Pols 2312 Exam study

political culture

a set of shared values, beliefs, and behaviors that relate to government and politics

How we view political culture. (1)

the relationship between the government and the people

How we view political culture. (2)

the rights and responsibilities of the people

How we view political culture. (3)

the shared identity among members of a political community

How we view political culture. (4)

the government's obligations

How we view political culture. (5)

the limits on the government's authority.

Why do elected leaders use elements of political culture to assist them in their efforts?

They can use political culture to influence voters.

political socialization

the way that people acquire beliefs, values, and habits related to government, politics, and society

agents of socialization

1\. Home life

2\. Grade School

3\. Higher education

4\. Religious Affiliation

In what way do parents usually influence their children's political socialization?

through subtle body language and comments they make about society

What role do public schools play in the process of political socialization?

They teach political history and promote patriotism and civic engagement.

What role does religion play in the process of political socialization?

It tends to reproduce society's core values.

Classical Liberalism

the valuing of political arrangements that permit the fullest exercise of individual liberty without unreasonably restricting the liberties of others

Social conservatism

Values established customs, especially Judeo-Christian religious beliefs and practices

Populism

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Support for government involvement in regulating society and the economy often has a populist tone because such policies are justified as part of an effort to establish a baseline of well-being for all members of society, rich and poor alike.

Which political ideology places a particular value on traditional religious beliefs and practices?

Social conservatism

Which political ideology is associated primarily with the Republican Party today?

Social conservatism

Pragmatism

A way of thinking that emphasizes facts and practical matters over idealistic thoughts of what could or should be.

Which political group dominated Texas elections at all levels for nearly a century following Reconstruction?

the Democratic Party

Texas's size and history, as well as its political and cultural diversity, have contributed to the development of what might be called a "pragmatic center." Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding the pragmatic center in Texas?

It tends to reflect relatively conservative, pro-business policy preferences.

Which of the following is a characteristic of the political climate in Texas after the civil rights movement?

a comparatively low level of state-funded social services, which are kept minimal by a general hostility toward progressive taxation

Which of the following is true of Indigenous groups in early Texas history?

They consisted of a range of subgroups and cultures, which makes it difficult to generalize their contributions to Texas politics.

Direct Spanish influence on Texas culture is overshadowed by which of these related cultural influences?

Mexican culture

What contributed to the growth of the mestizo population in Texas in the early 1800s?

the lack of Spanish women exploring or occupying the area

Which of the following encouraged Anglo Americans to populate the Texas territory in large numbers?

the Mexican government's empresario policy

Which of these statements is TRUE regarding African Americans in early Texas history?

They were involved in Reconstruction politics and helped shape the current state constitution.

How did Texas's population change in the 2010s?

Texas's population boomed, growing at the third-fastest rate in the nation.

Which statement is true of Texas's population growth?

The increasing share of the population made up of ethnic minority groups is poised to alter a political culture historically dominated by Anglos.

How is public opinion measured?

through scientifically designed surveys known as public opinion polls

Why have Texans adopted a "low taxes, low services" approach to government?

This approach has developed out of Texas's balance among classical liberalism, social conservatism, and populism.

Which of the following statements is true of public opinion?

Public polling that measures peoples' attitudes is really measuring an individual's predispositions and opinions.

Federalism 

a system in which governmental power is divided and shared among a national or central government and lower levels of state or regional governments

unitary systems

A system of government consisting of a single layer that oversees the creation and implementation of policy at all levels.

confederal systems

A system of government in which the state governments possess more power than the national government.

What is an important characteristic of a confederal system?

It has a weak central authority.

Reserved powers

Powers granted exclusively to state governments.

Delegated powers

Powers explicitly assigned to the national government in the U.S. Constitution.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared among the national government and the state governments.

The establishment of a new city or county is an example of which type of power?

reserved

Why is the codification of crimes and punishments considered a concurrent power?

because the authority to do so is shared by both the national and state governments

What is the basic argument of the “states’ rights” doctrine?

States have the autonomy to pass, enforce, and interpret their own laws.

Why was the Necessary and Proper Clause written into the Constitution?

to allow the national government to create new laws necessary for carrying out its powers

Why is the expansion of power by the national government controversial for advocates of states’ rights?

They believe the expansion of federal power violates the autonomy granted to states by the Tenth Amendment.

dual federalism

The two levels of government exercised power in separate, clearly defined domains

Prior to the 1930s, how did the U.S. Supreme Court respond to conflicts between the national and state governments?

The Court generally supported dual federalism.

What does the marble cake symbolize in the context of federalism?

the merging of power among the national and state governments

What change brought about by the New Deal allowed for the development of cooperative federalism?

greater federal funding

Cooperative federalism

the boundaries between national government and state governments are blurred

categorical grants

Federal grants given to state governments for specific purposes. Categorical grants allow the state minimal discretion in determining how to spend the funds.

block grants

Federal grants given to state governments for general purposes. Block grants offer the state some flexibility in determining how to spend the funds.

Which grants allow for the greatest flexibility in how states spend the money?

block grants

unfunded mandates

Programs or regulations that the federal government requires the state governments to administer without providing any federal funds to offset the cost.

