Question 1

An estimated ________ was spent on paid political TV advertising during the 2008 campaign cycle.

Accepted Answer

A)  $1 million 
B)  $300 million 
C)  $1 billion 
D)  $1.5 billion 
E)  $2 billion 
A)  $1 million 
B)  $300 million 
C)  $1 billion 
D)  $1.5 billion 
E)  $2 billion E

Question 2

What characterizes the reporting done by independent bloggers?

Accepted Answer

A)  They do little original reporting and, more often than not, include their own partisan or personal spin. 
B)  The reporting by bloggers of an issue typically precedes that of major news outlets. 
C)  As an alternative to major news outlets, bloggers rarely rely on them as sources of information. 
D)  The reporting by them tends to be the most factual and objective out of the various news sources. 
E)  Though they tend to be partisan, they are generally regarded as excellent for in-depth investigations. 
A)  They do little original reporting and, more often than not, include their own partisan or personal spin. 
B)  The reporting by bloggers of an issue typically precedes that of major news outlets. 
C)  As an alternative to major news outlets, bloggers rarely rely on them as sources of information. 
D)  The reporting by them tends to be the most factual and objective out of the various news sources. 
E)  Though they tend to be partisan, they are generally regarded as excellent for in-depth investigations. A

Question 3

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund ________, which forced the media to take notice of the issue.

Accepted Answer

A)  won a state court judgment declaring the school finance system unconstitutional 
B)  protested daily on the steps of the state capital over discriminatory hiring procedures 
C)  brought suit to the U.S. Supreme Court on overcrowding in Texas state prisons 
D)  staged a two-week strike with Mexican faculty at universities over unfair treatment 
E)  marched on Austin in response to the governments lack of concern over immigration 
A)  won a state court judgment declaring the school finance system unconstitutional 
B)  protested daily on the steps of the state capital over discriminatory hiring procedures 
C)  brought suit to the U.S. Supreme Court on overcrowding in Texas state prisons 
D)  staged a two-week strike with Mexican faculty at universities over unfair treatment 
E)  marched on Austin in response to the governments lack of concern over immigration A

Question 4

Television has been criticized for putting ________, a problem that candidates who are more interested in winning rather than reforming the system are willingly perpetuating.

Accepted Answer

A)  state over nation 
B)  coverage over profits 
C)  individual over party 
D)  speech over sound bite 
E)  style over substance 
A)  state over nation 
B)  coverage over profits 
C)  individual over party 
D)  speech over sound bite 
E)  style over substance

Question 5

The ________ is a pattern advanced by Anthony Downs that describes the stages of increasing and waning news coverage and public interest in an issue.

Accepted Answer

A)  attention-deficit cycle 
B)  issue-attention cycle 
C)  issue-development cycle 
D)  action-reaction cycle 
E)  issue-reaction cycle 
A)  attention-deficit cycle 
B)  issue-attention cycle 
C)  issue-development cycle 
D)  action-reaction cycle 
E)  issue-reaction cycle

Question 6

The media have become a major institution linking governments to

Accepted Answer

A)  their political parties. 
B)  their fellow mass media members. 
C)  their constituents. 
D)  the Internet. 
E)  each other. 
A)  their political parties. 
B)  their fellow mass media members. 
C)  their constituents. 
D)  the Internet. 
E)  each other.

Question 7

Most of the information that people have about their government, particularly on the state and federal levels, comes directly or indirectly through

Accepted Answer

A)  legislative newsletters. 
B)  official government press releases. 
C)  the mass media. 
D)  informal discussion groups. 
E)  political advertising. 
A)  legislative newsletters. 
B)  official government press releases. 
C)  the mass media. 
D)  informal discussion groups. 
E)  political advertising.

Question 8

Explain the open meetings and public information laws.Explain how these laws help the media do their jobs.

Accepted Answer

Open meetings and public information law

Question 9

The Internet blogs covering and commenting on state government and politics in recent years are more objective than other media.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

In the 2002 governor's race, Democrat Tony Sanchez defeated Republican Rick Perry.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

In the 2002 governor's race, Tony Sanchez spent ________ of his own money.

