State and Local Government
Exam Answer Key
Course Introduction
This course explores the structures, functions, and processes of state and local governments within the United States. Students will examine the constitutional foundations, political dynamics, and administrative operations that shape policy-making and service delivery at these levels. Topics include federalism, intergovernmental relations, the roles of governors, legislatures, and local officials, as well as important issues such as finance, education, urban policy, and public participation. The course also considers the diversity of governmental forms and practices across states and communities, analyzing contemporary challenges and innovations in state and local governance.
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
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Sample Questions
Q1) In terms of total land size,Texas ranks _________ in the nation in comparison to other states.
A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth
Answer: B
Q2) The first modern European nation to lay claim to the territory of Texas was A) France.
B) Spain.
C) England.
D) Portugal.
Answer: B
Q3) Polls show that a Texan is MOST likely to identify as a A) moderate.
B) liberal.
C) independent.
D) conservative.
Answer: D
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Page 3
Chapter 2: The Texas State Constitution and the American
Federal System
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46 Verified Questions
46 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) What was the result of a bill introduced in 1999 calling for a general revision of the Texas Constitution?
A) It was defeated in a floor vote.
B) It was not approved by the citizens.
C) It died in committee.
D) It was inadvertently placed on the wrong calendar and was ignored.
Answer: C
Q2) 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
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Chapter 3: The Texas Legislature
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50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The House Insurance Committee is hearing testimony from the Texas Department of Insurance about the effectiveness of recent procedural changes within the department.Which legislative function is this committee demonstrating?
A) lawmaking
B) budget and taxation
C) oversight
D) management
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
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Sample Questions
Q1) Do you think the informal qualifications for governor will be more or less important in the future? Explain.
Q2) What tool is used to forecast state economic growth,keep track of business cycles,and generally provide information on the health of the economy of Texas?
A) SMU Business Index
B) Index of State Economic Momentum
C) Dow Jones Economic Sentiment Indicator
D) State of Texas Econometric Model
Q3) The largest expenditure of state funds is for A) interest on the government debt.
B) infrastructure upkeep.
C) state buildings and vehicles.
D) personnel.
Q4) How does the plural executive system function in Texas? In what ways does it diminish the power of the governor?
Q5) What are the budget and legislative powers of the Texas governor? Does this give the governor a strong position? Why or why not?
Page 6
Q6) What are the informal powers of the Texas governor?
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Chapter 5: The Court System in Texas
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Sample Questions
Q1) What U.S.Supreme Court case in 1972 outlawed the death penalty because it was unfairly applied to many crimes and because of the lack of safeguards in place in many states?
A) Furman v. Georgia
B) Lawrence v. Texas
C) Gregg v. Louisiana
D) Wilson v. Alabama
Q2) JP courts in Texas can do all of the following EXCEPT
A) issue arrest warrants.
B) serve as small claims courts.
C) hear criminal misdemeanor cases.
D) hear traffic ticket appeals.
Q3) What are the two types of juries? Explain each,how they function,and how the jury pool is formed.
Q4) Which Texas courts can hear appeals,and what types of appeals do they hear?
Q5) The merit system used to identify and select judges is also known as
A) the Missouri system.
B) retention election.
C) the partisan election system.
D) the gubernatorial appointment system.
Page 7
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Chapter 6: Local Governments in Texas
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48 Verified Questions
48 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In smaller counties,state law allows the sheriff to act as
A) the justice of the peace.
B) the tax assessor/collector.
C) constable and court officer.
D) the medical examiner.
Q2) Who is responsible for maintaining property records and issuing marriage licenses?
A) county tax assessor
B) county clerk
C) county treasurer
D) county auditor
Q3) The authority to establish and maintain a free public school system is contained in which article of the Texas Constitution?
A) Article 3
B) Article 5
C) Article 7
D) Article 9
Q4) How are independent school districts governed and operated?
Q5) 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
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Sample Questions
Q1) The annual registration system for Texas voters
A) was abolished at the same time as the poll tax.
B) applied only to racial minorities.
C) was replaced by a permanent registration system.
D) only applied to white primaries.
