Comparative State Politics
Midterm Exam
Course Introduction
Comparative State Politics explores the structures, processes, and outcomes of political systems at the subnational level within different countries. The course examines how states or regions within federal and unitary systems manage governance, political representation, party competition, policy making, and their interactions with national governments. By analyzing case studies from around the world, students gain insights into the factors that shape variations in state-level politics, including historical legacies, economic conditions, social diversity, and institutional arrangements. The course also addresses contemporary issues such as decentralization, intergovernmental relations, and the impact of global trends on state politics.
Recommended Textbook
Texas Politics 12th Edition by Charldean Newell
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14 Chapters
798 Verified Questions
798 Flashcards
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Chapter 1: The Context of Texas Politics
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62 Verified Questions
62 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The first Anglo-American colony in Texas during the period of Mexican rule was established by
A) Moses Austin.
B) Stephen F. Austin.
C) Davy Crockett.
D) George Mifflin Dallas.
E) Sam Houston.
Answer: B
Q2) Political legitimacy is the belief that government is founded on morally right principles and citizens should,therefore,follow its laws.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) Following the Civil War,most African Americans in Texas voted for A) Republicans.
B) Democrats.
C) Populists.
D) Greenbacks.
E) Whigs.
Answer: A
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Chapter 2: The Constitutional Setting
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60 Verified Questions
60 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Because they feared the possible abuse of power by the government,the framers of the Texas Constitution did not include checks and balances among government branches in the document.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) Article I of the Texas Constitution contains
A) provisions pertaining to the legislative branch.
B) provisions pertaining to the executive branch.
C) provisions pertaining to the judicial branch.
D) provisions pertaining to the amending procedure.
E) the Texas Bill of Rights.
Answer: E
Q3) Constitutions serve to
A) give legitimacy to the government.
B) organize the government.
C) grant specific powers to the government.
D) limit the power of the government.
E) all of the above.
Answer: E
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Chapter 3: Interest Groups
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59 Verified Questions
59 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Reforms in Texas' tort law that make it more difficult to win punitive damages against a business and reduce the maximum amount of damages that can be awarded reflect the power of
A) the Christian Right.
B) the Texas Oil and Gas Association.
C) local Chambers of Commerce.
D) Texans for Lawsuit Reform.
E) the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
Answer: D
Q2) Interest group power in Texas is classified as dominant/complementary.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) Lobbying is an activity that refers to A) buying favors in Austin.
B) efforts to influence policymakers face-to-face.
C) citizens voting on Election Day.
D) "twisting the arms" of legislators.
E) bribery and corruption.
Answer: B
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Chapter 4: Political Parties
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54 Verified Questions
54 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Voter turnout tends to be higher in one-party systems than it is in competitive two-party systems.
A)True
B)False
Q2) On matters of foreign policy,liberals and conservatives tend to follow partisan rather than ideological cues.
A)True
B)False
Q3) In Texas,party membership is determined by
A) the payment of dues.
B) the act of voting in a primary election.
C) the indication of party preference on the voter registration card.
D) attendance at a party convention.
E) the voter's choice on a general election ballot.
Q4) The first Republican governor of Texas in the twentieth century was
A) John Tower.
B) John Connally.
C) Bill Clements.
D) Rick Perry.
E) Clayton Williams.
Page 6
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Chapter 5: Voting,campaigns,and Elections
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57 Verified Questions
57 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) From the perspective of an individual,there may seem to be no reason to vote since public elections are almost never won by the margin of a single vote.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Discuss the impacts of negative campaigning on elections.Explain how negative campaigning has influenced at least one election in Texas.
Q3) The Texas Campaign Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1973 requires that every candidate for political office appoint a(n)____ before accepting contributions or making expenditures.
A) campaign manager
B) campaign treasurer
C) legal adviser
D) interest group liaison
E) ethics counselor
Q4) There is virtually no control over,and very little effort to ensure the public disclosure of,the influence of money in Texas political campaigns.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 6: The Texas Legislature
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63 Verified Questions
63 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Regular sessions of the Texas legislature are limited to 140 calendar days.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Appointing a committee member based on seniority refers to the practice of choosing the legislator who
A) is the oldest.
B) has served on the most committees.
C) has served the most terms in the legislature.
D) is the most distinguished.
E) has the most money.
Q3) Which of the following factors causes the high turnover that characterizes the Texas legislature?
A) Running for higher office
B) Retirement
C) Taking a job in the private sector
D) Reapportionment/redistricting
E) All of the above
Q4) Every state in the United States has a bicameral legislature.
A)True
B)False
Page 8
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Chapter 7: The Governor
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Sample Questions
Q1) The secretary of state,the commissioner of education,and the commissioner of insurance are all appointed by the Governor.
A)True
B)False
Q2) In the case of Texas v.White in 1869,the U.S.Supreme Court declared that the right of Texas to secede from the union was "absolutely null."
A)True
B)False
Q3) Texas has a highly fragmented executive branch that results in a plural executive.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Governor George W.Bush's legislative successes during his first year in office were largely the result of his highly partisan style of leadership.
