POLS 1333
American/Texas Gover nment
Final Exam Study Guide
In addition to the following you should be familiar with the bold faced words in the t ext. This is only a
guide. By no means does it represent everything you should know for the exam.
1. Describe the County Commissioner’s Court.
2. Why do cou nty governments vary so much across the state? Describ e the challenges this causes.
3. What is the difference between a home-rule city and a general-law city? How does one become a
home-rule city?
4. Describe the t hree major forms of city government in Texas.
5. What are special purpose districts? What are the major problems associated with special purpose
districts?
6. Describe school districts in Texas.
7. What are Councils of Government and what purpose do they serve?
8. Discuss the three patterns that have defined Texas political culture (one-party state,
provincialism, business dominance)?
9. Explain the thr ee waves of economic change that have helped to define and redefine the Texas
political economy? Hint: (1) Cotton and Cattle, (2) Oil and Gas, (3) High-tech Industries.
10. You should be able to describe the demographic make-up of the p eople of Texas. In ot her words,
who are the people of Texas?
11. Describe the f ive main purposes for a state const itution.
12. How does the US Constitution influence the Texas Constitution?
13. The Texas Constitution establishes three branches of government. Describe them.
14. What is a “plural executive” and what effect does it have on the power of the governor in the
State of T exas? What offices make up the plural executive in Texas?
15. Be familiar with the articles of the Texas Constitution that we discussed in class.
16. What are the roles of political parties in Texas politics?
17. Describe the contemporary Republican Party in Texas.
18. Describe the contemporary Democratic Party in Texas.
19. What is the role of third parties in Texas?
20. Why don’t people vote for third parties?
21. Describe how Texas parties are organized from the local, county, to state level.
22. Why do ca mpaigns and elections matter?
23. Explain the differen ce b etw een a primary and general election.
24. Explain the dif fer enc e bet ween an op en and clos ed primary.
25. What is a special election?
26. Explain the early restrictions tha t wer e plac ed on vot ing.
27. Explain the process of reapportionment.
28. What reason explain why Texa s has low voter turnout compared to the rest of the c ountry?
29. What role do parties play in elections?
30. What role do interest groups play in electi ons?
