Texas Government –

an organization influenced by political ideology whose primary interest is to gain control by winning elections

a political system wherein power is diffused among and within levels of party organization

national, state, county, precinct

State convention (June, even years) County or District Convention (3rd Saturday in March, even years) Precinct Convention (immediately after polls close on primary election day)

State Chair and Vice Chair - one man, one woman - elected by delegates State Executive Committee - one man, one woman from each of states 31 senatorial districts. elected by delegates. County Chair - elected by voters countywide County Executive Committee - county chair and precinct chairs Precinct Chair - elected by voters in precinct

primaries and conventions that function briefly to nominate candidates, pass resolutions, adopt a party platform, and select delegates to party conventions at higher levels.

a document that sets forth a political party's position on issues such as income tax, school vouchers, or public utility regulation.

at the lowest level of political party organization, voters convene in March of even-numbered years to adopt resolutions and to name delegates to county (or district) convention.

a primary in which the voters indicate their preference for a person seeking nomination as the party's presidential candidate

a meeting at which members of a political party assemble to select delegates and make other policy recommendations

an unpledged party official or elected official who serves as a delegate to a party's national convention.

dominated by the right-wing social conservatives

influenced by not dominated by left-wing liberals.

a person who advocates minimal intervention by government in social and economic matters and who gives a high priority to reducing taxes and curbing public spending.

Texas democrats have combined the two delegate-selection plans into a primary-caucus.

A comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and about the role of an institution or government. form the basis of a political system.

a political ideology that reflects fiscal conservatism, but accepts a limited governmental role in solving social problems.

A person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties, a person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets.

a political ideology that advocates less government regulation of business but supports more governmental involvement in social matters. Woodrow Wilson, progressive movement

Origin of the Party System - Republic of Texas Pro-(sam)Houston and anti-Houston groups. 1850s - Pro - Jackson Democrats (unionists) anti - calhoun democrats - states rights and slavery advocate)

reconsttuction - Republican Party controlled texas politics. reconstrution acts purged anyone with a confederate past. and were denied the right to vote.

former union army general. elected governor in 1869. took control of voter registration and appointed all public officials. placed republicans (some African Americans). condemned for corruption, graft and high taxation. after defeat in 1873, 100 years without republican governor. led to weak executive government

one-party dominant system - democrats. Populist party - agrarian-based party

emerging two-party system: Bill Clements elected governor in 1978, Republican.

Voters trend away from allegiance to political parties, a process whereby voters are moved toward nonpartisanship thus weakening the structure of political parties

substantial and long-term shift in party allegiance by individuals and groups, usually resulting in a change in policy direction

Voting for all the candidates of one party

Any political parties other than DP or RP Achieve success in making the public aware of their issues, persuading major parties adopt some of their issues La Raza Unida - co-opted by democrats Reform Party Libertarian Party

people who have no party affiliation

Sam Houston

a brief statement of a candidates theme communicated by radio or television in a few seconds.

candidates generally low ethical level of campaigning and avoidance of critical public issues.

PACs - organizations created to collect and distribute contributions to political campaigns

created in 1993 - requires financial disclosure from public officials. enforces state standards for lobbyists including registration of lobbyists and reporting of political campaign contributions. governor appoints 4, speaker appoints 2, lt. gov. appoints 2

enacted by congress and signed by GW Bush in 2002 - restricts the donations of soft money and hard money for election campaigns. effect has been limited by federal court decisions. restriction on corporations' and labor unions' ability to ru electioneering ads close to election day.

independent expenditure-only committees that may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, nonprofit organizations and individuals.

Latino political organization founded in 1970 by Jose Angel Gutierrez. fielded candidates at state and local level and mobilized Mexican Americans who had been politically inactive.

Ma Ferguson 1925-1927, 1933-1935 Ann Richards 1990 -

increased punishment for family violence and sexual abuse of children renewed focus on public education

voting is open for virtually all persons 18 years of age or older

State Rep 1968, Member of the Texas House of Representatives, first woman to run for governor of Texas

State Senator 1967, Watergate examination, first African-American woman from a southern state to serve in Congress when she was elected to the House of Representatives in 1973.

Anne Richards was a Democrat elected governor of Texas in 1990. She chaired the 1992 Democratic presidential convention and was known for fulfilling her campaign promise of making the state government reflect the diversity of the state's people. Anne Richards was very successful and epitomizes the arrival of women in national politics.

System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents.

