Texas Politics
Final Test Solutions
Course Introduction
Texas Politics explores the structures, processes, and issues that define government and political life in the state of Texas. The course covers the Texas Constitution, political parties, elections, and interest groups, highlighting how local, state, and federal systems interact in Texas's unique political culture. Students will examine the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government and analyze contemporary policy debates in areas such as education, economic development, immigration, and criminal justice. Through case studies and critical discussion, learners gain a comprehensive understanding of how politics shapes the lives of Texans and the state's role in the broader national context.
Recommended Textbook
Practicing Texas Politics 15th Edition by Lyle Brown
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11 Chapters
834 Verified Questions
834 Flashcards
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Chapter 1: The Environment of Texas Politics
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72 Verified Questions
72 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The only region of Texas classified as mountainous is the A) Basin and Range Province.
B) Gulf Coastal Plains
C) Great Plains.
D) Interior Lowlands.
Answer: A
Q2) The "values, attitudes, traditions, habits, and general behavioral patterns that develop over time and shape the politics of a particular region," is referred to as
A) political culture.
B) political socialization.
C) political economics.
D) political geography.
Answer: A
Q3) Among the 50 states, Texas currently ranks __________ in population.
A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fifth
Answer: B
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Page 3
Chapter 2: Federalism and the Texas Constitution
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82 Verified Questions
82 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The principal historic event shaping the 1866 Texas Constitution was
A) joining the southern Confederacy.
B) reinstatement into the Union after the Civil War.
C) re-seeking full independence.
D) division of the state.
Answer: B
Q2) The constitution of 1836 was
A) modeled on that of Mexico.
B) Texas's first state constitution.
C) the governing instrument for the Republic of Texas.
D) unwritten.
Answer: C
Q3) A good description of the 1876 Texas Constitution would be that it is
A) lengthy, confusing, and badly written.
B) brief and tightly organized.
C) easily understood by the average citizen.
D) so badly written that Texas courts regularly ignore it.
Answer: A
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4
Chapter 3: Local Governments
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76 Verified Questions
76 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The minimum population requirement in Texas for becoming a city is
A) 100.
B) 201.
C) 5,000.
D) 10,001.
Answer: B
Q2) Approximately how many incorporated municipalities are there in Texas?
A) 254
B) 350
C) 900
D) 1,200
Answer: D
Q3) In theory, the council-manager form of government has
A) a strong mayor with a weak city manager.
B) a weak city manager and a strong council.
C) a weak city council and a strong city manager.
D) a weak mayor.
Answer: D
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Chapter 4: Political Parties
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74 Verified Questions
74 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In the closest presidential election of modern times, Governor Bush defeated Democratic nominee Al Gore by __________in 2000.
A) massive media advertising
B) winning the popular vote
C) bribing the electoral college
D) four electoral votes (271 to 267)
Q2) Liberals would most likely support which of the following policies?
A) Restricting the ability of a woman to obtain an abortion on demand
B) Prohibiting homosexuals from holding public employment
C) Equal pay for equal work laws regarding women
D) Reducing the progressivism of the national income tax
Q3) Describe the political party climate in Texas since the 1940s. Describe the process by which the Republican Party has replaced the Democratic Party as the more influential and powerful party within the state. Identify third-party challenges to the dominant party during this time.
Q4) Describe the two-party system of politics within the state of Texas, with its prolonged periods of one-party domination. Trace the evolution of the two major parties within the state, including their history of involvement in Texas politics, their issues, and their relative political strength and successes.
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Chapter 5: Campaigns and Elections
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72 Verified Questions
72 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Early or absentee voting in Texas for general elections begins how many days prior to the actual date of the election?
A) 7 days
B) 17 days
C) 30 days
D) 14 days
Q2) In Texas, the decision of which type of voting system will be used in a county is made by the
A) County Commissioners Court.
B) Texas Secretary of State.
C) Texas legislature.
D) Texas Supreme Court.
Q3) Voting precincts in the 254 Texas counties are drawn by A) city councils.
B) election judges.
C) the Secretary of State.
D) the county commissioners courts.
Q4) Trace the various constitutional, legal, and judicial devices by which the franchise was broadened in Texas in the twentieth century.
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Chapter 6: The Politics of Interest Groups
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70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) A major benefit of interest groups to political officeholders is that they
A) speak for the general public.
B) provide information and expertise.
C) provide many free lunches.
D) give objective input.
Q2) Our federal system of government encourages interest groups to A) be more general and less specific in their demands.
B) be more inclined to form coalitions with other groups.
