample Questions
Q1) What state has the lowest incarceration rate?
A) Texas
B) California
C) Massachusetts
D) Maine
Q2) Which of the following is a step in the policy-making cycle?
A) policy identification
B) policy setting
C) agenda formulation
D) policy evaluation
Q3) Texas's approach to regulation of which of the following policies is considered less friendly to business?
A) workers' compensation
B) professional licensing regulations
C) right-to-work laws
D) land use
Q4) What are the main provisions of the Affordable Care Act? How did Governor Rick Perry react to its passage?
Q5) How are school districts financed in Texas? Why is this funding controversial?
Page 13
Q6) Define the "10 percent rule." Argue for or against its fairness to students.
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Chapter 12: Financing State Government
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42 Verified Questions
42 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/62355
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following categories of taxes contributed the least to the Texas treasury in 2011-2012?
A) insurance occupation
B) franchise
C) motor vehicle sales and rental
D) sales
Q2) For fiscal year 2015,the Texas state budget was about $___ billion.
A) 37
B) 64
C) 100
D) 134
Q3) What is the second-largest source of revenue for Texas state government?
A) service tax
B) income tax
C) sales tax
D) franchise fee
Q4) Explain how the selective use of sales tax in Texas contributes to the regressive nature of its tax structure.
Q5) What are collective benefits? Why do governments provide them?
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