A test administered as a precondition for voting, often used to prevent African Americans from exercising their right to vote. not used in Texas

A clause in registration laws allowing people who do not meet registration requirements to vote if they or their ancestors had voted before 1867.

a tax levied in Texas from 1902 until a similar Virginia tax was declared unconstitutional in 1962; failure to pay the annual tax ($1.75) made a citizen ineligible to vote in party primaries or in special and general elections.

the practice of keeping blacks from voting in the southern states' primaries through arbitrary use of registration requirements and intimidation

packing black voters in a given district or "cracking" them to make black voters a minority., redistricting to enhance or reduce the chances that a racial or ethnic group will elect members to the legislature

has been renewed and amended by congress 4 times. abolishes the use of all literacy tests in voter registrations prohibits residency requirements of more than 30 days in presidential elections requires absentee or early voting requires to obtain preclearance from US dept of justice before changing voting qualifications or prereqs to standards, practices, procedures.

a convicted felon - unless sentence, probation or parole completed. mentally incompetent.

Secretary of State - atty from Houston, first Indian-American to fill the position.

The first Tuesday in March (as of 2013) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November

a preliminary election conducted within the party to select candidate who will run for public office in a subsequent general election.

a nominating system that allows voters to participate directly in the selection of candidate for public office.

held in November of even numbered years to elect county and state officials from among candidates nominated in primaries or nominating conventions.

protected the right to assemble peaceably when it decided the NAACP did not have to reveal its membership list and thus subject its members to harassment

Achieved by dividing power between national and state governments and separating legislative, executive, and judicial branches at both levels.

a group with the primary purpose of promoting the financial interests of its members. trade associations and labor unions - maximize profits and wages. MOST COMMON INTEREST GROUPS

economic interest group, such as a trade association that lobbies for policies favoring Texas businesses (eg. Texas association of builders)

a union that supports public policy designed to increase wages, obtain adequate health insurance coverage, provide unemployment insurance, promote safe working conditions and otherwise protect the interest of the workers. AFL-CIO. great at getting out the vote.

an organization of physicians, lawyers, accountants or other professional people that lobbies for policies beneficial to members.

officers and ees of the state and local govent. to obtain better working conditions, higher wages, more fringe benefits, and better retirement packages. Texas State Employees Union, Teachers Association TSTA, etc.

included among groups concerned primarily with social issues are organization devoted to civil rights, racial and ethnic matters, religion, and public interest protection.

NAACP, LULAC, MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund

League of Women Voters, engages in lobbying and educational activities to promote greater political participation by women

lobbies for polices promoting its religious interests. Texas Faith Network, Christian Coalition, Texas Freedom Network

claim to promote teh general interests of society (broad public interest) rather than narrow private interest - envrionmental, consumer, political participation and public morality orgs.

business-oriented trade associations, professional associations, and labor unions; also brewers, truckers, automobile dealers, bankers, and realtors headquarters in Austin - Texas Medical Assoc. - most influential

communicating with legislators or other government officials on behalf of an interest group for the purpose of influencing decision makers.

an action such as lobbying, personal communication, giving favors and gifts, grassroots activities, electioneering, campaign financing by PAC, bribery and other unethical practices intended to influence government decisions .

active campaigning by an interest group in support of, or opposition to, a candidate; actions urging the public to act on an issue. publishing or publicizing candidates political records, providing candidate with mailing lists and info. public endorsements. getting out the vote.

Texans for a Republican Majority PAC organized under Tom DeLay. involved in raising money for GOP candidates seeking seats in the Texas House. indicted in 2005 for money laundering and conspiracy to launder $190,000 of campaign contributions from corporate contributors.

US House of Representatives from CA. March 3, 2006, he received a sentence of eight years and four months in prison and was ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution on charges of bribery. kept crib sheet.

An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy

Political Parties seek to win elections and put candidate in office. Interest groups try to influence policy and officials.

Liberal democrats

conservatives

Liberal

support for Sam Houston. Based on personality and not liberal or Conservative ideologies.

He gave rights to slaves. former confederates were unable to vote or hold office.

1949-1957 Former state senator and lieutenant governor. Campaigned for Dwight Eisenhower. Conservative democrat who fought to keep liberals out of office. "Shivercrats"

Elected in 1993 to the US Senate as a Republican of Texas and the first women elected to represent Texas in the senate. In favor of the right to bear arms, strengthened the enforcement of immigration laws, tax relief for working families

was the first Republican United States senator from Texas since Reconstruction

was a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the First Amendment.

80%

Citizenship and due process rights for all (black and white) (Abraham Lincoln)

Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or previous condition of servitude

register to vote when you update your license (1993)

this act passed in 1993 and frequently called the "Motor Vehicle Act" is a piece of legislation that includes a provision that makes it possible to register to vote when applying for or renewing your drivers license.

education

Sotomayor characterized the issue as a regulatory problem and said labeling immigrants criminals seemed insulting to her.

position on open carry laws - politically expedient switch. Running in Texas and needs to bring in conservative votes.

True

first republican governor since EJ Davis

Texas being a one-party state.

republican

Senator John Tower

false

false

true

false

Citizen United v. Federal Election Commission (2009

ethnic minorities.

not in a presidential election year

false

true

federalism and separation of powers.

have exceeded 1800

False