Question 1

Historically, Texans rank in the ________ in terms of national voter participation.

Accepted Answer

A)  bottom third 
B)  top third 
C)  bottom half 
D)  top half 
E)  bottom quarter 
A)  bottom third 
B)  top third 
C)  bottom half 
D)  top half 
E)  bottom quarter

Question 2

The Motor Voter Act of 1993

Accepted Answer

A)  allows states to offer voters "drive-through" voting booths. 
B)  allows citizens to register to vote while applying for a driver's license. 
C)  restricts one's right to vote because of unpaid traffic tickets. 
D)  was declared unconstitutional by the Texas Supreme Court. 
E)  allows only citizens with valid Texas driver's licenses to register to vote. 
A)  allows states to offer voters "drive-through" voting booths. 
B)  allows citizens to register to vote while applying for a driver's license. 
C)  restricts one's right to vote because of unpaid traffic tickets. 
D)  was declared unconstitutional by the Texas Supreme Court. 
E)  allows only citizens with valid Texas driver's licenses to register to vote.

Question 3

One reason for low levels of voter turnout in Texas is the low level of educational attainment in the state.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

In Texas, special elections are held for all of the following reasons EXCEPT to

Accepted Answer

A)  give approval to borrow money. 
B)  ratify amendments to the Texas Constitution. 
C)  fill vacancies in office. 
D)  allow government agencies to undertake long-term debt. 
E)  impeach a corrupt politician. 
A)  give approval to borrow money. 
B)  ratify amendments to the Texas Constitution. 
C)  fill vacancies in office. 
D)  allow government agencies to undertake long-term debt. 
E)  impeach a corrupt politician.

Question 5

In ________ the U.S. Supreme court held that the state executive committees were acting as agents of the state and were discriminating in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Accepted Answer

A)  Nixon v. Condon 
B)  Grovey v. Townsend 
C)  Newberry v. United States 
D)  Smith v. Allwright 
E)  Terry v. Adams 
A)  Nixon v. Condon 
B)  Grovey v. Townsend 
C)  Newberry v. United States 
D)  Smith v. Allwright 
E)  Terry v. Adams

Question 6

Which of the following statements is NOT a possible explanation for why Texas currently has low voter turnout?

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas has so many elections that voters are often overwhelmed with elections and candidates. 
B)  The Texas political culture has been one in which elites have discouraged voting. 
C)  The average age of Texans is younger than the national average, and younger voters are less likely to vote. 
D)  The residency requirement for new voters is six months. 
E)  Texas has weak political parties. 
A)  Texas has so many elections that voters are often overwhelmed with elections and candidates. 
B)  The Texas political culture has been one in which elites have discouraged voting. 
C)  The average age of Texans is younger than the national average, and younger voters are less likely to vote. 
D)  The residency requirement for new voters is six months. 
E)  Texas has weak political parties.

Question 7

The most costly item for most political campaigns is

Accepted Answer

A)  travel. 
B)  security. 
C)  fund-raising. 
D)  media advertising. 
E)  food. 
A)  travel. 
B)  security. 
C)  fund-raising. 
D)  media advertising. 
E)  food.

Question 8

Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn ran for governor as ________ in 2006.

Accepted Answer

A)  Republicans 
B)  Democrats 
C)  Tea Party candidates 
D)  Reform Party candidates 
E)  independents 
A)  Republicans 
B)  Democrats 
C)  Tea Party candidates 
D)  Reform Party candidates 
E)  independents

Question 9

Wendy Davis had an uphill battle to win the Texas governor's race because

Accepted Answer

A)  she appealed to suburban and urban liberal voters. 
B)  she won the Latino vote in the Rio Grande Valley. 
C)  her personal story was riddled with inconsistencies. 
D)  she won the pro-choice Latino votes. 
E)  she had the endorsement of Reynaldo Madrigal. 
A)  she appealed to suburban and urban liberal voters. 
B)  she won the Latino vote in the Rio Grande Valley. 
C)  her personal story was riddled with inconsistencies. 
D)  she won the pro-choice Latino votes. 
E)  she had the endorsement of Reynaldo Madrigal.

Question 10

Some blame the relatively low voter turnout for Texas elections on the frequency of elections and the large number of candidates.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

For an independent candidate to get on the ballot in Texas, which requirement must they meet?

Accepted Answer

A)  He or she must obtain signatures on a petition from registered voters. The signatures must equal 30 percent of the total votes in the last governor's race. 
B)  He or she must gain petition signatures from registered voters who did not previously participate in any political party primary election. 
C)  He or she must begin collecting signatures before the major party primaries are held. 
D)  They must convince voters who have signed other candidate's petitions to switch to their petition. 
E)  He or she must hold a party convention and adopt a party platform. 
A)  He or she must obtain signatures on a petition from registered voters. The signatures must equal 30 percent of the total votes in the last governor's race. 
B)  He or she must gain petition signatures from registered voters who did not previously participate in any political party primary election. 
C)  He or she must begin collecting signatures before the major party primaries are held. 
D)  They must convince voters who have signed other candidate's petitions to switch to their petition. 
E)  He or she must hold a party convention and adopt a party platform.

