Complete Test Bank Political Parties In Texas Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Political Parties in Texas

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Which of the following statements about political parties in the U.S. is TRUE:
   1. The constitution established two major parties
   2. Political parties have always been strongly centralized
   3. Political parties have never played a very large role in elections
   4. The Founding Fathers did not want political parties

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: The Strength of State Party Organizations

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. ________ is the basic belief system that guides the party.

a. Party ideology

b. The party line

c. The party platform

d. Party identification

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: The Strength of State Party Organizations

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. Labor-intensive politics historically included all of the following EXCEPT

a. broadcast advertising.

b. selecting candidates.

c. organizing campaigns.

d. printing election ballots.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Traditional Party Functions in the United States

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. The newest element of capital-intensive politics is the use of ________ to communicate directly with likely voters.

a. e-mail

b. the Internet

c. social media

d. autodialing apps with prerecorded messages

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Traditional Party Functions in the United States

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. The introduction of new technologies has led to a shift from:
   1. Candidate-centered campaigns to party-centered campaigns
   2. Labor-intensive politics to capital-intensive politics
   3. Professional campaign tactics to amateur campaign tactics
   4. Big-tent parties to niche political movements

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Traditional Party Functions in the United States

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. What has replaced political parties when it comes to running political campaigns?
   1. Political Action Committees
   2. Interest Groups
   3. Professional campaign consultants
   4. Nothing, political parties still run campaigns

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Traditional Party Functions in the United States

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. The Pendleton Act of 1883 established a class of federal government positions that would be filled as a result of

a. political appointments.

b. competitive examinations.

c. a random lottery.

d. nomination by the president and approval by the U.S. Senate.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Political Reforms and the Weakening of Political Parties

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. What is the “Australian” ballot?
   1. Color-coded ballots for each party
   2. Publically cast votes
   3. A two-stage voting system
   4. Privately cast votes

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Political Reforms and the Weakening of Political Parties

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. The “Australian” ballot and primaries are examples of reforms introduced in order to:
   1. Increase voter turnout
   2. Limit donations from PACs
   3. Reduce the influence of large party machines
   4. Encourage more women to run for office

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Political Reforms and the Weakening of Political Parties

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. One way that historical political parties consolidated power was through appointing faithful party members to government jobs, also know as:
   1. The spoils system
   2. The merit system
   3. The party boss system
   4. The caucus system

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Political Reforms and the Weakening of Political Parties

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. Political parties in the United States
   1. Are strong and unified nationally
   2. Vary widely across states
   3. Only work to get state-level positions filled
   4. Are weak, but unified nationally

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Fifty States, Fifty Party Systems

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. When was the last time a Democratic presidential candidate won Texas’ electoral votes?

a. Lyndon Johnson in 1964

b. Jimmy Carter in 1976

c. Bill Clinton in 1992

d. Bill Clinton in 1996

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: The Strength of State Party Organizations

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. A major cause of the shift from Democratic to Republican dominance in Texas was:
   1. Conservatives’ shift to the Republican party
   2. Widespread opposition to President Eisenhower
   3. An influx of immigrants from Mexico
   4. The rise of straight-ticket voting

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: The Strength of State Party Organizations

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. During the time of the Republic of Texas, which individual advocated for annexation and peaceful relations with the Native American tribes of Texas?

a. Davey Crockett

b. Sam Houston

c. Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar

d. Edmund Davis

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Evolution of Political Parties in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. When political parties are weak, it can lead to what type of system?
   1. Multiparty politics
   2. Fractured politics
   3. Candidate-centered politics
   4. Party-centered politics

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Evolution of Political Parties in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. When was the first period of one-party Republican politics in Texas?

a. Reconstruction

b. the gay ’90s

c. the roaring ’20s

d. the Republican revolution of the 1990s

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Evolution of Political Parties in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. What embittered most Texans and left them hostile to the Republican Party following the Civil War?

a. Abraham Lincoln

b. the Emancipation Proclamation

c. U.S. military rule from 1866–1869

d. Edmund J. Davis’s governorship

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Evolution of Political Parties in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. One-party Democratic dominance occurred from Reconstruction until the

a. 1930s.

b. 1940s.

c. 1950s.

d. 1960s.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Evolution of Political Parties in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

1. What is the proper time sequence of the following three political movements/parties, from earliest to latest?

a. Populist Party, Greenback Party, Progressive movement

b. Progressive movement, Populist Party, Greenback Party

c. Populist Party, Progressive movement, Greenback Party

d. Greenback Party, Populist Party, Progressive movement

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Evolution of Political Parties in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

1. What alliance allowed the Democratic Party to dominate state politics in Texas from the later nineteenth century until the mid-twentieth century?

a. merchants and small farmers

b. small farmers and African Americans

c. merchants and landowners

d. oilmen and businessmen

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Evolution of Political Parties in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. What term is used by political scientists to refer to a shift in party allegiances or electoral support?

a. transference

b. realignment

c. reconstruction

d. reorganization

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Party Realignment in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. In the 1952 and 1956 presidential elections, many Yellow Dog Democrats broke with tradition and voted for

a. Earl Warren.

b. Adlai Stevenson II.

c. Lyndon B. Johnson.

d. Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Party Realignment in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. Who was the first Republican elected to statewide office in Texas since the 1870s?

a. John Tower

b. Phil Gramm

c. Lyndon B. Johnson

d. Bill Clements

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Party Realignment in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. Whose election as governor in 1978 marked the real beginning of two-party politics in Texas?

a. John Tower

b. Phil Gramm

c. Lyndon B. Johnson

d. Bill Clements

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Party Realignment in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. In 1983 Phil Gramm was elected as a senator from Texas in a special election called by

a. John Tower.

