Texas Government, State Culture, and Constitution Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering political culture theories (Elazar and Lieske), Texas constitutional history, the Constitution of 1876, and core democratic and legal principles.

Elazar's theory

A framework stating that U.S. states can be grouped into three broad political cultures: moralistic, individualistic, and traditionalistic.

Moralistic culture

A political culture where government is viewed as a tool for promoting the common good and improving society, and citizen participation is valued.

Individualistic culture

A political culture where government is generally expected to be limited and to maintain opportunities and economic order.

Traditionalistic culture

A political culture where government is often used to preserve established social order and traditional power structures.

Texas political culture (under Elazar)

A political culture described as a mixture of traditionalistic and individualistic cultures.

Lieske's theory

A detailed, data-driven, and multidimensional approach to regional subcultures developed by Joel Lieske.

Lieske's data

Data from a 2010 study that utilized 2000 Census data and religious survey data.

Lieske's measures

Data points used to measure regional subcultures, including race and ethnic ancestry, religious affiliation/preferences, and social-structural characteristics.

Lieske subcultures

Regional subcultures identified as Nordic, Mormon, Anglo-French, Germanic, Heartland, Rurban, Global, Border, Black Belt, Native American, and Latino.

Frontier influence on Texas

Historical conditions that strongly encouraged self-reliance, individualism, local control, property ownership, and skepticism toward powerful government.

Texas Constitutions before 1876

The five previous governing frameworks of Texas, adopted in 1836, 1845, 1861, 1866, and 1869.

Constitution of 1876

Texas's current constitution, adopted after the 1875 Constitutional Convention and ratified in 1876.

Governor Edmund J. Davis administration

The centralized Reconstruction government whose powerful administration led framers of the 1876 Constitution to distrust government and limit official powers.

Texas Constitutional Amendment Process

The procedure where two-thirds of all elected members of both legislative chambers must approve a proposal, followed by majority approval from Texas voters statewide.

Blue laws

Laws restricting certain commercial or recreational activities, historically especially on Sundays.

Higher law

The idea that fundamental principles or laws are superior to ordinary government-made laws.

Positive law

Law formally created or enacted by a legitimate government authority, such as statutes and regulations.

Dual constitutionalism

A constitutional system where both the U.S. Constitution and a state constitution govern state government, requiring state action to comply with both.

Direct democracy

A form of democracy in which citizens vote directly on laws or public decisions.

Indirect/representative democracy

A form of democracy in which citizens elect representatives who make laws and public decisions for them.