Political Systems of the United States Exam Materials
Course Introduction
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the political systems of the United States, examining the foundational principles, structures, and functions of the federal government as outlined in the Constitution. Students will analyze the roles of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, as well as federalism and the division of power between national and state governments. The course covers the electoral process, political parties, interest groups, and the impact of public opinion and the media on American governance. Emphasis is placed on understanding how historical developments, constitutional amendments, and landmark Supreme Court decisions have shaped current political institutions and policy-making processes in the United States.
Recommended Textbook
Practicing Texas Politics 15th Edition by Lyle Brown
Available Study Resources on Quizplus 11 Chapters
834 Verified Questions
834 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/312 Page 2
Chapter 1: The Environment of Texas Politics
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
72 Verified Questions
72 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/5141
Sample Questions
Q1) Cotton production in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains is possible because of A) a substantial increase in rainfall there since 1950.
B) the development of hybrid strains that require minimal water.
C) the Ogallala Aquifer.
D) water brought from the Gulf of Mexico.
Answer: C
Q2) Which is a true statement regarding agriculture in Texas?
A) It is hampered by poor rail, road, and harbor facilities.
B) It sells most of its output in Texas grocery stores.
C) It produces commodities that are largely processed outside the state.
D) It is characterized by an increasing number of farms with small acreages.
Answer: C
Q3) According to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau, which of the following is the about percentage of individuals that identify themselves as Hispanic/Latino in the state of Texas?
A) 45%.
B) 38%.
C) 11.5%.
D) 4%.
Answer: B
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 3
Chapter 2: Federalism and the Texas Constitution
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
82 Verified Questions
82 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/5142
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is not protected by the U.S. Constitution?
A) Republican forms of government in each state
B) Territorial integrity-a state cannot be combined with another state without its consent
C) Each state is provided two members in the U.S. Senate and at least one member in the U.S. House of Representatives
D) Equal votes for each state in the Electoral College
Answer: D
Q2) The constitution submitted by the legislature in April 1975 to the voters was
A) twice as long as the 1876 Constitution.
B) essentially the constitution that had failed by three votes the previous year.
C) essentially the 1876 Constitution, though it was better organized and shorter.
D) a clearly confusing and unworkable document.
Answer: B
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
4
Chapter 3: Local Governments
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
76 Verified Questions
76 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/5143
Sample Questions
Q1) Approximately how many incorporated municipalities are there in Texas?
A) 254
B) 350
C) 900
D) 1,200
Answer: D
Q2) In Texas home-rule cities, which form of municipal structure prevails?
A) The strong mayor-council form
B) The weak mayor-council form
C) The council-manager form
D) The commission form
Answer: C
Q3) In Texas, all of following are unique to home-rule cities, except
A) popular elections.
B) recall.
C) initiative.
D) referendum.
Answer: A
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 5
Chapter 4: Political Parties
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
74 Verified Questions
74 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/5144
Sample Questions
Q1) Which statement best describes the Green Party?
A) It is a twenty-first century throwback to the Greenbacks of the nineteenth century.
B) It advocates returning to the gold standard as a backing for American currency.
C) It advocates environmental protection and government reform policies.
D) It advocates reduced governmental regulation of corporations and political campaigns.
Q2) Which political party during the latter part of the nineteenth century focused on agrarian issues and posed a challenge to the Democratic party of Texas?
A) Whig
B) Populist
C) Republican
D) Green
Q3) Party precinct chairs are selected by
A) precinct voters.
B) county chairs.
C) county convention delegates.
D) the District Executive Committee.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 6
Chapter 5: Campaigns and Elections
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
72 Verified Questions
72 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/5145
Sample Questions
Q1) A major requirement of the Voting Rights Act of 1975 is that ballots must be
A) on a touch screen machine.
B) available in braille.
C) bilingual.
D) counted by a bipartisan commission.
Q2) Describe how potential voters in Texas learn about candidates and issues. What appear to be the primary factors in voter choices (deciding who to vote for).
Q3) Which of the following statements regarding the Campaign Reform Act of 2002 is false?
A) It prohibits soft money to political parties.
B) It has increased individual contribution limits.
C) It applies to candidates running for President of the United States.
D) It applies to candidates running for seats in the Texas legislature.
Q4) Organizations created to collect and distribute contributions to political campaigns are referred to as
A) federal reserve banks.
B) political interest groups.
C) lobbies.
