GOVT 2306 Final Study Guide Overview

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Ruled that political spending is a form of free speech that's protected under the 1st amendment. Supreme Court case on campaign finance regulations.

Hopwood v. Texas

White female applied to the UT school of law, and was rejected , sued the university, argued that their LSAT scores were better than POC with lower scores getting in. Case addressing affirmative action in college admissions.

Severance taxes

Taxes imposed on the removal of natural resources within a taxing jurisdiction. (essentially taxes on oil/gas as it's being pulled from the ground.) Taxes on natural resource extraction in Texas.

Generational differences on political information

Variations in political information access by age. (GenX and Millennials most informed?)

Texas's voter turnout

Texas voted turnout historically ranked last in the nation for participation. Ranked 49th.

Horse race coverage

Media focus on election competition or polling rather than issues.

Texas's tax system

Texas has no income tax, making it a tax-friendly state, however has high property taxes and a state sales tax of 6.25%, which can reach up to 8.25%.

Party Organization and gender representation

Structure and function of political parties in Texas.

Selective Sales Tax

Tax applied to specific goods and services, such as alcohol, tobacco, gasoline, and hotel rooms.

Texas's annual budget

State financial plan outlining revenue and expenditures.

Sound bite

Short, impactful statement used in media.

Fact checking

Verifying the accuracy of claims made in media.

General Sales Tax

Tax applied to most retail sales in Texas.

Uncontrolled Media vs. Controlled Media

Uncontrolled: Media without regulatory oversight or constraints. Controlled: Media with regulations and constraints.

Edgewood v. Kirby

Edgewood v. Kirby was a Texas Supreme Court case where the court ruled that the state's school finance system, based on local property taxes, was unconstitutional because it created funding inequalities between wealthy and poor districts. This led to the implementation of the "Robin Hood" plan, requiring wealthier districts to share revenue with poorer ones to ensure a more equitable public education system. Case on equitable school funding in Texas.

Public policy

Government actions addressing public issues and needs.

Single vs multi-issue groups

Single: Groups focused on one sole issue, ex: gun rights, abortion, climate change. Multi-issue: Groups that advocate for a broad range of issues, ex: civil rights, political parties.

Negative advertising

Campaign strategy highlighting opponents' flaws.

Dividing election cycles

Scheduling elections to manage voter turnout.

Texas and the environment

Texas faces significant environmental challenges, including air pollution, water scarcity, and the impact of oil and gas production on ecosystems. However, the state is also a leader in wind energy and has ongoing efforts to address conservation and sustainability issues.

Criteria for media coverage

Criteria for media coverage are newsworthiness, audience interest, impact, and promience.

V.O. Key's Southern Politics

A southern scientist who stated that race was the key drive of politics in the south.

Statewide political campaigns

campaigns that target voters across an entire state, rather than just a specific district or region, these campaigns are typically for high-level positions, such as governors, lieutenant governor, or attorney general.

Ruiz v. Estelle

Ruiz v. Estelle was a landmark case where the U.S. District Court found that Texas prison conditions, including overcrowding and inadequate healthcare, violated prisoners' constitutional rights under the Eighth Amendment. The ruling led to major reforms in the Texas prison system, requiring improvements in conditions such as reducing overcrowding and ensuring proper medical care.

Parties and Representative Democracy

Representative democracy is a democracy where citizens elect a small set of people to represent them in decision making.

Gross receipts taxes

Taxes imposed on a business's total revenue.

Texas's air quality

Texas struggles with air pollution, especially in cities like Houston, due to factories, cars, and oil production. This pollution causes smog and can harm people's health.

Texan's source of news

Mainly electronic media, such as radio and television.

Political Socialization

Process by which individuals internalize and develop their political values, ideas, attitudes, and perceptions through socialization.

Women's suffrage and Texas

Movement granting women the right to vote. 19th amendment granted women the right to vote in 1920. Texas was the first southern state to grant women the right to vote.

Fake news

Misinformation spread through various media channels.

Dedicated fund

Funds set aside for specific purposes or use in government.

1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

Protects freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and religion.

Texas's highway system

Network of roads and highways managed by Texas.

Social Contract Theory

Philosophical concept of government legitimacy through consent.

Classism

prejudice against or in favor of people belonging to a particular social class.

Agents of Socialization

are the persons, groups, or institutions that teach us what we need to know in order to participate in society.

Political efficiency

Belief that individual actions can influence politics.

Media bias

Slant in media coverage favoring one perspective.

