Texas Government Study Guide Questions
Course Introduction
This course provides an in-depth examination of the structure, functions, and processes of government in the state of Texas. Topics include the Texas Constitution, the organization and powers of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, federal-state relations, political parties, interest groups, elections, and policy-making in Texas. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how Texas government operates within both the state and the broader context of U.S. federalism, as well as the unique historical, social, and economic forces shaping Texas politics today.
Recommended Textbook
Texas Politics Today 2015 2016 Edition 17th Edition by
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12 Chapters
790 Verified Questions
790 Flashcards
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Page 2
William Earl Maxwell
Chapter 1: Texas Culture and Diversity
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60 Verified Questions
60 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The individuals who designed and participated in "Massive resistance" are ultimately responsible for
A)slowing the pace of racial integration in the United States.
B)exposing unfair working conditions for migrant laborers.
C)shining a light on the problem of child abuse.
D)exposing government corruption.
Answer: A
Q2) Which president ordered the National Guard to enforce desegregation in Little Rock,Arkansas?
A)Richard Nixon
B)Dwight Eisenhower
C)John Kennedy
D)James Carter
Answer: B
Q3) Which describes a Mestizo?
A)An individual of both Spanish and Native American lineage
B)A descendant of European Spanish
C)A ranchero
D)Another name for a Native American
Answer: A
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Chapter 2: Texas in the Federal System
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Sample Questions
Q1) How has Texas coped with the changing nature of federalism?
Answer: Texas has coped with the changing nature of federalism by asserting its state sovereignty and challenging federal overreach. The state has often been at the forefront of legal battles against federal government policies, particularly in areas such as immigration, environmental regulations, and healthcare. Texas has also sought to expand its own authority in areas such as education and law enforcement, pushing back against federal mandates and seeking greater autonomy. Additionally, Texas has worked to build strong relationships with other states to advocate for more state control and less federal intervention. Overall, Texas has adapted to the changing nature of federalism by actively asserting its state rights and pushing for a more decentralized system of governance.
Q2) Cap and trade is a proposed market-driven environmental policy that sets limits on the amount of pollution that industry can produce,and it is used by Texans to
A)challenge the national government.
B)develop alternative sources of energy.
C)produce hazardous air pollutants.
D)attract industry to invest in technology that will produce less pollution.
Answer: D
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Page 4
Chapter 3: The Texas Constitution in Perspective
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is not correct about the Texas Constitution of 1869?
A)It centralized state power in the hands of the governor.
B)It provided for annual legislative sessions.
C)It decentralized the Texas public school system.
D)It allowed the governor to appoint all major state offices.
Answer: C
Q2) Which power allows the governor to appoint supervisory boards but not operational directors for most state agencies?
A)Removal
B)Budgetary
C)Indirect appointive
D)Directive authority
Answer: C
Q3) The constitution of the Republic of Texas adopted some provisions from Spanish-Mexican law,including
A)homestead protections.
B)protection for a wife's property rights.
C)concept of community property.
D)all of these choices are true.
Answer: D
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Chapter 4: Voting and Elections
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Sample Questions
Q1) General elections in Texas are held on the
A)Tuesday after the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years.
B)Monday after the first Tuesday in November of odd-numbered years.
C)Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years.
D)Monday after the first Tuesday in November of even-numbered years.
Q2) 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.
Q3) Discuss the role of primaries in the voting process.Who is involved in a primary election? How are they financed?
Q4) In 2002,the U.S.Department of Justice ordered Harris County to provide ballots (and voting material)in which language?
A)Vietnamese
B)Spanish
C)Mandarin
D)Korean
Q5) Describe the development of law governing write-In candidates.
Q6) Describe the key changes in law that have expanded voting rights over the years.
Page 6
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Chapter 5: Political Parties
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Sample Questions
Q1) In 2006,Kinky Friedman had to collect 45,000 signatures of eligible voters who had not voted in the March 7 primary in order to be on the ballot,because
A)he was a convicted felon.
B)he was a third-party candidate who had not received 5 percent of the vote during the primary.
C)he had failed to win three previous elections.
D)he was a naturalized and not native born Texan.
Q2) How does low voter attendance impact the Texas party system?
Q3) The county executive committee,along with the approval of the __________,must certify the name of the nominees.
A)commissioners' court
B)county judge at law
C)county attorney
D)precinct chair
Q4) Discuss how the demographic changes in Texas affect the future success of political parties?
Q5) What does the rise in Republican party identification mean to small farmers,ranchers,organized labor,and African-American groups?
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Chapter 6: Interest Groups
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Sample Questions
Q1) 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?
Q2) As a lobbyist you would rather have the support of
A)the majority of residents in the state.
B)the chair of legislative committees relevant to your issue.
C)the presiding officers of the legislator.
D)key religious leaders in the state.
Q3) Which state agency has the responsibility to establish standards of conduct for lobbyists?
