POLISCI FINAL

Political culture

Shared values and beliefs people have about government.

Characteristics of American political culture

Liberty, equality, individualism, democracy, rule of law, limited government.

Constitutional democracy

Government where people have power and leaders are limited by a constitution

Sovereignty

Supreme power or authority to govern

Divided government

When different parties control the presidency and Congress

Federalism

System where national and state governments share powe

Devolution

Transferring federal power back to the states.

Problems with federalism

Confusion, inequality between states, state–federal conflicts.

Three types of government in order

Unitary → Confederation → Federal.

Most common government type today

Unitary

Local vs federal government

Local handles services; federal handles national issues.

Total number of governments in the U.S.

About 90,000

Foundational governing bodies

Congress, President, Courts — House is most representative.

Executive branch

Enforces laws

Enforces laws

Makes laws.

Judicial branch

Interprets laws.

How a bill becomes law:

Introduced → committee → House/Senate → conference → president.

Standing committees

Permanent committees in Congress.

Select committees

Temporary issue-based committees.

Joint committees

Committees with House & Senate members.

Conference committees

Resolve differences in bills.

Members of Congress

House 435, Senate 100

Demographics of Congress

Older, white, male, wealthy—overrepresented.

Reapportionment:

Reassigning House seats after Census (every 10 years).

Redistricting

Redrawing district lines by state legislatures every 10 Years

Incumbent reelection likelihood: (Advantage)

Roughly 90%

Enumerated powers:

Powers listed in the Constitution (taxing, declaring war).

Implied

Implied powers

Powers not listed but allowed (via elastic clause)

Concurrent powers

Shared by states and federal government.

Reserved powers

Powers given to states (education, elections).

Checks and balances

Vetoes, confirmations, judicial review.

Elastic clause:

Allows Congress to make necessary laws—expands power.

Limited government

Government power restricted to protect rights

Where is the Bill of Rights?

First 10 amendments.

How is the president chosen?

Electoral College.

No majority in Electoral College

House of Representatives chooses president.

Roles of the president

Commander-in-Chief, Chief Diplomat, Chief Executive, Party leader

U.S. court system

Dual system (state + federal).

How federal judges are selected

President nominates, Senate confirms.

Main influence on judge selection:

Ideology.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Federal power is supreme; implied powers upheld

Judicial review:

Courts can declare laws unconstitutional.

Judicial activism

Courts take an active role in policy.

Judicial restraint

Courts avoid overturning laws unnecessarily.

Why two-party system endures:

Winner-take-all, history, ballot rules.

Public opinion polling characteristics:

Random, representative, unbiased.

Political socialization:

How people develop political beliefs; family is biggest factor.

Most important press role

Watchdog over government.

Media source growing fastest:

Internet/social media

Original U.S. voting rights:

White male property owners.

U.S. voter turnout vs other countries

Lower

Who registers to vote?

The individual

Who oversees voting?

States; voter ID laws lower turnout.

Voting rights amendments:

15th (Black men), 19th (women), 26th (18+).

Two-party vs multi-party system:

U.S. has two-party.

Key demographic for party success:

Young voters.

Most numerous interest groups

Economic/business groups.

Texas Constitution today

The 1876 Constitution.

Why 1876 Constitution passed

Reaction to Reconstruction; limit government.

Texas branches under 1876

Weak executive, strong legislature, plural courts.

Interest group power in Texas

Low turnout + frequent amendments

Texas population growth

very fast.

Texas demographics

Majority minority

Dominant party in Texas

Republican

Key demographic affecting dominance

Hispanics

Economic changes in Texas

Shift to tech, energy, healthcare, services.

Texas primary systeM

Open primary

Public employees in Texas and union

Can join, limited/no collective bargainin