Deck 1: The Environment of Texas Politics

Question 1

Approximately how much did the Texas population grow between 2000 and 2018?

A) 4 percent
B) 27 percent
C) 11 percent
D) 38 percent
E) 42 percent

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following land-based industries formed the basis of the early economic development of Texas?

A) Cotton,cattle,timber,and minerals
B) Cattle,oil,corn,and real estate speculation
C) Mining,cattle,natural gas,and oil
D) Manufacturing,oil,silver,and cotton
E) Natural gas,wheat,and silver

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What political subculture in the state favors a limited government with restricted powers and low per capita government spending?

A) Individualistic
B) Traditionalistic
C) Moralistic
D) Hedonistic
E) Libertarian
​

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is false regarding maquiladoras?

A) They have become common on the Mexican side of the border since the passage of NAFTA.
B) Labor policies in maquiladoras have been found to endanger women who work there.
C) They are confined largely to food-processing industries.
D) They enable U.S.goods to be made with cheaper labor in Mexico.
E) They enable U.S.goods to be exported to the United States without being taxed.

Question 5

Thirty-seven of the 48 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Texas in 2018 were related to which industry?

A) Energy
B) Technology
C) Textiles
D) Manufacturing
E) Medicine

Question 6

Which of the followings is true of the African American population in Texas?

A) It comprises over one-half of the state's population.
B) It resides primarily on farms and in rural villages.
C) It is concentrated in Lubbock,Laredo,and El Paso.
D) It resides mainly in urban counties of north central,northeast,and southeast Texas.
E) It overwhelmingly identifies with the Republican Party.

Question 7

How many of the thirteen fastest-growing cities in the United States in 2018 were in Texas?

A) One
B) Three
C) Seven
D) Fourteen
E) Four

Question 8

Why did the Native American population in Texas decline in the centuries following European colonization?

A) Europeans paid native peoples for their land and encouraged them to leave the area.
B) Marriage between native peoples and European settlers quickly diffused the native population.
C) Native American tribes wiped each other out fighting over land unclaimed by European settlers.
D) Nothing in particular contributed to the decline of the Native American population.
E) Diseases decimated native communities and violence between native peoples and Europeans was frequent.

Question 9

What political subculture demonstrated the Temperance movement's efforts to use government to end the sale and consumption of alcohol in Texas?

A) Rustic
B) Individualistic
C) Traditionalistic
D) Moralistic
E) Socialistic

Question 10

In what way do undocumented immigrants in Texas have an impact on the state economy?

A) They provide an expensive source of labor,which increases wages for all workers.
B) They save the state from spending because they make no use of public services.
C) They invest in corporations at a higher rate than any other group.
D) They pay state taxes when they buy goods and services and rent property.
E) They generate higher demand for goods and services such as real estate and drive up prices,making it difficult for citizens to be able to afford homes.

Question 11

What is the approximate population of Texas,according to the 2018 estimates made by the U.S.Bureau of the Census?

A) 6 million
B) 16 million
C) 29 million
D) 36 million
E) 46 million

Question 12

What is Texas implementing when the legislature increases taxes to meet the goal of improving streets and highways?

A) Public policy
B) A federal mandate
C) Justice
D) Regulatory authority
E) Socialism

Question 13

Which of the following is true about the service industry in Texas?

A) It pays lower wages and salaries than manufacturing firms.
B) It is one of the slowest growing economic sectors in Texas.
C) It has created genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
D) It employs over one-half of all Texas workers.
E) It is being replaced by robots and automation.

Question 14

Which of the following is true of high-technology jobs?

A) They tend to be low-wage jobs with few benefits.
B) The government of Texas has done nothing to encourage the development of high-technology jobs in the state.
C) Salaries and wages in the Texas high-tech sector are almost double the average wages for the rest of the state.
D) Most high-technology firms produce products like farm tractors,toasters,and spatulas.
E) They require a four-year degree from a public university in Texas.

Question 15

The development of which industry transformed Texas from a predominantly agricultural culture into an industrial society?

A) Cotton
B) Cattle
C) Timber
D) Oil
E) Shipping

Question 16

What is the process of policymaking that involves conflict and cooperation between political parties and other groups that seek to elect government officials or to influence those officials when they make public policy?

A) Politics
B) Public opinion
C) Government
D) Justice
E) Compromise

Question 17

Why is the history of Texas suburbs marked by racial segregation?

A) The federal government used policies like redlining and urban renewal in a nondiscriminatory manner.
B) State and local governments engaged in discriminatory practices such as inclusionary zoning and non-racial covenants.
C) Some realtors and lenders steered their clients into integrated neighborhoods.
D) Racial segregation did not mark the development of Texas suburbs.
E) Practices such as redlining,zoning,and racial covenants were used to segregate minorities.

Question 18

What caused the erosion of African American political rights after the Civil War?

A) The end of Reconstruction and the return to power of white landowners
B) A new law banning African Americans from voting in state elections
C) A lack of education,resulting in low political involvement
D) Significant migration of African Americans out of Texas in search of economic opportunity
E) Political leadership of Dr.L.H.Nixon as governor

Question 19

What does agriculture in the West Texas Plains depend heavily on?

A) A substantial increase in rainfall there since 1950
B) The development of hybrid strains that require minimal water
C) The Ogallala Aquifer
D) Water brought from the Gulf of Mexico
E) Fertilizers provided by Monsanto

Question 20

Since 2011,what has been the cause of record financial losses for land-based industries in Texas?

A) Increased taxes
B) A drought
C) Immigration
D) Fraud
E) Federal regulation

Question 21

Which of the following contributes to the water challenges Texas faces?

A) Increased population and urbanization
B) Construction of flood control projects
C) Decreased agricultural activity
D) Limits on fracking and related activities
E) The yearly appearance of El Niño

Question 22

Approximately what proportion of Texans speak a language other than English at home?

A) One-tenth (1/10)
B) One-fifth (1/5)
C) One-third (1/3)
D) One-half (1/2)
E) One-fourth (1/2)

Question 23

Where does Texas currently rank in population among the 50 states?

A) First
B) Second
C) Third
D) Fifth
E) Sixth

Question 24

Which of the following have become effective campaign tools because they allow users to engage in social networking and create online communities?

A) Bit torrents
B) Social media
C) Traditional media
D) Data mines
E) Shortwave radio

Question 25

About what percentage of U.S.exports to Mexico are produced in Texas?

A) 50
B) 70
C) 60
D) 80
E) 90

Question 26

Which Texas group benefits from "right to work" laws and the lack of a corporate income tax?

A) Business owners
B) Labor unions
C) Immigrant laborers
D) Women and minorities
E) Blue collar workers

Question 27

Approximately what percentage of Texans now live in Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)?

A) Less than 20 percent
B) About 50 percent
C) Exactly 69 percent
D) Close to 90 percent
E) About 99 percent

Question 28

Which of the following is true about the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex?

A) It has seen decades of economic decline as timber and cotton production become less profitable.
B) It has seen decades of economic decline as businesses continue to move to other regions.
C) It has seen decades of strong economic growth as major corporations move their headquarters there.
D) It has seen decades of strong economic growth as agriculture has become the basis of the local economy.
E) It has seen decades of economic decline as a result of NAFTA.

Question 29

What is the consequence of the large geographical size of Texas?

A) It means that campaigning for statewide political office requires a substantial investment of resources.
B) It reduces the need for candidates to raise campaign contributions.
C) It makes the use of social media unnecessary and rare in political campaigns.
D) It results in more senators from Texas in the United States Senate than from smaller states.
E) It makes it easier to campaign because television networks broadcast to the entire state.

Question 30

What term describes the "values,attitudes,traditions,habits,and general behavioral patterns that develop over time and shape the politics of a particular region"?

A) Political culture
B) Political socialization
C) Political economics
D) Political geography
E) Political maturation

Question 31

What cities are included in Central Texas?

A) Houston,Brownsville,and El Paso
B) Dallas,Fort Worth,and Plano
C) Abilene,Amarillo,and Odessa
D) Waco,Austin,and San Antonio
E) Galveston and Corpus Christie

Question 32

Which of the following is a multibillion-dollar industry that produces products,such as medicines and vaccines,to benefit medical science?

A) Biotechnology
B) High-technology
C) Nanotechnology
D) Robotics
E) Artificial intelligence

Question 33

What is expected to be true of the Latino population of Texas by 2022?

A) It will be the largest population group in the state.
B) It will become mostly concentrated in northeast Texas.
C) It will become the most prosperous ethnic group in the state.
D) It will have a higher median age than the Anglo population.
E) It will be the most likely to support the Republican Party.

Question 34

What is the political culture of Texas dominated by,according to Professor Daniel Elazar?

A) Individualistic subculture
B) Individualistic and traditionalistic subcultures
C) Moralistic and traditionalistic subcultures
D) Moralistic and individualistic subcultures
E) Traditionalistic subculture

Question 35

What region of Texas has many cities where Spanish is the primary language,Catholicism is the dominant religion,and international trade is an increasingly important part of the economy?