C) have a decentralized organizational structure.
D) have a single national office and staff.
Q3) Who would be most supportive of the Texas right-to-work law?
A) Business groups
B) Labor groups
C) Illegal immigrants
D) Ethnic groups
Q4) A social interest group would not be involved in an issue concerning A) school prayer.
B) women's rights.
C) highway funding.
D) civil rights.
Page 8
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Chapter 7: The Legislature
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84 Verified Questions
84 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Describe the selection, duties, and tools of influence of the "speaker" of the House of Representatives. Explain why this position possesses considerable legislative power.
Q2) Which of the following is a true statement regarding senators in the Texas legislature?
A) There are two from each state senate district.
B) They are limited to no more than two four-year terms.
C) They are limited to a total of ten years in office.
D) They all stand for election the year following redistricting.
Q3) The concerns of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus in the 1990s produced
A) the creation of an indigent health care system.
B) increasing funding from the lottery and gambling.
C) larger appropriations for state universities in South Texas.
D) electing district judges from single-member districts.
Q4) Turnover in the Texas legislature is most likely to be high in those
A) elections immediately before redistricting.
B) elections immediately after redistricting.
C) gubernatorial election years.
D) presidential election years.
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Page 9
Chapter 8: The Executive
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75 Verified Questions
75 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Describe the structure, selection, and function of the Texas Railroad Commission.
Q2) The __________ appoints the Public Safety Commission's five members, subject to Senate approval.
A) Secretary of State
B) Attorney General
C) Governor of Texas
D) Department of Public Safety
Q3) If an oil company wants to drill on public land, from whom would it secure the drilling lease?
A) Board of Regents of the University of Texas
B) State Board of Education
C) Comptroller of Public Accounts
D) Commissioner of the General Land Office
Q4) The size of the Texas governor's staff has recently
A) been shrunk by Governor Perry to 266 persons.
B) been limited to 185 through an amendment to the Texas Constitution.
C) shrunk chiefly because governors have become less active recently.
D) increased due to the large number of federal grants.
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Page 10
Chapter 9: Public Policy and Administration
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77 Verified Questions
77 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which insurance rates are regulated by the Texas commissioner of insurance?
A) Individual life insurance
B) Hospitalization insurance
C) Medicare supplement insurance
D) Homeowners' insurance
Q2) The largest single employer in Texas is
A) the federal government.
B) the state of Texas.
C) Texas Instruments.
D) Dell Computers.
Q3) State agencies are sometimes created as a result of
A) bureaucratic efficiency.
B) citizen complaints and outrage over an issue.
C) a need to keep up with population growth.
D) high state unemployment rates.
Q4) How many community college districts are there in Texas?
A) 35
B) 60
C) 55
D) 50
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Chapter 10: Laws, Courts, and Justice
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78 Verified Questions
78 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which would not be subject to enhancement under the Texas Penal Code?
A) A crime committed by a street gang
B) A crime motivated by racial hatred
C) A crime committed by a repeat offender
D) A charge of two offenses in the same criminal episode
Q2) The function of small claims courts in Texas is mainly performed by
A) federal judges in small counties.
B) justices of the peace.
C) state district courts.
D) municipal courts.
Q3) Which one of the following courts is not mentioned in the Texas Constitution?
A) Municipal courts
B) Justice of the peace courts
C) County courts
D) District courts
Q4) A court that has specific authority to decide a particular type of case has
A) concurrent jurisdiction.
B) exclusive jurisdiction.
C) civil jurisdiction.
D) original jurisdiction.
Page 12
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Chapter 11: Finance and Fiscal Policy
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74 Verified Questions
74 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Texas may accrue a small amount of state debt when it
A) relies on federal funding.
B) instituted a state-wide lottery system.
C) passes a supplemental budget.
D) issues general-obligation or revenue bonds.
Q2) Texas is said to have a regressive system of taxation. Explain the difference between progressive and regressive revenues. Give an example of each and explain their impact on different segments of society.
Q3) Describe the system of higher education funding at Texas colleges and universities. Explain how funding for community colleges differs from that of four-year institutions. Identify some of the controversies surrounding higher education funding.
Q4) Regarding fiscal policy, the Texas Constitution requires that the A) legislature draft and pass an annual budget.
B) state's expenditures should be within 10 percent of projected state revenues.
C) state's spending should be in balance with projected state revenues.
D) governor certify that state spending is in balance with state revenues.
Q5) Describe the history of highway funding in Texas. Identify problems associated with the current system and possible solutions.
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