HCC GOVT2306 2021 March Exam 3 Latest

GOVT2306 Texas Government

Exam 3

Question 1Which group was the primary target of the poll tax?

  itinerant farm workers

  individuals who did not own property

  low-income white farmers

  poor Democrats

Question 2 What is the most common form of political participation?

  attending a rally

  signing a petition

  financial contributions

  voting

Question 3The state of Texas’s history of restricting access to voting is very much in keeping with its

  states rights political culture.

  individualistic political culture.

  moralistic political culture.

  traditionalistic political culture.

Question 4If the post office in Texas is unable to deliver a voter registration card, it will be returned to the voter registrar, and

  the voter registrar will attempt to find a forwarding address and re-send the card if one is found.

  it will be sent to the polling station on election day for the voter to pick up.

  the voter will need to re-register in order to vote in future elections.

  the county sheriff will be notified to investigate possible voter fraud.

Question 5Which state does NOT limit the voting rights of persons convicted of a felony?

  Texas

  West Virginia

  Vermont

  Mississippi

Question 6

Which of the following is rationalist reason for not voting?

  “I didn’t feel like it.”

  “There’s no chance my single vote will decide the election.”

  “I forgot to register in time.”

  “I was out of state on election day.”

Question 7According to a recent survey, which of the following types of political participation is least common?

  volunteered for a political candidate

  contributed money to a political candidate or party

  sent a letter to the editor of a local publication

  attended a political rally or speech

Question 8Which of the following elections would typically have a higher voter turnout?

  off-year election

  local election

  general election

  primary election

Question 9People who only become involved in politics when they think the issue has a direct effect on them are considered to be:

  Parochial participants

  Communalists

  Campaigners

  Voting specialists

Question 10John is upset that the power company is planning to build several wind turbines on the property next to his home. He writes letters to his elected representative and the local newspaper, voicing his displeasure with the project. According to Verba and Nie, what type of political participation is John demonstrating?

  voting specialist

  communalist

  campaigner

  parochial participant

 Question 11Which of the three measures for voter turnout consistently shows the higher figures?

  percentage of registered voters who voted

  percentage of VEP who voted

  percentage of VAP who voted

  They are all roughly equal.

Question 12What is the voter participation measure used most often by political scientists?

  percentage of voting-age population

  percentage of voting-eligible population

  percentage of voting-age U.S. citizen population

  percentage of registered voters

Question 13In Texas, you cannot vote if:

  You are in prison for committing a felony

  You have not been a citizen for at least 7 years

  You do not pay the poll tax

  You have not completed your annual registration

Question 14The expansion of political participation in the southern U.S. states has come about largely because of

  the civil rights movement.

  suffrage movements of the early twentieth century.

  the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

  federal government intervention.

Question 15In Texas, how long prior to an election must you register in order to be eligible to vote?

  10 days

  15 days

  0 days (same day registration)

  30 days

Question 16The National Voter Registration Act is also known as the

  CARS Act.

  Motor Voter Act.

  Vehicles and Votes Act.

  Rapid Registration Act.

Question 17In Verba and Nie’s typology of political participation, which category contains the highest percentage of the population?

  inactives

  parochial participants

  complete activists

  campaigners

Question 18What is the impact of Texas political culture on political participation?

  It moderately encourages political participation.

  It has no significant effect on political participation.

  It discourages political participation.

  It strongly encourages political participation.

Question 19In Texas, to run as an independent for statewide office, a candidate must file a petition with a number of signatures equal to ________ percent of the votes cast for governor in the past election.

  19

  5

  1

  10

Question 20The primary system that allows voters to register or change their party registration on election day is known as a

  blanket primary system.

  semi-closed primary system.

  open primary system.

  closed primary system.

Question 21Can a Texas voter who voted in the primary election of one party vote in the runoff primary of the other party?

  no, unless it was a blanket primary

  yes, if it is an open primary

  yes

  no

Question 22In the early twentieth century, candidates in Texas running for statewide office could have extremely inconsistent messages depending where they were campaigning in the state. Why?

  Texas’s diversity

  individual political culture

  lack of a statewide press

  traditional political culture

Question 23In 2016, Texas voters elected

  half the members of the Texas House of Representatives and all the members of the Texas Senate.

  all the members of the Texas House of Representatives and all the members of the Texas Senate.

 

  all the members of the Texas House of Representatives and half the members of the Texas Senate.

  half the members of the Texas House of Representatives and half the members of the Texas Senate.

Question 24By Texas law, special elections may be held in all of the following months EXCEPT

  January.

  November.

  August.

  May.

