Review: Essay Section

1) Why was Texas Constitution written seven times?

1. Coahuila 1827

2. Republic of Texas 1836

3. Texas joined the US- 1845

4. Civil War

5. First Reconstruction: 1866 (attempt but failed)

6. Reconstruction 1869

7. Current 1876

1) Why do you think it has not been written since 1876?

• Attempts have been made

• Strict policies in re-writing the Constitution

  • 2/3 majority in each chamber to pass

• Process is much easier to add amendments rather than rewriting.

1) What are the lingering effects of Texas’s political culture on its Constitution?

• Individualistic culture:

  • Effects individual liberty

  • stong distrust of the State govt

  • protested to have as little interference

  • Govt only attempt to things demanded by the people

  • meet the demands of the people of the time

  • ex. framers not trust the govt

• traditionalistic culture:

  • Tx has a strong sense of identity (history & culture)

  • maintain the status quo

  • reflected on how people vote

  • ex. amendments on slavery —>

  • ex. amendments during reconstruction (Jim Crow Laws)

2 What are some principles of the Texas Constitution? What are some problems?

1. Popular Soverignty: Will of the People

2. Separation of Powers:

3. limited Powers

4. Representative Government

5. Protection of Individual right:

Problems:

1. limits the power of the St govt

2. limits change to occur

3. Ex. pass a bill

   1. requires approval of the governor

   2. governer power to veto

   3. Judcial branch can also prevent a bill from passing

   4. A fragmented government authority

   5. poorly paid and part-time legislature

   6. decentralized judiciary system

   7. Inequitable public education system

   8. budgeting and finances that cannot be easily altered to meet the changing state needs

   9. Past restricitions on African Am. and other groups (give examples or elaborate on this)

3) Which level of government, state or federal, is better equipped to safeguard the rights of hte citizens? Give examples

The State

1. Safeguard the rights of citizens

2. closer to the people'

   1. needs

   2. Ex. Federal govt made states enoforce school policies

   3. How curriculum to be developed

3. closer to the issues

   1. better aware

   2. better understanding of problems

3) Is the national government returning more power to the states?

• States complained about the Mandate-Federal Govt (Fed tells local & st what to do without funding.

• 10th amendment states that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states

• New Federalism- apolitical philisophy of devolution

• Devolution -returning power to the states

• Ex. block grants- States have flixivbility in the use of federal funds

• Ex. Fed govt grants the st the function of education

4) Explain how interest groups can be both a building block of democracy and a threat to it at the same time?

1. Interest groups Def; people with a specific interest come together to influence policies.

2. Threat: some educated afluent who belong to the elitism belong to

   interest groups and have a bigger voice in opinions. They are all controlled by same elite

4) Do you believe in the theory of pluralism or elitism? Why?

Pluralism:

• Democracy is best practiced when citizens participate through groups

• greater number wider participation

• necessary to represent everyones’ interest (views) Represent the ordinary people.

• bigger voice for minorities

• larger states

• diverse social class which prevents a

  single group from gaining dominance

• Ex. AARP, MAD, PETA, etc.

• Survey-75% Americans belong to an interst group

Elitism:

• upper-class eilite hold most power

• run the government

• government controlled by the wealthy and powerful

• make decisions (have a strong voice)

• smaller states

5) Briefly discuss the history and development of political parties in Texas and the implications of Texas’s one-party dominant past.

Civil War Era-

• property owners bigger influence

• dominated by Democratic Party

Civil Riths Era-

• started to loose power

• By 1996 Republican party dominated

• Texas has become a red state one-party dominated

• less emphasis on relationship with the voters

6) What factors keep the Texas governor weak in formal power? Give two examples of the Governor’s control over the legislature and the judiciary.

1. Control over Legislature and Judicial (choose 2)

   • Govr can veto a bill approved through legislation

   • Call special legilative sessions

   • Fill vacancies in Judicial Branch

2. Weak in formal power

• Framers did not want a strong goverment

• Created a plural executive elected by the people (except Secretary of State who is appointed by the Governor)

• powers are divided among other executives

• May not fire appointees of a previous administration

7) Discuss two of the main problems of the Texas criminal justice systemm

1 Elected Judges

• campaign contributers have the bigger votes

• main contributers are law firms

• harsher during election years to old his job

• not want conviction to be reversed (might cost them reelection

2 Criminal convictions are biased

• Biased between those that loo for the rights of the convicts and those that look for the public welfare

• elected district and county attorneys who do not want to see their convictions they won reversed

• Judge have to face voters for reelection

• Sherriff’s departmemt

• Trials i chich minorities have been excluded from juries weighing the fate of the minority defendent

3. Texas long history of being tough on crime

• tough penalties

• more death penalty than other state

8) Discuss some of the solutions to the problems of local government in Texas, one that you think are more suitalbe for Laredo and Webb County.

8) Explain the process of a bill becomming a law in the Texas legislature. What factor is usually prioritized by the representative when they support or oppose a bill?

1. Introduction of Bill

   • by member of Tx Legislature

   • assigned a # based on order

   • bills introuduced separate chambers (only raise taxes and funds pertains to House)

   • 60 days within the session (unless Governor declared emergency)

   • Short description read aloud

2. Committee Action:

   • hear testimony for or agianst the bill

   • take no action (dies) or report on bill (record of how everyone voted and recommendations)

3. FLoor Action:

   • Report sent to all Tx Legislature

   • bill read again and debate and vote

   • need majority vote to pass

   • then sent to the other chamber

4. Conference Committee:

   • only needed if there are 2 different versions

5. Action by the Governor:

   • Sign it into law

   • not sign it (if Congress is i session it becomes law within 10 days with or without Govr signature

   • Veto the bill (denied)

   • Govr can eliminate a part of the bill (only on st budget)

10) What do you think is the most pressing issue in our public education system and why? Discuss the solution to the problem.

Issue:

• use standardized assessment use to grade public schools

• funding public schools is inequitable

• inadequte

• 1000 plus school districts are funded by state aid and local revenue raised thorugh property taxes

• District with wealthier property taxes (including mineral wealth or expensive commercial property) raise more money

Solution:

• critics propose charter schools and state-paid vouchers to help students from low performing public schools transfer to a private school of their choice.