State and Local Government, Texas Constitutions, Federalism, and Elections

Vocabulary flashcards covering core political science concepts, Texas constitutional history, federalism models, election systems, and legislative institutions.

Section 51.301 of the Texas Education Code

The state law requiring public college and university students in Texas to complete coursework in state and local government.

State Personality

The dominant public opinion or prevailing ideological leaning of a state electorate (such as Texas being consistently conservative).

Comparative Method

A systematic approach to examining differences in state policies, environments, and electoral systems while recognizing their broadly similar structural foundations.

Traditionalistic Political Culture

A political culture centered on preserving the status quo, religious views, and minimal government activity, historically dominated by wealthy, land-owning elites in the South.

Moralistic Political Culture

A political culture that views government as a positive vehicle to promote the public interest, civic engagement, and widespread voter turnout (prominent in the Upper Midwest).

Individualistic Political Culture

A political culture that views politics as a competitive marketplace and a way to advance personal agendas, secure power, and distribute political favors.

Dual Constitutionalism

The governance system in which American citizens reside under and are simultaneously governed by two separate constitutions: the federal US Constitution and their respective state constitution.

Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas (1824)

The federalist Mexican constitution that established a national unicameral legislature with two representatives from Coahuila and Tejas, enforced mandatory Catholicism, and forbade slavery.

Republic of Texas Constitution (1836)

The governing document adopted following Texas independence that established a tripartite government, legalized slavery, protected property against debt collection, and restricted the president to a single 3-year term with no immediate reelection.

Statehood Constitution of 1845

The constitution drafted when Texas was annexed as the 28th US state, which expanded women's property rights, restricted legislative debt, and created a weak governor with 2-year terms.

Confederate Constitution of 1861

The constitution ratified following the Texas vote for secession, which joined the state to the Confederacy and strengthened legal protections for slaveholding.

First Reconstruction Constitution (1866)

A short-lived constitution drafted to rejoin the Union that repealed slavery and secession and provided 4-year terms for governors, but was ultimately rejected by the US Congress Reconstruction Acts.

Second Reconstruction Constitution (1869)

A centralized, activist governing charter established under federal military rule that granted Black men the right to vote, expanded public education, and concentrated strong appointment powers in a 4-year governor.

Constitution of 1876

The current Texas constitution, designed to repudiate centralized Reconstruction policies by limiting state spending and taxes, shortening legislative terms, decentralizing public schools, and weakening executive powers.

Hayes Compromise (1877)

An agreement resolving the contested 1876 presidential election that awarded Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency in exchange for the immediate termination of federal military Reconstruction in the South.

Framework Constitution

A constitutional document (such as the US Constitution) that outlines the basic structure, branches, and limits of government rather than detailing specific, statutory policies.

Federalism

A system of government defined by the joint sharing and constitutional division of power between the national government and state governments.

Unitary System

A system of governance where total constitutional power and decision-making authority are concentrated in a single central national government (e.g., the United Kingdom).

Confederal System

A loose association of independent states where subnational state governments retain near-total authority and the central government remains comparatively weak.

Posse Comitatus Act of 1878

A post-Reconstruction federal statute prohibiting active-duty US military personnel from performing domestic civilian law enforcement without explicit authorization from the state's governor.

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the US Constitution, which mandates that the federal Constitution and federal statutes supersede state constitutions and conflicting state legislation.

Residual Powers Clause (Tenth Amendment)

The constitutional provision establishing that all powers not specifically delegated to the national government are reserved to the states or to the people.

Dual Federalism

The 'layer cake' model of federalism ($1789-1933$) in which the national and state governments operate strictly within separate, distinct jurisdictions of public policy.

Shared / Cooperative Federalism

The 'marble cake' model of federalism ($1933-1981$) that emerged during the Great Depression, characterized by joint federal and state action funded heavily by categorical grants.

New Federalism

An era of federalism initiated in 1981 under President Ronald Reagan seeking to restore state autonomy by providing federal funds through flexible block grants with fewer conditions.

Motor Voter Law of 1993

Federal legislation enabling eligible citizens to register to vote simultaneously while applying for or renewing their driver's licenses at motor vehicle departments.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local statutes enacted across the American South from the 1880s to the 1960s to enforce racial segregation and circumvent the 14th and 15th Amendments through disenfranchisement.

White Primary

A discriminatory primary election system used by the Democratic Party in the South to prohibit non-white voters from casting ballots in the party's nominating contests.

Smith v. Allwright (1944)

The US Supreme Court ruling that declared the Texas Democratic Party's white primary unconstitutional for violating the 15th Amendment.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Landmark federal legislation that prohibited discriminatory voting requirements such as literacy tests and placed federal oversight over state election procedures.

24th Amendment

The 1964 constitutional amendment that outlawed the requirement of poll taxes as a condition for voting in federal elections.

Closed Primary

A primary election structure where voters must formally register with a specific political party prior to the election and can only cast ballots for that party's nominees.

Open Primary

A primary election format that permits registered voters to participate in whichever party primary ballot they select on election day without prior party registration.

Political Party

A coalition of citizens united under a common label formed primarily to win public offices and promote their policy preferences.

Texas Heartbeat Bill (SB 8)

A 2021 Texas statute that banned abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detectable (at approximately 6 weeks), enforced exclusively through private civil lawsuits authorizing damages of at least $10,000$ per abortion.

Bicameralism

A legislative design featuring two separate lawmaking chambers, consisting of an upper chamber (Senate) and a lower chamber (House of Representatives).

Casework

A form of legislative representation in which lawmakers and their staff directly assist constituents in navigating government bureaucracies and resolving specific legal or administrative problems.

Legislative Oversight

The constitutional function of the legislative branch to supervise, investigate, and review executive branch agencies, the governor, and the implementation of state laws and budgets.