Polling

is the process of collecting data or opinions from people/groups to understand public view on candidates, issues, or policies.

Political Efficacy

is the citizen's trust in their ability to change the government and belief that they can understand and influence political affairs.

Television vs. traditional newspaper

Television: audio-visual broadcasts, real-life updates, can highlight events quicker. Traditional newspaper: news in written form, fixed publication, more detailed analysis, and are more portable.

Libertarian vs. Conservative vs. Liberal vs. Populist

Libertarian: Emphasizes individual freedom, minimal government intervention, and personal autonomy. Conservative: Limited government, historically supported traditional values and lifestyles, cautious of social change. Liberal: Positive government actions, government regulation of economy, support for civil rights, tolerance for social change. Populist: Rights and power of regular people against elites, economic reforms (protecting interests of common people), focus on empowering the working class.

No Child Left Behind Act and Texas

Federal law aimed at improving educational outcomes for children.

Texas and Health care

In 2020 an estimated 20% of Texans were uninsured, which is the highest % of any state. Other than health insurance programs established for state employees, Texas's principal policy regarding health care and health insurance is Medicaid, program closely linked to poverty programs.

Lottery Revenue

Funds utilized for schools and roads.

Charter schools

Publicly funded schools operating independently of districts.

"Right to Work"

legislation that allows employees to work without having to join a union, however it does mean a business can fire you. Texas is a right to work state, don't have to join a union to work.

Issue attention cycle

Public interest in issues fluctuating over time.

Texas and Roe v. Wade

Roe v. Wade was a U.S. supreme court decision to legalize abortion nationwide, at the time TX had some of the most restrictive abortion laws. In 2022, the supreme court overturned Roe v. Wade which ended the federal protection of abortion rights and leaving it up to the states to regulate or ban abortion. Abortion access in Texas is severely restricted.

Regulatory Taxes

Taxes imposed to regulate certain activities.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared between a federal government and smaller administrative united (states).

Weak vs. strong mayor form

Weak: mayor's power is limited, city council holds most of the decision making power, may not have veto power, administrative responsibilities often shared with or delegated to a city manager or council. Strong: mayor holds significant executive authority, control over city's budget, veto council decisions, may have power to appoint city officials.

Criminal vs civil law

Criminal laws regulate crimes, or wrongs committed against the government. Civil laws regulate disputes between private parties.

Bureaucratic growth in Texas

Bureaucratic growth in Texas refers to the expansion of state agencies and administrative structures as the population and economy grew, leading to a greater need for services, regulations, and oversight. This growth has been driven by factors like population increases, economic expansion, and policy changes, though it has also raised concerns about efficiency and accountability.

Requirements to be governor

At least 30 years old, US citizen, Texas resident for at least 5 years, no individual can be excluded from office for religious beliefs.

Felonies vs. misdemeanor

Felonies: serious criminal offense that subject a convicted person to a fine up to $10k and/or prison punishment ranging from six months to the death penalty. Right to vote, have a gun, or have certain occupational licenses is also taken away. Misdemeanor: less serious crimes, penalty is a fine of $4k or less and/or a sentence of up to one year in the county jail. Right to vote, own a weapon, or have some occupational licenses is not lost due to misdemeanors. There are 3 classes of misdemeanors.

Requirements to be a state senator

U.S. citizen, qualified voter, age 26+, residency for 5 years (home district for 1 year).

The Iron Triangle

Long lasting relationship between members of legislature, bureaucrats, and interest groups.

Expressed powers

Expressed powers are specific powers granted to the government by the Constitution, such as the power to tax, regulate commerce, and declare war.

The bill to law process

Bill is introduced in either the house or senate, then debated, amended, and voted on by respective chamber. If passed, bill moves to the other chamber for consideration, after both approve, bill is sent to president, they can either sign the bill into law, veto, or take no action.

The Impact of the different constitutions of Texas on our current one

The different Texas constitutions have influenced the current one by shaping its structure, focus on limiting government power, and emphasis on states' rights.

The Levels of courts in Texas

1) The highest level is the supreme court for civil cases, court of criminal appeals for criminal cases. 2) courts of appeal 3) district courts 4) constitutional country courts 5) county-courts-at-law 6) justice of the peace 7) the lowest is municipal judges.

Reserved powers

Reserved powers are powers not granted to the federal government by the Constitution and are instead retained by the states or the people, such as regulating education and conducting elections.

