Introduction to American Government Test Bank
Course Introduction
Introduction to American Government provides a comprehensive overview of the political institutions, processes, and foundations of the United States government. The course examines the principles of the U.S. Constitution, federalism, civil liberties, political participation, and the roles of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Students will explore how political parties, interest groups, and public opinion shape policy-making and analyze contemporary issues in American politics. The course emphasizes critical thinking and informed citizenship, preparing students to understand and engage with the complexities of governance in the United States.
Recommended Textbook Government and Politics in the Lone Star State 8th Edition by L. Tucker Gibson
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13 Chapters
1040 Verified Questions
1040 Flashcards
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Page 2
Chapter 1: The social and economic milieu of texas politics
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/8055
Sample Questions
Q1) In addition to determining a person's employment and income potential, education also affects participation in
A) politics.
B) family life.
C) religious activities.
D) cultural events.
E) charitable organizations.
Answer: A
Q2) Because the government impacts on our lives daily,
A) it should be allowed to operate with minimal influence by the citizenry.
B) it should only be viewed with suspicion by the citizenry.
C) only the most qualified people should be allowed to run it.
D) we should all take interest in it as we all have a stake in it.
E) the only way to influence it is to vote in every election.
Answer: D
Q3) The Upper East Texas Region includes Tyler, the "City of Roses."
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
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Page 3
Chapter 2: The texas constitution
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79 Verified Questions
79 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) What was one reason cited by the text for the conflict between Mexico and Texas in 1836?
A) Mexico failed to protect Texas from incursions by the United States army.
B) Mexico had imposed the institution of slavery.
C) Texas supported the deposed President Santa Anna.
D) A new Mexican constitution established a unitary system of government.
E) New settlers arrived from southern Europe, invited by the Mexican government.
Answer: D
Q2) How does the Constitution of Texas resemble those of other former Confederate states?
A) It grants more reserved powers to the federal government.
B) It allows for the federal government to impose martial law at any time.
C) It severely curtails the powers of the executive branch.
D) It formally acknowledges the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution.
E) It places the judiciary under the control of the federal government.
Answer: D
Q3) A constitution reflects the way a society structures conflict with other states.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
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Chapter 3: Intergovernmental relationships
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Delegates to the U.S.Constitutional Convention of 1787 accepted the confederation principle in place of federalism.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) Why have many Texas state agencies and communities resisted accepting federal funding?
A) They are wary of the "strings" attached to federal grant programs.
B) Many communities place local pride over immediate need.
C) The accepting of money entails the acceptance of federal superiority, which few are willing to do.
D) The political culture in Texas is based on total independence from the federal government.
E) These agencies and communities wish to assert their belief and dedication to states' rights.
Answer: A
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Chapter 4: Interest groups and political power in texas
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Most interest groups are extremely powerful and exercise considerable influence over the formation of public policy.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Collectively, women or African Americans would be considered as belonging to a(n)
A) categorical group.
B) pressure group.
C) feminist group.
D) interest group.
E) environmental group.
Q3) Beginning with C.Wright Mills, many American scholars have been proponents of the elitist theory that argues for finding the best candidates to run for election.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Federal campaign restrictions and reporting requirements are stricter than state requirements.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 5: The mass media in texas politics
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Many contend that Texas citizens are not well informed about state government and issues.If true, what kind of future do you predict for Texas if the public's attentiveness to policymaking remains as it is today? Give specific examples to support your view.
Q2) ________ often take their cues about what to run from the ________ media.
A) Newspapers and television; radio
B) Radio and Internet; television
C) Television and radio; newspaper
D) Newspapers and television; mass publishing
E) Newspapers and television; Internet
Q3) Where a story is placed is usually determined by the media outlet's perception of how much ______ is interested in a given story.
A) the public
B) the reporter
C) the government
D) the competition
E) the governor
Q4) Briefly describe the media's influence over the ethical conduct of public officials.How do journalistic ethics vary among different types of media?
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Chapter 6: The party system in
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80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Characterize Republican voters in Texas and contrast them to Democratic voters.How are minorities realigning politically?
Q2) The Democratic Party's one-party dominance in Texas goes back to Reconstruction, when the Texas Regular Party was able to capture control of government for a short time.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The Republicans won all the statewide races in 2002.
A)True
B)False
Q4) In 1952, Allan Shivers was successful in carrying Texas for the Republican nominee, setting a precedent for future presidential elections.
A)True
B)False
Q5) During the 1970s, the Texas Democratic Party had an organizational edge over the Republicans.
A)True
B)False
Q6) Define political parties.How do they differ from interest groups?
Page 8
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Chapter 7: Elections, campaigns, and political behavior
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Define racial gerrymandering and at-large elections.How does each continue to reduce the political power of minority groups in Texas?
Q2) What is the effect of dividing election cycles so that state and local elections are separate?
A) The cost of holding elections is drastically reduced as is the cost of campaigns.
B) Issues that are unique to state and local races are converged.
C) Voter turnout increases when voters are faced with fewer candidates.
