Government 2306 – Texas State and Local Government
Williams
UNIT II EXAM PREPARATION
The exam will consist of material covered in “chapters” dealing with the Legislative
Branch, Executive Branch, Bureaucracy, and Political Economy in your online textbook,
plus the material covered in the lecture. The best way to be prepared for the exam is to
read the material in each of the above chapter in the text, with emphasis on those items
that are on your learning objectives, as well as go over class notes.
There will be thirty (30) multiple choice questions, each worth two (2) points, four (4)
word definitions, each worth five (5) points, and two (2) short essay questions, each
worth ten (10) points.
Remember: You will need to bring a Green Scantron sheet and a Number 2 pencil with
you in order to provide answers to the multiple choice questions on the exam.
For the word definitions, you will be given a choice of five to eight words, from which
you may choose four (4) to answer. Each will be worth five (5) points. You will be
required to define or describe the term, as well as either providing an example of what the
term describes or explaining its significance to Texas government and/or politics.
For the essay questions, you will be presented with four questions from which you may
choose TWO to answer. You will NOT receive extra credit for answering additional
essay questions.
These are the essay questions for this exam:
1) What is meant by the plural executive in Texas government? Explain the reasons that
this came about. What affect does this have on the executive branch of government
in Texas? Briefly describe three offices in the plural executive and their basic
functions.
2) Describe the difference between progressive and regressive taxes, and give an
example of each. Which is the dominant tax in Texas? Explain whether you think
this is a fair way of funding government programs or not.
3) Explain what an iron triangle is. Who are the members of this triangle and how do
they interact with each other? Considering what you have learned so far this
semester, explain whether this model supports the ideals of the democratic process.