Texas Government Overview and Political Culture

Moralistic

Government's role is to promote the public good and civic participation is encouraged.

Individualistic

Focuses on individual freedom and minimal government intervention in people's lives.

Traditionalistic

Emphasizes maintaining social order and preserving traditional values; government is controlled by a few elite.

Texas's Political Culture

A blend of individualistic and traditionalistic cultures, with a focus on limited government, low taxes, and personal responsibility.

Texas's Political Culture History

Influenced by Texas' frontier history, its role as an independent republic, and its agricultural economy. There's a longstanding suspicion of centralized authority (especially the federal government).

Gulf Coastal Plains

Fertile land, home to major cities (Houston, Corpus Christi).

Central Texas

Known for the Hill Country and major tech hubs (Austin).

Great Plains

Includes the Panhandle, focused on agriculture and ranching.

Mountain and Basin Region

West Texas, characterized by deserts and mountains.

Agrarian Economy

Dominated by cotton, cattle, and oil.

Post-WWII Economic Change

Transitioned to a diversified economy with tech, energy, and services.

Economic Shift

Economic shift from agriculture to industry and technology.

Migration and Population Growth

Contributed to economic change.

Creative Destruction

The process by which new industries replace older ones, leading to job loss in traditional sectors but creating new opportunities.

NAFTA

Increased trade between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, benefiting Texas by boosting its trade-dependent economy, particularly in manufacturing and agriculture.

Growing Population

Texas is experiencing rapid population growth, especially among Hispanic communities.

Urbanization

Significant movement from rural areas to cities, making Texas more urbanized.

Population Density in Urban Areas

Leads to greater political and economic power concentrated in cities like Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.

Challenges of Urbanization

Creates challenges for government, including infrastructure, housing, and public services.

Role of a State Constitution

Establishes the framework of government and defines the powers and responsibilities of state institutions.

Federalism

Defines the relationship between state governments and the federal government.

Constitution of 1836

Set up the Texas Republic; modeled after the U.S. Constitution.

Constitution of 1845

Admitted Texas to the U.S. as a state; maintained Texas' right to divide into multiple states.

Constitution of 1861

Seceded Texas from the Union and joined the Confederacy.

Constitution of 1866

Post-Civil War; abolished slavery but didn't address civil rights for African Americans.

Constitution of 1869

Reconstruction constitution that centralized power in the governor's office.

Constitution of 1876

Current constitution; decentralized government and emphasized limited government.

The Grange

A farmers' organization that pushed for reforms such as state regulation of railroads and utilities.

Radical Republicans

Advocated for stronger protections for civil rights during Reconstruction; they influenced the post-Civil War constitutions.

Limited government power

A major theme of the Constitution of 1876.

Strong separation of powers

A major theme of the Constitution of 1876.

Emphasis on local control

A major theme of the Constitution of 1876.

Protection of individual rights

A major theme of the Constitution of 1876.

Bill of Rights

Similar to the U.S. Bill of Rights but includes additional protections, such as the right to hunt and fish.

Legislative Branch

Bicameral (House and Senate), makes laws.

Executive Branch

Governor, Lieutenant Governor, other elected officials.

Judicial Branch

Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals.

Amendment Process

Requires a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers and approval by a majority of voters.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a central government and subnational governments (states).

10th Amendment

Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states.

Supremacy Clause

Federal law takes precedence over state law when they conflict.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

States must recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.

Comity Clause

Citizens of each state are entitled to the privileges and immunities of citizens in other states.

Police Powers

States' authority to regulate health, safety, and welfare.

Article 1, Section 10

Limits the powers of states (e.g., cannot engage in foreign diplomacy).

Dual Federalism

Clear separation of powers between state and federal governments, often called 'layer cake federalism.'

Cooperative Federalism

Federal and state governments work together to solve problems, often with overlapping powers.

Categorical Grants

Federal funds provided for specific programs or projects.

Block Grants

Flexible funds for state and local programs.

Preemptive Legislation

Federal law overrides state law (e.g., Civil Rights Act of 1964).

Wickard v. Filburn (1942)

Expands federal power under the Commerce Clause, allowing Congress to regulate activities affecting interstate commerce, even if indirect.

Dual Federalism

Texas had more autonomy and was less influenced by federal government policies.

Cooperative Federalism

Texas had to cooperate more with federal agencies to receive funding for programs like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Wilson-Era Changes

Increased federal involvement in state matters, pushing more regulation and oversight.

Issues with Federalism and Texas

Tension between state sovereignty and federal mandates, particularly on issues like immigration, education, and healthcare.

County Government

Counties serve as administrative arms of the state, providing local services (e.g., law enforcement, road maintenance).

How Many Counties?

Texas has 254 counties.

County Commissioner's Court

Governing body for the county, consisting of elected commissioners.

County Positions

Sheriff, District Clerk, County Clerk, Treasurer, Tax Assessor-Collector.

Issues with Smaller Counties

Limited revenue and resources, making it difficult to provide services.

Main Functions of County Government

Law enforcement, public health, elections, and infrastructure.

Home-Rule

Cities with populations over 5,000 can draft their own charters.

General Law

Cities with populations under 5,000 follow state law and cannot create their own charters.

Types of City Government

Mayor-Council and Council-Manager.

Strong Mayor

Holds significant power (budget, appointments).

Weak Mayor

Limited powers, with the council holding more authority.

At-Large Districts

Elected by the entire city.

Single-Member Districts

Elected from specific geographic areas.

Special Districts

Independent entities created for specific functions (e.g., schools, water districts).

School Districts

Provide primary and secondary education; funded through property taxes.

Non-School Districts

Include water, transportation, and hospital districts; raise revenue through taxes or fees.

Creation of Special Districts

Typically created by voters or the state legislature.

Issues (Bonds)

Special districts often issue bonds to fund projects, leading to concerns over debt and accountability.

Councils of Government (COGs)

Regional organizations that coordinate planning and provide services to local governments within a specific area.