Political Participation
This is the most common form of political participation.
What is voting?
Minimum age to vote in Texas.
What is 18?
Texas voter turnout is generally compared to the national average as being…
What is lower?
These professionals help design campaign strategy and messaging.
What are political consultants?
The two dominant parties in Texas today.
What are the Republican Party and Democratic Party?
Name one activity besides voting that counts as political participation.
What is donating, protesting, volunteering, contacting officials, etc.?
How many days before an election must Texans register?
What is 30 days?
This group adjusts turnout by removing noncitizens and felons.
What is the Voting-Eligible Population (VEP)?
Most campaign funding comes from these organizations.
What are PACs (Political Action Committees)?
Texas is currently dominated by this party.
What is the Republican Party?
Participation can be classified by type and this other factor.
What is intensity (level of involvement)?
This law aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting.
What is the Voting Rights Act?
Name one socioeconomic factor that affects turnout.
What is income, education, race/ethnicity, age, etc.?
Texas uses this type of primary system.
What is a semi-open primary?
This term describes a long-term shift in party loyalty.
What is realignment?
Using social media to support a candidate is an example of this modern form of participation.
What is online/digital political participation?
Type of voting that allows Texans to vote before Election Day.
What is early voting (absentee voting)?
This historical requirement forced Texans to pay to vote.
What is the poll tax?
When no candidate gets a majority in a primary, this election is held.
What is a runoff primary?
These reforms weakened parties by giving voters more direct control.
What are direct primaries, secret ballot, civil service reforms?
This theory explains that people weigh costs vs. benefits when deciding to vote.
What is the rational choice (rationalist) theory?
This Supreme Court decision weakened federal oversight of Texas elections in 2013.
What is Shelby County v. Holder?
This discriminatory practice excluded Black voters from party primaries.
What is the white primary?
This ballot format lists candidates by office rather than by party.
What is the office-block format?
These smaller parties often act as “spoilers” but rarely win.
What are third parties?