Mayor council

System of local government with elected mayor. The mayor-council system is a local government structure where a mayor acts as the chief executive and a city council serves as the legislative body. Depending on the system, the mayor may have strong powers, controlling the budget and city administration, or weak powers, with the city council holding more authority.

Home rule

Home rule refers to the power of a local government, such as a city or county to govern itself. In Texas cities with over 5,000 people can adopt a home rule charter, allowing them to create their own government, pass their local laws and manage their own affairs, as long as it doesn't conflict with state or federal regulations.

Term limits for Senators

Senators term limits is 4-year terms.

Local elections

Elections for municipal offices and local issues.

Inherent powers

Powers necessary for government to function effectively.

Your rights and liberties in the Bill of Rights

First ten amendments protecting individual liberties.

Progressive vs. Regressive taxes

Progressive: tax burden falls more heavily on upper-income individuals. Regressive: tax burden falls more heavily on lower-income individuals. Texas is regressive.

Governor's veto powers

The Texas governor has the line-item veto for the amounts in appropriations bills. Unlike in 23 other states, TX governors do not have the power to line-item veto the language of appropriations bills. They do have considerable power to have their veto upheld by the legislature.

The different election processes at the State and local levels

At the state level, Texas holds primary elections to determine party nominees, followed by general elections in November, with runoff elections for cases where no candidate wins a majority. At the local level, elections for positions like mayor or city council are often nonpartisan, and runoff elections may occur if no candidate receives a majority, with special elections held for specific local issues or vacancies.

Federal court powers vs state courts

Federal courts have the authority to hear cases involving federal laws, disputes between states, cases involving the U.S. Constitution, and issues where the U.S. government is a party. State courts, on the other hand, handle cases involving state laws, criminal matters, family disputes, and civil cases that do not involve federal issues, with each state having its own court system.

Prosecutor

Legal representative bringing charges against defendants.

Norms

Unwritten rules guiding behavior in society.

Different forms of committees in the legislature

Groups within legislature focusing on specific issues.

Alliance

Coalition formed for mutual benefit or support.

Plural executive

System where executive powers are divided among officials.

The revolving door

Movement between government positions and private sector, many go immediately into lobbying after leaving moving from their government positions.

Whistle blowers

Individuals exposing wrongdoing within organizations.

Powers of the Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor of Texas presides over the Senate, casts tie-breaking votes, influences the legislative agenda, and has executive powers, including succeeding the governor and participating in the state budget process.

Term limits for House members

House members serve two-year terms.

Delegated Powers

The delegated powers of the federal government are those specifically described and assigned in the U.S. Constitution.

Term limits for Lieutenant Governor

In Texas there are no term limits, and they serve for 4-year terms.

Number of Appellate Courts in Texas

Total of 14 appellate courts in the state.

Political Parties role in elections in Texas

In Texas, political parties play a key role in elections by nominating candidates, organizing campaigns, mobilizing voters, and shaping policy debates during primary and general elections.

Requirements to be a state legislator

Must be 25 years old, live in Texas for two years or more, live in district, be a U.S citizen.

Defendant

Individual accused in a court case.

General law

Laws applicable statewide without local variation.

Types of cases that different layers of the court system get

Criminal, civil, and appellate cases handled.

The supremacy clause

A provision in Article VI of the Constitution provides that the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are superior to state constitutions and laws and provides that state courts must adhere to the U.S. Constitution and federal laws. Federal law takes precedence over state law.

Urbanization

The process by which people move from rural to urban areas.

Cooperative vs dual federalism

Dual federalism emphasizes a strict division of powers between state and federal governments, while cooperative federalism emphasizes the sharing of powers and responsibilities between the two.

Legislative budgetary process

The legislative budgetary process involves the executive branch proposing a budget, which is then reviewed, amended, and approved by the legislature. Once passed, the budget is signed into law by the executive, and ongoing oversight ensures the funds are spent according to the approved plan.

Powers of the Speaker of the House

Authority to manage House proceedings and agenda.

Agenda

List of items to be discussed or acted upon.

Term limits for Governor

In Texas a governors term is 4-years, and there are no term limits.

Members of the plural executive and their roles

The plural executive consists of several elected officials who share executive power, such as the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, and treasurer. Each has distinct roles, with the governor overseeing the state's executive branch, the lieutenant governor handling legislative duties, the attorney general representing the state in legal matters, the comptroller managing finances, and the treasurer overseeing state funds.

Texas's political culture

Texas's political culture is characterized by a mix of traditionalism, which emphasizes limited government and conservative values, and individualism, focusing on personal responsibility and economic freedom.