Take Test: Final Exam (Exam Three)
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QUESTION 1
1. Which third party emphasizes the importance of social justice and ecological sustainability?
Reform Party
Libertarian Party
Green Party
Natural Law Party
QUESTION 2
3 points
1. Political parties in the United States
are very state-oriented and act mostly independently.
only work to get state-level positions filled.
are strong and unified nationally.
are weak but unified nationally.
3 points
QUESTION 3
1. People who only become involved in politics when they think the issue has a direct effect on
them are considered
parochial participants.
voting specialists.
communalists.
campaigners.
3 points
QUESTION 4
1. The state party chair is selected by
the state's top ranking office holder.
mail-in ballots from all precinct chairs.
election at the state convention.
the national party chair.
3 points
QUESTION 5
1. After the election of "permanent" officers, what is the most important function of the precinct
convention?
selection of delegates to the county convention
selection of candidates for local offices
nominating local delegates to the Electoral College
passage of an issues platform
3 points
QUESTION 6
1. Most of the money used in political campaigns comes from
federal matching funds.
political party war chests.
political action committees.
individual contributions.
QUESTION 7
3 points
1. The largest category of interest groups in the state is the
professional association.
membership organization.
trade association.
nonmembership organization.
3 points
QUESTION 8
1. As an interest group, which of the following is a strength of the Texas Municipal League?
strong organization and leadership
large size
narrow geographic focus
number of groups
3 points
QUESTION 9
1. Texas is sometimes considered a semi-open primary state because
voters must pick from only one party's candidates when attending a primary.
voters can switch parties between offices on the primary ballot.
all candidates from both parties appear on the same ballot.
voters cannot cross party lines after having declared a party at the primary.
QUESTION 10
3 points
1. Can a Texas voter who voted in the primary election of one party vote in the runoff primary of
the other party?
no
no, unless it was a blanket primary
yes
yes, if it is an open primary
3 points
QUESTION 11
1. Primaries and caucuses differ in that
caucuses require more grassroots organization.
acitizen can participate in both parties’ caucuses.
caucuses generally have higher turnout.
parties get to select who participates in a caucus.
3 points
QUESTION 12
1. What is the “Australian” ballot?
publically cast votes
color-coded ballots for each party
privately cast votes on identical ballots
atwo-stage voting system
3 points
QUESTION 13
1. On what day do Texans vote for who will represent them in the United States Congress?
the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of all odd-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 in November of all even-numbered years
3 points
QUESTION 14
1. Voter turnout rates in Texas are
below the national average but still higher than most other states' rates.
below the national average and lower than most other states' rates.
about the same as the national average and about equal to most other states' rates.
above the national average and higher than most other states' rates.
3 points
QUESTION 15
1. The goal of ________ is to create a favorable public image for the group while moving public
opinion on a specific issue.
positive media coverage
public relations activities
mass mailings
a focus group
3 points
QUESTION 16
1. What is the lowest level of the permanent party organization in Texas?
district chair
ward chair
county chair
precinct chair
3 points
QUESTION 17
1. What is the voter participation measure commonly used because it is simpleto calculate and
easily available to state elections divisions?
percentage of voting-age U.S. citizen population
percentage of registered voters
percentage of voting-eligible population
percentage of voting-age population
QUESTION 18
3 points
1. The National Organization for Women (NOW), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the
National Right to Life Committee are all examples of which interest group type?
racial and ethnic interest
public interest
political interest
religious interest
3 points
QUESTION 19
1. ________is the law in Texas that forbids candidates defeated in the primary election from filing
to run as independents in the general election.
The "can't lose twice" law
Double jeopardy
The "sore loser" law
The “once bitten, twice shy” law
3 points
QUESTION 20
1. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is an example of
apublic interest group.
anonmembership organization.
agovernment organization.
atrade association.
