Test 1 Flashcards
broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how govt should function and how politics should operate
political culture
belief that govt should lmt its role to providing order in society so that citizens can pursue their econic self-interests; places low value on citizen participation; govt should be left to professionals
individualistic PC
belief that govt should be dominated by political elites and guided by tradition; routed in emphasizing social hierarchy and close interpersonal and familial relations among ppl; concerned w/ preservation of trad and existing social order; public participation is lmted and run by estbd elite
traditionalistic PC
when one political party dominates government and all other parties take a limited and controlled participation in elections
one-party system
when two major political parties dominate politics within government; one typically holds a majority in the legislature while the other is the minority party
two-party system
narrow, lmted and self-interested view of world often associated with rural values and notions of lmted govt
provincialism
- northward => increasingly arid, forests less freq, post oak trees replaced by praries and brushlands of Central TX;
- eastward => hilly surfaces of forests, where timber prdcn largely takes place, some oil fields;
- westward => cotton prdcn in past, now manufacturing base;
- southern/Rio Grande Plain and Lwr Rio Grande Plain => livestock important, winter vegetable and fruit prdcn;
- where TX political life grew out of as TX went from plantation life preCW to industrialized areas; domd by rural conservative values with new dimensions bc of urbanization
Gulf Coastal Plains
- predominately agricultural economy
- West TX Rolling Plains are lvl, cultivable land and large cattle-raising industry;
- domd by conserve politics / Repub party
Interior Lowlands
- nthn economy: domd by ranching and petroleum prdcn
- sthn economy: domd by agriculture and cotton prdcn
- conservative but will likely be affected by urbanization
Great Plains
-political culture domd by fact that TX and Mexico have been joined at hip economically and demographically; has remained Dem bastion
Basin and Range Province
20th cent economist that characterized capitalist econic sys of “creative destruction”
Joseph Schumpeter
creates new econic and social worlds while also destroying old ones
creative destruction
- one of oldest crops in TX; really began in 1821 w/ arrival of white Amns; industry promoted by political independence, statehood, and ongoing removal of Native Amn “threat”; stimd by breakthrough of barbed wire, building of RRs, and newly designed plow; sharecropping of 1870s fueled radical political discontent -> Grange and Populist mvmts
- started around same time; offered immigrants alt to farming; lmtd to local areas until RRs opened new markets in east; took off after CW and barbed wire
- neither drives political economy as did in past
cotton and cattle
- bcame economically viabke in 1898; TX accelerated into ___ era by discovery in Spindletop in 1901; by 1930, prwd TX economy instead of agri; led to new industrial rev and more migration from farms to cities -> creation of heartland of TX economy and pop (SA to DFW via 35, DFW to H via 45, H to SA via 10)
- led to boom-and-bust mentality and dev of TX RR commission
- increased state revenue via prdcn taxes, also helped fund hier edu in TX bc of PUF
- paved way for private philanthropy
oil and gas
after econic malaise of 1980s, TX emerged with transformed state economy driven by rapidly growing and diversifying economy w/ heart at mnfctring sector tied to ___; Austin, Dallas, Houston stand out
high tech
trade treaty among US, Canada, and Mexico to lwr and eliminate tariffs amg the 3 countries; sought to create a free trade zone; controversial bc of job loss potential, has benefitted TX by diversifying economy; resulted in loss of jobs but more revenue / trade
NAFTA
began in 2007; took TX four yrs to recover; one of last to enter and first to leave bc low-taxes, low services, free mrkt govt, entrepreneurial sprit, less foreclosure rates, constitutionally stated mortgage policy, and diversified economy (internatl trade, resurgent oil and gas industry)
Great Recession
process by which people move from rural areas to cities; is leading to increasingly Dem cities while rural areas are solidly Repub and suburbs have pockets of both, but also more Repub
urbanization
Latino (and Asian) pop growing, TX is full of younger and poorer ppl, minorities have ldrs in various lvls of govt; typical white person no longer typical TXn; ppl are increasingly coming via domestic immigration
changing demographics in TX
the individ from which the TXC’s description of role of govt “to protect lives, lib, and property of the ppl”; English philosopher and physician of Enlightment Era
John Locke
concerned with the origin of society and legitimacy of authority; involves the state of nature (where individs had perfect freedom and ppl decide everything for themselves ) and the surrendering of some of our freedoms to submit to authority and achieve protection; there is an agreement entered into by a group of individs surrendering some of their freedom to an authoritative body/group
Theory of the Social Contract
legal structure of a govt, which estbs its pwr and authority as well as places lmts on that pwr; legitimize state political institutions by clearly explaining source of their pwr and authority, delegate pwr by explaining which pwrs are granted and to whom, what, and how pwrs are to be used, prevent conc of pwr by providing checks and balances, and define lmts of pwr by forbidding intrusion of certain govtal activities into lives of individs (thru rights)
