Texas Politics Book Chapters 1-3

Review for exam 1

Government

A public institution with authority to formulate, adopt, implement, and enforce public policies for a society.

Public Policy

What government does to or for its citizens to meet a public need or goal as determined by a legislative body or other authorized officials.

Politics

The process of policymaking that involves conflict and cooperation between political parties and other groups that seek to elect government officials or to influence those officials when they make public policy.

Political Culture

Widely shared attitudes, habits, and general behavior patterns that develop over time and affect the political life of a state or region.

Progressive

Favoring and working for progress in conditions facing the majority of society or in government.

African American

A racial classification applied to Americans of African ancestry.

Latino

An ethnic classification of Americans of Latin American origin. When applied to females, the term is Latina.

Anglo

As commonly used in Texas, the term is not restricted to persons of Anglo-Saxon lineage but includes those of European ancestry more generally. Traditionally, the term applies to all whites except Latinos.

Jim Crow laws

Discriminatory laws that segregated African Americans and denied them access to public services for many decades after the Civil War.

Patrón system

A type of boss rule that has dominated areas of South Texas and Mexico.

Right-to-work laws

Laws that limit the power of workers to bargain collectively and form and operate labor unions, increasing the power of employers relative to their employees.

Eminent domain

The power of the government to take private property for public uses, so long as just compensation is paid.

Asian American

An ethnic classification for persons whose ancestry originates in the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent.

Native American

A term commonly used for those whose ancestors were living in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans and Africans. Another commonly used term in the United States is ‘‘American Indian.’’

Social media

Websites and computer applications that allow users to engage in social networking and create online communities. Social media provide platforms for sharing information and ideas through discussion forums, videos, photos, documents, audio clips, and the like.

Redlining

A discriminatory rating system used by federal agencies to evaluate the risks associated with loans made to borrowers in specific urban neighborhoods. Today, the term also refers to the same practice among private businesses like banks and real estate companies.

Urban renewal

The relocation of businesses and people, the demolition of structures, and the use of eminent domain to take private property for development projects.

Exclusionary zoning

The use of local government zoning ordinances to exclude certain groups of people from a given community.

Racial covenants

Agreements written into real estate documents by property owners, subdivision developers, or real estate operators in a given neighborhood, binding property owners not to sell, lease, or rent property to specified groups because of race, creed, or color.

Gentrification

A relocation of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating urban areas, often displacing low-income residents.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

An agreement among Mexico, the United States, and Canada designed to expand trade by eliminating tariffs among the three nations.

Maquiladora

Industrial plants on the Mexican side of the border which are partnered with American companies. Such plants typically use low-cost labor to assemble imported parts for a wide range of consumer goods and then export these goods back to the United States or to other countries.

Biotechnology

Also known as biotech, this is the use and/or manipulation of biological processes and microorganisms to perform industrial or manufacturing processes or create consumer goods.

Undocumented immigrant

A person who enters the United States in violation of federal immigration law and thus lacks proper documentation and identification.

Tenth Amendment

The Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution declares that ‘‘the powers not delegated by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States, respectively, or to the people. ’’

National supremacy clause

Article VI of the U.S. Constitution states, ‘‘This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land. ’’

Delegated powers

Specific powers entrusted to the national government by Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution (for example, regulate interstate commerce, borrow money, and declare war).

Implied powers

Powers inferred by the constitutional authority of the U.S. Congress ‘‘to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing [delegated] powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof. ’’

Constitutional guarantees

Rights and protections assured under the U.S. Constitution. For example, among the guarantees to members of the Union include protection against invasion and domestic uprisings, territorial integrity, a republican form of government, and representation by two senators and at least one representative for each state.

Privileges and immunities

Article IV of the U.S. Constitution guarantees that ‘‘citizens of each state shall be entitled to the privileges and immunities of citizens of the several states. ’’ According to the U.S. Supreme Court, this provision means that citizens are guaranteed protection by government, enjoyment of life and liberty, the right to acquire and possess property, the right to leave and enter any state, and the right to use state courts.

Full faith and credit clause

Most government actions of another state must be officially recognized by public officials in Texas.

