Chapter 1 Flashcards
How are the policies that Texas government adopts determined?
By the people involved in the decision process and the political culture in Texas
What is a political culture?
It reflects the political values and beliefs of a people
What has always been Texas’ political culture?
The government should be marginalized
What is the modern Texas’ political culture?
Individualistic and conservative
Texas individualistic culture
It values the individual over the society in general
What does individualistic philosophy mean?
This philosophy expects each individual to earn his way in life without benefit of government help
What should happen in a individualistic culture?
It should be minimized, taxes should be low, and government benefits should be low
Texas conservative culture
It favors in continuing rule of those in power, whether that is political or economic
Where does conservatism derive from?
The Old South and Mexico
How is Texas changing today?
Increased urbanization, immigration from other states and countries, and technological change all bring new ideas and concepts to Texas
What was the economy and political power of early Texas based on?
Cattle, cotton, and oil
What is the modern challenge of Texas?
An absolute need for increased education funding and a historical unwillingness to support that such an effort
How was Texas government often seen?
As apart of the problem and not the solution
What do a new economy and new demographics require?
Major changes in the the way that the state does business
How are the current challenges of education, poverty, and environment being met?
With governmental structure not designed to change or resolve problems
What term describes the dominant political values and beliefs in a nation or state?
Political culture
Which is an incorrect statement about social conservatives in Texas?
They do not support the use of state power to restrict gambling
What percentage of Texans say they are “in the middle” between conservative and liberal viewpoints?
25 percent
Fifty-three percent of Texans believe we spend too little on which specific public policy?
Elementary and secondary education
According to Daniel Elazar which of the following distinct political subcultures does not exist in Texas?
Modernistic
Which of the following is not considered an aspect of the moralistic subculture?
Association with more religious attitudes
What is a correct statement about the individualistic political subculture?
Government’s prime objective is to further private enterprise
What is not considered a belief of the traditionalistic political subculture?
This subculture believes in public rather than personal solutions to problems
According to Daniel Elazar, what is the subculture of Texas?
Traditionalistic and individualistic
