Chapter 1 Notes: The Environment of Texas Politics

Objectives

  • 1.1 Describe the relationship between the social history of Texas and the political characteristics of the state’s diverse population.
  • 1.2 Analyze how political culture has shaped Texas’s politics, government, and public policy.
  • 1.3 Discuss the political implications of Texas’s size in both geography and population, along with the geographic distribution of its residents.
  • 1.4 Describe the industries that formed the historical basis for the Texas economy, the diversification of the modern Texas economy, and the economic implications for Texas’s politics.
  • 1.5 Identify four major policy challenges Texas faces in the 21st century.

Government, Politics, and Public Policy

  • Three branches of Texas Government:
    • Legislative
    • Executive (governor)
    • Judicial
  • Public policies in Texas:
    • Enacted by legislature, approved by governor, implemented by an executive department, and interpreted by courts
    • Some policies derived from rules issued by executive department agencies
    • Other policies come from ordinances passed by local governments

The People of Texas

  • (1 of 6) Texans Move From Conflict Toward Cooperation
    • The First Texans: Native American tribes prior to the 1500s
    • European colonization – Spain and France both claimed Texas
    • Mexican Texas – Texas Revolution (1836)
  • (2 of 6) Texans Throughout History
    • The Republic of Texas – Anglo-Indian warfare continued
    • Statehood came in 1845
    • The Lone Star State – Entered union as a slave state
    • Texas joined Confederate States of America in 1861
  • (3 of 6) The Civil War and Reconstruction
    • Texas rejoined the Union during Reconstruction
    • African Americans enjoyed a brief period of increased, safe political participation during Radical Reconstruction
  • (4 of 6) The Great State of Texas
    • Readmitted to United States in 1870
    • African Americans faced struggles – Sharecropping – De jure segregation (Jim Crow laws)
    • Latinos responded to seasonal labor demands, and then the need for manufacturing jobs – Anti-immigrant sentiment grew
  • (5 of 6) Texans Move From Conflict Toward Cooperation
    • Immigration, economic development, and racial integration are key elements in the political evolution of Texas – Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Voting Rights Act of 1965
    • Changing racial and ethnic demographics may have political consequences for the partisan (Republican and Democratic) make-up of Texas
  • (6 of 6) Minority and Anglo Populations of Texas
    • Latinos were 39\% of the Texas population in 2018, up from 32\% in 2000
    • Anglos (non-Hispanic whites) were 42\% in 2018, down from more than 52\% in 2002
    • Black/African American were 12.7\% in 2018, up from 11.9\% in 2010
    • Asian Americans were ≈1.4\text{ million}, and 5\% of the population in 2010
    • Discussion: Which demographic groups is/are poised to make the most significant political impact in the state because of changes in their population in Texas?

Texas Political Culture

  • Texas Moralism
    • Historically represented by progressive groups, African Americans, and Latinos
    • Political goals include racial equality, civil rights, and the moderate adverse effects of corporate capitalism
    • Challenges the traditionally white political structure of the state
  • Texas Individualism
    • Limited gubernatorial budgetary, appointment, and removal powers
    • Elected, not appointed, judiciary
    • Power at local level dispersed among 5,000 governments—counties, school districts, and other special districts
    • Deference to power of wealthy businessmen and corporations, and promotion of economic conservatism
  • Texas Traditionalism
    • Influenced by Old South and Jim Crow laws
    • Political participation and low voter turnout
    • Influence of the Mexican patrón system
    • Favorable business climate – Right-to-work laws – Eminent domain for economic development
  • Discussion: How has political culture shaped Texas’s politics, government, and public policy?

The Land and Population Distribution of Texas

  • Urbanization
    • Texas has seen significant urbanization over several decades
    • Stretches the resources of cities
    • Increases pollution and cost of living
  • Suburbanization and Gentrification
    • Resulted in higher-income families in suburbs
    • Lowered tax base in cities
    • Gentrification has displaced lower-income residents, and has driven up property prices and ad valorem taxes
  • The Regions of Texas (overview): Geographic and cultural differentiation across the state

