Exam

Name______

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.

1) Given ' political culture, which of the following best reflects a governmental 1) policy the majority would be supportive of? A) Creating a state income tax to ensure public schools are sufficiently funded B) Expanding regulations of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to protect the underground water table C) Expansion of Medicaid to ensure people at 200% of the poverty level are afforded health coverage D) Expanded tax credits for enticing businesses to move to Texas

2) Many Texans oppose same-sex marriage and abortion. This is a reflection of ______2) in the state's ideology: A) Populism B) Modern liberalism C) Mercantilism D) Social Conservatism

3) What was the primary use of land in Texas from the 1820s to the 1860s? 3) A) cotton B) cattle C) oil D) Land use in the period was about equally divided among these three.

4) Compared to other states, Texas has. 4) A) Higher poverty rates and higher population growth B) Lower poverty rates and higher population growth C) Lower poverty rates and lower population growth D) Higher poverty rates and lower population growth

5) Currently, the top export of Texas is 5) A) computers and electronics. B) chemicals. C) petroleum and coal products. D) machinery.

6) Southern Democrats were able to regain control of state government with the election of 6) ______. A) 1864 B) 1874 C) 1866 D) 1878

1 7) Who led the Army of the Gulf in a show of force designed to discourage French support 7) of the Confederacy? A) Ulysses S. Grant B) Alfred H. Terry C) Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing D) Nathaniel P. Banks

8) Based on the state and national electoral results in the 2014 and 2016 elections, one can 8) conclude that A) Texas will become a two-party state once again. B) Texas will continue to be a strong Republican state. C) Texas will become a more liberal state in the future. D) Texas will become a Democratic state once again.

9) "Battleground Texas" 9) A) is a Democrat political action committee launched in 2013. B) is a Republican political action committee launched in 2013. C) is a conservative political action committee launched in 2013. D) is a successful Democratic political action committee.

10) The most economically diversified region in Texas is the: 10) A) Central corridor B) Plains region C) Metroplex D) Border area

11) Which of the following statements about Spanish influence in Texas is FALSE? 11) A) Many rivers, features, and cities still have Spanish names B) Current landownership laws still reflect early Spanish legal systems C) The Spanish introduced horses, sheep, and cattle to Texas D) The Spanish introduced slavery to Texas

12) As Texas shifted from Democratic to Republican: 12) A) Its ideological landscape shifted liberal to conservative B) Its ideological landscape did not really change C) Its ideological landscape shifted from conservative to liberal D) Its ideological landscape shifted from liberal to libertarian

13) What is the main reason why early petitions by the Republic of Texas to join the United 13) States were rejected? A) The American government feared sparking a war with Spain. B) Texas was composed almost entirely of Catholic Spanish speakers. C) There was controversy over Texas becoming a slave state. D) Texas residents favored monarchy, not republicanism.

2 14) Today, what industry dominates the Texas economy, employing about 76 percent of the 14) private sector workforce? A) oil and petrochemical processing B) agriculture and cattle C) manufacturing and the high tech industry D) the service industry

15) Which of the following is NOT a reason that the Texas constitution limits government's 15) authority to act: A) Objections to the system imposed by the Reconstruction Constitution B) Deep-rooted southern beliefs in centralized government C) The traditionalistic/individualistic culture of the state D) Long-standing distrust that started while under Mexican rule

16) Which of the following is NOT a power of the Texas legislature? 16) A) propose constitutional amendments B) propose laws C) appoint judges D) oversight of state agencies

17) TABLE 2.1 Separation of Powers in Texas Government 17)

The Legislature The Governor The Judiciary Propose and pass laws Limited appointment power of Interpret the law Power to propose some executive officials and Settle all disputes in constitutional amendments judges in cases of vacancies matters of criminal and civil law Power to tax and set the Submit budget proposal to Popularly elected budget legislature Oversight power of state Serve on boards; e.g., the agencies and departments Legislative Budget Board Impeachment power of Can call special sessions and judges and executive branch dictate special session agenda officials Veto and line-item veto power

According to Table 2.1, what is one power that the Texas legislature enjoys? A) Oversight power B) Veto power C) Budget proposal D) Interpret the law

18) Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution contains this statement? "The powers not 18) delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." A) Ninth B) Tenth C) Eleventh D) Twelfth

