Exam 3: Concepts from text

Question 1

federal system

Answer 1

A system of government that provides for a division and sharing of powers between a national government and state or regional governments

Question 2

“The NAFTA highway”

Answer 2

Interstate 35
Dubbed this term due to its importance in international trade
Runs from the Mexican border at Laredo through San Antonio, Austin, Dallas/Ft. Worth, all the way to northern Minnesota

Question 3

moralistic, individualistic, and traditionalistic political cultures

Answer 3

1. moralistic, northern states, govt and citizen participation good
2. individualistic, middle states, govt and citizen participation alright
3. traditionalistic, southern states, govt and citizen participation sucks

Question 4

pseudo laissez-faire

Answer 4

The tendency of entrepreneurs to oppose government involvement in the economy at the general philosophical level, but to seek government assistance for their particular business

Question 5

Chapter 2: Medicaid

Answer 5

A federal program that provides Medical Services to some of the poor elderly and disabled

Question 6

“necessary and proper” clause;

Answer 6

The U.S. constitution gives congress broad powers to make any laws that are “necessary and proper”
Texas constitution does not have this - have to make amendments

Question 7

“amend in” versus “amend out”

Answer 7

It is harder to take something out of the constitution and it is to put into it

Question 8

Chapter 3: plutocratic government

Answer 8

When policy is made at the behest of a few rich interests working behind the scenes
Government for the wealthy by bribing policymakers
Not democratic at all

Question 9

TCEQ

Answer 9

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
State agency that is supposed to regulate industry to protect the quality of air and water
Good example of the revolving door

Question 10

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Answer 10

An interest group formed by business leaders determined to change the state’s tort (wrongful act) laws;
After republicans gained control of both houses, the 2003 legislature gave TLR everything they wanted

Question 11

Annie’s List

Answer 11

An interest group that 1) raises money (through its PAC) for female candidates that are pro-choice on abortion and 2) recruits and trains women to run for office
Successful upon its establishment in 2003, but has started fade away due to republican domination in Texas

Question 12

Chapter 4: coalitions

Answer 12

A group of interests and individuals supporting a party or a candidate for office
Ex: Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Question 13

“RINO rule”

Answer 13

“RINO” - “Republicans in Name Only”

Would have denied party campaign funds to any candidate who refused to swear to endorse and attempt to implement every party plank if elected

Question 14

Ron Wilson

Answer 14

Ron Wilson African American democrat that was elected into the Texas House of Representatives in 1976
Lacked party loyalty and would vote with republicans on certain issues to gain internal power
After endorsing the republican redistricting plan in 2003, democrats were furious
Lost 2004 democratic primary to Alma Allen

Question 15

Chapter 5: poll tax

Answer 15

A tax levied on citizens before they are permitted to vote
Forbidden by the 24th amendment of the U.S. constitution in 1964
Discouraged less affluent citizens from registering
Had the deliberate effect of keeping minorities away because they were usually poor

Question 16

Ron Kirk

Answer 16

African American democrat that ran for U.S. senate in 2002
Part of the democratic “dream team” with Tony Sanchez and John Sharp
All of different ethnicity; hoped they could contribute votes to each others campaigns
Could’ve won if liberal voter turnout was higher

Question 17

“the most important campaign resource”

Answer 17

Money
Except in many municipal elections where volunteers are most important
Politicians need money to publicize their candidacies, especially over television
The candidate with the most money does not always win

Question 18

Texas Ethics Commission

Answer 18

Created in 1991 to regulate and moderate the impact of private wealth on public policy in campaigns and at other levels of Texas politics
A “supermajority” was required for important actions (6/8)
Started off terrible, but then slowly became more efficient; still has very little power
The evolution of TEC illustrates that improvement in Texas politics is slow, but not at a standstill

Question 19

Chapter 6: Legislative Redistricting Board

Answer 19

LRB: This is the institution that redraws the lines every 10 years (or more often) and is basically the official gerrymandering institution

Question 20

legislative fringe benefits

Answer 20

Although a legislator’s salary is low ($7,200), they receive generous benefits
Some legislators have a manipulated salary, a per diem, travel reimbursements, an allowance, and optional retirement benefits

Question 21

item veto

Answer 21

The governor’s constitutional power to strike out individual items in an appropriations bill
Powerful tool for limiting state spending

Question 22

Chapter 7: malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance;

Answer 22

Official misconduct, incompetence, or failure to perform
State constitution does not define what constitutes an impeachable offense
These grounds were set by implication and by the precedents set in the impeachment of James E. Ferguson in 1917

Question 23

governor’s salary

Answer 23

Has increased from $12,000 in 1954 to $150,000 in 2009, ranking 11th among all governors
Also receives numerous fringe benefits such as an official mansion, a travel budget, a car, the use of state-owned aircraft, bodyguards, and professional staff

Question 24

session power

Answer 24

The governor’s constitutional authority to call the legislature into special session and set the agenda of topics to be considered in that session

Question 25

Chapter 10: Article I, section 4

Answer 25

Requires persons holding public office to “acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being”
Supreme court ruled in 2005 that atheists and believers are equally protected, contradicting this section
The section is no longer enforced

Question 26

Prenatal Protection Act

Answer 26

Amended the state’s penal code to define an “individual” as beginning at the moment of fertilization and allowing criminal charges or civil lawsuits to be filed when an unborn child is killed

Question 27

Edgewood v. Kirby

Answer 27

Ruled that the state’s system of financing its public schools violated the state constitution and laws
The funding of public schools in Texas was not equal
Hard to change this because the wealthiest citizens were represented in the legislature
“Robin Hood Law” passed - took money from the rich and gave it to the poor; eventually declared unconstitutional

Question 28

Chapter 14: Faustian bargain

Answer 28

Metaphor for a type of decision opportunity in which every alternative offers great benefits, but also comes at a terrible price (Faust story)
Pertaining to energy policy; every energy option promises to supply Americans and Texans with much of what we need, but only at a price that increasingly looks terrible, no matter which alternative we choose

Question 29

“fracking”

Answer 29

“Hydraulic fracturing”; when a mixture of water and chemicals is injected underground under high pressure, thus shattering rock formations and permitting the recovery of the oil or natural gas trapped inside

Question 30

YBNIIMP

Answer 30

“Yes, But Not If I Must Pay” syndrome
An extension of NIMBY regarding the environmental protection of burying nuclear waste
Environmental protection policy must be made within the paradox that such policies are popular in general but will be unpopular if there are specific costs attached that citizens perceive as falling on themselves