The Regions of Texas

  • The West Texas Plains
    • Economy based on agriculture, Ogallala Aquifer
    • Dominated by white evangelical Christians
    • Republican base
  • The Border
    • NAFTA lowered trade barriers in 1994
    • Economy sensitive to Mexican economy
    • Dominated by the Catholic Church
    • Democratic base
  • Central Texas
    • Waco, Austin, San Antonio
    • Area dominated by state government, universities, high-tech, tourism, military
    • Democratic and Republican bases
  • North Texas
    • Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
    • Explosive growth in recent decades
    • Republican stronghold in suburban and rural areas
  • East Texas
    • Racially segregated
    • Dominated by evangelical Christianity and political conservatism
  • The Gulf Coast
    • Petrochemicals fundamental to economy
    • Democratic and Republican ties
  • Discussion: How do the state’s regions differ in culture, politics, and economy?

The Texas Economy Through History

  • The Texas Economy Through History (1 of 2)
    • Cattle – Leads nation in cattle, as well as sheep, goats, wool, and mohair
    • Cotton – Leads country in exported cotton
    • Timber – Based in East Texas, nation’s tenth largest producer
    • Drought and wildfires have taken a toll
  • The Texas Economy Through History (2 of 2)
    • Oil and Gas – Accounts for 40\% of total U.S. oil production, and 30\% of natural gas production
    • Hydraulic fracking
    • New emphasis on alternative energy

New Economic Directions

  • Energy
    • 16/25 of the largest energy-related corporations are energy related
    • Identifying alternative fuel strategies (wind)
  • High Technology
    • Research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of electronic products
    • Biotechnology
  • Services
    • Most jobs lack benefits and pay low wages
  • Agriculture
    • Ranks second in production in the U.S.
  • Trade
    • NAFTA’s effects on trade vary by industry or service involved
    • USMCA replaced NAFTA in 2020
    • Maquiladoras (Mexican industrial plants)
  • Discussion: What are the consequences for Texas politics of the diversification of Texas’s economy?

Meeting New Challenges: Poverty and Social Problems

  • By 2019, Texas had achieved its lowest poverty rate in a decade
  • Impacts of the coronavirus pandemic resulted in some 6.6\times 10^6 Texans filing for unemployment assistance
  • Texas has the highest percentage and largest number of uninsured residents
  • Discussion: How do each of the new policy challenges pose a political dilemma for Texans favoring limited government spending, lower taxes, and minimal state regulation of agriculture, industry, and the environment?

Meeting New Challenges - Education

  • More than 60\% of public-school students were classified as economically disadvantaged
  • The coronavirus pandemic upended education: closed schools, waivers of accountability testing, online learning
  • More than 3.58\times 10^5 teachers quit teaching each year (>
    10% of the state’s 358,000 teachers)
  • Issues driving teacher exits: inadequate pay and benefits, low prestige

Meeting New Challenges – Increasing Diversity

  • Undocumented immigrants – Impact of immigration on economy is complex – Texas DREAM Act
  • Undocumented immigrants cost local governments about 1.44\times 10^9 in healthcare and law enforcement costs (not reimbursed by the state)
  • The coronavirus pandemic halted many border crossings (legal and illegal)
  • 1878 Posse Comitatus Act

Meeting New Challenges - Sustainability

  • Texas Water Development Board
  • Demand for water will rise 22\% by 2060
  • The use of water per Texas fracking well increased 770\%
  • Texas minimally regulates industry, agriculture
  • State regularly challenges legality of federal environmental regulations

Summary

  • Key goal: understand how political culture shapes Texas politics, government, and public policy.
  • Understand the relationship between the social history of Texas and the political characteristics of its diverse population.
  • Recognize the political implications of Texas’s size in geography and population, and the geographic distribution of its residents.
  • Identify the industries that formed the historical basis for the Texas economy, the diversification of the modern Texas economy, and the economic implications for Texas’s politics.
  • Identify the four major policy challenges Texas faces in the 21st century: Poverty and Social Problems, Education, Increasing Diversity, and Sustainability.
  • Note: Demographic shifts (Latino, Anglo, Black, and Asian populations) and regional variations shape party politics, policy priorities, and the political culture in Texas.
  • Note: The economy’s evolution from agriculture and natural resources to energy, high tech, biotech, services, and trade alters political coalitions and policy debates.
  • Note: Federal–state interaction (NAFTA/USMCA, environmental policy, immigration, education funding) remains a core arena for Texas politics.