POL-1133 Exam 4 Review UPDATED
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Realignment - CORRECT ANSWER - A process in which a substantial group of voters
switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape.
-Texas realignment swapped from Democrats to Republicans very gradually because of
economic changes
Party platform - CORRECT ANSWER - A political party's statement of its goals and
policies for the next four years. The platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a
committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strength. It is the
best formal statement of a party's beliefs.
Precinct Chair - CORRECT ANSWER - The party official responsible for the interests and
activities of a political party in a voting district; typical duties include encouraging voter
registration, distributing campaign literature, operating phone banks, and getting out the vote on
Election Day.
-Lowest level of permanent party organization
-2 year terms
-Elected by primary voters
County Chair - CORRECT ANSWER - Elected by county party members in the primaries,
this key party official heads the county executive committee and they organize the party at the
county level.
-2 year term; elected in the primaries.
Texas Ethics Commission - CORRECT ANSWER - A state agency that enforces state
standards for lobbyists and public officials, including registration of lobbyists and reporting of
political campaign contributions.
Ticket Splitters - CORRECT ANSWER - Persons who vote for candidates of different
parties for different offices in a general election
, State Party Chair - CORRECT ANSWER - Individual selected at the state party
convention to head the state executive committee; state law mandates that if the chair is a man, a
woman must be the vice chair, or vice versa
State Executive Committee - CORRECT ANSWER - Composed of a chair, vice chair, and
two members from each senatorial district, this body is part of a party's permanent organization.
Permanent Party Organization - CORRECT ANSWER - In Texas, the precinct chairs,
county and district executive committees, and the state executive committee form the permanent
organization of a political party.
Temporary Party Organization - CORRECT ANSWER - Primaries and conventions that
function briefly to nominate candidates, pass resolutions, adopt a party platform, and select
delegates to party conventions at higher levels.
Spoils System - CORRECT ANSWER - A system of public employment based on
rewarding party loyalists and friends.
Merit System - CORRECT ANSWER - A system of public employment in which
selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage.
Microtargeting - CORRECT ANSWER - Gathering detailed information on cross sections
of the electorate to track potential supporters and tailor political messages for them; also called
narrowcasting.
Direct Primary - CORRECT ANSWER - A primary where voters directly select the
candidates who will run for office
Proportional Representation - CORRECT ANSWER - An election system in which each
party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the
vote.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Realignment - CORRECT ANSWER - A process in which a substantial group of voters
switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape.
-Texas realignment swapped from Democrats to Republicans very gradually because of
economic changes
Party platform - CORRECT ANSWER - A political party's statement of its goals and
policies for the next four years. The platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a
committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strength. It is the
best formal statement of a party's beliefs.
Precinct Chair - CORRECT ANSWER - The party official responsible for the interests and
activities of a political party in a voting district; typical duties include encouraging voter
registration, distributing campaign literature, operating phone banks, and getting out the vote on
Election Day.
-Lowest level of permanent party organization
-2 year terms
-Elected by primary voters
County Chair - CORRECT ANSWER - Elected by county party members in the primaries,
this key party official heads the county executive committee and they organize the party at the
county level.
-2 year term; elected in the primaries.
Texas Ethics Commission - CORRECT ANSWER - A state agency that enforces state
standards for lobbyists and public officials, including registration of lobbyists and reporting of
political campaign contributions.
Ticket Splitters - CORRECT ANSWER - Persons who vote for candidates of different
parties for different offices in a general election
, State Party Chair - CORRECT ANSWER - Individual selected at the state party
convention to head the state executive committee; state law mandates that if the chair is a man, a
woman must be the vice chair, or vice versa
State Executive Committee - CORRECT ANSWER - Composed of a chair, vice chair, and
two members from each senatorial district, this body is part of a party's permanent organization.
Permanent Party Organization - CORRECT ANSWER - In Texas, the precinct chairs,
county and district executive committees, and the state executive committee form the permanent
organization of a political party.
Temporary Party Organization - CORRECT ANSWER - Primaries and conventions that
function briefly to nominate candidates, pass resolutions, adopt a party platform, and select
delegates to party conventions at higher levels.
Spoils System - CORRECT ANSWER - A system of public employment based on
rewarding party loyalists and friends.
Merit System - CORRECT ANSWER - A system of public employment in which
selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage.
Microtargeting - CORRECT ANSWER - Gathering detailed information on cross sections
of the electorate to track potential supporters and tailor political messages for them; also called
narrowcasting.
Direct Primary - CORRECT ANSWER - A primary where voters directly select the
candidates who will run for office
Proportional Representation - CORRECT ANSWER - An election system in which each
party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the
vote.
