STUDY QUESTIONS-TEXAS POLITICS
UNIT ONE
I.
Political Culture
1. What do we mean by political
culture? Give several examples of the
political culture of Texas.
2. The authors
describe modern political history as being dominated by classical liberalism,
social conservatism, and populism. What
do we mean by each of these? Describe
the practical effect of these concepts in Texas culture today.
3. Define political
socialization. Identify several agents
of political socialization.
4. Describe the phases of the Texas
economy from the 1820’s to the present.
5. Describe
recent trends in the ethnicity of the population of Texas. What implications do these trends suggest for
Texas government and politics?
6. What do we mean by
majority-minority states?
II.
The Constitution
1.Discuss the
differences between the different Texas Constitutions throughout our history as
a Mexican state, independent nation, US state, and Confederate state.
2. Discuss the historical influences
which led to the Constitution of 1876.
3. Describe the form and organization of
government established under the Constitution of 1876.
4. Explain the
process by which we can amend the Texas Constitution. Discuss the number and
types of amendments that have been proposed and adopted by Texans over the
years.
5. Describe
some criticisms of the current Texas Constitution.
6. Discuss
reasons for the failure of Texas to revise its Constitution despite several
efforts in recent years to do so.
III.
Local Government
1. Describe
the organization of Texas counties including the main responsibilities of each
of the county elected officials. What
are some weaknesses of county government. What are some suggestions for improvement?
2. Discuss and
distinguish between the main types of city government found in Texas.
3. Evaluate
the differences between revenues and expenditures of Texas counties and those
of Texas cities.
4. Explain
what we mean by special districts. Give examples and evaluate the strengths and
weaknesses of special districts.
5. Describe
the different types of election systems found in Texas cities.
UNIT TWO
IV.
Interest Groups
1. Explain what we mean by interest
groups.
2. Describe and give examples of the
various types of interest groups.
3. Describe the techniques used by
interest groups to achieve their goals.
V.
Political Parties
1. Distinguish
between interest groups and political parties.
2. Discuss the
roles that political parties play in the operation of our political and
government systems.
3. Describe
the history of political parties in Texas with regard to periods of dominance
and changing alliances.
4. Explain and
give examples from Texas history of what we mean by dealignment,
realignment, and critical elections.
5. What do we
mean by “yellow dog” and “blue dog”?
6. Describe
the factors that contributed to the decline of the Democratic Party and the
rise of the Republican Party in recent Texas politics.
VI. Elections
1. Explain the
difference between closed and open primaries.
What type of primary do we use in Texas?
2. Describe
the formal requirements for voting in Texas.
3. Describe
recent trends in party identification of Texans since 1952.
4. Explain
several of the barriers to voting which were used in Texas and/or other
Southern states to limit voting.
Describe how they were eliminated.
5. Compare
voter turnout for Presidential and midterm elections.
6. Compare and
contrast Texas and US campaign finance laws.
UNIT THREE
VII.
Legislative Branch
1. Describe
the legislative branch of Texas Government in terms of formal bodies,
membership requirements, election process, terms of office, formal and informal
qualifications, and compensation.
2. Explain
what we mean by redistricting and describe the process as it operates in Texas.
3. Identify
the presiding officers of the Texas House and Senate including how they are
chosen and their powers.
4. Describe
the process by which a bill becomes a law.
VIII.
Executive Branch
1. Describe
the qualifications, both formal and informal, of Texas Governors.
2. Describe,
using examples, the powers which belong to the Governor of Texas. How do these
compare with the powers of governors of the other states.
3. Explain
what we mean by “plural executive”. Name
the offices (and the elected officials holding them) which comprise the plural
executive in Texas. For each office or
body explain their major powers and responsibilities.
IX.
Bureaucracy
1. Explain the
five steps in the decision-making process.
2. Describe
the powers of the legislature over the bureaucracy.
3. Describe
the relationship between interest groups and the bureaucracy in the
decision-making process.
4. Describe
the ways in which the governor can influence the bureaucracy.
UNIT FOUR
X.
Judicial System
1. Describe the organization of the
court system in Texas.
2. Discuss the
process by which we choose our judges in Texas including criticisms of the
process and proposals for reform of judicial selection.
XI.
Political Economy
1. Define fiscal policy and describe the
different types of revenue sources available for governments.
2. List and explain the major sources of
revenue for Texas state government. How
do these compare and contrast with the revenue sources for Texas cities and
counties?
3. Describe
the problems associated with Texas’ reliance on the sales tax as a major source
of state revenue.
4. Describe
the major categories of expenditures by the Texas state government.
TERMS-TEXAS
POLITICS
UNIT ONE
I.
Political Culture
classical liberalism party
identification populism realignment
majority minority
state political
ideology progressive tax social
conservatism
political socialization
II.
The Constitution
Bill of Rights federalism representative democracy
checks and balances separation of powers
III.
Local Government
general law cities home
rule cities majority-minority
states nonpartisan elections special
districts
UNIT TWO
IV.
Interest Groups
elitism free rider lobbyist in-house lobbyist
grass roots
lobbying pluralism political action
committee
V.
Political Parties
classical liberalism party
system realignment yellow dog Democrat
critical election populism social conservative blue dog Democrat
non-partisan precinct split ticket voting
VI.
Elections
absentee voting general
election open primary single member districts
at large
representation grandfather clause poll
tax straight
ticket voting
ballot access information
costs primary election transaction costs
closed primary literacy
tests proportional
representation
early voting non
partisan election run off primary white primary
UNIT THREE
VII.
Legislative Branch
appropriations bill filibuster joint committee regular session
bicameral gerrymandering line
item veto special session
biennial sessions impeachment pigeonhole standing committee
calendars committee incumbent referendum veto
conference committee initiative redistricting
VIII.
Executive Branch
bully pulpit interim
appointment plural executive Speaker
constitutent line
item veto pocket
veto staggered
terms
impeachment Lt. Governor power to persuade veto override
IX.
Bureaucracy
block grant iron
triangle revolving door unfunded
federal mandates
categorical grant legislative
oversight sunset review
entitlement
UNIT FOUR
X.
Judicial System
administrative law civil
law criminal
law original
jurisdiction
adversarial system common
law felony precedent
appellate jurisdiction concurrent
jurisdiction misdemeanor statutory law
constitutional
law Missouri Plan
XI.
Political Economy
ad valorem tax excise tax exurb fiscal
policy
progressive tax regressive
tax