A) Border
B) West Texas Plains
C) Gulf Coast
D) North Texas
E) Southeast

Question 36

By 2018,approximately what proportion of Texas children were living in poverty?

A) One in twenty (1/20)
B) One in ten (1/10)
C) One in five (1/5)
D) One in two (1/2)
E) One in Six (1/6)

Question 37

What term defines "a public institution with authority to formulate,adopt,implement,and enforce public policies for a society"?

A) Politics
B) Public policy
C) Government
D) Justice
E) Bureaucracy

Question 38

Which of the following is true about the Texas DREAM Act?

A) It granted amnesty and citizenship to millions of undocumented immigrants in Texas.
B) It allows certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to Texas as children to pay in-state tuition at public colleges.
C) It solved the problem of illegal immigration in Texas.
D) It authorized the creation of a border fence with a moat along the Texas-Mexico border.
E) It allows certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to Texas as children to receive free in-state tuition at public colleges.

Question 39

Which best describes the state of health insurance in Texas?

A) Texas has the highest proportion of uninsured residents of any of the 50 states.
B) Health insurance in Texas is more affordable than in any other state.
C) Texas has accepted the Affordable Care Act's expansion of Medicaid and will cover millions of previously uninsured people.
D) Texas has one of the lowest percentages of uninsured children of any of the 50 states.
E) Obamacare has lowered the cost of health insurance to the point that private insurance companies cannot compete and are going out of business.

Question 40

Which is true of East Texas?

A) It is racially segregated and heavily influenced by evangelical Christianity.
B) The economy there is dominated by high-technology firms and defense contractors.
C) Timber production there has ended,and cotton is no longer grown in the region.
D) The Democratic Party continues to dominate politics and local government there.
E) Climate change has decimated the timber industry.

Question 41

Which of the following is true about the North American Free Trade Agreement (1993)?

A) It reduced trade barriers between the United States,Canada,and Mexico.
B) It created a superhighway from Mexico to Canada.
C) It lowered vehicle emission standards for the United States,Canada,and Mexico.
D) It opened trade relations between the United States and Cuba.
E) It destroyed the transportation industry by taking jobs away from American truck drivers.

Question 42

Among all states,Texas has the _____ highest number of African Americans in the nation.

A) Second
B) Fourth
C) Fifth
D) Third
E) Sixth

Question 43

Which of the following is a true statement?

A) Education in Texas has produced the highest literacy rate among adults of any of the 50 states.
B) Texas schools are focused mainly on preparing Texas's citizens for careers in science and technology.
C) The state of Texas spends more on education per pupil than any other state.
D) College educators complain many students are poorly prepared for higher education,and employers express concern about a decline in reading and writing skills among young Texans.
E) Admission to high schools in Texas is based on standardized test results.

Question 44

Which statement about Texas Latinos is accurate?

A) No Texas Latino has ever been elected to a state office.
B) The political influence of Texas Latinos is increasing rapidly.
C) Group solidarity among Latino voters is higher than other groups.
D) Latino voters almost always support Latino candidates.
E) Texas was the first state to elect a Latino governor.

Question 45

What is the term used to describe the process of extracting oil and natural gas by forcing open fissures in subterranean rocks by introducing liquid at high pressure?

A) Pumping
B) Fracking
C) Hydroplaning
D) Turbining
E) Redlining

Question 46

Describe the main challenges facing education in Texas and what you think should be done to meet those challenges.

Question 47

What is the largest and most diverse city in the Gulf Coast region of Texas?

A) Houston
B) Dallas
C) Austin
D) San Antonio
E) Galveston

Question 48

What is the approximate land area of Texas,in square miles?

A) 167,000,000
B) 267,000
C) 65,000
D) 949,000
E) 165,000

Question 49

Which of the following statements regarding the population of Texas is false?

A) The state population has grown at a rate faster than the national average.
B) Urbanization has occurred.
C) During the 20th century,the state shifted from an urban to a rural society.
D) Texas is experiencing urban flight on a very large scale.
E) Texas is very homogenous.

Question 50

Which of the following regions is most likely to elect Democratic representatives today?

A) East Texas
B) West Texas
C) South Texas
D) The Panhandle
E) German Hill Country

Question 51

To what extent did Reconstruction bring about significant change for African Americans in Texas,and to what extent did Texas policies resist that change?

Question 52

Describe the development of de facto segregation in Texas's suburbs.

Question 53

Which of the following is true about the Asian American population of Texas?

A) It is descended from Chinese laborers.
B) It is large and growing.
C) It is concentrated in rural areas of the state.
D) It is statistically less likely than other groups to attend universities.
E) It is very homogeneous.

