Texas Government 2306 chapters 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 Exam Questions and
Answers
government - Answers -the system by which a state or community is governed
politics - Answers -the practice and theory of influencing other people
political culture - Answers -broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the
government should function and politics should operate; American political culture
emphasizes the values of liberty, equality, and democracy
moralistic political culture (definition) - Answers -the belief that government should be
active in promoting the public good and that citizens should participate in politics and
civic activities to ensure that good
individualistic political culture (definition) - Answers -the belief that government should
limit its role to providing order in society, so that citizens can pursue their economic self-
interests
traditionalistic political culture (definition) - Answers -the belief that government should
be dominated by political elites and guided by tradition
provincialism - Answers -a narrow, limited, and self-interested view of the world often
associated with rural values and notions of limited government
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - Answers -trade treaty among the
United States, Canada, and Mexico to lower and eliminate tariffs among the three
countries
impresario - Answers -an individual who promotes, organizes, or helps to finance a
particular endeavor
poll tax - Answers -a state-imposed tax on voters as a prerequisite for voting; poll taxes
were rendered unconstitutional in national elections by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment,
and in state elections by the Supreme Court in 1966.
urbanization - Answers -the process by which people move from rural areas to cities
,In terms of area, how does Texas rank among the 50 states? - Answers -Second to
California. 268,601 sq. miles
Which of Texas's physical regions is characterized by the presence of many of the
state's largest ranches? - Answers -Interior Lowlands
Which of Texas's physical regions is found in the western-most part of Texas? -
Answers -Pine Belt
Creative destruction - Answers -creates new economies and destroys old ones.
Which industry controlled the politics and economy of Texas for most of the twentieth
century? - Answers -oil
Fracking and horizontal drilling have - Answers -reinvigorated Texas's oil industry.
Unlike earlier eras, the Texas economy of the twenty-first century features - Answers -
computers, electronics, and other high-tech products.
NAFTA refers to - Answers -an international trade agreement.
What is meant by the "Great Recession"? - Answers -a time of chronic economic
problems beginning in late 2007 that drew analogies to the Great Depression of the
1930's
Which of the following accounts for most of Texas's population growth? - Answers -
natural increases as a result of the differences between births and deaths
True of False?
San Antonio has a larger white population that Latino. - Answers -False
The three major metropolitan areas in Texas are - Answers -Houston, Dallas-Fort
Worth, and San Antonio.
Texas politics is shaped by the state geography, such as - Answers -size, location,
natural resources
True of False?
Texas shares the largest boarder with a foreign country - Answers -True
What is the population of Texas? - Answers -26 million
moralistic political culture (key beliefs) - Answers --rooted in New England Puritanism
-the common good (expressed through politics) is everyones concern
-government should promote the public good
-Example states: MN, IA, WI, CA, WA, ME, VT, NH
, individualistic political culture (key beliefs) - Answers --focuses more on commercial
success
-government should provide order and protect property
-bureaucracy viewed as interference
-less concern for mass participation in politics
-Example states: NY, PA, OH, IL, NV, TX
traditionalistic political culture (key beliefs) - Answers --rooted in plantation values of
social hierarchy
-focused on tradition and maintaining existing social order (keep standing
arrangements)
-politics engaged in by established wealthy families
-Example states: TX, AZ, FL, MS, AL
True of False?
Texas is both individualistic and traditionalistic. - Answers -True. Some states are a
blend of both.
Texas: traditionalistic-individualistic mix: - Answers --Due to long lasting patterns in
state:
a. the one party system (has changed)
b. provincialism (has changed)
c. business dominance (still true)
business dominance in Texas - Answers --unions are mostly absent
-consumers are environmental concerns not especially influential
provincialism in Texas - Answers --associated with Jeffersonian notions of limited
government and rural values
-low spending on social services and education
-intolerant of social hierarchy challenges, diversity
Population in 2010:
-Anglo:
-African American:
-Hispanic:
-Other: - Answers --25,146,000
-47%
-11%
-37%
-5%
Constitution - Answers -the legal structure/framework of government, which establishes
its power and authority as well as the limits of power