3 points
QUESTION 21
1. The introduction of new technologies has led to a shift from
professional campaign tactics to amateur campaign tactics.
capital-intensive campaigns to labor-intensive campaigns.
party-centered politics to candidate-centered politics.
big-tent parties to niche political movements.
3 points
QUESTION 22
1. Under current Texas lobbying rules, an individual who crosses either the “compensation and
reimbursement threshold” or the “expenditure threshold” while engaged in lobbying efforts
will be banned from further lobbying efforts for the period of two years.
All of these answers are correct.
is guilty of influence peddling.
must register as a lobbyist with the Texas Ethics Commission.
3 points
QUESTION 23
1. The state of Texas's history of restricting access to voting is very much in keeping with its
traditionalistic political culture.
states' rights political culture.
individualistic political culture.
moralistic political culture.
3 points
QUESTION 24
1. Ballot form in Texas is decided upon by
voters.
the state election commission.
the Federal Election Commission.
each county.
3 points
QUESTION 25
1. Interest groups within a state tend to be less powerful when
the economy is dominated by a few industries.
the legislature is professional.
political parties are weak.
government structure is fragmented.
QUESTION 26
3 points
1. What is the proper time sequence of the following three political movements/parties, from
earliest to latest?
Populist Party, Progressive movement, Greenback Party
Greenback Party, Populist Party, Progressive movement
Populist Party, Greenback Party, Progressive movement
Progressive movement, Populist Party, Greenback Party
QUESTION 27
3 points
1. Given your understanding of voter turnout in Texas, whichof the following election scenarious do
you suspect would see the lowest turnout?
an open seat with a Democrat and Republican vying for the seat in the respective primaries
an incumbent Democrat state legislator running unopposed in the primary
two new Republicans running for a vacated state legislator seat in a primary
an incumbent Republican state legislator being in the primary
3 points
QUESTION 28
1. The process in which policy is created through the combined efforts of interest groups, a state
agency, and a legislative committee is called
"strange bedfellows."
the "Iron Triangle."
capture.
entrapment.
3 points
QUESTION 29
1. An individual who is an active voter but avoids the combat and controversy of partisan campaigns
is which type of political activist?
voting specialist
communalist
parochial participant
campaigner
3 points
QUESTION 30
1. The process of electioneering begins with
raising money for campaign costs.
focus groups.
candidate recruitment.
interest polling.
3 points
QUESTION 31
1. Imagine you are a die-hard member of party A, but you 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
open primary system
None of these answers are correct.
semi-closed primary system
3 points
QUESTION 32
1. If the post office in Texas is unable to deliver a voter registration card, it will be returned to the
voter registrar, and
the county sheriff will be notified to investigate possible voter fraud.
the voter will need to re-register in order to vote in future elections.
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.
3 points
QUESTION 33
1. Advocates say the ________ encourages party identification and loyalty.
open primary system
blanket primary system
closed primary system
semi-closed primary system
3 points
QUESTION 34
1. Texas has which of the following types of primary systems?
an open primary system that could also be considered a semi-open primary system
an open primary system
closed primary system
a closed primary system that could also be considered a semi-closed primary system
3 points
QUESTION 35
1. Communication with the general public that attempts to influence legislationby expressing a view
about that legislation and urging the public to act is known as
volunteer lobbying.
electioneering.
citizen lobbying.
grassroots lobbying.
3 points
QUESTION 36
1. The National Voter Registration Act is also known as the
CARS Act.
Vehicles and Votes Act.
Rapid Registration Act.
Motor Voter Act.
3 points
QUESTION 37
1. Today the regulation of campaign finances in Texas is limited to the requirement that all
candidates and PACs file reports with the
Texas secretary of state.
Texas State Ethics Commission.
U.S. Department of Justice.
Texas Elections Board.
3 points
QUESTION 38
1. The Texas presidential primaries are held in which month?
May
April
March
February
QUESTION 39
3 points
1. A Southwest Airlines employee whose job duties include lobbying is an example of
aprofessional lobbyist.
agovernmental lobbyist.
an in-house lobbyist.
acitizen lobbyist.
