Texas Politics and Policy Pre-Test Questions
Course Introduction
This course provides an in-depth examination of the political structure, processes, and public policies of Texas. Students will explore the historical development of Texas government, analyze the states constitution, and assess the roles of political parties, interest groups, and the media. The course covers the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government, with a focus on the policymaking process in areas such as education, health care, and immigration. Special emphasis is placed on the unique features of Texas politics, the impact of demographic trends, and the relationship between state and federal governments. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of how Texas politics influences public policy at both the state and national levels.
Recommended Textbook
Government and Politics in the Lone Star State 8th Edition by L. Tucker Gibson
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Page 2
Chapter 1: The social and economic milieu of texas politics
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Sample Questions
Q1) It is estimated that during 1986 and 1987 Texas lost a total of ________ jobs.
A) 23,000
B) 525,000
C) 84,000
D) 149,000
E) 233,000
Answer: E
Q2) The economic diversity of Texas can be described in terms of ________ distinct economic regions.
A) four
B) seven
C) eight
D) twelve
E) thirteen
Answer: D
Q3) Texas citizens are well educated about their state and local governments.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
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Page 3
Chapter 2: The texas constitution
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Sample Questions
Q1) It is difficult to make wholesale changes to the Texas Constitution because A) few groups and interests benefit from the existing constitution.
B) Texas citizens value its wording and language too much.
C) Texas has a long history of support of state and local government.
D) the legislature is hesitant to propose amendments to the constitution.
E) in the vernacular of the lay person, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Answer: E
Q2) Elements of _________ can still be found in Texas in the twenty-first century in the form of property rights, water rights and community property.
A) the Mexican legal system
B) Confederate law
C) the legal system of the Republic of Texas
D) Native American customs
E) Spanish imperial law
Answer: A
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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Sample Questions
Q1) The maquiladora program has not resulted in the construction of a significant number of manufacturing plants on the Texas side of the border
A) primarily as a result of opposition by American organized labor groups.
B) as a result of narcotics-based violence and the unwillingness of companies to relocate there.
C) and has been widely regarded as a failure by Texas politicians.
D) and those that have been constructed are staffed by Mexicans.
E) but has created thousands of support jobs in transportation, warehousing, and services.
Answer: E
Q2) The organization and operation of our federal system of government is a system A) dictated by the national government.
B) of shared responsibilities but not shared functions.
C) of divergent functions and responsibilities.
D) of shared functions but not shared responsibilities.
E) of many shared functions and responsibilities.
Answer: E
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Chapter 4: Interest groups and political power in texas
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Sample Questions
Q1) We know exactly how many groups or organizations there are in the United States and Texas.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Successful lobbying starts with the election of officeholders sympathetic to a group's viewpoint on crucial issues.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Public interest advocates won an uncommon and significant victory in the 2003 session when legislators strengthened ethics laws for public officials and political candidates.
A)True
B)False
Q4) The common goal of broad-based business and industry groups is to A) maintain and improve upon a favorable business climate.
B) promote the common welfare of society.
C) seek to advance the interests of specific industries.
D) promote the common good of the people.
E) loosening the restrictions of environmental protection laws.
Q5) Briefly explain the difference between pluralist and elitist views of power.
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Chapter 5: The mass media in texas politics
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Sample Questions
Q1) The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas
A) is a government agency that distributes transcripts and videos of meetings to the public.
B) is an organization run by former state legislators that is present at all state meetings. C) is a nonprofit corporation that advises news people on open meetings and open record rights.
D) was banned from state meetings in 2006 following repeated outburst from its members.
E) was responsible for drafting the Public Information Act.
Q2) A legislator's spokesperson who presents information in the best possible light for her boss would be putting a ________ on the story.
A) Texas-twister
B) whitewash
C) D.C. two step
D) slant
E) spin
Q3) Explain the open meetings and public information laws.Explain how these laws help the media do their jobs.
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Chapter 6: The party system in
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Sample Questions
Q1) By capturing precinct conventions and advancing candidates who had little in common with mainstream party voters
A) Socialists gained control of the Democratic Party in 1976.
B) the tea party gained control of the Republican Party in 2008.
C) Libertarians gained control of the Republican Party in 2000.
D) the Religious Right gained control of the Republican Party in 1994.
E) Progressives gained control of the Democratic Party in 1994.
Q2) The difference between an interest group and a political party is that
A) an interest group exists to run the day-to-day business of government.
B) a political party seeks to enlist and nominate candidates.
C) a political party is only interested in certain issues.
D) an interest group seeks to enlist and nominate candidates.
E) a political party lobbies governmental officeholders.
Q3) There were Democratic candidates for all of the nine statewide offices up for election in 2000.
A)True
B)False
Q4) List and briefly describe the factors that contributed to one-party politics in Texas.What prevents third parties from becoming electorally successful?