constitution
principle of interpretation that views the Constitution’s meaning as fixed as of the time of enactment; as constitution reads, the laws stand; somewhat Repub view
originalism
first written constitution of the US; created out of fear of central authority and extensive land claims by states; states remained sovereign and independent; Congress was also given the authority to make treaties and alliances, maintain armed forces, and coin money; estbd weak and ineffective form of central govt
Articles of Confederation
1) Break w/ Mexico and creation of Republic : 1836 and Constit
2) Annexation (pulls down Republic flag and becomes US State): 1845
3) Secession (pull down US flag and go forward): 1861
4) Reconstruction to 1876 (N comes in, military occupies, you get weak and strong Reconstruction, redemption of secessionists, foundational TXC)
Four Stages of the Texas Founding
said to be the same type of stimulus to the Texas Revolution that the Stamp Act was to the American Revolution, was initiated by Mexican minister of foreign relations, and was designed to stop the flood of immigration from the United States to Texas
Law of 1830
served as the provisional government of Mexican Texas from November 1835 through March 1836 during the Texas Revolution; tensions rose in Texas during early 1835 as throughout Mexico federalists began to oppose the increasingly centralist policies of the government; was not completely representative of all of Texas; three issues dominated Consultation deliberations—the purpose of the war, the power and structure of government, and the virtues of different leaders; resulted in creation of provisional govt
The Consultation
TX annexed in 1845/became part of Union -> Mexico freaked out and was weak republic; US/TX knew it and US wanted a war; lasted 1846-1848; was a problematic war that many were against, but Mexican-American War was great because we got a lot of land
Mexican American War
formed bc influx of Amns into Mexico -> discontent amg TXns over place in Mxn federal sys -> conventions and draft of new constit, rebellion, and draft of grievances and TX DoI; wanted freedom of religion, sys of public edu, and trial by jury
The Texas Republic
occurred in 1845; new constitution drafted; occurred with provisions that __ cede to __ all military armaments/bases/facilties pertaining to public defense, __ retained right to all its vacant and unappropriated lands and its public debts, __ given permission to break up into four addl __ when pop proved adequate
annexation and statehood
occurred in 1861; domd by lawyers and slaveholders; proslavery membership -> TX Ordinance of ___ in 1861; condemned Afn amns; reconvened to enact new constit as TX entered ___
Secessionist Convention
occurred in 1866; included strong Unionist and secessionist factions; granted freedmen fundamental rights; TX had to reject right of secession, repudiate war debt of state, + accept abolition of slavery
Convention of 1866
occurred in 1868/69; most delegates repd wings in Repub party; never finished reworking 1866 Constit, but efforts published by military w/out submitting it to voters; delegates argued over RR charters, lawlessness, whether laws passed during war years were legal, 13th and 14th amendments, and more;
Convention of 1869
occurred in 1875/1876; Dem majority, but also included blacks; none from previous convention; called to prevent another govt like Davis’s; produced doc that is still basis for TX today; delegates committed to 1) strong popular control of govt 2) lmting pwr of state govt 3) economy in govt 4) promoting agrarian interests
Convention of 1876
Constit of 1836 included this except for mineral rights and marriage property law; declares common property right were women and men shared property in marriage; but in TX, their property is separate unless the couple made legal moves to share it
English Common Law
In TX, all land was owned by govt, but throughout 1900s, the land became privatized; Let the ppl have the land and develop it; then tax it (state earns more money)
privatization of public land
you own land and state owns everything under it (MXn); TX did half and half of state owning under-land and ppl owning under-land; they gave oil rights to ppl/privatized it, then taxed it
mineral rights
ruled TX when it was a province along with state of Coahuila under Mexican Constitution; made TX the District of Bexar; defined a unicameral legis; guaranteed liberty, security, property, and equality; estbd Catholicism as state religion
Constitution of 1824 (1827)
ruled TX when it was a Republic after its revolution; adopted USC as working model (sep of pwrs, checks and balances, BoR); rejected Catholicism as state religion; defended slavery
Constitution of 1836
ruled TX when it first bcame US state; affirmed many of the institutional features of USC and previous TXC; difficult amendment process; TX retained ownership of all public lands and minerals under these lands
Constitution of 1845
ruled TX when it joined Confederacy/ seceded; affirmed broad features of previous TXC; radical defense of slavery as institution; conservative defense of existing white-dominated political and econic sys
Constitution of 1861
ruled TX under Presidential Reconstruction; affirmed broad institutional features of two previous TXCs; reflected values of former secessionists; accepted results of CW and an end to slavery; rejected equality before the law or franchise for former slaves
Constitution of 1866
ruled TX under Radical Reconstruction; never completed, put into effect without vtr approval; affirmed USC as “supreme law of land;” affirmed 13th amdnt and 14th amdnt; pwrs of govnr greatly expanded; salaries of state officials increased