Question 25Voting in another party’s primary to intentionally nominate a weaker candidate is known as:

  Crossover voting

  False voting

  Runoff voting

  Party raiding

Question 26What voting practice was developed with the U.S. armed services in mind?

  early voting

  absentee voting

  proxy voting

  Internet voting

Question 27A ________ is a panel of “average citizens” who are used by political consultants to test ideas and words for later use in campaigns.

  statistical sample

  focus group

  test group

  poll

 Question 28Imagine you are a die-hard member of party A, but wanted the less popular candidate from party B to be party A’s general election opponent. What type of primary election system would allow you to vote for the less popular candidate in party B during the primaries without changing parties?

  closed primary system

  semi-closed primary system

  None of these answers is correct.

  open primary system

 Question 29When did the Texas legislature change the rules to allow anyone to vote absentee without restrictions?

  2001

  Texas has always allowed unrestricted absentee voting.

  1993

  1979

 Question 30The Federal Voting Rights Act:

  Requires bilingual ballots in certain precincts

  Lowered the voting age to 18

  Requires all voters to show some form of identification

  Gave women the right to vote

 Question 31On what day do Texans vote for who will represent them in the United States Congress?

  the first Tuesday in November of all even-numbered years

  the first Tuesday in November of all odd-numbered years

  the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of all even-numbered years

  the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of all odd-numbered years

 Question 32Most of the money used in political campaigns comes from

  federal matching funds.

  individual contributions.

  political party war chests.

  political action committees.

 Question 33Texas has which of the following types of primary systems?

  special type of open primary system.

  semi-open primary system.

  closed primary system.

  blanket primary system.

 Question 34Typically, voter turnout for special elections is highest when those elections are held in

  January.

  November.

  August.

  May.

 Question 35Which of the following allowed the federal government to oversee the operation of elections at the state level until a Supreme Court ruling in 2013?

  the Voting Rights Act

  the ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas

  None of these answers is correct.

  Article 10 of the U.S. Constitution

 Question 36Table 8.2 – Total PAC Money in State Campaigns from 2006 to 2014

Sector	2006 Cycle	2008 Cycle	2010 Cycle	2012 Cycle	2014 Cycle	Growth
Business	$57,034,732	$62,741,376	$68,235,849	$70,399,948	$81,135,492	15%
Ideology	$37,003,210	$50,403,265	$57,847,226	$47,292,862	$65,225,862	38%
Labor	$5,116,613	$6,307,456	$7,032,134	$8,173,262	$12,085,061	48%
Unknown	$13,099	$109,764	$330,977	$501,388	$868,218	73%
Totals	$99,167,654	$119,561,860	$133,446,187	$126,267,460	$159,314,633	26%

 

Source: Texas PACs: 2014 Election Cycle Spending. February 2016. See (www.tpj.org).

According to Table 8.2, between which 2 cycles did we see a decline in campaign money?

  Between 2012 and 2014 for Business PACs

  Between 2012 and 2014 for all PACs

  Between 2006 and 2008 for Labor PACs

  Between 2010 and 2012 for Ideology PACs

 Question 37What is the most common special election in Texas?

  single contest elections

  mayoral elections in November

  city council elections

  amendments to the constitution

 Question 38The state party chair is selected by

  the state’s top ranking office holder.

  the state convention.

  mail-in ballots from all precinct chairs.

  the national party chair.

 Question 39In 1996, Governor George W. Bush was reelected with ________ percent of registered voters voting for him.

  69

  49

  51

  18

 Question 40Texas Republicans captured their second seat in the U.S. Senate with the election of ________ in 1992.

  Kay Bailey Hutchison

  George W. Bush

  Clayton Williams

  Ann Richards

 Question 41Which third party emphasizes the importance of small government and personal responsibility?

  Libertarian Party

  Reform Party

  Natural Law Party

  Green Party

 Question 42How long after the precinct convention is the county convention held?

  1 week

  2 days

  1 month

  2 weeks

 Question 43The newest element of capital-intensive politics is the use of ________ to communicate directly with likely voters.

  e-mail

  the Internet

  autodialing apps with prerecorded messages

  social media

 Question 44What is the most important function of the precinct convention?

  selection of delegates to the county convention

  election of permanent officers

  selection of candidates for local offices

  nominating local delegates to the Electoral College

 Question 45In Texas the Democratic state executive committee consists of __ members, equally divided between men and women.

  302

  62

  150

  30

 Question 46What alliance allowed the Democratic Party to dominate state politics in Texas from the later nineteenth century until the mid-twentieth century?

  merchants and small farmers

  merchants and landowners

  small farmers and African Americans

  oilmen and businessmen

 Question 47In the 1952 and 1956 presidential elections, many Yellow Dog Democrats broke with tradition and voted for

  Lyndon B. Johnson.

  Adlai Stevenson II.

  Dwight D. Eisenhower.

  Earl Warren.

