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Chapter 4: Political Parties
True/False Questions
1. Political parties are the only organizations capable of holding together many factious interests so
that governing is possible.
2. An ideology is a system of beliefs and values about the nature of the good life in the good society,
and the relationship of government and the economy, about moral values and the way they should
be achieved, and about how to conduct government itself.
3. The basic principle underlying conservatism, at least in economic policy, is laissez-faire.
4. Conservative governments frequently follow a policy known as pseudo laissez-faire in their
economic policies.
5. Liberals are generally suspicious of the workings of the unregulated market and place more faith
in the ability of the government to direct economic activity.
6. Conservatives generally are suspicious of the government attempting to regulate personal beliefs
and behaviors.
7. An interest is something of value or some personal characteristic that people share and is affected
by an activity of the government.
8. Since there are seldom factional interests that command a majority of the population, political
parties attempt to put together coalitions of interests in order to attract blocks of voters and
campaign contributions.
9. Conservatism is the dominant political philosophy among Anglos in Texas, with a majority of
people polled declaring themselves as conservatives.
10. All interests in politics are economic.
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11. After Reconstruction, the dominant political party in Texas was the Republican Party.
12. The election of Ronald Reagan in 1984 broke the domination of the Democratic Party over Texas
politics.
13. At the present time, all of the state-wide elected offices in Texas are controlled by the Republican
Party.
14. The main function of the county conventions of the major political parties is to nominate
candidates for county-wide office and to send delegates to the state convention.
15. The state convention selects the State Executive Committee and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the
party.
16. The experience of the Republican Party since 1994 shows that persons who are nominated by the
party must pledge to support the party platform.
17. The County Executive Committee is responsible for the conduct of the party primaries.
18. Political party organization is extremely important because the party organization selects the
nominees of the party.
19. The social conservatives of the Republican Party control the party machinery of the Republican
Party.
20. Party activists in the Republican Party come from a diverse social and economic background.
21. The core strength of the Democratic Party in Texas is centered among minority voters, especially
Hispanic and Afro American voters.
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22. According to the authors, it is possible that in the future Texas will have only a liberal
Democratic Party and a conservative Republican Party.
23. The Libertarian Party in Texas is consistently anti-government.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The two dominant ideologies in Texas politics today are generally referred to as:
A. individualism and communitarianism
B. socialism and populism
C. libertarianism and conservatism
D. liberalism and conservatism
2. Among conservatives, the base of the economic philosophy is
A. laissez-faire
B. governmental regulation
C. central planning
D. social equality
3. A person who believes in governmental action to achieve social and economic equality would be
classified as a:
A. conservative
B. laissez-faire market economist
C. liberal
D. libertarian
4. A person who does not trust unregulated markets and favors little or no governmental regulation
of personal and social behavior would be classified as a:
A. conservative
B. libertarian
C. liberal
D. laissez-faire market economist
5. Which of the following would be most likely to oppose government action to regulate the
economy and to regulate personal behavior would be classified as a”
A. conservative
B. libertarian
C. liberal
D. laissez-faire market economist
6. After Reconstruction in Texas ended, most Texans came to identify with the _____ Party.
A. Whig
B. Populist
C. Republican
D. Democratic
7. Among the results of the fact that Texas was a one-party state until the 1970s, which of the
following existed?
A. voter turnout was generally low in the General Elections
B. elections were decided in favor of the candidate who won the Democratic Primary
C. the party label “Democrat” gave little indication of the political beliefs of the candidate
D. all of the above were true
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8. The data seem to indicate that during the last two decades of the 20th Century, a _______
occurred.
A. party realignment
B. party dealignment
C. party consolidation
D. party destruction
9. Which of the following is not a major priority for political parties in Texas?
A. candidate recruitment
B. contesting of elections by fund raising and campaign assistance
C. setting the agenda for governmental actions
D. conflict resolution between various competing interests in society
10. Party membership in Texas is determined in what fashion?
A. persons declare their party membership when they register to vote
B. persons sign a party affiliation declaration and agree to pay party dues
C. the central committee votes to admit individuals to membership
D. a person votes in the party’s primary
11. Membership requirements for the major political parties in Texas include
A. modest annual dues
B. attendance at a minimum of one party meeting a year
C. a minimum level of financial contributions to the party’s nominees
D. none of the above
12. The precinct chairs of the parties are selected in what manner?
A. they are generally elected by the voters in the precinct
B. they are appointed by the County Chairman
C. they are selected by the party’s candidate for governor
D. they are appointed by the State Party Chairperson
13. Which of the following is part of the temporary party organization in Texas?
A. Precinct convention
B. State executive committee
C. Members of the Electoral College
D. National committee of the party
14. The major party state conventions do all except which of the following?
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A. nominate a list of persons to be named as presidential electors if the party wins the
presidential election
B. select the members of the state executive committee
C. select the state members on the national party committee
D. select the party’s nominees for state-wide political office
15. How is the State Executive Committee selected (for major parties)?
A. members are elected by the voters in each of the 31 Senatorial Districts
B. members are selected by the delegates to the State Convention
C. they are appointed by the State Chairman of the Party
D. they are appointed by the National committee of the party
16. The primary purpose of the precinct conventions of the parties is to:
A. count the votes cast in the primary election
B. select delegates to the county convention
C. adopt party platforms
D. nominate candidates for precinct offices
17. Which group is not a primary source of strength for the Republican Party in Texas?
A. Anglos voters
B. college graduates
C. Afro-American voters
D. migrants from other states, especially mid-western and northeastern states
18. Of the groups listed, which provides the Democratic Party with the least support?
A. Hispanic voters
B. Afro-American Voters
C. lower income Anglo voters
D. Upper income Anglo voters
19. The most significant minor party in Texas politics today is the:
A. Populist Party
B. Green Party
C. American Independent Party
D. Libertarian Party
20. In order to run as an independent candidate, one must do which of the following?
A. be nominated by a petition containing the signatures of the necessary number of voters who
did not vote in the party primaries
B. be endorsed by a committee of independents
C. pay the required filing fee
D. all of the above
Essay Questions
1. What is the basic economic belief underlying conservatism in Texas? Do interests representing
big business truly believe in laissez-faire economics?
2. Select a major political issue of the day. What would be the position of liberals, conservatives,
and libertarians on this position?
3. Trace the history of one of the state’s major political parties since Reconstruction.
4. What are the main functions of political parties? How well do political parties in Texas perform
these duties?
5. Outline the structure of the permanent political party committees in Texas? How are the officers
of these committees selected?
6. What are the three major party factions in Texas? What are the problems each faces?
7. How does one become an independent candidate for political office in Texas? What has been the
fate of recent independent candidates for state-wide office?