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Chapter 7: Elections, campaigns, and political behavior
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Sample Questions
Q1) Recent legislation allows local government to call off an election if
A) no offices are contested.
B) only one office is contested.
C) no one is running for the office.
D) there are no voters in the precinct.
E) there are no candidates for some positions.
Q2) Why do some Texans participate in a wide range of political activities while others seem to be little more than passive spectators to the political process?
Q3) The governor can call special elections to fill vacancies in certain offices.
A)True
B)False
Q4) No one knows precisely how much money is spent on political campaigns in Texas because there is no single place where all this information is collected.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Voter disfranchisement in Texas was never aimed at low-income whites.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 8: The texas legislature
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Sample Questions
Q1) How did the fallout from the Sharpstown stock fraud scandal immediately impact the Texas legislature?
A) The House moved to limit the speaker's power through a modified seniority system for committee appointments.
B) Through a public referendum, it was voted that appropriations bills could no longer originate from the Senate.
C) An executive order was issued by the governor to force all legislators to reveal their personal stock holdings.
D) The judiciary stepped in and put forth a rule that all legislation concerning the banks had to go through the Texas comptroller.
E) The governor created a special board comprised of bank industry experts and federal auditors to oversee every bill concerning banks and insurance.
Q2) Rick Perry became the first Republican lieutenant governor of modern Texas.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The work of the Texas legislature is given extensive coverage across the state.
A)True
B)False
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10
Chapter 9: The texas executive
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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 was Governor James E.Ferguson impeached and convicted in 1917?
A) He was found to have embezzled $2 million from state funds.
B) He was accused of misuse of public funds following his call for an unnecessary session.
C) He was found to have attempted to sell a Senate seat.
D) He was accused of nepotism in making appointments to executive offices.
E) He was plagued by scandals concerning his financial deals with corporations.
Q3) Taking her oath of office in January 1991, Governor Richards convinced the public that her election marked the emergence of a "New Texas" by overcoming a $4 billion budget shortfall.
A)True
B)False
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Page 11
Chapter 10: The bureaucracy and policy implementation
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Sample Questions
Q1) ________ would be considered political patronage.
A) An agency chair hiring a consultant based on her excellent former work in the private sector
B) A state representative hiring a campaign contributor to a job he knows nothing about
C) A state commissioner delegating hiring duties to a human resources administrator
D) An agency chair hiring his brother to oversee a new program because he is family
E) A commissioner hiring an employee to a position based on her years of government experience
Q2) Each agency is subject to sunset review every
A) six months.
B) twelve months.
C) two years.
D) six years.
E) twelve years.
Q3) Why do so many people express a great deal of ambivalence, if not hostility, toward bureaucracies and those who are employed by government?
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Chapter 11: The judicial system in texas
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Sample Questions
Q1) Civil lawsuits involve conflict
A) where a misdemeanor has been committed.
B) where a felony has been committed.
C) between two or more parties.
D) between the accused and the state.
E) between married persons.
Q2) People accused of ________ may not waive their right to a jury trial, even if they believe it would be to their advantage to have their case decided by a judge.
A) sexual assault or rape
B) kidnapping
C) capital murder
D) treason
E) manslaughter
Q3) What changes would you make in the state's court system? What changes would you advocate for the selection of state judges? Give an explanation for each answer.
Q4) Describe the different levels o0f courts in the Texas judicial system.Are there too many courts with similar functions?
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Chapter 12: Local government in texas: cities, towns, counties, and special districts
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Sample Questions
Q1) Your text says that one writer calls the county clerk's office the
A) most important office in the county.
B) dumping ground for miscellaneous functions of the state.
C) right hand of the county judge.
D) career refuge of the incompetent.
E) internal revenue service of the county.
Q2) ____________ can provide funding for revenue bonds a city can use.
A) A city-owned parking garage
B) An estate tax
C) A municipal bank or credit union
D) Tolls on a state highway
E) A tax on imports from other states
Q3) A special district is governed by a board, either appointed by other governmental units or elected in partisan elections.
A)True
B)False
Q4) The superintendent of schools, a volunteer position with many responsibilities, is appointed by the school board.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 13: Contemporary public policy issues in texas
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Sample Questions
Q1) In 1999, _____ became the nation's "dirtiest air" city.
A) Houston
B) Dallas
C) El Paso
D) Del Rio
E) San Antonio
Q2) Texas taxpayer dissatisfaction and anger in recent years has been mostly due to
A) an increase in grocery sales tax rates.
B) the addition of ad valorem property tax.
C) increases in ad valorem property tax rates.
D) additional municipal taxes.
E) the severance tax.
Q3) An order by Judge Justice limited the population of prison units to 85 percent of capacity in an effort to guard against the recurrence of rioting and other ills in the system.
A)True
B)False
Q4) How would you evaluate the success of education reform after Edgewood v.Kirby?
Q5) Describe the stages of the policy process.In your opinion, which stage is most crucial to successful public policies? Justify your answer.
Page 15
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