Chapter 7: Voting and Elections in Texas

Flashcards covering the history of voting laws, constitutional amendments, and the specific procedures and types of elections in the state of Texas.

Article I, Section 4, Clause 1

The constitutional provision stating that the Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof, though Congress may alter such regulations.

13th Amendment

A Civil War Amendment that prohibited slavery.

14th Amendment

A Civil War Amendment containing the Equal Protection Clause.

15th Amendment (1870)

A Civil War Amendment that gave African-Americans the right to vote and prohibits states from denying the right to vote on account of race.

Poll taxes

Fees ranging from $1.50 to $1.75 required to register to vote during the Jim Crow Era to deny African American suffrage.

Grandfather Clauses

Provisions that excluded individuals from poll taxes and literacy tests if their grandfathers could vote prior to 1866.

All-white primary

A practice that declared the Democratic party a “private club” to exclude minorities from participation, later overturned by the Supreme Court.

Smith v. Allwright (1944)

The Supreme Court case that overturned the all-white primary.

24th Amendment (1964)

The amendment that abolished poll taxes for national elections.

Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966)

The Supreme Court ruling that poll taxes were unconstitutional in state elections.

Voting Rights Act (1965)

A law passed during the Civil Rights Movement that gave the Federal government the right to review changes to election laws in states with a history of racial discrimination.

Pre-clearance

A requirement under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Section 5) that certain states must seek federal approval from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before changing voting qualifications or procedures.

Shelby County v. Holder (2013)

The Supreme Court ruling that states previously subject to discrimination-based oversight were no longer subject to pre-clearance by the federal government.

Seneca Falls Convention (1848)

Recognized as the birthplace of the women’s rights movement, led by figures such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.

17th Amendment (1913)

Gives the people, rather than state legislatures, the right to choose U.S. senators.

19th Amendment (1920)

Guarantees women the right to vote.

23rd Amendment (1961)

Grants residents of the District of Columbia votes in the Electoral College.

26th Amendment (1971)

Guarantees 18-year-olds the right to vote.

Motor Vehicle Registration Act (1993)

A federal law allowing eligible citizens to register to vote at the DMV/DPS.

Voter Registration Deadline (Texas)

The registration form must be completed and submitted 30 days in advance of the election.

Party Primary elections

Intraparty elections held in March of even-numbered years to determine candidates for the general election; requires a majority vote.

Runoff Elections

Elections held in April or May if no candidate receives a majority in the primary, involving the two candidates with the most votes.

General election

The election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November to determine who wins the seat and will serve in the position.

Special Elections

Elections held randomly to vote on state constitutional amendments, local amendments, bond proposals, or to fill vacancies.

Median Voter Theorem

A theory by Anthony Downs suggesting that politicians use different strategies on the ideological spectrum to appeal to voters in primaries versus general elections.

Voting Eligible Population (VEP)

A metric used to measure turnout that considers only those legally eligible to vote, rather than the entire voting-age population.

Anthony Downs’ Economic Model of Voting

A model stating that voter turnout is rational and driven by self-interest, expressed by the formula $V = P \times B - C + D$.