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Q:
Citizens who are well-informed and are willing to communicate with members of the legislature can have an important impact on public policy.
Q:
The Texas Ethics Commission has proven to be an effective watchdog for the public interest.
Q:
One of the most valuable functions of interest groups is providing specialized information to the government.
Q:
Public Citizen Texas is an example of a public interest group.
Q:
All lobby groups represent wealth clients.
Q:
Lobby is an effort to influence public policy by directly communicating with policymakers.
Q:
Lobbying is very strictly controlled and regulated by state government in Texas.
Q:
Contributing money to candidate's campaigns is one of the more common means of electioneering.
Q:
Individuals who join groups out of personal involvement are more likely to become more significantly involved in seeking to achieve the goals of the group.
Q:
Individuals who have higher levels of income and education are more likely to be organized than those who have less income and less education.
Q:
Consumer groups are more likely to be organized than producer groups.
Q:
Interest groups and political parties have the same goals.
Q:
Interest groups are private organizations of individuals who have banded together because of a common cause or interest.
Q:
Why do special interests seek to have favorable provisions written into the Texas Constitution rather than into law?
Q:
Trace the process for proposing and adopting an amendment to the Texas Constitution.
Q:
How did Reconstruction in Texas affect the current constitution of Texas?
Q:
What are the four main purposes of a constitution? How does the Texas Constitution compare to the Constitution of the United States on one of these four purposes?
Q:
Which of the following was not a proposal for a new constitution made by Rep. Rob Junell and Sen. David Ratliff in 1997?
A. longer terms of office for both Texas senators and Texas House of Representatives members
B. authority to appoint all of the officers of the executive branch by the governor
C. streamlining the judicial branch, with judges to be appointed by the governor
D. allowing the legislature to convene itself to reconsider vetoes by the governor
Q:
Which of the following factors was most responsible for the failure of the effort to revise the Texas Constitution in 1993?
A. more immediate problems such as the budget shortfall, school finance, and problems with the prison system intervened
B. withdrawal of the proposal by its authors
C. opposition by the governor
D. opposition by the media
Q:
The funding for the campaign against the new constitution in 1975 largely was financed by
A. the Texas Democratic Party
B. the Texas Republican Party
C. special interest groups such as real estate developers, agricultural interests, and oil development interests
D. civil rights activists who were upset with the civil rights provisions of the new constitution
Q:
Which of the following issues helped deadlock the Constitutional Convention of 1974 and prevented the Convention from submitting the Constitution that had been drafted?
A. a battle over a proposed income tax for Texas
B. a fight between business and labor over adding a right-to-work provision to the Texas Constitution
C. a proposal to impose a tax on natural gas production
D. a proposal to increase the pay of Texas Legislators
Q:
A constitutional amendment adopted in 1972 authorized ________ to convene itself as a constitutional convention.
A. the Texas Legislature
B. the Supreme Court
C. the Texas Constitutional Revision Commission
D. the Texas Bar Association
Q:
Which of the following is not a focus for those seeking revision of the Texas Constitution?
A. annual sessions of the Texas legislature
B. a more rational structure for the Texas court system
C. an executive branch modeled on the national executive branch
D. a change in the jury system used by Texas courts
Q:
All of the following statements are true of the Texas Constitution except
A. it has been recently completely revised
B. it has been extensively amended by numerous single amendments
C. it contains a high degree of detail concerning the organization and operation of the state government
D. it divides and isolates governmental powers
Q:
For an amendment to the Texas Constitution to become effective, it must be approved by
A. a majority of members of the US Congressional Delegation from Texas
B. by a majority of those persons eligible to vote in Texas
C. by a majority of those persons who voted on the proposed amendment
D. by a majority of those persons who voted in the election
Q:
Amendments to the Texas Constitution may be proposed by
A. the legislature by a two-thirds vote of each house
B. by the governor of Texas through an executive order
C. by the voter's of the state through a petition signed by a given percentage of the state's voters
D. either the governor or the state's voters
Q:
Which of the following statements concerning the structure of the judicial branch in Texas as established by the Texas Constitution is true?
