Tx Pol Exam 2 - Chapter 5

Front 1

Direct primary

Back 1

nominating system allowsing voters to participate directly in the selection of canidates for public office

Front 2

Plurality vote

Back 2

the largest # of votes to be received by any canidate

Front 3

La Raza Unida Party

Back 3

third-party movement, Founded in 1969 by José Ángel Gutiérrez of Crystal City and others, fielded numerous candidates at the local and state level and mobilized many Mexican Americans who had been politically inactive

Front 4

Closed primary

Back 4

voters must declare their support for the party before they are permitted to participate in the selection of it's canidates

Front 5

Top-two or Jungle primary

Back 5

A nominating process whereby voters indicate their preferences by using a single ballot on which are printed the names and respective party labels of all persons seeking nomination

Front 6

Political action committees (PACs)

Back 6

an organizational device used by corporations, labor unions, and other organizations to raise money for campaigns

Front 7

Sound bite

Back 7

a brief statement of a canidates theme communicated by radio or television in a few seconds

Front 8

Open primary

Back 8

voters are not required to declate their party identification

Front 9

Run-off primary

Back 9

held a month after the first primary to allow party memebers to choose a canidate from the first primary's top two vote-getters

Front 10

Independent expenditures

Back 10

political campaign communication that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identifed canidate that is not made in cooperation, consulation or concert with or at the request or suggestion of a candidate or political party

Front 11

General election

Back 11

held in november of even-numbered years to elect county and state officals from among candidates nominated in primaries

Front 12

Spin

Back 12

form of propaganda, achieved through providing an interpretation of an event or campaign to persuade public opinion in favor or against a certain organization or public figure

Front 13

HB 1606

Back 13

Prostitution; solicitation of a minor; penalty

Front 14

Super PAC

Back 14

independent expenditureonly committees that may raise unlimted sums of money from corportations, unions, nonprofit organizations and invdivudlas

Front 15

Majority vote

Back 15

a decision rule that selects alternatives which have a majority, that is, more than half the votes

Front 16

Soft money

Back 16

donations made to national political parties for federal election purposes

Front 17

Special election

Back 17

election called by gov to fill a vacancy or to vote on a proposed state constituitional admendment or local bond issue

Front 18

Hard money

Back 18

campaign money donated directly to canidates or poltical parties and restricted in amount by federal law

Front 19

Voter turnout

Back 19

the percentage of the voting-age population casting ballots in an election

Front 20

What are the legal requirements for voting in Texas? Can persons convicted of a felony vote?

Back 20

Must be a citizen of the U.S, 18 years old, registered to vote, resident of texas for at least 30 days. CANNONT vote if you are declared mentally incompetent or convicted of a felon whose sentence, probation or parole has not been completed.

Front 21

Describe the role of the Texas Ethics Commission regarding elections.

Back 21

Created to monitor lobbyist and candidate campaigns/contributions
All canidates and lobbyists must register with TEC

Front 22

What is the most important aspect of democracy?

Back 22

VOTING but other forms of poltical partcipation is imporant

Front 23

Describe the role of the media during elections. What are some of the complications the media can cause for candidates?

Back 23

Used because canidates dont have enough time to personally campaign in every country and they need to raise large amounts of cash at local, state and national levels. Complications are that their public and private lives are avaliable for review and comment 24/7

Front 24

Aside from voting on Election Day, what are some other ways people can vote?

Back 24

Early voting at courthouse and selected locations before designated primary for any reason, vote by mail(must qualify) and vote by fax if in combat zone

Front 25

When must ballots be printed in another language?

Back 25

If 10% of population speaks a language other than english as their first language

Front 26

What are some historic reasons for low voter turnout in Texas? Does Texas have good voter participation as compared to other states and the nation?

Back 26

Attributed in part to lower percentage of eligibble voters and lack of information/negativity, high rate of persons in poverty(tx is 4th) low high school grad tates, age/race, long ballot, feelings of isolation
Texas voter turnout tends to be significantly LOWER than the rest of the nation

Front 27

Who runs primary elections? Who pays for them? Are primary elections in Texas open or closed? Why?

Back 27

Polticial parties sponser and administer their own primaries
Primaries in texas are both opened and closed, declare party affliation on day of primary andmay only vote in that party's primary for up to a year

Front 28

Describe recent voting trends and issues related to Latinos, African-Americans, and women in Texas. What are some other socioeconomic influences on voting?

Back 28

Latinos: began realizing potential of their vote in late 1960-70's, changed strategies to target, critical to both parties success in the future, La Raza Unida Party & LULAC, issues of immigration reform and bilingual education is important
African Americans: constitute 10% of state's potential voters, 80% of voting age support democratic
Women: in 2000, 2002 and 2006, women led all candidates on either ticket in votes received, expanded presense of women in public office is changing public policy, increased punishment for family violence and sexual abuse, renewed focus on public education
OTHER SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUES: High rate of persons in poverty (TX 4th)low high school graduation rates, age, race and ethnicity

Front 29

Describe the historic obstacles for voting noted in your text. What was the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and what were its main provisions? List and describe other federal legislation related to voting rights.

Back 29

Historical obstacles: grandfather clause, poll tax, literacy tests, all-white primaries, KKK intimidation, universal suffrage not until1960
Voting acts of 1965- Federal voting rights legislation. Abolished literacy tests, prohbited residency requiremnents of more then 30 days, required states to provide absentee ballot or early voting, allows individuals and federal gov to sue to request voting examiners, requires some states or areas to submit plans for pre-clerance, requires bilinugal ballots if 10% of population speaks a langauge other then english as their first language
OTHER LEGISLATIONS:
national voter registration act of 1993(motor voter law)
15th amendment- prevents denial of voting rights bc of race
19th amendment- women can vote
26th amendment- voting age at 18

Front 30

What is the federal Campaign Finance Act? How have recent Supreme Court rulings limited its effectiveness? Describe Texas campaign finance laws. Describe how Texas campaign finance laws differ from federal ones.

Back 30

Campaign Finance Act- a US federal law which increased disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns. It was amended in 1974 to place legal limits on the campaign contributions. The amendment also created the Federal Election Committee(FEC).
Limit effectiveness because of Supreme Court overturned some parts of act – corporations and unions seen as “people” with free speech rights. Led to “Super PACs” that can take in unlimited donations and spend unlimited amounts as long as don’t coordinate with campaigns
They are weak though b/c they focus on disclosure but not enforcement, was not until 1992 that handing out checks on floor of legislature made illegal.
Differ from federal ones because federal ones were not very successful

Front 31

What is gerrymandering? When is it legal? When is it illegal? What does your book mean when it talks about “packing and cracking” forms of gerrymandering (dilution and concentration)?

Back 31

Gerrymandering- designing election districts to give advantage to one group over another
LEGAL when used to draw district lines to protect incumbents of both parties
ILLEGAL when used to insure party success
“Packing” black voters into a given district or “cracking” them to make black voters a minority in all districts both illustrate racial gerrymandering.