Accepted Answer

A)  $33 million 
B)  $46 million 
C)  $59 million 
D)  $75 million 
E)  $98 million 
A)  $33 million 
B)  $46 million 
C)  $59 million 
D)  $75 million 
E)  $98 million

Question 12

The least consistent readers and viewers of government and political news are the business community and the political leaders who actively influence and work on policy formation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Fact checking political advertising by media outlets is supposed to alert voters to campaign distortions,

Accepted Answer

A)  but most people already know the facts so the costly analysis is unnecessary. 
B)  so the political process can run more smoothly. 
C)  but most people polled said that they trusted political advertising more than the media. 
D)  but it is unnecessary because most political advertising is very truthful. 
E)  as well as abuses, so candidates can be brought up on criminal charges. 
A)  but most people already know the facts so the costly analysis is unnecessary. 
B)  so the political process can run more smoothly. 
C)  but most people polled said that they trusted political advertising more than the media. 
D)  but it is unnecessary because most political advertising is very truthful. 
E)  as well as abuses, so candidates can be brought up on criminal charges.

Question 14

According to the text, voters' ignorance of government and the issues plays right into the hands of

Accepted Answer

A)  the Capitol press corps. 
B)  the military. 
C)  special interests. 
D)  the political parties. 
E)  political candidates. 
A)  the Capitol press corps. 
B)  the military. 
C)  special interests. 
D)  the political parties. 
E)  political candidates.

Question 15

The intent of the Open Meetings and Public Information Acts is to insure that

Accepted Answer

A)  the public's business is conducted in public. 
B)  all records are made available to the public. 
C)  the public's business can be conducted in private. 
D)  the public is allowed to be present when two or more legislators meet for any reason. 
E)  the public can participate in all governmental meetings. 
A)  the public's business is conducted in public. 
B)  all records are made available to the public. 
C)  the public's business can be conducted in private. 
D)  the public is allowed to be present when two or more legislators meet for any reason. 
E)  the public can participate in all governmental meetings.

Question 16

Some scholars and media experts believe one of the major contributions of the media to politics is

Accepted Answer

A)  agenda setting. 
B)  information processing. 
C)  policy clarification. 
D)  sound bites. 
E)  information distribution. 
A)  agenda setting. 
B)  information processing. 
C)  policy clarification. 
D)  sound bites. 
E)  information distribution.

Question 17

The media's role in agenda setting or agenda building is minimized by

Accepted Answer

A)  an excited public. 
B)  an apathetic press. 
C)  indifferent public officials. 
D)  a politicized press. 
E)  an indifferent judge. 
A)  an excited public. 
B)  an apathetic press. 
C)  indifferent public officials. 
D)  a politicized press. 
E)  an indifferent judge.

Question 18

The only major metropolitan newspaper in Texas still owned by a Texas-based corporation is the

Accepted Answer

A)  Houston Chronicle. 
B)  Dallas Times Herald. 
C)  San Antonio Light. 
D)  Dallas Morning News. 
E)  San Antonio Express-News. 
A)  Houston Chronicle. 
B)  Dallas Times Herald. 
C)  San Antonio Light. 
D)  Dallas Morning News. 
E)  San Antonio Express-News.

Question 19

Critics of the media say that they treat campaigns like horse races instead of looking in depth at the policy issues at stake.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Why have legislators often attempted to place a sales tax on advertising?

Accepted Answer

A)  It could raise millions for education, human services, and other programs. 
B)  They seek to reduce negative coverage of the legislature by reducing the profit made by the media. 
C)  Legislators who are scandal plagued seek to limit their exposure in the media. 
D)  By placing a sales tax on advertising, the legislature hopes to stop negative ads. 
E)  Corporations that are highly taxed have lobbied for this as a way to bring equality to the system. 
A)  It could raise millions for education, human services, and other programs. 
B)  They seek to reduce negative coverage of the legislature by reducing the profit made by the media. 
C)  Legislators who are scandal plagued seek to limit their exposure in the media. 
D)  By placing a sales tax on advertising, the legislature hopes to stop negative ads. 
E)  Corporations that are highly taxed have lobbied for this as a way to bring equality to the system.