Question 12

The Texas Constitution and election laws call the Texas system a closed primary, because one must declare one's party affiliation before voting.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Preclearance is required by the

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas Constitution. 
B)  Voting Rights Act of 1965. 
C)  U.S. Constitution. 
D)  U.S. Supreme Court, as in the case of Smith v. Allwright. 
E)  Texas legislature. 
A)  Texas Constitution. 
B)  Voting Rights Act of 1965. 
C)  U.S. Constitution. 
D)  U.S. Supreme Court, as in the case of Smith v. Allwright. 
E)  Texas legislature.

Question 14

What is the purpose of a primary election?

Accepted Answer

A)  to select a party's candidate for the general election 
B)  to select a party's delegates for the state convention 
C)  to select precinct chairs throughout the state 
D)  to select a party's delegates for the precinct convention 
E)  to elect candidates directly to office 
A)  to select a party's candidate for the general election 
B)  to select a party's delegates for the state convention 
C)  to select precinct chairs throughout the state 
D)  to select a party's delegates for the precinct convention 
E)  to elect candidates directly to office

Question 15

Discuss how political parties organize elections and the electorate in Texas.

Accepted Answer

Political parties in Texas organize elec

Question 16

In Texas elections, the ________ play(s) the largest role in running campaigns.

Accepted Answer

A)  national party 
B)  state party 
C)  candidates 
D)  media 
E)  local party 
A)  national party 
B)  state party 
C)  candidates 
D)  media 
E)  local party

Question 17

In Texas, ________ is/are responsible for redistricting.

Accepted Answer

A)  the governor 
B)  the legislature 
C)  the courts 
D)  county courts at law 
E)  precinct captains 
A)  the governor 
B)  the legislature 
C)  the courts 
D)  county courts at law 
E)  precinct captains

Question 18

Which of the following was NOT regularly used in Texas as a method of disenfranchising many minorities before the 1960s?

Accepted Answer

A)  the white primary 
B)  early registration 
C)  poll taxes 
D)  the Jaybird primary 
E)  the requirement of a federal citizenship test 
A)  the white primary 
B)  early registration 
C)  poll taxes 
D)  the Jaybird primary 
E)  the requirement of a federal citizenship test

Question 19

The poll tax was made illegal in federal elections in ________ but remained legal in state elections in Texas until ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  1966; 1964 
B)  1902; 1966 
C)  1902; 1964 
D)  1964; 1966 
E)  1964; 1971 
A)  1966; 1964 
B)  1902; 1966 
C)  1902; 1964 
D)  1964; 1966 
E)  1964; 1971

Historically, Texans rank in the ________ in terms of national voter participation.

The Motor Voter Act of 1993

One reason for low levels of voter turnout in Texas is the low level of educational attainment in the state.

In Texas, special elections are held for all of the following reasons EXCEPT to

In ________ the U.S. Supreme court held that the state executive committees were acting as agents of the state and were discriminating in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Which of the following statements is NOT a possible explanation for why Texas currently has low voter turnout?

The most costly item for most political campaigns is

Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn ran for governor as ________ in 2006.

Wendy Davis had an uphill battle to win the Texas governor's race because

Some blame the relatively low voter turnout for Texas elections on the frequency of elections and the large number of candidates.

For an independent candidate to get on the ballot in Texas, which requirement must they meet?

The Texas Constitution and election laws call the Texas system a closed primary, because one must declare one's party affiliation before voting.

Preclearance is required by the

What is the purpose of a primary election?

Discuss how political parties organize elections and the electorate in Texas.

In Texas elections, the ________ play(s) the largest role in running campaigns.

In Texas, ________ is/are responsible for redistricting.

Which of the following was NOT regularly used in Texas as a method of disenfranchising many minorities before the 1960s?

The poll tax was made illegal in federal elections in but remained legal in state elections in Texas until .

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Local Government in Texas

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Crime and Corrections Policy in Texas

Filters

Exam 5: Elections in Texas

Historically, Texans rank in the ________ in terms of national voter participation.

The Motor Voter Act of 1993

One reason for low levels of voter turnout in Texas is the low level of educational attainment in the state.

In Texas, special elections are held for all of the following reasons EXCEPT to

In ________ the U.S. Supreme court held that the state executive committees were acting as agents of the state and were discriminating in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Which of the following statements is NOT a possible explanation for why Texas currently has low voter turnout?

The most costly item for most political campaigns is

Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn ran for governor as ________ in 2006.

Wendy Davis had an uphill battle to win the Texas governor's race because

Some blame the relatively low voter turnout for Texas elections on the frequency of elections and the large number of candidates.

For an independent candidate to get on the ballot in Texas, which requirement must they meet?

The Texas Constitution and election laws call the Texas system a closed primary, because one must declare one's party affiliation before voting.

Preclearance is required by the

What is the purpose of a primary election?

Discuss how political parties organize elections and the electorate in Texas.

In Texas elections, the ________ play(s) the largest role in running campaigns.

In Texas, ________ is/are responsible for redistricting.

Which of the following was NOT regularly used in Texas as a method of disenfranchising many minorities before the 1960s?

The poll tax was made illegal in federal elections in ________ but remained legal in state elections in Texas until ________.

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Local Government in Texas

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Crime and Corrections Policy in Texas

Filters

The poll tax was made illegal in federal elections in but remained legal in state elections in Texas until .