b. Phil Gramm.

c. George H. W. Bush.

d. Bill Clements.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Party Realignment in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. Texas Republicans captured their second seat in the U.S. Senate with the election of ________ in 1992.

a. Ann Richards

b. Clayton Williams

c. Kay Bailey Hutchison

d. George W. Bush

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Party Realignment in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. Why has factional fighting inside the Texas Democratic Party diminished since 2000?

a. conservative defections to the Republican Party

b. the need to present a united front to the Republican majority

c. better state Democratic Party leadership

d. None of these answers is correct.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: One-Party Republican Dominance in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. In 2014, the losing Democratic nominee for governor of Texas was

a. Wendy Davis.

b. Joaquin Castro.

c. Julian Castro.

d. Greg Abbott.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: One-Party Republican Dominance in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. Today in Texas, what are the two main factions in the Republican Party?

a. social value conservatives and business value progressives

b. business value progressives and business value conservatives

c. business value conservatives and social value conservatives

d. social value conservatives and evangelical conservatives

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: One-Party Republican Dominance in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. In Texas party politics today:
   1. The Republican party has more factions than the Democratic Party
   2. Both parties struggle with multiple factions
   3. The Democratic Party has more factions than the Republican Party
   4. Neither party has any significant factions within it

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: One-Party Republican Dominance in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. In Texas, the Tea Party is most closely aligned with the

a. Democratic Party.

b. Republican Party.

c. Libertarian Party.

d. American Independent Party.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: One-Party Republican Dominance in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. In 1996, Governor George W. Bush was reelected with ________ percent of registered voters voting for him.

a. 18

b. 49

c. 51

d. 69

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Party De-alignment

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. To maintain ballot status in Texas, a third party must garner at least __ percent of the vote in a statewide election.

a. 0.5

b. 1.5

c. 2.0

d. 5.0

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Third-Party Movements

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. Which third party emphasizes the importance of small government and personal responsibility?

a. Libertarian Party

b. Green Party

c. Natural Law Party

d. Reform Party

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Third-Party Movements

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. Which third party emphasizes the importance of social justice and ecological sustainability?

a. Libertarian Party

b. Green Party

c. Natural Law Party

d. Reform Party

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Third-Party Movements

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. Third parties have a difficult time winning for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:
   1. It is more difficult for third party candidate to get on the ballot
   2. Representatives run in single-member districts
   3. General election candidates need a majority to win
   4. Most Texans identify with one of the two major parties

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Third-Party Movements

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. The Texas Election Code has its most profound impact on political party activity in what area(s)?

a. party organization and fundraising

b. candidate selection

c. conduct of primary elections

d. All these answers are correct.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Party Organization in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. What is the lowest level of the permanent party organization in Texas?

a. ward chair

b. district chair

c. county chair

d. precinct chair

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Party Organization in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. In Texas the Democratic state executive committee consists of __ members, equally divided equally between men and women.

a. 30

b. 62

c. 150

d. 302

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Party Organization in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. The state party chair is selected by

a. the national party chair.

b. mail-in ballots from all precinct chairs.

c. the state’s top ranking office holder.

d. the state convention.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Party Organization in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. What is the most important function of the precinct convention?

a. selection of delegates to the county convention

b. election of permanent officers

c. selection of candidates for local offices

d. nominating local delegates to the Electoral College

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Party Organization in Texas

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. How long after the precinct convention is the county convention held?

a. 2 days

b. 1 week

c. 2 weeks

d. 1 month

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 3

Text Answer Hint: Democratic Party Convention in 2008

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. The Texas presidential preference primary is held in what month?

a. February

b. March

c. April

d. May

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Democratic Party Convention in 2008

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. Compared to primary system, the caucus system requires more

a. professional organization.

b. local organization.

c. guidance from the national party.

d. mass media buys.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Caucus and Primary Delegate Selection Systems

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. As of 2016:
2. Both parties in Texas use caucuses
3. The Texas Democrats use a primary and the Texas Republicans use a primary
4. The Texas Republicans use a primary and the Texas Democrats use a caucus
5. Both parties in Texas use primaries

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Caucus and Primary Delegate Selection Systems

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

1. Primaries and caucuses differ in that:
   1. Caucuses generally have higher turnout
   2. A citizen can participate in both parties’ caucuses
   3. Caucuses require more grassroots organization
   4. Parties get to select who participates in a caucus

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Caucus and Primary Delegate Selection Systems

Topic: Political Parties in Texas

Texas Standards: Texas LO-5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

ESSAY

1. Discuss the fragmented political party system it the United States and why the national parties are so weak.
2. Discuss the reasons why Texas’s one-party Democratic era ended in the 1860s and why it resumed in the 1870s.
3. What were the main positions of the Greenback Party, the Populist Party, and the Progressive movement? What impact did they have on the two main political parties and Texas in general?
4. Has Texas always been a predominantly conservative state? How does this question tie in to the state’s shift from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party since the 1960s?
5. Explain how Phil Gramm “converted” from a Democratic senator to a Republican.
6. What is the likelihood that Democrats will “Turn Texas Blue”? What would be the national political ramifications of such an achievement?
7. Political parties in the United States were stronger in the past than they are today. Explain why, giving specific examples with an emphasis on labor intensive politics.
8. First discuss labor-intensive politics. Then examine the rise of capital-intensive politics and why it has weakened political parties.
9. What political reforms have weakened political parties?
10. What factors make it so difficult for third parties to achieve major party status? What reforms would make it more likely third parties would be successful?
11. Discuss the important aspects of party organization in Texas, starting with the precinct level and ending with the state chair.
12. Compare and contrast the presidential primary system to the caucus system for selecting delegates to the national convention. Why might civic and religious groups prefer the caucus system?