Of the 50 states, Texas ranks among the worst in terms of voting turnout. Where does Texas rank exactly?
Party politics came to Texas in the 1850s, as
... [Show More] the Pro-Houston faction became the Jackson Democrats (Unionists) who were in favor of slavery, while the Anti-Houston faction became the Calhoun Democrats who were decidedly anti- slavery.
Which of the below represent some of the more powerful examples of racial & ethnic special interest groups in Texas and are frequently responsible for lobbying for equal rights protection in both the public and private sectors?
Which special interest group/s do Texas legislators NOT regularly consider to be among the most powerful in the state?
The selection of delegates to send to the Democratic National Convention is known as what?
Racial gerrymandering is the practice of manipulating legislative district lines in order to underrepresent persons of a political party or group. What term/s below are associated with types of racial gerrymandering?
Founded in 1929, the Mexican American Defense League (MALDEF) is the oldest Latino special interest group.
Texas politics was dominated by the Democrats from the 1870s-1970s. Which Republican managed to carry Texas not once, but twice, in 1952 & 1956?
Who was the 1st Latino to win statewide office in Texas?
Cecile Richards, daughter of former Gov. Ann Richards, helped create the Christian Coalition in 1995.
The internet, while increasingly valuable to candidates and their campaigns, suffers from several inherent weaknesses. Which of the following is NOT one of those weaknesses?
Which U.S. Constitutional Amendment/s was/were added in order to ensure that suffrage (voting) rights are protected?
The jungle primary runs the risk of creating a situation where the final 2 candidates in a general election are both from the same party since candidates from all parties run against each other in the same primary. What is the only state in the U.S. to use this system?
While seemingly unethical, Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim's act of passing out blank $10,000 checks on the Texas Senate floor in 1989 was not illegal, though a law against such action was passed shortly afterwards.
By federal law, no state can set residence requirements of greater than 30 days immediately preceding an election on people moving there.
Which group is responsible for publishing The Texas Voters Guide, which provides relatively unbiased info about candidates, the elections, and candidates' positions on various issues?
Despite the overall conservative ideology found in Texas, 2010 marked an historic moment for the state, and the country as a whole, as Annise Parker became the 1st openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city.
3rd parties are rarely able to seriously contest an election and therefore measure success less on winning and more on making the public aware of their issues and persuading major parties to adopt their issues.
Which popular politician/s were part of the "dream team" envisioned by Democrats during the 2002 Texas elections?
What is the label given to someone who is economically conservative but realizes that there is a need for the government to assist those in need and attempt to solve social problems in a limited manner?
John Tower is significant to Texas history because he became the 1st Republican to hold statewide office since 1869 when elected as the governor of Texas.
One is eligible for early voting via mail if they meet which of the following exceptions?
African Americans in the U.S. have tended to identify with the Democratic Party since the 1930s. Approximately what percentage of African Americans claim to be Democrats?
Which Democratic president/presidents have successfully won election/reelection without carrying Texas?
The debate between Tony Sanchez and Alberto Gonzalez for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination on March 1, 2002 was historic because it was the1st Spanish-language gubernatorial debate in U.S. history.
Under the requirements of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which language below is NOT one that you can obtain a ballot in to vote in Harris County/Houston?
What political leader did political factions in Texas coalesce around in during the time that Texas was a Republic?
What Texas Country singer/songwriter ran a relatively successful 3rd party gubernatorial campaign in 2005?
Gov. E.J. Davis would be the last Republican governor elected in Texas for approximately how many years?
If you vote in Texas, you are likely to encounter which voting system when you arrive at your precinct?
The Texas Medical Association (TMA) is among the most powerful and influential power groups in the state and
boasts extremely high success rates in both the passage of and denial of bills that it both approves and disapproves
of.
Before Texas is allowed to change voting qualifications or requirements, it must obtain preclearance from the U.S. Department of Justice as a result of the state's long history of voting infringements against certain groups dating from the Civil War through the 1960s.
Laissez-faire is a political ideology which understands and embraces the need for government intervention in order to create a more just and fair society.
Of all of the various forms of media available to candidates today, which is the most important to their electoral success?
Annise Parker is fond of welcoming visitors to Houston by declaring: "Welcome to Texas, where men are men and women are mayors."
A shift in political loyalty from one party to another is known as "dealignment".
Which obstacles to universal suffrage (voting) did Texas employ throughout its' history?
Use of the poll tax in Texas began in 1902. What dollar amount was the tax set at?
The La Raza Unida Party was founded in 1969 by Jose Angel Gutierrez and was responsible for helping to expand the political power of the Mexican American community to statewide levels.
When Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison won the U.S. Senate seat during a 1993 special election, two Texas "firsts" occurred as she was the 1st woman to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate, and it was the 1st time in modern history that Texas is represented by 2 Republican senators.
To combat "turnout burnout", Texas passed a law which limits elections in the state to two uniform dates each year: the 2nd Saturday in May & the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November.
Running for office is extremely expensive. What is the average amount of money that a Houston mayoral candidate will need spend in an attempt to win the election?
The Markle Commission on Media & Electorate found which of the following to be responsible for the surge in negative campaigning?
According to a 2011 Univision/ABC/Latino Decisions Poll, what percentage of Latinos claimed they felt that Republicans "don't care" about them or are "hostile" towards them?
Miriam "Ma" Ferguson and Ann Richards are the only 2 women in Texas history to hold the position of governor of Texas. [Show Less]