Reserved powers

Reserved powers are derived from the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Although not spelled out in the U.S. Constitution, these reserved powers to the states include police power, taxing power, proprietary power, and power of eminent domain.

Texas Constitution of 1876

The lengthy, much- amended state constitution, a product of the post- Reconstruction era that remains in effect today.

Texas Grange

A farmers’ organization, also known as the Patrons of Husbandry, committed to low levels of government spending and limited governmental powers; a major influence on the Constitution of 1876.

Constitutional amendment process

Process for changing the Texas Constitution in which an amendment is proposed by a two- thirds vote of each chamber of the legislature and approved by a simple majority of voters in a general or special election.

Constitutional amendment election

Election, typically in November of an odd- numbered year, in which voters are asked to approve one or more proposed constitutional amendments. An amendment must receive a majority of the popular vote to be approved.

Initiative

A citizen-drafted measure proposed by a specific number or percentage of qualified voters that becomes law if approved by popular vote. In Texas, this process occurs only at the local level, not at the state level.

Constitutional revision

Extensive or complete rewriting of a constitution.

Constitutional revision convention

A body of delegates who meet to make extensive changes in a constitution or to draft a new constitution.

Texas Bill of Rights

Article I of the Texas Constitution guarantees protections for people and their property against arbitrary actions by state and local governments. Protected rights include freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition.

Texas Equal Legal Rights Amendment (ELRA)

Added to Article I, Section 3, of the Texas Constitution, it guarantees that ‘‘equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of sex, race, color, creed, or national origin. ‘‘

Separation of powers

The assignment of lawmaking, law- enforcing, and law- interpreting functions to separate branches of government.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

Local government

Counties, municipalities, school districts, and other special districts that provide a range of services, including rural roads, city streets, public education, and protection of persons and property.

Dillon’s Rule

A legal principle, still followed in the majority of states including Texas, that local governments have only those powers granted by their state government.

Intergovernmental relations

Relationships between and among different governments that are on the same or different levels.

Grassroots

Local (as in grassroots government or grassroots politics).

Municipal (city) government

A local government for an incorporated community established by law as a city.

General-law city

A municipality with a charter prescribed by the legislature.

Home-rule city

A municipality with a locally drafted charter.

Recall

A process for removing elected officials through a popular vote. In Texas, this power is available only for home-rule cities.

Referendum

A process by which issues are referred to the voters to accept or reject. Voters may also petition for a vote to repeal an existing ordinance. In Texas, this process occurs at the local level in home-rule cities. At the state level, state constitutional amendments and bonds secured by taxes must be approved by the voters.

Strong mayor-council form

A type of municipal government with a separately elected legislative body (council) and an executive head (mayor) elected in a citywide election with veto, appointment, and removal powers.

Weak mayor-council form

A type of municipal government with a separately elected mayor and council, but the mayor shares appointive and removal powers with the council, which can override the mayor’s veto.

Council-manager form

A system of municipal government in which an elected city council hires a manager to coordinate budgetary matters and supervise administrative departments.

Middle class

Social scientists identify the middle class as those people with white-collar occupations (such as professionals and small business owners).

Working class

Social scientists identify the working class as those people with blue-collar (manual) occupations.

Commission form

A type of municipal government in which each elected commissioner is a member of the city’s policymaking body and heads an administrative department (e.g., public safety with police and fire divisions).

Commissioners court

A county’s policymaking body, with five members: the county judge, who presides, and four commissioners representing single- member precincts.

County judge

An official popularly elected to preside over the county commissioners court, and in smaller counties, to hear civil and criminal cases.

County attorney

An official elected to represent the county in civil and criminal cases, unless a resident district attorney performs some of these functions.

District attorney

An official elected to serve one or more counties who prosecutes criminal cases, gives advisory opinions, and represents the county in civil cases.

County sheriff

A citizen popularly elected as the county’s chief law enforcement officer; the sheriff is also responsible for maintaining the county jail.

Statutory county court

Court created by the legislature at the request of a county; may have civil or criminal jurisdiction or both, depending on the legislation creating it.

