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The political culture of Texas consists of
consists of the attitudes, values, and beliefs that most people in a political community have about the proper role of govt. and the (limited) role of citizens in that govt.
Political Participation Consists of what Activities?
- running for office
-voting
-attending political meetings
-working on campaigns
-wearing a button
-displaying a bumper sticker
Briefly describe the Texas economy
Over the past few decade, it has become less of a land-based economy
-high oil prices enabled the state to avoid several of the most recent national recessions
-and Texas' economy leads the nation in oil production
What are some primary characteristics of the Texas population as a whole?
Growing faster than most states
-It's a Majority-Minority, where minority groups, combined, make up the majority of the population
Why did the State Board of Education receive criticism?
for revising textbooks to de-emphasize the importance of the civil rights movement, religious freedom, and removed Thomas Jefferson as one of the great thinkers that was studied in history
What was a main reason for the Texas Revolution?
the suspension of the Constitution of 1824
What is the most basic and most important characteristic of a Constitution
it is a contract between the state and the people
What are the historical characteristics of the Texas Constitution?
It is based on the principles of popular sovereignty and limited govt.
the amendment process in Texas is in which article?
Article XVII
What is one of the main contributions of the Spanish to the Texas Constitution?
Community property rights for women
the 1869 Texas Constitution did what?
-Allowed former slaves to vote
-abolished county courts
-centralized public schools under state control
-and gave the governor strong appointive power
the 1876 Texas Constitution was a reaction to what?
a strong centralized power established in the Constitution of 1869
What is the largest source of state revenue?
sales tax
What is the largest source of local govt revenue?
property tax
Give some examples of how federalism works
-the federal govt provides funding for highway construction
-states set highway speed limits
-local govts maintain roads
What is the salary for state legislators?
$7,200 per year + $150 per day
Who holds the most power in the state legislature?
Speaker of the House and the Lt. Governor
Identify the term limits, qualifications, leadership roles, and speaker's power for the Texas House of Representatives
Term
2 years
Qualifications
-U.S. citizen
-21 years old
-2 years of residency in TX
-1 year of residency in district
Leadership
-Speaker of the House (who is rarely defeated in re-election)
Speaker's Power
-Appoints chairs of committees
-Appoints members to committees
-Assigns bills to committee
-Schedules legislation
-& Serves as Vice-Chair of the Legislative Budget Board
Identify the term limits, qualification, committees, and process for passing legislation in the Texas Senate
Term
4 years
Qualifications
-U.S. citizen
-26 years old
-5 years of residency in TX
-1 year of residency in district
Committees
-Sub-Committees
-Conference Committees
-Ad Hoc Committees (special committees & select committees)
-Standing Committees (the most important
Passing Legislature
-most bills are passed in the last two weeks of session
-Before the 60th day, a bill needs a simple majority vote to pass
-After the 60th day, it needs two-thirds vote
What are the powers of the Texas executive
Generally governors can:
-appoint officials
-veto legislation
-grant/deny clemency
-& act as a chief budget officer
In Texas --> Limited Powers
- Administrative & Budgetary Powers
--weak b/c appointments must be approved by the State Senate, and Heads of Executive departments are independently elected
--strong b/c tenure and veto authority
What party predominates in Texas? When did it begin?
The first movement towards Republican domination began with TX voting for Eisenhower for prez.
-it began on both the state and national levels in the late 1970s.
-realignment resulted in no significant change in governing policy or philosophy
-republican control will depend on the vote of the minority population
Party Structure in Texas is strong or weak?
it is fairly weak and leaves room for interest group influences
Discuss the structure within a party in Texas
-The Precinct Chair
-The County Chair (who is responsible for maintaining party HQ, fund-raising, conducting primaries & counting ballots in primaries)
-The County Exec. Committee
-The State Executive Committe (divided between men & women)
-State Party Chair
Discus the influence of interest groups in Texas
State and local interest groups protect local govt interest from state interference
-Public employees are not allowed to belong to labor unions
-most constitutional amendments are pushed through by interest groups
Describe primaries in Texas
Election by major political parties to nominate candidates for the November general election
-Texas has a semi-closed primary
-runoff primaries held mostly in the South
What is recall and how does it work?
The removal of the governor or elected official by a petition signed by the people
-25% of the voter's signatures from the previous election is required
-Only 2 governors have been removed from office due to a recall
What is straight-ticket voting?
A system that allows voters to vote for all candidates of a single political party by making a single mark.
-it has helped the republican party (particularly in state judicial elections)
What is the electoral college?
-Each state has as many electors as senators and representatives
-all but 2 states use Winner-Take-All
-Needs 270 electoral votes to win
-if no candidate wins majority, the election is decided by the U.S. House of Representatives