midterm review (chapters 1-5)

chapter 2 make notes of the stuff you really don’t know!

key terms

federalism = system of government; power divided between national party and states

separation of powers = division of government into distinct branches

state constitution = legal framework that establishes the structure, powers, and limits of government at the state level.

key dates

texas declaration of independence (1836): free from Mexico because the Mexican government failed.

constitutional convention (1875): drafted our current Texas constitution, limits to government power and more to the people

key articles of the constitution

[article 1] bill of rights

• individual rights

• limited govt.

[article 2] powers of govt.

• separation of powers

[article 3] legislative department

• bicameral legislature

[article 4] executive department

• plural executive system - distribution of power among many elected officials to prevent authority in one place

key dates

1836:

• Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico

• Republic of Texas established

1845:

• Texas annexed by the U.S.

• new constitution

1861:

• Texas secedes from Union

• adopts a confederacy constitution

1866:

• Texas rejoins Union

• adopts new constitution reflecting changes after the civil war

1876:

• current Texas constitution adopted

• limited government

facts to memorize

• texas had 7 state constitutions

• over 500 amendments

• 17 articles

cause and effect

• texas disliking mexican government → declaration of independence

• desire for annexation to the U.S. → texas state constitution of 1845

• secession from the union → adoption of constitution of 1861 = provisions defending slavery and states rights

• reconstruction efforts after the civil war → constitution of 1866 (property rights to formerly enslaved people and abolishing slavery)

• need for limited government → constitution of 1876 (current) strong popular control and limited state power.

chapter 3 make notes of the stuff you really don’t know!

key terms

supremacy clause = federal laws are more important than state laws

tenth amendment = reserved powers go to the states and people

cooperative federalism = state and national governments work together

dual federalism = national and state governments work within their own spheres of authority

key people

chief justice salmon chase = indestructibility of the Union and states

president roosevelt = cooperative federalism during the New Deal to address the issues with Great Depression

president lyndon b. johnson = bigger national power through Great Society program

key events

McCullough v. Maryland = supremacy of national government over state governments

gibbons v. ogden = congress’ power to regulate interstate commerce

texas v. white = texas remained a state during the Civil War

fundamental theories

layer cake federalism = distinct separation of powers between national and state governments (dual)

marble cake federalism = cooperative federalism, blurred boundaries

fractious federalism = partisan identity influences cooperation between state and national policies

key legislation

voting rights act = legislation aimed at preventing racial discrimination in voting

affordable care act (ACA): health care reform law that expanded Medicaid and imposed individual mandates

chapter 4 make notes of the stuff you really don’t know!

key terms

political party = group working to win elections and promote certain ideologies

party platform = statement of political values that the party must stand by when elected

partisan polarization = divide between two major parties (rep v dem)

political socialization = people can form their beliefs and identification through social influences.

key people

tip o’ neil = former u. s. speaker of the house, “all politics is local”

shivercrat movement (1950s) - conservative democrats support Eisenhower

key parties

dixiecrats

• conservative southern democrats who left the democratic party over racial integration

la raza unida

• addressed concerns about Mexican Americans in Texas

libertarian party

• limited govt.

key facts about Texas

• major parties are Republican and Democrat

• Tea Party movement - lower govt spending and limited govt.

• most voters identify as Republican

• Until the 1990s, the Democrats used to dominate Texas

• Democrats have the most influence in the following cities: Houston, Austin, and San Antonio

cause and effect

• the shivercrat movement and the shift to republicanism in Texas occurred due to the split between liberal and conservative Democrats (1940s)

• republicans have held all major statewide offices since the late 20th century.

chapter 5 make notes of the stuff you really don’t know!

key terms

primary election = general election by the party members

runoff primary = occurs when no candidate receives the majority vote for the general

redistricting = occurs every 10 years, when boundaries are redrawn for electoral districts

key events

• 19th amendment (1919): women can vote in the U.S. !!!!

• voting rights act: ALL RACES CAN VOTE !!!!

• newberry v. united states: upheld white primary (LESS BLACK PPL VOTING!!)

• smith v allwright: STOPPING BLACK PPL FROM VOTING IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL!

key people

• NAACP: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

  • fought for African American accessibility

• MALDEF: MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND

  • challenged laws that disenfranchised Latinos