A. the structure, organization, and jurisdictions of the courts is solely the responsibility of the legislature
B. the structure, organization, and jurisdictions of the courts are spelled out in the Texas Constitution
C. the structure and organization are dictated by federal law
D. the structure and organization are provided for by rules adopted by the Texas Supreme Court
Q:
The Texas Constitution, with regard to the executive branch, provides for the following:
A. an executive in which authority is centralized in the governor's office
B. an executive in which the governor appoints all of the other state-wide office holders
C. a "fragmented" or "disintegrated" executive branch
D. an executive branch in which the top officials are appointed by a committee of the legislature
Q:
Traditionally, the separation of powers principle refers to
A. a division of authority between state and national governments
B. the division of governmental powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
C. the division of legislative responsibilities between a House of Representatives and a Senate
D. the separation of administrative powers and responsibilities among several executive offices
Q:
Regarding the Texas Constitution's Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution, which statement is true?
A. in the event of a conflict between the two documents, the Texas Bill of Rights prevails
B. in the event of a conflict between the two documents, the U.S. Bill of Rights prevails
C. the Texas Bill of Rights has been replaced by the U.S. Bill of Rights
D. the U.S. Bill of Rights has been replaced by the Texas Bill of Rights
Q:
The Texas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution share which of the following?
A. both provide for a single chief executive officer to control the executive branch
B. both specify the salaries of the legislative branch
C. both divide the powers of government between three branches
D. both provide for an elective judges
Q:
Compared to other state constitutions, the Texas Constitution is:
A. much shorter than most
B. of average length
C. much longer and more detailed
D. the longest state constitution in the country
Q:
The farmer's organization which played an important role in the post-reconstruction politics of Texas in the 1870's was known as the _________________.
A. the Knight of Labor
B. Knights of the White Camellia
C. Patrons of Husbandry (the Grange)
D. Friend of the Working Man
Q:
The Constitution of 1869 was characterized by:
A. generous salaries for public officials
B. appointed judges
C. annual sessions of the legislature
D. all of the above
Q:
One of the main principles of Jacksonian democracy was the belief that:
A. judges should be appointed
B. all executive officials should be elected
C. Texas state senators should be elected to life terms
D. that voting should be limited to those with education and wealth
Q:
As a result of Texas's conservative tradition, the Texas Constitution:
A. contains much statutory material which is not found in the national constitution
B. strictly limits the power of the governor
C. imposes numerous restraints on the Texas legislature
D. all of the above are true statements
Q:
Which of the following is not a purpose of a constitution?
A. give legitimacy to the government
B. organize the government
C. select officials
D. grant specific powers to the government
Q:
The failure of the effort to reform the Texas Constitution in 1975 was largely the result of powerful interests who did not wish to risk any change in the Constitution.
Q:
The Texas Constitution contains many "deadwood" sections.
Q:
The Texas Constitution grants broad powers to counties and allows them to organize as they choose.
Q:
The Texas Constitution creates an executive branch which fragments executive authority.
Q:
The Texas Constitution strictly limits the length of time the Texas legislature may meet.
Q:
Like the U.S. Constitution, the Texas Constitution grants broad sweeping powers to the Texas legislature.
Q:
Unlike the U.S. Constitution, the Texas Constitution does not contain a Bill of Rights.
Q:
The Texas Constitution is longer than all but one other state constitution.
Q:
The Constitution of 1869 created a strong centralized government with generous salaries for elected officials, provided for appointed judges, and annual sessions of the Texas legislature.
Q:
One of the key principles of Jacksonian democracy was the expansion of individual participation in government.
Q:
Texas's admission to the Union was delayed for ten years after it achieved independence because of the slavery issue.
Q:
The Texas Constitution differs from the national constitution by granting broad powers to the government with few limitations.
Q:
The Texas Constitution has been amended significantly more times than the U.S. Constitution.
Q:
Texas is currently being governed by the sixth constitution since it achieved independence.
Q:
The Texas constitution is much more restrictive than the national constitution.
Q:
As a result of the conservative political culture of Texas, the Texas Constitution has significant restrictions on the government's ability to act.
Q:
Whenever a state constitution conflicts with the national constitution, the state constitution is supreme.
Q:
The principle of separation of power and checks and balances is found in both the U.S. and state constitutions.
Q:
State constitutions, as compared to the national constitution, tend to be relatively brief and provide a minimum of detail.
