Government

NAME: ________________________________

Texas Government 2306 – Spring 2019

TEST I – Major Issues in Texas Power Point and Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 9

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE (45 points total)

Per your Syllabus your Multiple Choice Questions are taken in the Testing Center. Remember to take a Scantron to the Testing Center and to put your answers on the Test AND on the Scantron. These must be taken by the time the Testing Center closes on Monday, February 25, 2019.

II. ESSAYS (55 points)

Please save this document to your computer, type your answers onto the document under ANSWER, save it, and upload it to BlackBoard under Test 1. Your essays are due on BlackBoard by the end of the day on Monday, February 25, 2019.

You MUST use complete sentences or you will lose points. Answers should be at least one paragraph each.

1. We spent time in class going over the Major Issues in Texas Power Point and worked through the high poverty rate in Texas. Explain why the high poverty rate is significant (i.e. why does it matter) and what you would do as a legislator in Texas to combat this high poverty rate (at least two things you would do).

ANSWER:

2. We studied the rights of unauthorized immigrants in Texas. Do you think unauthorized immigrants in Texas should be granted the same legal rights as citizens of the state of Texas? Why or why not and fully explain. Do you think unauthorized immigrants in Texas take more from Texas as a whole OR do you think unauthorized immigrants in Texas provide more than they take? Fully explain your answer and give reasons to back it up.

ANSWER:

3. We spent a good amount of time in class discussing the concept of federalism and Chapter 3 was devoted to the concept of federalism. Please tell me 1) what is federalism, 2) do you think federalism is easy OR hard to achieve and why, 3) fully explain why we studied the legalization of marijuana in Colorado in our study of federalism – i.e. how did that study explain federalism to you? And 4) if you were a legislator in Texas would you be in favor of legalization of marijuana or not – tell me what issues you would consider in terms of federalism to make your decision.

ANSWER:

4. Pretend the Texas Legislature passes a law that says that during all lawful contact a police officer or government officer can ask anyone in Texas to show them documents proving their citizenship status. Based on your study of federalism and court precedent, what do you predict will happen in this situation and FULLY EXPLAIN why you think the way you do.

ANSWER:

5. We studied about gun violence in the United States and went through information that is available to your legislators and that they pay attention to in order to try and combat gun violence in Texas. If you were a legislator in the State of Texas, what would you do to try and combat gun violence in Texas – tell me at least two things you would do / legislation that you think should be passed to combat gun violence in Texas. (Think like a legislator – this is what your legislators have to do on a daily basis.)

ANSWER:

6. We studied about political socialization and the things that impact how a person thinks the way they do about politics and the government. We also began to talk about how politicians use this information in their campaigns. If you were running for Texas Governor and were about to go and speak to a group of people tell me at least THREE things you would ask your staff to tell you about this group – and fully explain why you want to know these things.

ANSWER:

7. What THREE things have impacted your political socialization the most and why?

ANSWER: