Which of the following states is a competitive state, meaning that it could potentially vote either Democratic or Republican?

. The county government in Texas is appointing new employees for various posts. As part of the employment procedure, the candidates are required to meet job-related specifications. These candidates are then shortlisted on a merit basis

This is an example of which of the following? a. the place system b. the civil service system c. the at-large system d. the strong mayor system

Considering the information given in the "Unresolved Debate:

Do Presidential Campaigns Matter?" feature that campaigns do not matter, what should a candidate's most important appeal to voters be? a. to undecided voters, who frequently switch parties at the last minute b. to voters who are not sure the candidate is a credible option c. to party leaders who can provide the necessary funds for the campaign d. to highly political activists e. to party loyalty, because Democrats vote for Democrats and Republicans vote for Republicans