An estimated ________ was spent on paid political TV advertising during the 2008 campaign cycle.

What characterizes the reporting done by independent bloggers?

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund ________, which forced the media to take notice of the issue.

Television has been criticized for putting ________, a problem that candidates who are more interested in winning rather than reforming the system are willingly perpetuating.

The ________ is a pattern advanced by Anthony Downs that describes the stages of increasing and waning news coverage and public interest in an issue.

The media have become a major institution linking governments to

Most of the information that people have about their government, particularly on the state and federal levels, comes directly or indirectly through

Explain the open meetings and public information laws.Explain how these laws help the media do their jobs.

The Internet blogs covering and commenting on state government and politics in recent years are more objective than other media.

In the 2002 governor's race, Democrat Tony Sanchez defeated Republican Rick Perry.

In the 2002 governor's race, Tony Sanchez spent ________ of his own money.

The least consistent readers and viewers of government and political news are the business community and the political leaders who actively influence and work on policy formation.

Fact checking political advertising by media outlets is supposed to alert voters to campaign distortions,

According to the text, voters' ignorance of government and the issues plays right into the hands of

The intent of the Open Meetings and Public Information Acts is to insure that

Some scholars and media experts believe one of the major contributions of the media to politics is

The media's role in agenda setting or agenda building is minimized by

The only major metropolitan newspaper in Texas still owned by a Texas-based corporation is the

Critics of the media say that they treat campaigns like horse races instead of looking in depth at the policy issues at stake.

Why have legislators often attempted to place a sales tax on advertising?

The social and economic milieu of texas politics

The texas constitution

Intergovernmental relationships

Interest groups and political power in texas

The party system in

Elections, campaigns, and political behavior

The texas legislature

The texas executive

The bureaucracy and policy implementation

The judicial system in texas

Local government in texas: cities, towns, counties, and special districts

Contemporary public policy issues in texas

Filters

Exam 5: The mass media in texas politics

An estimated ________ was spent on paid political TV advertising during the 2008 campaign cycle.

What characterizes the reporting done by independent bloggers?

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund ________, which forced the media to take notice of the issue.

Television has been criticized for putting ________, a problem that candidates who are more interested in winning rather than reforming the system are willingly perpetuating.

The ________ is a pattern advanced by Anthony Downs that describes the stages of increasing and waning news coverage and public interest in an issue.

The media have become a major institution linking governments to

Most of the information that people have about their government, particularly on the state and federal levels, comes directly or indirectly through

Explain the open meetings and public information laws.Explain how these laws help the media do their jobs.

The Internet blogs covering and commenting on state government and politics in recent years are more objective than other media.

In the 2002 governor's race, Democrat Tony Sanchez defeated Republican Rick Perry.

In the 2002 governor's race, Tony Sanchez spent ________ of his own money.

The least consistent readers and viewers of government and political news are the business community and the political leaders who actively influence and work on policy formation.

Fact checking political advertising by media outlets is supposed to alert voters to campaign distortions,

According to the text, voters' ignorance of government and the issues plays right into the hands of

The intent of the Open Meetings and Public Information Acts is to insure that

Some scholars and media experts believe one of the major contributions of the media to politics is

The media's role in agenda setting or agenda building is minimized by

The only major metropolitan newspaper in Texas still owned by a Texas-based corporation is the

Critics of the media say that they treat campaigns like horse races instead of looking in depth at the policy issues at stake.

Why have legislators often attempted to place a sales tax on advertising?

The social and economic milieu of texas politics

The texas constitution

Intergovernmental relationships

Interest groups and political power in texas

The party system in

Elections, campaigns, and political behavior

The texas legislature

The texas executive

The bureaucracy and policy implementation

The judicial system in texas

Local government in texas: cities, towns, counties, and special districts

Contemporary public policy issues in texas

Filters