3 19) Most countries in the world have a ______form of government. 19) A) confederal B) federal C) unitary D) binary

20) The Spanish constitutions contributed what key element to the political climate of 20) Texas? A) limited government B) decentralization of decision making C) property rights for women D) decreased executive power

21) Why does the Texas Constitution create a fragmented executive branch? 21) A) a requirement established by the U.S. Congress in order for Texas to be readmitted to the Union B) to raise the status of the legislature C) poor writing that had the effect of fragmenting the executive, though this was not intended D) to limit the power of the governor

22) Article 1 of the Texas Constitution covers the 22) A) legislative department. B) executive department. C) Bill of Rights. D) powers of government.

23) Why are state constitutions amended more frequently than the U.S. Constitution? 23) A) The legislature can approve state constitutional amendments. B) The U.S. Constitution has built-in limits. C) Voter initiatives have a higher rate of approval than those amendments proposed by state legislatures. D) State constitutions deal with a wider range of functions.

24) The system that provides for a sharing of powers between the national government and 24) the state governments is known as A) federalism. B) separation of powers. C) unitarianism. D) confederation.

25) Which of the following is NOT among the characteristics shared by all state 25) constitutions? A) a fear of strong executive authority B) popular sovereignty C) the requirement that citizens approve any changes D) separation of powers

4 26) Constitutional reform in Texas is unlikely because: 26) A) Most citizens are suspicious of the lobby groups who are pushing for reform B) Having constitutional amendments on the ballot drives up voter turnout C) Amendments pass so rarely that change is not needed D) There is no support for reform among strong political forces

27) As of the 2010 census, there were about 811,147 constituents per state senate district in 27) Texas. What is the only state that had more constituents per senator? A) B) California C) New York D) Massachusetts

28) Table 3.2 – Legislative Salaries in the 10 Most Populous States 28)

State Base Salary, 2014 California $90,526 Texas $7,200 Florida $29,697 New York $79,500 Illinois $67,836 Pennsylvania $84,012 Ohio $60,584 Georgia $17,342 North Carolina $13,951 Michigan $71,685

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures. See http://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/2014-ncsl-legislator-salary-and-per- diem-table.aspx.

Based on Table 3.2, how does a Texas legislator's salary compare to other populous states? A) Texas legislators are paid much more than other populous states B) Texas legislators are paid much less than other populous states C) Texas legislators are paid more than any other state D) Texas legislators are paid about the same as other populous states

5 29) Table 3.2 – Legislative Salaries in the 10 Most Populous States 29)

State Base Salary, 2014 California $90,526 Texas $7,200 Florida $29,697 New York $79,500 Illinois $67,836 Pennsylvania $84,012 Ohio $60,584 Georgia $17,342 North Carolina $13,951 Michigan $71,685

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures. See http://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/2014-ncsl-legislator-salary-and-per-diem -table.aspx.

Based on Table 3.2, what can be said about legislators in populous southern states (like Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina) compared to legislators in other populous states? A) Populous non-southern state legislators earn less than legislators in populous southern states B) Populous southern state legislators earn more than other populous states C) Populous southern state legislators earn less than legislators in populous non-southern states D) Populous southern state legislators earn about the same as other populous states

30) Who submits a recommended budget to the Texas legislature? 30) A) the Legislative Budget Board B) the governor's office of budget and management C) a standing committee in the house D) a standing committee in the senate

31) Which of the following statements about reapportionment is NOT accurate? 31) A) It may cause a state to gain or lose congressional representatives. B) It occurs every 10 years. C) It is based on the federal census. D) It redraws the congressional district boundaries within the state.

6 32) The size of legislatures raise issues, as smaller legislatures may be ______, while 32) larger legislatures may be ______. A) Dominated by a few members; less representative B) More efficient; more representative C) Dominated by a few members; more representative D) Inefficient; dominated by a few members

33) The lieutenant governor is not formally a senator and cannot vote except in cases of a 33) tie, yet he or she has great power over the senate. Why? A) a popular sovereignty mandate B) senatorial tradition C) the bully pulpit and the ear of the governor D) powers similar to those of the speaker of the house

34) Each election year, around ______of the Texas House races face no opposition in the 34) general election. A) two-thirds B) one-third C) half D) a quarter

35) Why did the state of Texas draw new district lines in 2003? 35) A) Because the 2001 map was ruled unconstitutional B) Because the Democrats won control of the legislature C) Because the Republicans won control of the legislature D) Because of reapportionment that occurred in 2002

36) In an average legislative session in the Texas legislature, about ______percent of all 36) bills introduced will actually be passed into law. A) 24 B) 2 C) 41 D) 11

37) The largest expenditure of state funds is for 37) A) personnel. B) state buildings and vehicles. C) interest on the government debt. D) infrastructure upkeep.