 Question 48The Texas Election Code has its most profound impact on political party activity in what area(s)?

  All of these answers are correct.

  party organization and fundraising

  conduct of primary elections

  candidate selection

 Question 49One way that historical political parties consolidated power was through appointing faithful party members to government jobs, also known as:

  The merit system

  The caucus system

  The spoils system

  The party boss system

 

Question 50Who was the first Republican elected to statewide office in Texas since the 1870s?

  Phil Gramm

  Bill Clements

  Lyndon B. Johnson

  John Tower

 Question 51The Texas presidential preference primary is held in what month?

  April

  March

  February

  May

 Question 52Today in Texas, what are the two main factions in the Republican Party?

  social value conservatives and business value progressives

  business value progressives and business value conservatives

  social value conservatives and evangelical conservatives

  business value conservatives and social value conservatives

 Question 53What is the “Australian” ballot?

  Color-coded ballots for each party

  Privately cast votes

  A two-stage voting system

  Publically cast votes

 Question 54During the time of the Republic of Texas, which individual advocated for annexation and peaceful relations with the Native American tribes of Texas?

  Davey Crockett

  Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar

  Edmund Davis

  Sam Houston

 Question 55One-party Democratic dominance occurred from Reconstruction until the

  1940s.

  1930s.

  1950s.

  1960s.

 Question 56The Pendleton Act of 1883 established a class of federal government positions that would be filled as a result of

  political appointments.

  competitive examinations.

  nomination by the president and approval by the U.S. Senate.

  a random lottery.

 Question 57An organization of ideologically similar people that nominates and elects its members to office is known as a(n)

  interest group.

  issue network.

  political action committee.

  political party.

 Question 58The situation in which a state agency falls under the heavy influence of its constituency interest groups is called:

  Rent seeking

  Iron Triangle

  Capture

  Astroturf

 Question 59Texas required registration of interest groups for the first time in ________.

  1907

  1892

  1876

  1932

 Question 60The situation of individuals receiving the benefits of collective action without contributing is known as

  “benefit stealing.”

  the “free-rider problem.”

  the “welfare state.”

  “coattailing.”

 Question 61Organized labor in Texas is

  very strong.

  very weak.

  quite strong.

  modestly weak.

 Question 62Which of the following is a SLIG?

  Texas Medical Association

  Texas Automobile Dealers Association

  Texas Farm Bureau

  Texas Municipal League

 Question 63The largest professional group in Texas is the

  Texas State Teachers Association.

  Texas Trial Lawyers Association.

  Texas Medical Association.

  Texas High School Coaches Association.

 Question 64The goal of ________ is to create a favorable public image for the group.

  public relations activities

  a focus group

  mass mailings

  positive media coverage

 Question 65Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the AARP, and MoveOn.org are all examples of what interest group type?

  political interest

  religious interest

  public interest

  racial and ethnic interest

 Question 66Inviting public officials to address organizational meetings is one technique to raise

  a group’s image in the eyes of these officials.

  a community’s image of a public official.

  a group’s image in the eyes of the organization.

  the organization’s image in the eyes of the community.

 Question 67When the economy of a state grows more diverse,

  no single industry or group can dominate.

  it is easier for a single rich interest to monopolize power.

  the influence of interest groups becomes greater.

  the number of interest groups shrinks.

 Question 68Which of the following is one of the five types of lobbyist?

  in-house

  governmental

  contract

  All of these answers are correct.

 Question 69All of the following are lobbying tactics EXCEPT:

  Working with legislators to draft bills

  Publishing a newsletter to keep interest group members informed

  Testifying before a legislative committee

  Encouraging interest group members to contact legislators about a bill

 Question 70When the relationship between a state agency and an interest group becomes very close, it is referred to as

  capture.

  “strange bedfellows.”

  entrapment.

  the “Iron Triangle.”

 Question 71All of the following contribute to legislative professionalism EXCEPT

  longer sessions.

  higher pay.

  more staff support.

  limited sessions.

 Question 72The process of electioneering begins with

  raising money for campaign costs.

  focus groups.

  interest polling.

  candidate recruitment.

 Question 73Who is best known for arguing that “factions” would play an important role in American politics?

  Thomas Paine

  James Madison

  George Washington

  Ben Franklin

 Question 74The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is an example of:

  A public interest group

  A nonmembership organization

  A government organization

  A trade association

 Question 75The National Rifle Association (NRA), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and the National Education Association (NEA) are all examples of groups that are

  active on both the state and national levels.

  barred from financial contributions to PACs.

  nonmembership organizations.

  government recognized special interest groups.

 Question 76Answer the following essay question. The essay question is worth 25 points.  Minimum of 250 words, there is no maximum length for the essay.

In your opinion what are some ways to improve voter turnout in the state of Texas?