Question 1

In March 2012, a three-judge federal panel ordered a _______ primary election date for Texas.

Accepted Answer

A)  January 
B)  March 
C)  May 
D)  November

Question 2

Which geographic area of Texas is not a Republican stronghold?

Accepted Answer

A)  West Texas 
B)  The suburbs of Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin 
C)  Hispanic counties of South Texas 
D)  Texas Panhandle and Texas South Plains

Question 3

The closest presidential election of modern times was in

Accepted Answer

A)  1988, when Republican George H.W. Bush defeated Democrat Michael Dukakis by four electoral votes. 
B)  1992, when Democrat Bill Clinton defeated Republican George H.W. Bush and Independent Ross Perot by four electoral votes. 
C)  2012, when Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican Mitt Romney by four electoral votes. 
D)  2000, when Republican George W. Bush defeated Democrat Al Gore by four electoral votes.

Question 4

Which of the following happens at the party state convention during presidential election years only?

Accepted Answer

A)  Adoption of state party platform 
B)  Selection of potential presidential electors 
C)  Selection of members of the state executive committee 
D)  Certification to secretary of state the names of party members nominated to run for office

Question 5

District conventions are held in

Accepted Answer

A)  unpopulated areas of the state like Maverick, Kendall, and Tarrant counties. 
B)  sparsely populated area of the state like Harris, Zapata, and Wilson counties. 
C)  moderately populated areas of the state like Lavaca, Harris, and Travis counties. 
D)  highly populated areas of the state like Bexar, Harris, and Dallas counties.

Question 6

As mandated by Texas state law, each party's state executive committee must

Accepted Answer

A)  be comprised equally of men and women. 
B)  include members of the state legislature. 
C)  provide proportional representation for various demographic groups. 
D)  receive a majority vote of the primary election voters.

Question 7

In which of the following decades did the Republican Party in Texas begin to win almost all of the statewide offices it challenged?

Accepted Answer

A)  1950s 
B)  1970s 
C)  1990s 
D)  2000s

Question 8

A conservative would most likely support which of the following policies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Changing the law to improve worker pay and benefits 
B)  Tighter governmental regulation of pollution from factories 
C)  Legal protections against racial and gender discrimination 
D)  A ban on same-sex marriages

Question 9

The main role of a state party's chair is to be the party's

Accepted Answer

A)  key strategist and key spokesperson. 
B)  candidate for governor. 
C)  chief attorney in civil and criminal cases. 
D)  social event coordinator.

Question 10

When a person votes for only candidates from one party, they are engaging in

Accepted Answer

A)  straight-ticket voting. 
B)  ticket-splitting. 
C)  retrospective voting. 
D)  All of these choices are true.

Question 11

Which statement best describes the Green Party?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a 21st century throwback to the Greenbacks of the 19th century. 
B)  It advocates returning to the gold standard as a backing for American currency. 
C)  It advocates environmental protection and government reform policies. 
D)  It advocates reduced governmental regulation of corporations and political campaigns.

Question 12

After Reconstruction, which political party dominated in Texas for more than 100 years?

Accepted Answer

A)  Whig 
B)  Democratic 
C)  Republican 
D)  Libertarian

Question 13

Precinct conventions in Texas are usually

Accepted Answer

A)  heavily attended. 
B)  lightly or sparsely attended. 
C)  held at times other than after the polls close. 
D)  held in odd-numbered years.

Question 14

In the Texas general election of 2002, which trio was dubbed "the dream team" because of their expected appeal to Latino, African American, and Anglo voters?

Accepted Answer

A)  Richards, Bush, and Cruz 
B)  Sanchez, Kirk, and Sharp 
C)  Friedman, Strayhorn, and Perry 
D)  Hutchison, Perry, and Medina

Question 15

Which of the following geographic areas is not a Democratic stronghold in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  South Texas 
B)  El Paso 
C)  The Golden Triangle 
D)  German Hill Country

Question 16

Which term would best describe a politician that is generally opposed to government-managed or government-subsidized programs?

Accepted Answer

A)  Socialist 
B)  Conservative 
C)  Liberal 
D)  Communist

Question 17

Beginning in the late 1940s, a majority of conservative Democrats in Texas began to support the

Accepted Answer

A)  state Republican candidates. 
B)  national Republican candidates. 
C)  state Socialist-Labor candidates. 
D)  national Libertarian candidates.

Question 18

Which Texas governor, elected in 1994, was successful as the Republican Party's candidate for President in 2000?

Accepted Answer

A)  George W. Bush 
B)  Ann Richards 
C)  John Tower 
D)  Rick Perry

Question 19

Liberals would most likely support which of the following policies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Restricting the ability of a woman to obtain an abortion or contraception 
B)  Prohibiting homosexuals from holding public employment 
C)  laws protecting a woman's right to equal pay for equal work 
D)  Reducing the progressivism of the national income tax

Exam 4: Political Parties