D) political action committees.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 7
Chapter 6: The Politics of Interest Groups
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/5146
Sample Questions
Q1) Texas law prohibits a speaker candidate from giving money to A) fellow House members.
B) the Texas Environmental Fund.
C) the Texas Brewers Institute.
D) the Christian Life Commission.
Q2) An example of a professional organization is the
A) Texas American Federation of Labor.
B) League of United Latin American Citizens.
C) Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association.
D) Texas Health Care Association.
Q3) 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.
Q4) The system of politics in Texas can be described as one with A) weak parties and weak interest groups.
B) strong parties and strong interest groups.
C) strong parties and weak interest groups.
D) weak parties and strong interest groups.
Page 8
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 7: The Legislature
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
84 Verified Questions
84 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/5147
Sample Questions
Q1) 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.
Q2) Which of the following statements is true regarding the Texas legislature?
A) It does not recognize the party affiliation of its members.
B) It has no party organization-not even informal caucuses.
C) It is dominated by the Democratic Party, with no Republican influence.
D) It has Democratic and Republican caucuses that are increasingly important.
Q3) The primary mission of the State Auditor's Office is to
A) determine if there are sufficient funds to pay legislative appropriations.
B) determine if state funds have been spent by the state agencies in accordance with law.
C) determine how state revenues are to be invested.
D) authorize the payment from the Treasury to all persons with claims against the state.
Q4) Describe the selection, duties, and tools of influence of the "speaker" of the House of Representatives. Explain why this position possesses considerable legislative power.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 9
Chapter 8: The Executive
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
75 Verified Questions
75 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/5148
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following executives is not appointed by the governor?
A) Texas Attorney General
B) Adjutant General, Texas Military Forces
C) Texas Secretary of State
D) Director, Office of State-Federal Relations
Q2) The Texas governor's effectiveness relies on all the following, except his/her A) ability to raise money.
B) formal constitutional powers.
C) personality and persuasiveness.
D) position on conservative issues.
Q3) The status of the Texas governorship created by the 1876 constitution is a reaction to A) state-hood.
B) Reconstruction.
C) secession.
D) annexation.
Q4) Describe the structure, selection, and function of the Texas Railroad Commission.
Q5) Identify and discuss the various roles and functions of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 10
Chapter 9: Public Policy and Administration
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
77 Verified Questions
77 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/5149
Sample Questions
Q1) Acquiring a government job based on political loyalty, without regard to ability, is called
A) elite access.
B) political patronage.
C) a merit system.
D) affirmative action.
Q2) The ability of business leaders to meet directly with bureaucrats to resolve issues is called
A) nepotism.
B) patronage.
C) cronyism.
D) elite access.
Q3) Functions of the Texas Railroad Commission would include all the following, except A) ensuring pipeline safety.
B) setting natural gas rates in rural areas.
C) breaking up railroad monopolies.
D) overseeing the capping of abandoned oil wells.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 11
Chapter 10: Laws, Courts, and Justice
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
78 Verified Questions
78 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/5150
Sample Questions
Q1) The Texas Supreme Court would not hear an appeal if the A) case involved a school bond election.
B) Texas Railroad Commission was a party.
C) case involved money owed the state by a depository bank.
D) court of appeals decided the case in a manner contrary to another court of appeals.
Q2) The injured party in a civil case is formally referred to as the A) defendant.
B) victim.
C) plaintiff.
D) law of parties.
Q3) Law made by legislative bodies is called A) statutory law.
B) common law.
C) constitutional law.
D) prerogative law.
Q4) How does the state punish persons it has convicted of criminal offenses? Discuss the developments in this matter since 1980. Can crime be reduced? If so, how? If not, what should the state's policy be regarding the continued increase in the prison population?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 11: Finance and Fiscal Policy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
74 Verified Questions
74 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/5151
Sample Questions
Q1) All education funding in Texas is approximately what percent of state expenditures?
A) 10-15 percent
B) 30-35 percent
C) 40-45 percent
D) 50-55 percent
Q2) Texas has sought to reduce the cost associated with state prisons by all the following, except
A) increasing sentencing terms.
B) encouraging education programs.
C) providing drug abuse counseling.
D) counseling to help transition to civilian life.
Q3) The largest portion of revenue for the State of Texas comes from A) gambling and lottery funds.
B) federal grants-in-aid.
C) local property taxes.
D) various state taxes.
Q4) Describe the system of public assistance in Texas, particularly as it applies to healthcare. Explain the degree to which Texas has made children a priority.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 13