TX GOVT FINAL

The 6 Flags over Texas

1\. Spain \n 2. France \n 3. Mexico \n 4. Republic of Texas/Texas Republic/Lone Star State \n 5. USA \n 6. Confederate States of America

The 4 stages of Spanish Colonization

1\. Missions (Churches) \n 2. Presidios (Forts) \n 3. Ranchos and Haciendas (Hispanic Ranches/Farms) \n 4. Towns and Settlements (Anglo Immigration/Empresario Era) \n -"Old 300": Moses -> Stephen F. Austin

Anglo/Anglos

white immigrants of English (including the Scot/Irish) and Germanic descent, who helped settle Texas.

Tejano/Tejanos

white immigrants of Hispanic (Latino/Native American) descent, who helped settle Texas

Texas Rangers

Mounted militia charged with keeping order on the Texas Frontier \n -Still exist within the Texas Dept. of Public Safety \n -Ranger Creed: "No man in the wrong can stand against a fellow that's in the right and keeps on a-coming"

5 Tenets of the Texan Creed

1\. Individualism \n 2. Liberty \n 3. Equality \n 4. Constitutionalism \n 5. Democracy

Individualism

The belief that each person should act in accordance with their own conscience

Liberty

Government should not infringe upon an individual's rights/freedoms (government's job is to enable individual to become all they can be)

Equality

1\. Freedom from a class/caste system \n 2. Freedom from socio-economic discrimination/oppressions

Constitutionalism

Government should be limited by a written constitution

Democracy

People hold the power and Government serves

Who is this person? \n -Founded GI Forum \n -Served in WWII \n -Ran Corpus Christi Medical Clinic for poor Texans \n -Played a major role in Civil Respect for Latin-Americans in TX and the US

Hector P. Garcia

Who is this person? \n -The Texan who responded for assistance in Longoria's burial

Lyndon B. Johnson

The G.I. Forum with the help of Latin-American votes helped elect...

John F. Kennedy

Who is this person? \n -Started as a Teacher/Principal at a poor Texan school district \n -Became VP then POTUS

Lyndon B. Johnson

After failing to convince the Three Rivers City Council to honor Longoria's service/sacrifice, Santiago Hernandez used _______ to tell his story "his way"

Mariachi

Who is this person? \n -Advocated for Civil rights changes from towns to the US White house

Hector P. Garcia

Who is this person? \n -Secured passage of Civil Rights Act of 1964 (more opportunities for jobs and education for ALL) and Voting Rights Act of 1965 (National standard for elections) while being POTUS

Lyndon B. Johnson

Landmark memorializing Pvt. Felix Longoria in Three Rivers, Texas

Texas Historical Commission Marker

Empresarios

Entrepreneurs who came to Texas to grow cash crops for money

Old 300

\-Moses -> Stephen (Esteban) F. Austin \n -Indentured servants coming to work the land in Texas \n -Had to covert to Mexican religion (Catholicism) and adhere to Mexican law

Who were the 3 Texian commanders present at the Alamo Siege and who did they command?

\-William B. Travis: regulars, -James Bowie: irregulars(militia), -Davy Crockett: Tennessee contingent

3 political cultures identified by Professor Daniel Elazar as having existed in Texas.

Moralistic- religion, government enforce religion, or enforce punishments (Puritans/Pilgrims) \n Traditionalistic- Elite theory, groups who seize power have the power and money while those "beneath" them don't, maintain status quo, (Old South before Civil War, patronage) \n Individualistic- Self-sufficient, fending for oneself, government makes individualism happen (Texas Fronteir family)

Which political culture does Professor Elazar believe exists in Texas more?

Individualistic \n (google says mix of traditional and individualistic)

In which stage of Spanish colonization was slavery introduced in Texas?

Towns and Settlement \n (Empresario era, Old 300)Texian commander in chief during Texas Revolution

Texian commander in chief during Texas Revolution

Sam Houston

Father of Texas

Stephen (Esteban) F. Austin \n -Settled the first Anglo group in Texas (Old 300)

Last independent (non-partisan) governor of Texas

Sam Houston (???)

How many counties are in Metro Houston?

9 \n Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Waller

SJC is an example of what type of local government?

Special Districts

How many counties are in Texas?

254

Largest Texas County by population

Harris County

Charter

Mini constitutions for municipalities

2 population triggers for charters

1\. 200 people: General Charter (basic charter, "how to instructions of city," border is described) \n 2. 5000 people: Home-Rule Charter (custom charter for a city, customized for city's circumstances, problems, etc.)

Passing of a home-rule charter

1\. City votes on it \n 2. Does not violate constitution of 1876 \n 3. Does not violate U.S. Constitution

Legislature of county and presiding officer

County Commissioners Court - County Judge

T or F : ALL county officials term in 6 yrs. in office

FALSE \n (4 years terms)

County

a geographic district or region within a state with responsibility for regional planning and rural services \n -rural spaces

Texas counties are above or below the grassroots line

ABOVE

All county officials are chosen in partisan or nonpartisan elections

Nonpartisan (??)

Which county elected official exercises broad discretion in the charging of criminal suspects?

District attorney

Title of county tax person

County tax accessor-collector

Is a Texas city manager appointed, hired, or elected?

Hired

What makes a mayor of a Texas city "strong"?

Can veto, make appointments, has removal powers, and control budget

Proper name of Texas' last "strong" mayor city

City of Houston Incorporated

4 historic land-based economics of Texas

1\. Cattle \n 2. Cotton \n 3. Timber \n 4. Oil and Gas

2 rules for district-based elections (db)

1\. To represent the district, candidates need to live in it \n 2. Only people living in precinct can vote for candidates representing that precinct

Harris County - County Judge

Lina Hidalgo

The rule for at-large election (AtL)

Candidates have to campaign in ALL precincts

3 reasons for holding a special election in Texas?

