Unit 3 Learning Objectives
Texas State & Local Government - GOVT 2306

Frank J. Garrahan

Read Chapter 7, 8, and 11 in Governing Texas, 3rd Edition and then be able to:

1) Describe the formal and informal qualifications for membership in both the Texas House and Senate.

2) Describe the election process for legislators.

3) Understand the process involved with legislative districting. Then describe the various types of gerrymandering. (Concentration, Diffusion, & Pairing) See P. 2 of Learning Objectives.

4) Outline the organization of the Texas legislature. Describe the powers of the leadership in each house and the restraints upon these powers.

5) Know the formal and informal functions of the legislature.

6) Know the three most common types of laws and resolutions.

7) Outline and then describe the process of creating law. (Pages 220-221)

8) Know the options that the governor has in the final outcome of a bill.

9) Describe the internal and external influences on the legislature as it attempts to create laws.

10) Know the term of office for the governor and then list the formal and informal qualifications to be Texas governor.

11) Describe the impeachment process in removing a governor and the line of succession to the governor's office.

12) Understand the importance and responsibilities of the governor's staff.

13) Understand the formal and informal powers of the governor. List the powers as to executive, legislative, and judicial powers.

14) Understand the limitations placed on the governor's power of appointments.

15) Define the plural executive and know the powers of each of the major single executives and the Texas Railroad Commission.

16) Understand the role of state agencies in policy implementation and public administration.

17) Describe the state budget process (Page 380). And know the difference between zero-based and incremental budgeting techniques.

18) List the fiscal priorities of the state as determined by the state's budget (Table 11.2, p. 364), and know the major sources of state revenues (Table 11.3, p. 367 & Figure 11.2, p. 368) differentiating between tax and non-tax sources..

19) Define a Tax and the five principlres of taxation.

20) Define the key terms at the end of each chapter in the text and also the following:

a) Legislative privileges (immunities)

b) Ma & Pa Ferguson

c) Diffusion

d) Concentration

e) Ex officio

f) "Good Tax"

 

Legislative Redistricting

Reynolds v. Sims (1964) U.S. Supreme Court case that ordered that houses of state legislative bodies be apportioned on the basis of the state’s population and that citizens must have equal representation.

The Legislature is responsible for redrawing districts lines every ten years after a federal census.  They are responsible for redistricting both houses of the Legislation and Texas’ congressional delegation.

Legislative Redistricting Board – If the Legislature fails to redraw legislative districts as required, this board will then completes it.  The Board is composed of the:  Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, State Attorney General, State Comptroller, and State Attorney General.

Gerrymandering – is the drawing districts lines so as to advantage or disadvantage various population groups.  There are three main types of gerrymandering:

Diffusion – is the splitting up a population group so that they have no advantage in any district.

Concentration – is the packing of one population group into a solid district, thereby, making the other remaining districts safe for another group.

Pairing – is the drawing of district lines so that two or more current incumbents wind up in the same district.