District clerk

A citizen elected to maintain records for the district courts.

Justice of the peace

A judge elected from a justice of the peace precinct who handles minor civil and criminal cases, including small claims court.

Constable

An official elected to assist the justice of the peace by serving papers and in some cases carrying out security and investigative responsibilities.

County clerk

An official elected to perform clerical chores for the county courts and commissioners court, keep public records, maintain vital statistics, and administer public elections, if the county does not have an administrator of elections.

County tax assessor-collector

This elected official no longer assesses property for taxation but does collect taxes and fees and commonly handles voter registration.

Countywide tax appraisal district

The district appraises all real estate and commercial property for taxation by units of local government within a county.

County treasurer

An elected official who receives and pays out county money as directed by the commissioners court.

County auditor

A person appointed by the district judge or judges to check the financial books and records of other officials who handle county money.

Special district

A special district usually has one function and serves a specific group of people in a particular geographic area.

Independent school district (ISD)

Created by the legislature, an independent school district raises tax revenue to support its public schools. Voters within the district elect a board that hires a superintendent, determines salary schedules, selects textbooks, and sets the district’s property tax rate.

Junior college or community college district

Establishes one or more two-year colleges that offer both academic and vocational programs.

Noneducation special districts

Special districts, other than school districts or community college districts, such as fire prevention or municipal utility districts, that are units of local government and may cover part of a county, a whole county, or areas in two or more counties.

Metro government

Consolidation of units of local government within an urban area under a single authority.

Council of governments (COGs)

A regional planning body composed of governmental units (for example, cities, counties, special districts); functions include review and comment on proposals by local governments for obtaining state and federal grants.

Extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ)

The limited authority a city has outside its boundaries. The larger the city’s population size, the larger the reach of its ETJ.

Annex

To make an outlying area part of a city. Within a home-rule city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, the city can annex unincorporated contiguous areas without a vote by those who live there.

Mass transit authorities

Those that operate at the local level

At-large election

Members of a policymaking body, such as a city council, are elected on a citywide basis rather than from single-member districts.

Single-member district election

Voters in an area (commonly called a district, ward, or precinct) elect one representative to serve on a policymaking body (e.g., city council, county commissioners court, state House and Senate).

Redistricting

Redrawing of boundaries after the federal decennial census to create districts with approximately equal population (e.g., legislative, congressional, commissioners court, and city council districts in Texas).

Cumulative voting

When multiple seats are contested in an at-large election, voters cast one or more of the specified number of votes for one or more candidates in any combination. It is designed to increase representation of historically underrepresented ethnic minority groups.

Term limit

A restriction on the number of terms officials can serve in a public office.

Property tax

A tax that property owners pay according to the value of real estate and other tangible property. At the local level, property owners pay this tax to the city, the county, the school district, and often other special districts.

Tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ)

An area in which municipal tax incentives are offered to encourage businesses to locate in and contribute to the development of a blighted urban area. Commercial and residential property taxes may be frozen.

Bond

A mechanism by which governments borrow money.

Colonia

A low-income community, typically located in South Texas and especially in counties bordering Mexico, that lacks running water, sewer lines, and other essential services.

Difference between public policy and government

Public policy is the product (the outcome or goal), while government is the structure that produces it.

Federal grants-in-aid

Money appropriated by the U.S. Congress to help states and local governments provide needed facilities and services.

Constitutional revision

An extensive or complete rewriting of a constitution.

An extensive or complete rewriting of a constitution

Constitutional revision.

Delegate/legislators who meet to make extensive changes in a constitution or draft a new constitution

Constitutional convention delegates.

Constitutionalism in Texas

The idea that government should be limited in its scope and function, with its powers and limits written in a constitution.

Amendment process in Texas

Requires a two-thirds vote in both houses of the legislature and approval by a majority of voters in a statewide election.

Intergovernmental relations

The interactions between different levels of government including cooperation and conflict over responsibilities and resources.

Metro government

A regional governing structure that consolidates services across city and county lines to reduce duplication and improve efficiency.

DACA

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals; a U.S. immigration policy allowing some individuals brought to the country as children to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation.