Introduction to American Government Exam Materials
Course Introduction
Introduction to American Government offers students a comprehensive overview of the foundational principles, institutions, and processes that define the United States political system. The course explores the historical context and philosophical underpinnings of the Constitution, the structure and functions of the three branches of government, federalism, civil rights and liberties, political parties, interest groups, and the electoral process. Through analysis of contemporary issues and landmark Supreme Court decisions, students gain a deeper understanding of how American government operates and the role citizens play in shaping public policy.
Recommended Textbook
Texas Politics Today 2015 2016 Edition 17th Edition by William Earl Maxwell
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12 Chapters
790 Verified Questions
790 Flashcards
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Page 2
Chapter 1: Texas Culture and Diversity
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60 Verified Questions
60 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The view that inequity is inevitable and that personal responsibility is the determinate of an individual's quality of life is an example of
A)liberal thought.
B)Texas conservatism.
C)moderate socialism.
D)Richard Hofstadter's concept of American anti-intellectualism.
Answer: B
Q2) Which family is most likely to live in poverty in Texas?
A)Latino Texan
B)Anglo Texan
C)African Texan
D)German Texan
Answer: A
Q3) Minnie Fisher Cunningham is most notable for
A)organizing farm labor protests during the Great Depression.
B)leading Texas suffragists.
C)heading the most profitable oil company in Texas.
D)founding the American atheist party in Austin.
Answer: B
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Page 3
Chapter 2: Texas in the Federal System
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70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The nonmoral opposition to casino gambling expresses concern about allowing of the following issues except
A)child neglect.
B)job absenteeism.
C)domestic violence.
D)reduced church attendance.
Answer: D
Q2) The Twenty-fourth Amendment to the U.S.Constitution forbids states from which of the following?
A)Using age in setting voting requirements
B)Prohibiting persons from voting on the basis of gender
C)Allowing the appointment of U.S.senators
D)Enacting poll tax laws as a condition for voting in a national election
Answer: D
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Chapter 3: The Texas Constitution in Perspective
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Sample Questions
Q1) Describe the political climate that existed during the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875.How did the administration of E.J.Davis influence the new constitution?
Answer: The political climate during the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875 was highly contentious and marked by a power struggle between conservative Democrats and Republicans. The convention was dominated by conservative Democrats who sought to reverse the reforms implemented during Reconstruction and restore power to the white elite. The administration of E.J. Davis, who was the Republican governor of Texas from 1870 to 1874, had a significant influence on the new constitution. Davis' administration was marked by efforts to promote civil rights for African Americans and protect the rights of freedmen, which was deeply unpopular among the conservative Democrats. As a result, the new constitution drafted during the convention aimed to roll back many of the reforms implemented by Davis and his Republican allies, including measures to restrict the rights of African Americans and limit the power of the governor. The resulting constitution was highly conservative and remained in effect until 1975, shaping the political landscape of Texas for over a century.
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Page 5
Chapter 4: Voting and Elections
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65 Verified Questions
65 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) A closed primary allows only those individuals who ____________ to participate.
A)are registered voters
B)possess a voter registration card
C)are first-time voters
D)are party members
Q2) Which of the following statements about Texas elections is incorrect?
A)Getting off an election ballot can be as difficult as getting on.
B)For any party that received at least 5 percent of the vote for any statewide office in the previous general election,the full slate of candidates is placed on the ballot automatically.
C)Write-in candidates are not listed on the ballot.
D)The process of gaining access to the ballot by third parties is simple in Texas.
Q3) To win a Texas primary election,a candidate must receive
A)a plurality of the popular votes.
B)the most votes.
C)50 percent plus one of the votes.
D)two-thirds of the vote.
Q4) How has the growth of the two-party system in Texas created problems for the Democratic Party?
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Chapter 5: Political Parties
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67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In recent years,the Republican Party had developed two factions with two different styles of leadership except
A)true believers.
B)tea party.
C)pragmatist.
D)pro-minority party activists.
Q2) In the late nineteenth century,the Democratic Party was challenged by which third party?
A)Socialist
B)Green
C)Populist
D)Reform
Q3) If a third-party candidate fails to garner 5 percent of the vote in a previous election to get on the ballot,they must
A)collect 45,000 signatures from eligible voters.
B)pay a filing fee.
C)petition the state to be placed on the ballot.
D)cast a "write-in" candidate vote.
Q4) How does low voter attendance impact the Texas party system?
Q5) Discuss the pros and cons of political parties embracing pragmatism?
Page 7
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Chapter 6: Interest Groups
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Sample Questions
Q1) A successful lobbyist will attempt all of the following except
A)establish rapport with all members of the legislature.
B)try to gain support or at least neutrality from legislative leaders on one's group's proposals.
C)secure endorsement of the chair of each committee through which one's legislation must pass.
D)secure the positive endorsement of community representatives for legislation sought by local governments.
Q2) Which of the following statements about the lobbying activities of special interest groups is incorrect?
A)They lobby only members of the state senate.
B)They petition members of the executive branch.
C)They bring lawsuits to the courts.
D)They rally the public for support.
Q3) Explain how the right to join an interest group or the right of association is protected by the U.S.Constitution.Do you think that these guarantees can endanger a representative democracy?
Q4) What changes would you make to the Texas Ethics Commission to address the criticisms made by the Center for Public Integrity?
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Chapter 7: The Legislature: Organization
and Structure
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67 Verified Questions
67 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which committee is not an ad hoc committee?
A)Select
B)Conference
C)Standing
D)Special
Q2) Which profession is the most frequently represented in the U.S.legislature?
A)Law
B)Medical
C)Teachers
D)Business
Q3) Which legislative committee strongly influences the expenditure of funds for all divisions of state government?
A)The Legislative Research Council
B)The Legislative Audit Committee
C)The Appropriations Committee
D)The Sunset Advisory Board
Q4) Discuss the purple legislation of 2013.What were the reasons for the alliances formed in the Texas legislature during that session?
Q5) Trace the complete steps necessary for a bill to become a law in Texas.
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Chapter 8: The Executive
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Sample Questions
Q1) The governor's ability to use informal powers is largely determined by the extent of
A)informal (extralegal)powers.
B)formal (legal)powers.
C)constitutional powers.
D)implied powers.
Q2) Which statement about the legislature's power to override bills vetoed by the governor is incorrect?
A)It is difficult to override a veto.
B)The legislature has overridden a veto only once since World War II.
C)The veto gives the Texas governor a strong bargaining position with legislators.
D)The vast majority of bills are passed and sent to the governor during the early days of the session so that he or she has plenty of time to veto them.
Q3) If the office of the governor is vacated,who assumes the office?
A)The speaker of the house
B)Lieutenant governor
C)The state holds a special election for the office of the governor.
D)The land commissioner
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Chapter 9: The Judiciary
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66 Verified Questions
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following statements about court of appeals judges is incorrect?
A)They must be at least 35 years of age.
B)They must have a minimum of 10 years experience as a lawyer or judge.
C)They must have lived in their district five years prior to the election.
D)They must be elected from their districts for six-year terms.
Q2) Public confidence in justice of the peace courts is
A)41 percent.
B)low.
C)higher than that of state courts.
D)87 percent.
Q3) The majority of the cases heard by the Texas Supreme Court are from a
A)writ of certiorari.
B)petition for review.
C)bill of attainder.
D)habeas corpus.
Q4) Which is not an example of a criminal case?
A)Rape
B)Jaywalking
C)Embezzlement
D)Breach-of-contract
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Chapter 10: Law and Due Process
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Sample Questions
Q1) A court order requiring that the prisoner be presented in person and legal cause shown for imprisonment is called which of the following?
A)Writ of certiorari
B)Writ of mandamus
C)Writ of error
D)writ of habeas corpus
Q2) Which of the following allows many inmates to serve the remainder of their sentences under supervision in the community?
A)Personal recognizance
B)Deferred adjudication
C)Parole
D)Clemency
Q3) All of the following groups have advocated for tort reform except A)businesses.
B)insurance companies.
C)plaintiffs' lawyers.
D)health professionals.
Q4) Describe how a poor defendant's right to counsel works in the state of Texas.What are the potential drawbacks to the current system?
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Chapter 11: Local Government
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69 Verified Questions
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which is considered a county's most important financial officer?
A)The tax assessor-collector
B)The treasurer
C)The auditor
D)The board of financial adjusters
Q2) Contrast the at-large and single-member district electoral systems.What are the benefits and limits of each system?
Q3) Why have Texas cities generally resisted incorporating colonias? How should local governments be structured to tackle the problems faced by these communities?
Q4) Which county official presides over the commissioners' court?
A)The county sheriff
B)The county auditor
C)The county clerk
D)The county judge
Q5) A majority of U.S.cities have all of the following except
A)partisan elections.
B)council-manager form of government.
C)at-large elections.
D)powers of initiative and recall.
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Chapter 12: Public Policy in Texas
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Sample Questions
Q1) Broad-based taxes collected on the retail price of most items are called A)general sales taxes.
B)ad valorem taxes.
C)user taxes.
D)hidden taxes.
Q2) Which taxes may be applied to two major types of property including real property and personal property?
A)Ad valorem
B)Severance
C)Selective
D)Gross receipt
Q3) Trading votes among legislators,especially to fund local projects to benefit their constituents,is called A)pork barreling.
B)earmarking.
C)raiding.
D)logrolling.
Q4) How has the financial approach of the state toward education impacted schools and universities in Texas? What are the potential long-term consequences of underfunding education?
Page 14
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