38) Which executive-level officer administers state-owned land and coastal lands? 38) A) Attorney General B) Commissioner of the General Land Office C) Commissioner of Agriculture D) Comptroller of Public Accounts

39) In most instances, the adoption of articles of impeachment results in 39) A) the removal of an office holder. B) a trial in a judicial court. C) a statewide recall vote. D) a trial in the senate.

7 40) Which state government sector has the largest number of employees? 40) A) business and economic development B) health and human services C) public safety and criminal justice D) education

41) In 2014, ______was elected . 41) A) B) C) Bill Clements D)

42) The voters of Wisconsin voted to not recall Governor Walker in 2011 because they 42) A) did not want the state's lieutenant governor to become governor. B) did not like the idea of using a recall to remove a governor. C) felt the governor was doing a good job. D) were expecting the governor to be impeached later that same year.

43) What tool is used to forecast state economic growth, keep track of business cycles, and 43) generally provide information on the health of the economy of Texas? A) Index of State Economic Momentum B) State of Texas Econometric Model C) Dow Jones Economic Sentiment Indicator D) SMU Business Index

44) The Texas legislature can override the governor's line-item veto with a ______vote 44) in each house. A) two-thirds B) majority C) three-fifths D) three-fourths

45) The Sunset Advisory Commission 45) A) is composed of members appointed by the governor. B) reviews most state agencies every 12 years. C) was discontinued in the mid-1970s. D) has yet to abolish a state agency.

46) Across all fifty states, the most common method for selecting trial court judges is: 46) A) Nonpartisan elections B) Legislative elections C) Partisan elections D) Appointment by governor

47) What are the two kinds of county courts? 47) A) misdemeanor courts and felony courts B) primary and secondary jurisdiction courts C) constitutional county courts and county courts at law D) trial courts and appellate courts

8 48) What is the highest court for criminal cases in Texas? 48) A) both the Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals B) the Court of Appeals C) the Court of Criminal Appeals D) the Texas Supreme Court

49) The highest number of states courts use this method for selecting judges: 49) A) a merit plan. B) nonpartisan election. C) partisan election. D) appointment by the governor.

50) How are supreme court judges selected in Texas? 50) A) gubernatorial appointment B) the Missouri system C) partisan election D) retention election

9 51) Figure 5.2 - Method of Selecting State Judges 51)

According to Figure 5.2, what is the most common way of selecting Appellate court judges? A) Merit plan B) Legislative election C) Partisan election D) Appointment by governor

52) Why does the U.S. have a dual court system? 52) A) the existence of both Spanish law and English law from the colonial era B) the legal principle of stare decisis C) the federal system of government D) Article I of the U.S. Constitution

10 53) Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is one of the last large cities to use the commission form of 53) city government, gave what powers to the mayor in an attempt to correct some of the form's shortcomings? A) removal authority B) budget authority C) authority to call special sessions D) appointment authority

54) All of the following are at-large election systems EXCEPT 54) A) at-large by place with residence wards required. B) at-large multiple places. C) at-large no place. D) at-large by place.

55) County governments in Texas: 55) A) Are more effective in urban vs. rural areas B) Depend upon property tax revenues from rural areas C) Are highly centralized D) Lack general ordinance authority

56) If you selected any city in Texas at random, what governmental form would you 56) LEAST likely find? A) commission B) council-manager C) weak mayor-council D) strong mayor-council

57) If most of the power rests with the mayor, that city is said to have a: 57) A) Mayor-manager government B) Strong mayor government C) Council-manager government D) Weak mayor government

58) Who is responsible for receiving, maintaining, and disbursing county funds? 58) A) county treasurer B) county auditor C) county clerk D) county tax assessor

59) The state of Texas's history of restricting access to voting is very much in keeping with 59) its A) moralistic political culture. B) traditionalistic political culture. C) states rights political culture. D) individualistic political culture.

60) Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding "same-day" voter 60) registration? A) In states with large minority communities, it fosters lower voter turnout. B) It was first tried in North Dakota. C) It promotes higher voter turnout. D) It leads to a higher rate of voter fraud.

11 61) Voter turnout rates in Texas are: 61) A) Below the national average but still higher than most other state rates B) Below the national average and lower than most other state rates C) Above the national average and higher than most other state rates D) About the same as the national average and about equal to most other state rates

62) The National Voter Registration Act is also known as the 62) A) Motor Voter Act. B) CARS Act. C) Vehicles and Votes Act. D) Rapid Registration Act.

63) Why was Texas's 2011 voter ID law rejected by the U.S. Justice Department? 63) A) because new data generated by the federal government demonstrated minorities would be adversely affected B) because of the legacy of restricted access to the ballot C) because of the authority granted in Section 5 of the Federal Voting Rights Act D) because the data Texas provided demonstrated minorities would be adversely affected

64) In what decade was the poll tax abolished in Texas? 64) A) 1920s B) 1890s C) 1940s D) 1960s

65) Of the six flags flown over Texas, which represented republics? 65) A) the CSA and France B) Texas and Mexico C) Spain and France D) France and Mexico

66) Who won the battle that led to the independence of Texas from Mexico? 66) A) James Fannin B) Steve Austin C) Sam D) General Santa Anna

67) In terms of population size, Texas ranks ______in the nation in comparison to other 67) states. A) first B) second C) third D) fourth

68) Polls show that a Texan is MOST likely to identify as a(n) 68) A) conservative. B) moderate. C) liberal. D) independent.

69) The first modern European nation to lay claim to the territory of Texas was 69) A) Spain. B) England. C) Portugal. D) France.

12 70) Voters must approve amendments to the Texas constitution. This is an example of the 70) principle of: A) Separation of powers B) Citizen legislatures C) Popular sovereignty D) Social contract theory

71) What was the result of a bill introduced in 1999 calling for a general revision of the 71) Texas Constitution? A) It was not approved by the citizens. B) It was inadvertently placed on the wrong calendar and was ignored. C) It was defeated in a floor vote. D) It died in committee.

72) Under the Texas constitution, the power to tax resides with 72) A) the judiciary. B) the governor. C) the legislature. D) the bureaucracy.

73) Which of the following is an exclusive power of the national government? 73) A) regulate interstate commerce B) conduct national elections C) provide education D) regulate banks

74) In any given legislative session, most bills 74) A) make only minor changes to existing law. B) clear every hurtle, but are vetoed by the governor. C) die in conference committee. D) pass committee muster but are voted down after floor debate.

75) After the sixtieth day, before a bill can be considered on the floor of the senate, a 75) two-thirds vote is almost always required. Why? A) quorum requirements of the Texas Constitution B) two-thirds super majority is always required in the senate C) senate rules about the order bills come out of committee D) None of these answers is correct.

76) The House and Senate can override a governor's veto with a ______vote. 76) A) three-fifths B) majority C) four-fifths D) two-thirds

77) Why is the Texas governor's power exceptionally weak as compared to that of the 77) governors of some other states? A) lack of a line-item veto B) plural executive system C) tenure limits D) inability to appoint any administrative heads

13 78) A former governor would be most likely to hold which of the following jobs? 78) A) U.S. Senator B) Vice President of the U.S. C) Business executive D) Secretary of Education

79) In the process known as ______, the governor must clear his or her appointments 79) with the state senator from the appointee's home district. A) "good politics" B) political reciprocity C) senatorial courtesy D) the "southern custom"

80) The lowest number of states select judges through 80) A) a merit plan. B) appointment by the governor. C) legislative appointment. D) nonpartisan election.

81) Judges must base their decisions only on the federal and state constitutions, statutes, 81) and earlier court decisions. This concept is called: A) Procedurism B) Objectivity C) Originality D) Stare basis

82) A murder case would most likely first be tried in a/an: 82) A) Appellate court B) Magistrate court C) District court D) County court

83) County government was designed to meet the needs of and provide services to a(n) 83) ______population. A) urban B) rural C) agrarian D) varied

84) Who is responsible for collecting revenue for the state and county? 84) A) county clerk B) county auditor C) county tax assessor D) county treasurer

85) According to a recent survey, which of the following types of political participation is 85) least common? A) sent a letter to the editor of a local publication B) contributed money to a political candidate or party C) volunteered for a political candidate D) attended a political rally or speech

86) In a recent survey of Texas adults, approximately ______of respondents reported 86) encouraging others to vote for a particular candidate. A) one-quarter B) three-quarters C) half D) None of these answers is correct.