D) Candidates are typically forced to campaign for shorter periods.
E) Voter fatigue increases due to disinterest in participating in so many elections.
Q3) How do you explain the proliferation of political action committees, and how have these organizations come to dominate campaign financing in Texas? What steps have been taken to reduce their influence and have they been effective?
Q4) Discuss the historic policies that were used in Texas to deny access to the ballot.Despite changes to increase access to voters, what stills hampers groups from voting?
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Chapter 8: The texas legislature
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Because the overriding consideration for most lawmakers is to get reelected, the interests of which source are most important in leading them to a decision on how to vote?
A) Campaign contributors are vital to a legislator so care must be taken not to alienate them.
B) They must carefully balance the interests of a variety of groups to ensure continued support.
C) The political party to which the legislator is a member of can make or break a legislator's career.
D) Legislators represent the people who put their faith in a legislator's personal convictions.
E) A legislator's senior colleagues are the biggest influence on how they will vote.
Q2) What are the characteristics of the Texas state legislature? How does it compare to the legislatures of other states?
Q3) Equality in redistricting finally arrived in Texas as a result of state court intervention in 1975.
A)True
B)False
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10
Chapter 9: The texas executive
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80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) During his administration, Bill Clements often found himself with poor public relations and at odds with ________ because of his outspokenness.
A) the legislature and news media
B) other elected officials and interest groups
C) other governors and the national government
D) the public and the media
E) interest groups and the media
Q2) Why does Texas have a weak governor? Outline the structure of the plural executive.Explain the strengths and challenges of this structure.
Q3) Only two of the more than 200 state boards and commissions have elected members.Which boards or commissions have elected members?
A) the Railroad Commission and the State Board of Education
B) the Pardons and Paroles Board and the State Board of Education
C) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Railroad Commission
D) the State Board of Education and the State Treasurer's Commission
E) the State Treasurer's Commission and the Railroad Commission
Q4) Briefly describe the formal and informal qualifications for governor.What prevents often-qualified persons from seeking the office?
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Page 11
Chapter 10: The bureaucracy and policy implementation
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81 Verified Questions
81 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) How successful has Texas been in curtailing government growth and spending?
A) It has been very successful. Though government spending has increased over the past decade, it has only increased by 30 percent, far lower than the average for other states.
B) Efforts to reduce spending on health care and welfare have been successful, though Texas has increased educational spending and it now spends well above the national average.
C) Except for the 2003 and 2011 budget crises, efforts to slow growth have met with only marginal success as a result of federal mandates and opposition by Texans unwilling to lose services.
D) Though there have been few efforts to cut unnecessary spending , Texas has managed to limit the growth of government parallel to the growth in population.
E) Texas was very successful in cutting wasteful spending, but overall attempts to slow growth have been moderately successful, with spending increasing by only 20 percent since 2003.
Q2) Why has the merit employment system had an inconsistent history in Texas state government? Give examples.
Q3) How would you describe the personnel system in Texas? Defend your answer.
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Page 12
Chapter 11: The judicial system in texas
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Most judges in Texas are
A) appellate court justices.
B) justices of the peace.
C) county court justices.
D) district court justices.
E) municipal court justices.
Q2) ________ is a first-degree felony.
A) Home burglary
B) Bribery
C) Aggravated sexual assault
D) Theft of trade secrets
E) Intentional bodily injury to a child
Q3) What are the inherent tensions or conflicts between the rights of the criminal and the rights of society at large? Should the use of capital punishment be reconsidered? Defend your answer.
Q4) Some courts have only original jurisdiction, meaning they can only try cases heard for the second time.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 12: Local government in texas: cities, towns, counties, and special districts
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Why is the strong mayor form of government found in only one major city in Texas?
A) Multiple mayors were embroiled in scandals in the 1970s leading to a move away from this system.
B) This form of government only came about recently in the 1990s.
C) Cities have been moving away from this and towards more fragmented forms of government.
D) It is a difficult system of government to devise a charter for.
E) Texas has a tradition of decentralized government that didn't allow this system to take root.
Q2) A __________ district can be created at the urging of property owners in a city to address a wide range of upgrades from libraries to sidewalks.
A) property enhancement
B) economic development
C) public improvement
D) revenue bond
E) special development
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Page 14
Chapter 13: Contemporary public policy issues in texas
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The last major change in the state's general tax policy occurred in 1961, when the legislature enacted the first
A) severance tax.
B) oil depletion allowance tax.
C) sales tax.
D) value added tax.
E) personal income.
Q2) Texas government made a commitment to modernize the state criminal justice system starting in the 1950s.
A)True
B)False
Q3) As the state's economy shifts more and more to services, sales tax revenue
A) is automatically reduced to keep tax dollars constant.
B) does not automatically grow.
C) automatically grows with the economy.
D) becomes less important to the state. ?. ??????? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ?????.
Q4) Texas has a large share of the nation's oil refining and chemical manufacturing industries.
A)True
B)False
Page 15
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