City Governance & Political Participation

  • General Law vs. Home Rule Cities:

    • General Law Cities: <5,000 population, limited self-government, must follow state laws.

    • Home Rule Cities: >5,000 population, can adopt own city charter, more flexibility in governance.

  • Annexation:

    • Legal process for cities to extend boundaries, controversial due to potential lack of resident consent.

  • Forms of City Government:

    • Mayor-Council (Strong/Weak) and Council-Manager systems.

  • Municipal Elections:

    • At-Large Elections, At-Large by Place, Single-Member Districts.

  • Civic vs Political Participation:

    • Civic: Non-political activities.

    • Political: Voting and lobbying.

  • Voter Registration in Texas:

    • Must be U.S. citizen, 18+, resident, registered 30 days prior. Restrictions apply.

  • Voter Turnout:

    • Historically low in Texas, varies by election type.

Federalism & Court Power

  • Dual Federalism:

    • Clearly defined powers between federal and state (Founding to 1930s).

  • Cooperative Federalism:

    • Overlapping powers, began during the New Deal.

  • New Federalism:

    • 1970s–1990s, emphasis on state discretion via block grants.

  • Key Court Cases:

    • McCulloch v. Maryland: Implied powers, denied states taxing federal entities.

    • Gibbons v. Ogden: Federal control over interstate commerce.

    • Dred Scott v. Sanford: Limited federal authority on citizenship.

    • Santa Clara v. SP Railroad: Corporations as persons under the 14th Amendment.

    • Hammer v. Dagenhart: Limited federal authority on labor laws.

  • Interstate Relations:

    • Full Faith & Credit, Privileges & Immunities.

Key Supreme Court Cases on Federalism

  • Marbury v. Madison: Established judicial review.

  • McCulloch v. Maryland: Federal supremacy and implied powers.

  • Gibbons v. Ogden: Expanded interpretation of Commerce Clause.

  • Plessy v. Ferguson: Upheld segregation, supported state power.

  • South Dakota v. Dole: Affirmed federal fiscal leverage in states.

  • Printz v. United States: Protected state sovereignty against federal mandates.

Texas Constitution

  • Constitution of 1869: Centralized, expanded services, incorporated 14th & 15th Amendments.

  • Constitution of 1876: Limited government, emphasis on localism and individual freedoms.

  • Key Features:

    • No implied powers, amendments need popular vote.

    • Strong Bill of Rights.

  • Criticisms:

    • Long, inflexible, and overly amended.

  • Timeline:

    • Multiple constitutions from 1824 to present, each reflecting socio-economic changes.

  • Political Culture:

    • Individualistic and traditionalistic elements, with a blend dominating Texas politics.