3 points
QUESTION 40
1. Third parties have a difficult time winning for all of the following reasons EXCEPT that
representatives run in single-member districts.
general election candidates need a majority to win.
it is more difficult for athird party candidate to get on the ballot.
most Texans identify with one of the two major parties.
QUESTION 41
3 points
1. In Texas, you cannot vote if
you do not pay the poll tax.
you are in prison for committing a felony.
you have not been a resident of the state for at least 5 years.
you have not completed your annual registration.
3 points
QUESTION 42
1. In Texas, to run as an independent for statewide office, a candidate must file a petition with a
number of signatures equal to ________ of the votes cast for governor in the past election.
1 percent
19 percent
5 percent
10 percent
3 points
QUESTION 43
1. The “Australian” ballot and primaries are examples of reforms introduced in order to
encourage more women to run for office.
increase voter turnout.
reduce the influence of large party machines.
limit donations from PACs.
3 points
QUESTION 44
1. A major cause of the shift from Democratic to Republican dominance in Texas was
widespread opposition to President Eisenhower.
the rise of straight-ticket voting.
an influx of immigrants from Mexico.
the Republican Party becoming the more conservative party.
3 points
QUESTION 45
1. The style of ballot form in which candidates are listed by office with party affiliation listed by their
name is known as the
straight party ticket.
office block format.
party column format.
party line format.
3 points
QUESTION 46
1. The situation in which a state agency falls under the heavy influence of its constituency interest
groups is called
capture.
astroturf.
an Iron Triangle.
rent seeking.
3 points
QUESTION 47
1. The primary system that allows voters to register or change their party registration on election
day is known as a(n)
blanket primary system.
open primary system.
semi-closed primary system.
closed primary system.
3 points
QUESTION 48
1. Ballot eligibility requirements for candidates are set by
tradition.
the parties.
the states.
federal law.
3 points
QUESTION 49
1. To maintain ballot status in Texas, a third party must garner at least________ of the vote in any
of the five previous statewide elections.
1.5 percent
2.0 percent
0.5 percent
5.0 percent
3 points
QUESTION 50
1. In order to vote in Texas, a person must
register online.
just show up at the polling place on election day.
register 30 days in advance of an election.
have a Texas driver’s license.
3 points
QUESTION 51
1. How often does Texas hold general elections?
every two years
every year
every four years
twice a year
3 points
QUESTION 52
1. Who was the first Republican elected to statewide office in Texas since Reconstruction?
Phil Gramm
John Tower
Lyndon B. Johnson
Bill Clements
QUESTION 53
1. Under Texas' right-to-work laws,
3 points
union security agreements are allowed, but unions cannot force employees to pay dues.
employers are allowed to collect union dues from workers' paychecks for lobbying actions
but for nothing else.
union shops are prohibited from requiring workers to join the union as a condition of
keeping their jobs.
union shops are allowed to force workers to join the union but not allowed to force them to
pay dues.
3 points
QUESTION 54
1. Texas required registration of lobbyists and disclosure of their activities for the first time in
________.
1876
1892
1932
1957
3 points
QUESTION 55
1. Interest group efforts to influence the outcome of elections is known as
lobbying.
campaigning.
influence peddling.
electioneering.
3 points
QUESTION 56
1. A candidate who is listed on the general election ballot as a Libertarian is considered
acaucus candidate.
an independent candidate.
awrite-in candidate.
aminor party candidate.
3 points
QUESTION 57
1. The Texas Constitution allows cities and school boards to cancel elections if
three-quarters of the races are uncontested.
there is a budget shortfall that will impact services if the election is held.
all the races are uncontested.
the city was chartered as a general rule city.
3 points
QUESTION 58
1. Typically, voter turnout for elections is highest when those elections are held in
November.
May.
August.
January.
