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Federal government policies

The only level that can make foreign treaties and declare war, but cannot manage local police forces.

State government policies

Includes education, health and welfare, transportation, public safety, civil rights, physical environment, and taxation.

Policy Conservatism

A state’s tendency to limit welfare benefits, deregulate business, keep taxes low, and rely more on individuals and the marketplace.

Policy Liberalism

A state’s tendency to expand welfare benefits, regulate business, adopt progressive taxes, and use government to achieve social change.

Revenue sources for local governments

Majority comes from property, sales, and income taxes.

Revenue sources for state governments

Majority comes from intergovernmental transfers (federal grants).

Federalism

A political system in which national and regional governments share powers and are considered independent equals.

Unitary government

A centralized political system where legal authority is held exclusively by a central government.

Confederation

A decentralized political system where the power is held by regional governments.

Laboratories of Democracy

A metaphor for states’ ability to engage in different policy experiments without federal interference.

Nullification

The process of a state rejecting a federal law and making it invalid within its borders.

Enumerated or delegated powers

Grants of authority explicitly given by the Constitution, found in Article 1, Section 8.

Implied powers

Broad, undefined powers given to the federal government, not specifically named but assumed to exist.

Tenth Amendment

Guarantees a set of powers reserved for the states and the people not delegated to the federal government.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to declare legislative laws unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Increased the power of the national government through the Necessary and Proper Clause and Supremacy Clause.

Federal grants-in-aid

Money given to states for specific purposes, allowing federal control in state matters.

Mandates

Orders from the federal government to the states that can be funded, underfunded, or unfunded.

Preemption

A legal doctrine allowing federal law to override state law through the Supremacy Clause.

State constitutions

Usually contain a Bill of Rights, separation of powers, local government regulations, and taxation policies.

Constitutionalism

Limited government; dual constitutionalism refers to living under both state and federal government.

Local governments' power source

Derived from state constitutions and state laws.

Amending state constitutions

Most commonly done through legislative proposal, but also via popular initiative and constitutional conventions.

Functions of counties and cities

Cities manage day-to-day services, while counties handle broader issues, including land management.

Special districts

Govern specific functions; school districts govern educational policies, whereas non-school districts manage services like water.

Different types of elections

At-large, single-member district, and combination elections.

Political cultures

Three types: Moralistic (collective good), Individualistic (personal goals), and Traditionalistic (maintaining social order).

Political culture of Texas

A mix of individualistic (limited government role) and traditionalistic (priority on social networks and elites).

Texas Constitution philosophy

Inspired by the need for reform after Governor Davis's corruption, focusing on popular control, limited powers, spending restraint, and support for agriculture.

Texas's historical constitutions

Includes the Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas, Republic of Texas Constitution, Texas State Constitution of 1845, Confederate Constitution, Reconstruction Constitution, and 1876 Constitution.

Political climate of the Constitutional Convention of 1875

Dominated by democrats and farmers/members of the Grange, with a focus on anti-big government.

Differences between Texas and U.S. Bill of Rights

Texas Bill of Rights is in Article 1, longer, more detailed, and includes positive laws.

Conditions of Texas annexation agreement (1845)

Texas retained its public lands and could use them to pay debts, which was unique compared to other states.

Process to amend Texas and U.S. Constitutions

Primarily through legislative proposals, requiring majority voter approval.

Evolution of federalism

Federalism has decreased over time, with national government gaining more power.

Types of federalism

Dual Federalism (states and national government act independently) and Cooperative Federalism (shared powers and policies).

Types of city governments

Includes commission, council-manager, and mayor-council systems.

Sixteenth Amendment

Established federal income tax.

Seventeenth Amendment

Provided for direct election of U.S. Senators.