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Exam Study Questions
Video Course 2301.075
Prof. JC Horton
EXAM 1
1. How does Texas
compare with other states in terms of its response to the problem of poverty?
To what extent does state welfare policy reflect the dominance of the
conservative political culture of the state? How have developments in social
policy at the federal level affected the ability and willingness of state
policy makers to deal with poverty?
2. How is the Texas Constitution amended? What accounts for
the fact that it has been amended 390 times (as of 2000) while the U.S.
Constitution has been amended only 27 times?
3. Describe the structure of county government in Texas. How does this
structure reflect the decentralized character of state government?
4. What impact did the Civil War and Reconstruction have on Texas politics? What,
if any, aspects of the state = s political system continue to show the
influence of this period of Texas
history?
5. Briefly describe three ways the Texas Constitution reflects
the influences of the U.S. Constitution?
EXAM II
1. How do lobbyists go about trying to influence the legislative process?
What restrictions does Texas
law place on the activities of lobbyists? How do these restrictions affect
the way interest groups operate in the state?
2. Trace the extension of suffrage in the United States.
3. Assess the current state of voter turnout, campaigns, and
elections in Texas
in relation to democratic theory and practice.
4. What do the terms A liberal @ and A conservative @ mean in
the context of American and Texas
politics? What are some of the problems associated with the use of these
terms in public?
5. Describe the structure and functions of the temporary and
permanent party organizations in Texas.
EXAM III
1. Describe the process by which a bill becomes a law in Texas. If you were a legislator interested
in passing a bill you had introduced, whose support would you be most
concerned about securing?
2. Why are the presiding officers important in the Texas legislature
process? Why is the selection of presiding officers more important in Texas than it is in
many other states?
3. What factors limit the Texas governor = s ability to function
effectively as chief executive? Given these limitations, how can the governor
influence the operation of the executive branch?
4. What is the difference between a progressive and a
regressive system of taxation? How would you characterize Texas = s tax system?
5. Describe the roles that the governor of Texas is expected to fulfill?
EXAM IV
Three questions from all the potential essay questions for
the three previous tests will appear on the fourth test. Therefore, the
following questions on section four are for study purposes only.
1. In your opinion, what is the best method of selecting
judges in a state court system? What makes this method of selection superior
to the alternatives? How would you assess the current prospects of adopting a
different method of judicial selection in Texas?
2. What constitutional guidelines did legislators in Texas seek to follow
in passing new anti-stalking legislation?
3. Describe various ways in the Constitution and the Courts
in Texas
protects the rights of persons accused of crimes?
4. What actions have been taken to advance the cause of equal
rights for women?
5. List those occasions where speech and press are not
protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution?
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Antonio College |Political
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Updated 02-06-2007
Copyright 2007
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