3 points
QUESTION 59
1. All of the following are lobbying tactics EXCEPT
encouraging interest group members to contact legislators about a bill.
working with legislators to draft bills.
publishing a newsletter to keep interest group members informed.
testifying before a legislative committee.
3 points
QUESTION 60
1. Peak business associations are interest groups that represent
national business interests.
local business interests.
seasonal business interests.
statewide business interests.
3 points
QUESTION 61
1. One way that historical political parties consolidated power was through appointing faithful party
members to government jobs, also known as
the caucus system.
the spoils system.
the merit system.
the party boss system.
QUESTION 62
3 points
1. What term is used by political scientists to refer to a lasting shift in party allegiances or electoral
support?
realignment
reorganization
reconstruction
transference
QUESTION 63
3 points
1. Which third party emphasizes the importance of limited government and personal responsibility?
Libertarian Party
Green Party
Reform Party
Natural Law Party
3 points
QUESTION 64
1. The style of ballot form in which candidates are listed by party and by office is known as the
party column format.
office block format.
party line format.
straight party ticket.
3 points
QUESTION 65
1. If you wanted to run for statewide office in Texas you could pay a filing fee of ________ or
submit a petition with ________.
$500; signatures equaling 3 percent of the votes cast for the office in the past election
$53,000; signatures equaling 3 percent of the votes cast for the office in the past election
$3,750; 83,000 signatures
$9,250; 45,000 signatures
3 points
QUESTION 66
1. Many political scientists, likeJeffrey Cohen and Paul Kantor, believe that when political parties are
weak, it can lead to which type of system?
party-centered politics
fractured politics
candidate-centered politics
multiparty politics
3 points
QUESTION 67
1. Today, elections are dominated by issues of what type?
defense
fiscal
foreign relations
social/cultural
3 points
QUESTION 68
1. In Texas, when is a runoff primary required?
when the winner of the first primary is disqualified
when there is only a .02 percentdifference in total votes for the top two candidates
when no candidate receives a plurality of votes
when no candidate receives a majority of votes
3 points
QUESTION 69
1. All of the following contribute to legislative professionalism EXCEPT
more staff support.
higher pay.
limited sessions.
longer sessions.
3 points
QUESTION 70
1. The U.S. Constitution stipulates that the right to vote cannot be deniedon the basis of any of the
followingEXCEPT
sex.
failure to pay a poll tax.
race.
criminal record.
3 points
QUESTION 71
1. The 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
nonmembership organizations.
active on both the state and national levels.
professional associations.
barred from financial contributions to PACs.
3 points
QUESTION 72
1. Who oversees the administration of elections to ensure that the rules are followed?
the county sheriff
the secretary of state
the party executive committees
the party chairs
3 points
QUESTION 73
1. Who is best known for arguing that "factions" would play an important role in American politics?
Ben Franklin
George Washington
Thomas Paine
James Madison
3 points
QUESTION 74
1. A(n) ________ is an organization that seeks to achieve common goals by influencing government
decision making.
fraternity
interest group
political movement
political party
3 points
QUESTION 75
1. With the growth of the Internet, what has become one of the easiest ways to participate in
politics?
attending rallies
signing paper petitions
making financial contributions
voting
3 points
QUESTION 76
1. Today in Texas, what are the two main factions in the Republican Party?
pro-market libertarian Republicans and social conservatives
pro-market libertarian Republicans and evangelical conservatives
business value progressives and social conservatives
social conservatives and Yellow Dog conservatives
3 points
QUESTION 77
1. To qualify for minor-party status, a party must have won at least________ of the votes in a race
for statewide office in the last general election.
1 percent
2 percent
5 percent
3 percent
3 points
QUESTION 78
1. Imagine you own a small company and you form an interest group to lobby your elected
representatives. Which category of interest group organization would yours fall under?
governmental organization
nonmembership organization
quasi-private organization
membership organization
3 points
QUESTION 79
1. Compared to the primary system, the caucus system requires more
mass media buys.
local organization.
professional organization.
guidance from the national party.