1\. Fill a vacancy in office \n 2. Vote on proposed state amendment \n 3. Give approval for the state to borrow money

Most hated man in Texas

EJ Davis

What is the current Texas Constitution created to do?

To limit government

Piecemeal constitution revision

Amendments to the constitution \n -Changed bit by bit

Comprehensive constitutional revision

The entire constitution is replaced and rewritten \n -Sometimes given to the people to check over it

What is the article 1 of the Texas Constitution?

Bill of Rights/Freedoms

Is the Texas Constitution of 1876 statutory of liberal?

Statutory

What is TELRA?

Texas Equal Legal Rights

Amendment \n -Guaranteed legal rights to all citizens of Texas (non-discriminatory)

What is the current Texas constitution?

The Texas Constitution of 1876 \n -7th constitution

How many times has Texas been involved in comprehension revision?

6

Why is the Texas Constitution of 1876 statutory?

Gives the basics of government and how the Texas government should run and act (??)

Title of chief Law Enforcement officer (LEO) of TX county

County Sherriff

In which battle did TX win its independence from Mexico?

Battle of San Jacinto

Define legislature of Harris County

\-County Commissioners Court \n -5 people (4 commissioners (4 precincts) and 1 county judge) \n -Lina Hidalgo - County Judge \n -Above Grassroots line \n -Leans towards partisan \n -NO general ordinance-making authority

Define municipality

a city/municipal corporation with its own local government \n -general or home-ruled charter \n -general ordinance-making authority \n -Below grassroots line \n -Leans towards non-partisan

Define the legislature of the city of Houston INC

\-City council \n -Strong mayor municipality \n -Home-rule charter \n -Non-partisan

What is a special district?

A special function local government that provides special services or runs special facility \n -Tax to accomplish special function \n -Ultimate tailored government \n \n Ex) Independent School Districts, college districts, Multiple Utility Districts (MUD), METRO, port Houston

What is a county clerk?

The official record keeper for the county

What is a district court?

The official record keeper for the district court

What is meant by small-picture expertise?

Knowing the district in details \n -The problems in neighborhoods, demographics, locals, etc

What is meant by big-picture expertise?

Regional planning \n -Looking at the big picture \n -Highway construction, evacuation plans, etc.

3 qualifications for voting in Texas

A.R.C \n 1. Age (18+) \n 2. Residency \n 3. Citizenship

2 unique and universal disqualifications for voting in TX

BOTH ARE NOT PERMANENT \n 1. Felon under community supervision \n -Until community service and sentence complete \n 2. Adjudicated "non-compus mentis" \n -Found incapable of making adult decision by themselves \n (until "compus mentis")

Title of most powerful politician in Texas if their personality permits it

Lieutenant Governor

Birthday of Texas

March 2nd

Process by which Texas cities grow

Annexation \n 1. Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) \n -Limited power over area outside of city \n -Shared responsibilities between city and group to be annexed \n 2. Annexation (and Vote)

Official state insect of Texas

Monarch Butterfly

Official state dinosaur of Texas

Paluxysaurus Jonesi

Official state large mammal of Texas

Longhorn

Official state flower of Texas

Bluebonnet

5 primary responsibilities of state government

1\. Public Health \n 2. Public Transportation \n 3. Public Education \* \n 4. Economic Developing \n -Job creation \n -Small business support \n 5. FKA Public Safety; Criminal Justice \n -Law Enforcement \n -Court systems (justice) \n -Incarceration systems

Mexican Slavery

\-Slaves were treated as people (non-combative), could not be hurt, and were freed after owner's death \n -If slave was hurt, they would lose the slave \n -Mexican people did not like it but begrudgingly tolerated it

After Mexican independence

Mexico became a constitutional democracy with a constitution until Santa Anna became dictator

5 de Mayo

Mexican independence from France \n -Battle de Pueblo

16 de Septiembre

Independence from Spain

Texas Flag

JUST IN CASE

27th amendment of Texas Constitution

Limited Congress' ability to give itself a raise

State, county, muni control

Municipality- take over themselves \n County- areas outside of cities/rural areas \n State- BOTH county and muni areas

Term lengths in Texas

4 years

Are there term limits in Texas?

NO \n (Except municipalities from their charters)

Biennial Government

Meets once every 2 years in odd years \n -Starting January \n -140 days long

Legislative Budget Board (LBB)

Special committee that functions during interim (540 day period between legislative sessions) \n -Takes charge of budget (can move budget)

National CEO/CAO and Legislatures (USA)

POTUS - Joe Biden \n U.S. Congress \n Very Partisan \n Above Grassroots line

State CEO/CAO and Legislature (Texas)

Governor - Greg Abbott \n Texas Legislature \n Partisan \n Above grassroots line

County CEO/CAO and Legislature (Harris)

County Judge - Lina Hidalgo \n County Commissioners Court \n Partisan \n Above grassroots line

Municipality CEO/CAO and Legislature (strong Mayor) (city of Houston INC)

Mayor - Sylvester Turner \n City Council \n Non-partisan \n Below grassroots line

General Ordinance-Making Authority

Nonspecific legitimate power to make local laws \n COUNTIES DO NOT HAVE THIS

3 classes of people with special protection

1\. Texas children (< 15 years) \n 2. Senior citizens \n 3. Public servants \n -Police, public doctors, public nurses, public ambulance, public teachers and professors, etc.

Names of Districts during elections/precincts

Election District \n Election Precincts \n Voting District \n Voting Precinct

Texas hates...

Taxes, term limits, and EJ Davis

In what elections are CAOs/CEOs elected in?

At-large elections