What is an unfunded mandate?

a federal requirement that puts the burden of cost on the states

Which state function receives the largest portion of Texas’s federal funding?

health and human services

Which of the following statements best describes the attitude of state officials toward federal funding?

State officials want the money but dislike the conditions that come with it.

Which of the following describes the relationship between Texas and the federal government during the Obama administration?

Conflict and tension between Texas and the federal government greatly increased during the Obama administration.

Why did Texas and 21 other states sue the federal government in March 2021?

for repealing the construction of an oil pipeline

What did Texas and Louisiana claim in their lawsuit against President Biden’s immigration moratorium?

The moratorium created a public safety threat and financial burden to the states.

Why did Texas join six other states in suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services?

for requiring religious organizations to subsidize contraception

Nationalists

Proponents of a version of federalism who see states not as independent actors, but as agents for implementing federal policy.

What contradiction do critics see in the position of supporters of “states’ rights”?

Supporters of states’ rights agree to take federal money but resist federal direction on policy.

How did Rick Perry’s role change in the conflict between the state of Texas and the federal government?

While Perry resisted federal influence as governor, he enforced federal regulations as secretary of energy.

Which of the following factors is important for better understanding Texans’ attitudes about state efforts to resist federal policies?

partisan differences

Besides their general views on the balance of power in the federal system, Republican attitudes toward state government are dependent on which factor?

whether their party is in power

What is one purpose of a constitution?

to establish procedures for making laws

What is true of many constitutions?

They are influenced by the context of the time in which they are written

Which of the following is an accurate comparison between state constitutions and national constitutions?

State constitutions are amended more frequently than national constitutions.

checks and balances

A feature of a political system that gives each branch of government some degree of oversight and control over the actions of other branches.

Whereas the federal constitution divides power into executive, judicial, and legislative branches, states often divide powers among multiple authorities. What is one result of this?

Many lower-level officials have shared responsibilities.

Which tool allows citizens to vote on a law in a popular election?

referendum

Supremacy Clause

The U.S. Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land.

Necessary and proper clause

The federal government has all the authority it needs to carry out its powers

What important event occurred in Texas in 1876?

The basis of the current constitution of Texas was first drafted.

The Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas instructed the legislature to promote which of the following initiatives that has persisted into modern times?

education

The Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas was influenced by several existing constitutions. The division of government powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches was borrowed from which of the following?

the U.S. Constitution

What event made delegates rush to adopt the 1836 constitution?

fighting during the Battle of the Alamo

Texas’s becoming the 28th state in the Union caused which of the following events?

the adoption of the constitution of 1845

Why does the Handbook of Texas Online say that the constitution of 1845 is the most respected of Texas’s constitutions?

It was simple and direct.

The General Provisions article of the constitution of 1845 concentrated on restricting legislative powers. Which of the following provisions was included in this section?

Total accrued state debt could not exceed $100,000 except in cases of war, insurrection, or invasion.

The constitution of 1845 gave the powers to appoint the attorney general and secretary of state to which of the following?

the governor

What event caused the creation of the Confederate Constitution of 1861?

Texas seceded from the United States.

What significant change did the convention make in the constitution of 1866?

The governor’s term was increased to four years.

The U.S. government required which of the following in order for Texas to qualify for readmission to the Union with the constitution of 1869?

Texas had to reject laws passed under the Confederacy.

What was the outcome of the constitutional convention of 1868–1869?

a long, incomplete constitution published under military orders and ratified by popular vote

Which of the following was included among the educational public policies specified in the Radical Republican Constitution of 1869?

compulsory school attendance

Why did many ordinary White Texans dislike the constitution of 1869?

It had been created under pressure from the U.S. government and the Radical Republicans.

Which of the following was triggered by the Democratic Party’s return to statewide power in Texas?

the constitutional convention of 1875

What effect did the 1875 constitution have on the legislature?

The legislature was given less time in session to deliberate and react to events.

ad valorem taxes

Taxes levied in proportion to the assessed value of privately held property such as real estate or motor vehicles.

The Texas Constitution is the second-longest of the 50 state constitutions. What is one contributing factor to its length?

A high level of detail is specified in the constitution, including policy matters such as the creation of hospital districts.

What is the result of the extensive length and disorganization of the Texas Constitution, combined with the framers’ refusal to hire a transcriber?

The Texas Constitution is extremely difficult to understand.

The framers’ support for government regulation of economic and social relationships and their fear of potential abuses of authority by holders of public office reflect which political leaning?

frontier populism

How many articles, not including the preamble, are included in the Texas Constitution?

17

The framers of the 1876 Texas Constitution were reacting to perceived abuses by both the national and state governments under the Radical Republicans. How is this reaction reflected in the bill of rights?

through a series of sweeping generalizations aimed at averting the perceived political dangers of the time

separation of powers

A functional division of governmental offices and personnel used in U.S. national government and state governments, including that of Texas.

By prohibiting a single individual from exercising the powers of more than one branch, the framers accomplished which of the following objectives?

ensuring the separation of powers

Which branch of the Texas government was given primacy by the constitution’s framers?

the legislative branch

How many executive offices does Article IV outline?

six

Which of the following was done in order to divide authority and disperse the executive branch’s ability to actively govern?

The constitution mandated that most of the executive offices be filled through elections.

What mode of selection for the judiciary does the constitution specify?

election