Question 54

What term is used to describe persons who enter the United States in violation of federal immigration laws?

A) Undocumented immigrants
B) Naturalized residents
C) Temporary citizens
D) Asylum recipients
E) Dreamers

Question 55

Which is a true statement regarding agriculture in Texas?

A) It is hampered by poor rail,road,and harbor facilities.
B) It sells most of its output in Texas grocery stores.
C) It produces commodities that are all processed in Texas.
D) It is characterized by a decreasing number of farms and ranches.
E) It is be undercut by imports from China.

Question 56

Which of the following was created in 1957 for purposes of state mandated water planning?

A) Texas Education Agency
B) Texas Department of Water
C) Texas Environmental Protection Agency
D) Texas Water Development Board
E) Texas Water Planning Commission

Question 57

What laws segregated African Americans and denied them access to public services?

A) Jim Crow laws
B) Eminent domain
C) Naturalization laws
D) Separation policies
E) Affirmative action laws

Question 58

Explain the difference between politics and government.​

Question 59

Where does Texas rank among the 50 states in land area?

A) First
B) Second
C) Fifth
D) Tenth
E) Third

Question 60

Current Texas demographic patterns are likely to have which of the following effects on state politics?

A) The growth of Latinos in Texas will likely liberalize politics over time.
B) The aging population will likely lead to even lower voter turnout rates.
C) African Americans will come to dominate Texas politics in many regions of the state.
D) Asian immigrants will play a larger role in the political leadership of South Texas.
E) Migration into Texas from other parts of the United States will cause Texas politics to become more conservative.

Question 61

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)was created in order to lower tariffs between three trading partners (the United States,Canada,and Mexico).Provide an explanation of the advantages/benefits of the agreement,followed by an understanding of the disadvantages/criticism of the agreement.

Question 62

Examine the role of white supremacy and racial injustice in Texas.What evidence exists to shed light on the degree to which racial oppression played in the role of Texas history;describe how it has shaped the social,economic,and political fortunes of the different racial and ethnic groups in Texas;and specify what still needs to change and who you think is responsible for bringing about that change? Provide evidence for your answers.

Question 63

To what extent are the regions of Texas influenced by their early settlers? Describe how they have changed in the twentieth century in regard to economy,society,demographics,culture,and politics.

Question 64

Critically examine the controversy over hydraulic fracturing (fracking)in Texas.In your response,outline the benefits and challenges that fracking brings to the state;describe the role that you would like to see the government play in supporting,regulating,or ending fracking;and specify which energy sources you would want the state to invest in for the future and why.

Question 65

Explain the history of the timber industry in Texas.Why did it become such an important part of the state economy,and why has it declined in importance?

Question 66

Immigration is currently a hot topic in the state of Texas.Explain the benefits and challenges brought about by immigration.Choose one immigration law and identify your political position on it;and specify whether you think the law is justified,effective,or if there are there things about the law that should change.Provide evidence for your answers.

Question 67

Imagine that you have been given autocratic power over Texas;however,it comes with one condition: you must reduce the percentage of persons living in poverty to 5 percent or less.What would you do? In your discussion,explore the causes and incidence of poverty and speculate on whether a high degree of poverty is inevitable.

Question 68

How does Texas's large geographical size affect politics in the state?

Question 69

From where did Texas's political culture come and how has it changed over time? How do you think it will change in the future? Provide evidence for your answers.

Question 70

Imagine that a separate state was created for each of Texas's six principal regions.Choose two regions to compare and explain the potential differences between them in political culture,policy decisions,and economic conditions.Explain the potential impact of dividing Texas into separate states on national politics and the U.S.government.

Question 71

Trace the historical development and current status of the cotton,cattle,timber,and oil industries in Texas.How has their role in the state economy changed over time,and how important do you think each will be for Texas's economic future;and specify what other industries you think are important for the state to develop and sustain in the coming decades and what role the state government should play in developing and sustaining them?

Question 72

To what extent has Texas's conservatism translated into the state's public policies? Cite examples.

Question 73

Assess the political culture of Texas.Do you accept what Professor Elazar identified as the dominant political culture in Texas? Why or why not?

Question 74

The drought that began in 2011 had a severe impact on the state of Texas.Explain the impact the drought had on the Texas economy,specifically identifying the effects on land-based industries,as well as the indirect effects for other industries and for urbanization within the state;and specify the role that state government,industries,and individuals should play in managing Texas's water supply.

Question 75

Assess the history of conflict among racial and ethnic groups throughout Texas history,and identify how the relations among racial and ethnic groups have changed over time in the state and how you think these relations will change in the future.