Texas Government 2306 chapters 1-3 Exam one

Government

A public institution with authority to formulate, adopt, implement, and enforce public polices for a society.

Politics

The process of policymaking that involves conflict and cooperation between political parties and other groups that seek to elect government officials or to influence those officials when they make a public policy

Public Policy

What government does to or for its citizens to meet a public need or goal as determined by a legislative body or other authorized officials

political culture

Widely shared attitudes, habits, and general behavior patterns that develop over time and affect the political life of a state or region

Moralistic

originated with New England Puritanism; political participation is the duty of the public to advance the public good

individualistic

Influenced by the frontier experience; rugged individualism and limited government; Low government regulations and taxes

Traditionalistic

Product of the Old South, uses government as a means of preserving the status quo and its leadership; roots to feudalism

Frontier experience

Rugged individualism; feudal plantation owners

Railroad commission of Texas

Limited regulatory jurisdiction over oil and gas industries

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)

An agreement among Mexico, the United States, and Canada designed to expand trade by eliminating tariffs among the three nations

Texas Water Development Board

A board that conducts statewide water planning as mandated by state law.

Urbanization

Movement of people from rural areas to cities.

Metropolitization

The making of a place more urban or city like

According to the 2010 census, what was the population of Texas?

2010: 25,145,561

Among the 50 states, Texas currently ranks __________ in population.

second

According to Professor Daniel Elazar, the political culture of Texas is...

Individualistic

What is the approximate land area of Texas, in square miles?

About 260,000 miles

Of the 50 states, Texas ranks __________ in land area.

second

In what geographic area is Huston situated?

Gulf Coast

The only region of Texas classified as mountainous is

Basin and Range Province

What is the origin of Texas cattle ranching?

The cattle drive

In 2011, what caused record financial losses in land-based industries in Texas?

A sever drought

Which industry transformed Texas from a predominantly agricultural culture into an industrial society?

Oil and gas

What three land based industries have been influential in the development of Texas?

Cattle, Cotton, and Timber

Approximately what percent of Texans currently live in metropolitan areas?

88%

Know what the racial/ethic groups statistical breakdown.

White/Anglo: 43.0

Hispanic/Latino: 38.8

Black/African American: 12.5

Asian: 4.7

American Indian or Alaskan Native: 1.0

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 0.1

Two or more races: 1.9

Which group of the population in Texas is growing more rapidly?

Hispanic/Latino

Texas ranks ______ in the nation in the number of Latino residents.

Second

The process of mixing chemicals with sand and water and injecting them into the ground to force out oil and gas from the shale is referred to as...

Fracking

The overwhelming share of alternative fuel strategies in Texas is generated by...

Railroad Commission of Texas

Which of the following is a million dollar industry that produces products, such as medicine and vaccines, to benefit medical science

Biotechnology

Does the service industry in Texas pay higher or lower wages?

Lower wages

Texas ranks __________in addressing poverty and social problems.

near the bottom of the fifty states

What are some of Texas Social and economic challenges?

- immigration -water

-environmental protection

-education -poverty

The fact that Texas has a limited government with restricted powers and low per capita government spending demonstrates the strength of the ___________ political subculture in the state.

Individualistic

On what does Agriculture in the West Texas Plains depends heavily on?

Ogalalla Aquifer

Why has NAFTA been criticized?

Because there has been tensions along the border due to narcotics trade and increased drug gang violence; maquiladoras

Grassroots

Local (as in grassroots government or grassroots politics.

Dillion's Rule

A legal principle, still followed in the majority of states including Texas, that local governments have only those powers granted by their state government

Municipal government (city)

A local government for an incorporated community established by law as a city

City Charter

a document granting power to a local government

Code

An organized list of laws and rules

General law cities

A municipality with a charter prescribed by the legislature

home rule cities

A municipality with a locally drafted charter

Ordinance

A local law enacted by a city council or approved by popular vote in a referendum or initiative election

non-partisan election

elections in which candidates are not identified by party labels

Weak mayor council

A type of municipal government with a separately elected mayor and council but the mayor shares appointive and removal powers with the council which can override the mayor's veto

commission form

A type of municipal government in which each elected commissioner is a member of the city's policy making body and heads an administrative department (safety with police and fire divisions)

Strong mayor council

A type of municipal government with a separately elected legislative body and an executive head elected in a citywide election with veto, appointment, and removal of powers

council manager

A system of municipal government in which an elected city council hires a manager to coordinate budgetary matters and supervise administrative departments

at large election

Members of a policymaking body such as a city council are elected on a city wide basis rather than from single member districts

initiative

A citizen drafted measure proposed by a specific number or percentage of qualified voters, which becomes law if approved by popular vote. In Texas this only occurs in home rule cities

Referendum

A process by which issues are referred to the voters to accept or reject. Voters may also petition for a vote to repeal an existing ordinance. In Texas this process occurs at local level in home rule cities. At the state level, state constitutional amendments and bonds secured by taxes must be approved by voters.

Recall

A procedure for removing a public official from office by a vote of the people. In Texas this power is available only for home rule cities.

single member district

Voters in an area (commonly called a district, ward, or precinct) elect one representative to serve on a policymaking body (e.g., city council, county commissioners court, state house, and Senate)

Cumulative voting

When multiple seats are contested in an at-large election, voters cast one or more of the specified number of votes for one or more candidates in any combination. It is designed to increase representation of historically underrepresented ethnic minority groups.

intergovernmental relations

Defined as an interacting network of institutions at national, provincial and local levels, created and refined to enable the various parts of government to cohere in a manner more or less appropriate to our institutional arrangements.

Redistricting

redrawing of boundaries after the federal decennial census to create districts with approximately equal population (e.g., legislative, congressional, commissioners court, and city council districts in Texas).

County

Texas is divided into 254 counties that serve as an administrative arm of the state and provide important services at the local level, especially in rural areas.

Sheriff

A citizen popularity elected as the county's chief law enforcement officer; the sheriff is also responsible for maintaining the county jail.

County Judge

An Official popularity elected to preside over the county commissioners court, and in smaller counties, to hear civil and criminal cases.

county auditor

A person appointed by the district judge or judges to check financial books and records of other officials who handle county money.

Commissioner's court

A Texas county's policymaking body, with five members, the county judge who presides, and four commissioners representing single-member precints.

county clerk

A citizen elected to maintain records for the district courts.

county tax assessor-collector

This elected official no longer assesses property for taxation but does collect taxes and fees and commonly handles voter registration.

Statutory County Court

A court created by the legislature at the request of a county; may have civil or criminal jurisdiction or both, depending on the legislation that is creating it.

special district

A unit of local government that performs a particular service, such as providing schools, hospitals, or housing, for a particular geographic area.

What form of government has the greatest effect on our daily lives?

Local

What are the three types of local government?

counties

municipalities

special purpose districts

When does a general law municipality become eligible for home-rule city? Who decides?

Comes eligible for home-rule status when its population exceeds 5,000.

What is minimum population requirement for becoming a city?

201

What can a city charter establish?

a municipality such as a city or town.

Which city form of government can limit the terms an elected official can serve?

Home-rule cities determine term limits

What is the main advantage of a home-rule city?

greater flexibility in determining forms of government.

What kind of laws can a city pass?

Ordinances

When must cities redistrict?

Every 10 years after the census

What is cumulative voting used for?

To allow more minority representation

What services do cities provide?

Police, trash collection, and water services.

What constitution creates cities and counties; U.S. or Texas?

Texas Constitution

Where do most of Texans reside in Texas; rural areas or cities?

Cities

Is there more participation in local government elections or national elections?

National Elections

Do elections laws make a difference in who wins?

Yes

Are city elections partisan or non partisan?

Non partisan

Are city councils and counties required to redistrict?

Yes, the must redistrict

What are the two largest tax sources of city government?

Property and sales tax

Why is the structure and operation of counties in the state of Texas the same?

Yes, state constitution says so

What are the primary functions of the commissioner's court?

Building and maintaining county roads and bridges

What is the principal advantage for home-rule cities in Texas?

Flexibility in determining forms of government

Which is the most popular form of municipal government among large cities? Why?

Council-manager

Which form of government is more likely to be responsive to all of the community?

Strong mayor

Which is the most popular form of municipal government among Texas home-rule cities?

The council-manager form

What is the role of political parties in Texas municipal elections?

They have no formal involvement in their nonpartisan elections

What functions are preformed by counties in Texas?

Conducting elections,

registration of voters,

enforcing criminal law

Under the Texas Constitution, what are the counties considered as?

Administrative arms of the state

How many counties does Texans have?

254

Which county official has both administrative and judicial responsibilities?

county judge

Who has the responsibility for keeping the peace in each county?

county sheriff

Which is the most visible special district?

school district