14 87) One of the primary political goals for Reconstruction was 87) A) to undermine the economy in the Southern states. B) to reintroduce slavery, in a limited way, in several Southern states. C) to restore law and order to a society recovering from war. D) to allow Northern states to be readmitted to the Union.

88) Minority groups in Texas: 88) A) Have no influence on politics and policy decisions B) Are primarily concentrated in rural areas C) Outnumber non-Hispanic whites D) Are shrinking due to an influx of whites in other states

89) Nineteenth century federalism 89) A) saw states dominant over the federal government. B) saw the federal government dictate even the smallest aspects of state and local government. C) saw the federal government dominant over states. D) continued unchanged through the twentieth century.

90) All of the following arguments for annual sessions EXCEPT: 90) A) Annual sessions allow for more rapid responses B) Annual sessions raise the legislature's profile and check executive power C) Annual sessions afford legislators more time to study proposed legislation D) Annual sessions allow for more continuous oversight

91) How many states, including Texas, do not limit how long a person can serve as 91) governor? A) 16 B) 14 C) 12 D) 10

92) Of the following, who is most likely to be appointed to his or her initial seat on the 92) court in Texas? A) the justice of the peace B) a municipal court judge C) a supreme court justice D) a district court judge

93) San Antonio wants to expand and add new territory to the city and broaden its tax base 93) by doing what with regard to an upscale subdivision that borders the city? A) invoking extraterritorial jurisdiction upon it B) annexing it C) incorporating it D) declaring eminent domain over it

15 94) The Texas Constitution allows cities and school boards to cancel elections if 94) A) all the races are uncontested. B) there is a budget shortfall that will impact services if the election is held. C) three-quarters of the races are uncontested. D) the city was chartered as a general rule city.

95) The war that led to the declaration of the Republic of Texas began 95) A) when the Spanish government imposed restrictions on American settlers. B) with the battle at the Alamo. C) within months of the arrival of the first American settlers. D) in 1835.

96) The notion that all individuals possess inalienable rights and willingly submit to 96) government to protect those rights is embodied in A) social contract theory. B) the individualistic subculture. C) popular sovereignty. D) the traditionalistic subculture.

97) High turnover rates in the Texas legislature are due primarily to 97) A) electoral defeat. B) involvement in scandals. C) term limits. D) voluntary retirement.

98) Which of the following states does not have a process for impeachment? 98) A) California B) Oregon C) Texas D) Georgia

99) Most court cases in Texas deal with 99) A) criminal complaints. B) controversies between individuals. C) hypothetical complaints and other questions of law. D) policy questions.

100) Most cities in Texas are chartered under 100) A) Home law. B) General rule. C) Home rule. D) General law.

16 Answer Key Testname: GOVT 2306L EXAM 1 REV

1) D 2) D 3) A 4) A 5) C 6) B 7) D 8) B 9) B 10) C 11) D 12) B 13) C 14) D 15) B 16) C 17) A 18) B 19) C 20) C 21) D 22) C 23) D 24) A 25) C 26) D 27) B 28) A 29) C 30) A 31) B 32) B 33) D 34) C 35) C 36) A 37) A 38) B 39) D 40) D 41) B 42) B

17 Answer Key Testname: GOVT 2306L EXAM 1 REV

43) B 44) A 45) B 46) C 47) C 48) C 49) C 50) C 51) A 52) C 53) B 54) B 55) D 56) A 57) B 58) A 59) B 60) C 61) B 62) A 63) D 64) D 65) B 66) C 67) B 68) A 69) A 70) C 71) D 72) C 73) A 74) A 75) C 76) D 77) B 78) C 79) C 80) C 81) B 82) C 83) B 84) C

18 Answer Key Testname: GOVT 2306L EXAM 1 REV

85) A 86) C 87) C 88) C 89) A 90) C 91) B 92) B 93) B 94) A 95) D 96) A 97) D 98) B 99) B 100) D

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