Q:
The most important function of a constitution is to establish legitimacy.
Q:
Describe the current demographics of Texas. If current trends continue, what will be the demographic distribution of the population by the year 2040?
Q:
Trace the development of the Texas economy from the beginning of the 20th Century to the 1990s.
Q:
How did the execution of Javier Suarez Medina affect the relationship between Mexico and the United States?
Q:
How did the events preceeding the admission of Texas into the Union in 1845 affect the development of the political culture of Texas?
Q:
How do actions by the federal government affect the way Texas is governed? Cite at least two examples.
Q:
How well does Texas meet the test of a "well-run democracy"? What evidence can you cite to demonstrate how Texas either meets the tests or doesn"t meet the tests?
Q:
Which of the following was not a major factor in the placement of cities in Texas?
A. transportation
B. economic development
C. political action by the state government
D. economic interaction with other regions of the nation
Q:
The population of Texas is primarily located in which region of the state?
A. North Texas
B. East Texas
C. South Texas
D. West Texas
Q:
If current trends continue, the majority of Texans in 2040 will be:
A. Afro American
B. Anglo
C. Asian American
D. Hispanic
Q:
Generally, Afro Americans and Hispanics tend to be politically more _____ than Anglos.
A. conservative
B. moderate
C. liberal
D. liberal on some issues, conservative on others
Q:
The fact that the Hispanic population of Texas is primarily concentrated in the South and West Texas area is the result of:
A. laws which restricted the areas in which Hispanics could live
B. the economic opportunity available to Hispanics
C. initial patterns of immigration
D. economic incentives offered by the local governments
Q:
As one moves from east to west in Texas the amount of rainfall:A. significantly increases at the rate of 5 inches per 100 milesB. remains relatively constantC. decreases at the rate of 5 inches per 100 milesD. it generally depends on the year that the measurement is taken
Q:
The population of Texas, compared with other states, is:
A. growing much slower than the other states
B. growing at about the same rate as the other urban states
C. growing much faster than the population of other states
D. not clear from the census data
Q:
The most rapidly growing segment of the population according to the 2000 U.S. Census is the:
A. Asian American population
B. Anglo population
C. Hispanic population
D. Afro American population
Q:
The most recent census of Texas's population shows that the largest segment of the population is:
A. the Hispanic population of Texas
B. the Asian American population
C. the Anglo population
D. the Afro American population
Q:
Compared to most of the other urban states, the tax structure of Texas is:
A. relatively progressive
B. neither progressive nor regressive
C. relatively regressive
D. among the most regressive in the nation
Q:
Texas's rank among the states on expenditures for such things as spending on arts and welfare places it in the:
A. top one-quarter of the states
B. the second quartile (one-quarter)
C. the third quartile
D. the bottom quartile
Q:
A "favorable business climate" is identified in the textbook as a state which does the following?
A. establishes strict ecological standards for companies doing business in Texas
B. insists on worker protections such as minimum wage and protections for labor organization
C. is identified with low taxes, weak labor unions, and little regulation by government
D. is identified with a state with a corporate income tax
Q:
Which of the following have significantly altered the racist Old South political culture in Texas?
A. time
B. immigration from Northern states
C. federal governmental activity
D. all of the above
Q:
The philosophy of pseudo laissez-faire conservatism endorses all of the following except:
A. a belief that minimizes the role of government in establishing social equality
B. a belief that minimizes the role of government in establishing economic equality
C. a belief that limits governmental assistance to business
D. a belief that those who are at the bottom of the economic and social ladder are unworthy
Q:
The political culture of a society is defined by
A. the history of the dominant group (largely Anglo)
B. the shared beliefs, values, and habits of the dominant group in a society
C. the laws and constitution adopted by the dominant group
D. the political philosophy adopted by the dominant group
Q:
The principle purpose of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) was to:
A. increase commerce between the United States and Latin America
B. increase the political involvement of Latin American nations
C. improve transportation between the U.S. and Mexico
D. create a mechanism to solve the political rights of illegal immigrants in the U.S.
Q:
The federal government makes a significant impact on Texas in which of the following ways?
A. nearly one-third of the state's revenues come from the federal government
B. the federal courts oversee many of the actions of state government
C. Congress passes laws which mandate actions by state government
D. all of the above are significant