A)Texas Public Policy Commission
B)Sunset Advisory Commission
C)Texas Audit Commission
D)Texas Ethics Commission
Q4) All of the following are exempt from lobbyists' reports except A)compensation received to prepare for lobbying.
B)office expenses.
C)costs above expenditure threshold of $500 per year.
D)costs associated with events to which all members of the legislature are invited.
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Chapter 7: The Legislature: Organization and Structure
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which group is underrepresented in the legislature relative to their percentages in the general population?
A)Hispanics
B)Asians
C)Females
D)All of these choices are true.
Q2) The entire senate or house acting as a whole to debate,amend,vote on,enact,pass,or defeat proposed legislation defines A)floor action.
B)quorum.
C)emoting.
D)chubbing.
Q3) Discuss the purple legislation of 2013.What were the reasons for the alliances formed in the Texas legislature during that session?
Q4) When a committee refuses to release a bill,this is referred to as a(n) A)committee veto.
B)pigeonhole.
C)delaying tactic.
D)execution.
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Chapter 8: The Executive
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following statements best describes a Texas governor's term in office?
A)Two years per term,with no limit on the number of terms
B)Four years per term,with no limit on the number of terms
C)Four years per term,with a two-term limit
D)Four years per term,with a one-term limit
Q2) Texas has a plural executive,which means that
A)Texas is part of the three branches of government.
B)the governor shares executive power with several other independently elected executives and boards.
C)the institutions of government have a system of checks and balances.
D)the executive branch of government is modeled after that of the executive branch at the national level.
Q3) The revenues from the management of public lands are dedicated to the Permanent School Fund,which benefit
A)state chartered schools.
B)community colleges.
C)public schools.
D)state colleges and universities.
Q4) Describe the appointment powers of the governor.How are these powers limited?
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Chapter 9: The Judiciary
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is not a criticism of the Texas method of selecting judges?
A)Citizens vote for the party without knowing whose running.
B)Large contributions to judges give the appearance of justice being bought.
C)Too much advantage is given to incumbency.
D)Judges elections are nonpartisan.
Q2) Trial by jury in criminal cases is a right guaranteed by the Texas Constitution and which of the amendments to the U.S.Constitution?
A)Fourth Amendment
B)Fifth Amendment
C)Sixth Amendment
D)Eighth Amendment
Q3) How does the current method of selecting judges in Texas limit minority representation? What changes to judicial selection would create a more fair system?
Q4) Which of the following is not a qualification to become a district court judge?
A)Must be at least 25 years of age
B)Must be a resident of the district for two years
C)Must be a resident of Texas for 10 years
D)Must be a licensed practicing lawyer or judge for four years
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Page 11
Chapter 10: Law and Due Process
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Sample Questions
Q1) Explain right-to-work,closed shop,and union shop laws in Texas.What are the positive and negative outcomes of these Texas labor laws?
Q2) The means to redress an injury,including relief from ongoing injury or compensation for past damages is known as
A)remedy.
B)plaintiff.
C)punishment.
D)stare decisis.
Q3) Which of the following is not a type of clemency in Texas?
A)Pardon
B)Commutation of sentence
C)Reprieve
D)Parole
Q4) What legal procedure guarantees fairness before the government may deprive a person of life,liberty,or property?
A)Due process
B)Probable cause
C)Compulsory process
D)Exclusionary rule
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Chapter 11: Local Government
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Sample Questions
Q1) Texas cities can keep from being boxed in by suburban "bedroom" cities using their power of
A)eminent domain.
B)extraterritorial jurisdiction.
C)injunction.
D)mandate.
Q2) The maximum property tax rate of a general-law city is
A)$1.50 per $100 of the assessed value of a city's property.
B)$1.00 per $100 of the assessed value of a city's property.
C)$2.00 per $100 of the assessed value of a city's property.
D)$2.50 per $100 of the assessed value of a city's property.
Q3) _________ is the merging or joining of responsibilities by county and other local governments.
A)Consolidation
B)Submergence
C)Unit system
D)Accumulation
Q4) Run away population growth is increasing service demands on your city government.What forms of taxation are available to your city to raise revenue to meet service demands?
Page 13
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Chapter 12: Public Policy in Texas
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Sample Questions
Q1) Contrast the purpose of CHIP,Medicare,and Medicaid.
Q2) Trading votes among legislators,especially to fund local projects to benefit their constituents,is called
A)pork barreling.
B)earmarking.
C)raiding.
D)logrolling.
Q3) Which of the following is incorrect?
A)Excessive property taxes could discourage construction and repair of buildings.
B)High income taxes can discourage general economic activity.
C)Raising the tax rate guarantees increased revenues.
D)To raise necessary revenue,a tax must not discourage too much of the activity that produces the income.
Q4) Which of the following has the authority to determine the property tax rate on real property in a county?
A)The county
B)The commissioners' courts
C)Trustee boards
D)The central appraisal district
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