Q2) According to a recent survey,which of the following types of political participation is most common?
A) worked with others to solve a community problem
B) signed a paper petition
C) sent a letter to the editor of a local publication
D) contributed money to a political candidate or party
Q3) Which of the following is a rational reason for why some people choose not to vote?
A) satisfaction with the status quo
B) the so-called paradox of voting
C) "good citizen" syndrome
D) All of these answers are correct.
Q4) Define the voter participation measurement known as voting-age population,and discuss the errors inherent in this measurement.
Q5) What factors explain why Hispanics vote in relatively low proportions in Texas?
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Chapter 8: Elections and Campaigns in Texas
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43 Verified Questions
43 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) When did the Texas legislature change the rules to allow anyone to vote absentee without restrictions?
A) Texas has always allowed unrestricted absentee voting.
B) 1979
C) 1993
D) 2001
Q2) In state elections from 2002 to 2012,which sector contributed the most amount of PAC money to campaigns?
A) ideology
B) business
C) labor
D) environmental
Q3) Texas has a
A) special type of open primary system.
B) semi-closed primary system.
C) closed primary system.
D) blanket primary system.
Q4) What is the Citizens United decision and how has it impacted the financing of political campaigns?
Q5) What are the three types of special election in Texas?
Page 10
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Chapter 9: Political Parties in Texas
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45 Verified Questions
45 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The Pendleton Act of 1883 established a class of federal government positions that would be filled as a result of
A) political appointments.
B) competitive examinations.
C) a random lottery.
D) nomination by the president and approval by the U.S. Senate.
Q2) 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
Q3) Texas Republicans captured their second seat in the U.S.Senate with the election of ________ in 1992.
A) Ann Richards
B) Clayton Williams
C) Kay Bailey Hutchison
D) George W. Bush
Q4) First discuss labor-intensive politics.Then examine the rise of capital-intensive politics and why it has weakened political parties.
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Chapter 10: Interest Groups and Lobbying in Texas
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43 Verified Questions
43 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Discuss the strength and role of private-sector and public-sector unions in Texas.What accounts for the relative strength or weakness of such unions?
Q2) When are PACs prohibited from making contributions to members of the Texas state legislature?
A) never; they are free to contribute whenever they wish
B) during the regular 140-day session only
C) the period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the regular session D) in odd calendar years, i.e. 1971, 1973
Q3) Define the terms "capture" and "iron triangle." How does a fragmented government structure make these two situations possible? Are these two situations overall good or bad for the public as a whole? Why?
Q4) Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD),the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU),the AARP,and MoveOn.org are all examples of what interest group type?
A) political interest
B) public interest
C) racial and ethnic interest
D) religious interest
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Chapter 11: Public Policy in Texas
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44 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Bilingual education in Texas dates back to the early twentieth century,when ________ in Texas wanted to teach their native language(s)in the schools.
A) Native Americans
B) Latinos
C) Germans
D) Serbs
Q2) The ________ was established by the Texas Constitution of 1876 to support the University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems.
A) Permanent University Fund
B) West Texas Land Grant Fund
C) Fund for Higher Education
D) Higher Education Assistance Fund
Q3) Which of the following steps in the policy-making cycle occurs first?
A) policy adoption
B) policy implementation
C) agenda setting
D) policy evaluation
Q4) How are school districts financed in Texas? Why is this funding controversial?
Q5) 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
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following categories of taxes contributed the most to the Texas treasury in 2011-2012?
A) oil and natural gas production
B) franchise
C) motor vehicle sales and rental
D) sales
Q2) Name and describe the form of corporate "income tax" Texas uses.To whom does it apply? How has it changed since its creation?
Q3) Almost three-quarters of the states that do not have a personal income tax system are
A) among the "Terrible Ten."
B) progressive in their overall tax system.
C) in the Old South.
D) on the east coast.
Q4) Discuss tax shifting,and cite specific examples showing how the burden of property and business taxes can be shifted.
Q5) What are the top two expenditure categories of Texas government? Does the federal government help provide funds for these expenditures,and if so,how important is the federal government's help?
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