Constitution of 1869
rules TX currently; amended 491 times; backs away from radical features of reconstruction including acceptance of dominance of natl govt over the state; reflects a break w/ activist constitutions of 2nd Reconstruction; promotes tradl agrarian interests like Grange; promotes value of “economy” and “efficiency;” pwrs of govnr and legis curtailed; provides for election of judges; provides for future regulation of RRs
Constitution of 1876
big part of early TX econic life, esp in east TX; domd by time of CW; impeded TX’s admission into Union; sparked secession; not supported by Mexico -> rev; finally fully banned under 1869 TXC
slavery
those Southern states that seceded from US in late 1860+1861+ argued that pwr of states was more important than pwr of central govt; defended slavery and states’ rights
Confederacy
a period following the CW war where southern states were leniently allowed back into the Union; not much changed and secessionists were involved in the Reconstruction process
Presidential Reconstruction
a period following CW where southern states were occupied by US military and forced to accept certain conditions in order to be fully accepted back into Union; enabled freedmen to be enfranchised
Congressional Reconstruction
in 1869, SCrt resolved debate over whether states can secede from Union; (re: sale of bonds + were actions of state of TX legal when they left the Union? -> since Union is perpetual, actions were illegal and void)
Texas v. White
a bloc of Repubs in USCongress who pushed thru adoption of black suffrage as well as an extended period of military occupation of South following CW
Radical Republicans
a militant farmers’ mvmt of late 19th cent that fought for improved conditions for farmers; involved in crafting TXC of 1876
the Grange
according to James Madison, the conc of pwr in any one branch of govt; when a group or individ has total control
tyranny
1) governing doc of state govt 2) legitimize state political institutions by explaining source of authority 2) delegate pwr by explaining which pwrs are granted to whom and how pwrs are to be used 3) prevent conc of pwr by providing checks and balances 4) define lmts of pwr by forbidding govtal intrusions into lives of individs (rights)
functions of state constitutions
Art. VI of USC; states constit and laws passed by natl govt + all treaties are superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision
supremacy clause
Art. 1 Sec. 8 of USC; provides Congress w/ authority to make all laws “____” to carry out its powers; gives broad grant of discretionary pwr
necessary and proper clause
division of govtl pwr amg several institutions tht must cooperate in decision making
separation of powers
constitl idea that overlapping pwr is given to dif branches of govt to lmt conc of pwr in any one branch
checks and balances
a representative democracy, a sys of govt in which pwr os derived from the ppl; guaranteed in USC and TXC of 1876
republican govt
in TXC of 1876, very brief, discusses humility and God, TX is free and independent state sbjct to USC, depend upon preservation of right of local self-govt… side-swiped supremacy clause, reasserts local control, grant that Union is perpetual and you can’t secede, local govt is only guaranteed by state of TX, home rule by the state, fracking controversy/Denton…state will always trump local rules bc they are creation of state govt; virtually like USC in TXC of 1836; pwr to estb govt is a God-given thing in TXC 1845; major changes re: slavery (1861); sim to 1861 (1866); radical reconstruction, attacks south bc of civil war, declare USC is supreme law of land/TX agrees to this, changes are sbjct to national authority…imposing on south that CW was all about supremacy clause, freedmen to have rights (1869)
Preamble
right to repub govt; forbids monopolies that harm public interests; forbids entail and primogeniture; instances where bail can b denied; rights of crime victims; those that match USCBoR: equal rights to the free; religious freedom; sep of church and state; freedom of speech; re: seisures, bail, boattainder, epf, dbl jeopardy, trial by jury right to bear arms
examples of BoR
refers to right to vote; originally rather contracted in TX, eventually expanded to women, blacks, and other minorities; restrictions have been surpassed or added (voter id laws)
suffrage
under TXC, formal charge by TXHoR that leads to trial in TXS and possible removal of state official; no one convicted w/out concurrence of 2/3 membs present; govnr, lt govner, AG, commissioner of General Land Office, Comptroller and Judges of SCrt, Crt of Appeals, and Distirct Crt can be impeached (unlike in US where it applies all civil officers)
impeachment
voted on by voters; can pertain to anything and be very specific
constitutional amendments
1) 2/3 of both chambers vote to propose or 2/3 state legislatures can ask Congress to call a natl convention 2) either state legis approves by 3/4 or ratifying conventions where 3/4 states approve
amending the USC
1) legis proposes, must be approved by 2/3s vote, 2) published 2x in recognized newspapers 3) majority of state voters approve; the populous focus occurs vs elite focus
amending the TXC
very low; there4 decisions are made by very small, enthused portion of total population
turnout in constitutional amendment elections
grants all of a specific authority to the party mentioned;
provides for a separation of powers by giving each branch of government specific powers and authority restricted to that particular branch; these pwrs cannot be exercised by others
vesting power
exec branch in which pwr is fragmented bc election of statewide officeholders is independent of election of govnr; created in 1876 TXC
plural executive