3 points
QUESTION 80
1. Voting in another party’s primary to intentionally nominate a weaker candidate is known as
crossover voting.
false voting.
party raiding.
runoff voting.
3 points
QUESTION 81
1. An organization that collects and distributes money to candidates is known as a(n)
political party.
issue network.
interest group.
political action committee.
3 points
QUESTION 82
1. What is the most important tool for interest groups seeking to influence election outcomes?
connections
public relations
lawyers
money
3 points
QUESTION 83
1. The biggest change in modern politics is the use of
cable news to broadcast soundbites.
the Internet.
PAC fundraising.
autodialing apps with prerecorded messages.
3 points
QUESTION 84
1. Organized labor in Texas is
modestly weak.
very weak.
very strong.
quite strong.
3 points
QUESTION 85
1. In Texas, the Tea Party is most closely aligned with the
Libertarian Party.
American Independent Party.
Republican Party.
Democratic Party.
3 points
QUESTION 86
1. What is the most common form of political participation?
voting
signing a petition
financial contributions
attending a rally
3 points
QUESTION 87
1. Attempts to discuss topics of interest with a member of the legislature in the public hallways
outside a legislative chamber is the original form of what's still known as
"gottcha" politics.
lobbying.
guerrilla influence.
influence peddling.
3 points
QUESTION 88
1. ________ is the basic belief system that guides political theory and policy.
Party platform
Ideology
The party line
Social identification
QUESTION 89
1. What is the impact of Texas political culture on political participation?
It has no significant effect on political participation.
It discourages political participation.
3 points
It strongly encourages political participation.
It moderately encourages political participation.
3 points
QUESTION 90
1. In Texas, how long prior to an election must you register in order to be eligible to vote?
15 days
30 days
10 days
0 days (same-day registration)
3 points
QUESTION 91
1. In Texas's permanent party organization, the state executive committee consists of
________members, equally divided between men and women.
30
62
302
150
3 points
QUESTION 92
1. Straight-ticket voting
has advantaged the Texas Democratic Party in recent years.
is not allowed in Texas.
is encouraged by the party column format.
is only possible with paper ballots.
3 points
QUESTION 93
1. What has replaced political parties when it comes to running political campaigns in some cases?
interest groups
professional campaign consultants
nothing; political parties still run campaigns
Political Action Committees
3 points
QUESTION 94
1. Special elections in Texas
are limited to only major party candidates.
may occur to fill vacancies in the Texas legislature or national House or Senate.
cannot be used to decide on amendments to the state constitution.
occur in November.
3 points
QUESTION 95
1. A ________ is a panel of "average citizens" who are used by political consultants to test ideas
and words for later use in campaigns.
poll
statistical sample
test group
focus group
3 points
QUESTION 96
1. The situation of individuals receiving the benefits of collective action without contributing is
known as
"coattailing."
"benefit stealing."
the "free-rider problem."
the "welfare state."
3 points
QUESTION 97
1. The fact thatoil industry lobby groups have been able to strongly influence the Texas Railroad
Commission's three commissioners instead of having to influence the governor is an example of
how ________ can increase interest group strength.
wide geographic distribution
economic diversity
poor legislative professionalism
a fragmented government structure
3 points
QUESTION 98
1. An interest group that appears to have many grassroots members but in fact does not have
individual citizens as members is called what?
an “astroturf” organization
a“Benedict Arnold” organization
a“sheep’s clothing” organization
a“007” organization
3 points
QUESTION 99
1. Texas is required to use a bilingual ballot for all elections in counties that contain more than
________ percent Spanish-speaking voting-age citizens.
10
20
15
5
3 points
QUESTION 100
1. The Pendleton Act of 1883 established a class of federal government positions that would be
filled as a result of
a random lottery.
competitive examinations.
nomination by the president and approval by the U.S. Senate.
political appointments.
3 points
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