A)True
B)False
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Page 9
Chapter 8: The Administrative State
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55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Explain to whom unelected bureaucrats are accountable in Texas.Discuss whether the methods used by Texas to ensure bureaucratic accountability are adequate.Explain how sunset laws and whistle blowing might lead to greater accountability.
Q2) Which of the following offices represents the state and its agencies in court when the state is a party to a case?
A) Attorney General
B) Secretary of State
C) Treasurer
D) Comptroller of Public Accounts
E) Agriculture Commissioner
Q3) Which of the following elected officials in Texas is responsible for the administration of the state tax system?
A) Treasurer
B) Comptroller of Public Accounts
C) Secretary of State
D) Attorney General
E) Lieutenant Governor
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Chapter 9: The Judiciary
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57 Verified Questions
57 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Compare the functions of trial juries and grand juries in Texas.Explain how jurors are selected in most Texas counties.Take a position with regard to the following question: Is the usual method of jury selection adequate to insure fair trials?
Q2) Discuss the selection of judges in Texas and arguments for and against reforming the system.Assess the current prospects of adopting a different method of judicial selection in Texas.
Q3) Which judge may serve as a coroner to certify cause of death despite having no medical training?
A) Municipal judge
B) Justice of the peace
C) District judge
D) County court at law judge
E) Supreme Court justice
Q4) Judges,unlike legislators and governors,are generally capable of detaching themselves completely from politics.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 10: The Substance of Justice
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56 Verified Questions
56 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The right to freedom of speech is included in the category of civil liberties.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Which of the following is a result of the tort reform movement?
A) Citizens have less ability to file class-action suits.
B) The fees of trial lawyers are limited in some cases.
C) Companies whose products meet government standards are immune from suits.
D) Civil courts are less important and have less discretion.
E) All of the above are a result of the tort reform movement..
Q3) The Supreme Court of Texas has ruled that the "Robin Hood" plan for school finance is a constitutional mechanism to achieve equity for poor school districts.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Texas's pro-life position is evidenced by three recent laws passed by the legislature intended to discourage or obstruct women from having abortions.
A)True
B)False
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12
Chapter 11: Local Government
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58 Verified Questions
58 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Extraterritorial jurisdiction permits city governments to exercise some control over development in areas just beyond city boundaries.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Decentralized purchasing and the road and bridge system are two features of county government that illustrate its tendency toward inefficient management.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Discuss how counties serve as the agents of state government in Texas.Describe some of the factors that tend to impede the ability of the state government to supervise the counties.Describe constitutional changes that might make counties more accountable to the state or,conversely,more responsive to local problems.
Q4) County commissioners in Texas are
A) appointed by the county judge.
B) elected by precinct in partisan elections.
C) chosen in an at-large election.
D) elected by precinct in nonpartisan elections.
E) chosen by the county elections administrator.
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Page 13
Chapter 12: The State Economy and the Financing of State Government
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55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Categorical grants from the national government can be spent only for specific programs.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The major tax in Texas levied on business is called the excise tax.
A)True
B)False
Q3) State government indebtedness is highly restricted in Texas because the framers of the Texas Constitution strongly believed in a "pay-as-you-go" system of government.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Texas has a progressive tax system.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of the following types of taxes: general sales tax,motor fuels tax,excise tax,and tobacco tax.Explain which is the most important for Texas politics and why.
Page 14
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Chapter 13: Public Policypeople
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54 Verified Questions
54 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The three largest welfare programs administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission are
A) TANF, job training, and aid to the disabled.
B) TANF, energy assistance, and Medicaid.
C) TANF, food stamps, and Medicaid.
D) Medicaid, workers' compensation, and aid to the disabled.
E) old age assistance, aid to the disabled, and aid to the blind.
Q2) Payments to unemployed workers is administered by the
A) Texas Department of Jobs and Industry.
B) Texas Workforce Commission.
C) Texas Commission on Unemployment.
D) Texas Workfare Office.
E) Texas Rehabilitation Commission.
Q3) All funding for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)program is provided by the state.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Explain the arguments of supporters and non-supporters of school vouchers,charter schools,and home schooling and the impact the quality of public education in the state.
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Chapter 14: Public Policyresources
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50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The greenhouse effect occurs when
A) the burning of fossil fuels releases too much carbon dioxide into the air, causing the earth's climate to warm.
B) the overuse of water from the Edwards and Ogallala aquifers threatens access to water in the future.
C) photosynthesis in plants causes the growth of dangerous algae, threatening the life of fish and other water animals.
D) overreliance on wind energy causes the average temperature to rise downwind of the wind farms.
E) coal burning plants in Mexico cause air pollution to drift into Texas.
Q2) By 2040,urbanites in Texas will use more water than farmers.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The Submerged Lands Act gave Texas,and other Gulf states,the rights to oil in the entirety of the Gulf of Mexico.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Define "Faustian bargain." Explain how it applies to energy politics in Texas.
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Page 16