Term
| What form of government has the greatest effect on our daily lives? |
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Definition
| Local - which is city and or county depending on where you live. |
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Term
| What constitution creates cities and counties? US or Texas |
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Definition
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Term
| Who decides what legal designation of a city will be? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the advantage of home-rule cities? |
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Definition
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Term
| Who can limit the number of terms that an elected official may serve? |
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Definition
Voters
Home rule - Limits the rules
General - They follow the state |
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Term
| Where do most of Texans reside in Texas? Rural areas or cities? |
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Definition
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Term
| Is there more participation in local governmental elections or national elections? |
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Definition
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Term
| Do election laws make a difference in who wins? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Local govts have only powers granted by their state govt – followed in Texas |
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Term
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| A community with a population of less than 201 or more; adopt a charter prescribed by the Texas legislature |
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Definition
Popular among large cities
Best form because it provides strong leadership and is more responsive to citizens
Council elected from single member districts; mayor from mix of at-large or single member election
Mayor has power to appoint and remove department heads
Has veto power
Only Houston and Pasadena use this form in Texas |
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Definition
| propose a law through petition and approved by popular vote |
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| Schools, water company, hospitals, etc. |
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Definition
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Term
| Municipal ( City government) |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| City of more than 5,000 can draft a local charter that is adopted, amended or repealed by majority vote in a city wide election |
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Definition
Mayor has limited power
Officers share powers |
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Definition
Most of Texas’s home rule cities follow this form
Mayor elected at large, presides but few powers
Council elected at large or single member districts
City manager appointed to manage departments
Weakness is lacks a leader to whom citizens can complain
Respond more to elite and middle class concerns |
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Definition
through a petition approves or repeals an existing city law
Note: Bonds secured by taxes and constitutional amendments must be submitted to voters for approval |
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Definition
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Definition
| Local govt is a matter of absolute rule and the state cannot take it away |
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Definition
| No labels - You do not know if they are democratic or republican |
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Definition
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Lacks a single executive
Commissioners form a policy making board |
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Definition
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Definition
Voting someone out of office
remove officials |
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Term
| Intergovernmental Relations |
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Definition
| Relations between all different governments |
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Term
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Definition
| Audits the budget for the county |
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Term
| County Tax Assessor-collector |
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Definition
| Collects payments of vehicle registration and property taxes |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
1. Recall (vote to remove)
2. Initiate (vote on a law)
3. Referendum (vote to remove |
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Term
| What are some types of governments we have? |
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Definition
| state, national, local, county, city, school. |
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Term
| What are the four forms of government? |
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Definition
1. Strong mayor-council (IAH - Pasadena)
2. Weak mayor-council
3. Council - manager
4. Commission - (Smaller cities) |
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Term
| Are city elections partisan or non partisan? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the role of political parties in Texas municipal elections? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the two largest tax sources of city Government? |
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Definition
| Property tax and Sales tax |
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Term
| Are city council and counties required to redistrict? |
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Definition
| Yes every 10 years after the census is finalized |
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Term
| Why is the structure and operation of counties in the state of Texas the same? |
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Definition
| Because they all follow the Texas Constitution - all have the same structure |
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Term
| How many counties are there in Texas |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the primary functions of the commissioner's court? |
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Definition
| Adopting the budget, tax rates, roads and bridges |
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Term
| What is the principle advantage for home-rule cities in Texas? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which is the most popular form of municipal government amount large cities? Why? |
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Definition
| Strong-mayor because of leadership you can go to one direct person |
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Term
| Which is the most popular form of municipal government amount Texas home-rule cities? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the role of political parties in Texas municipal elections? |
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Definition
| To get them to the primaries???????? |
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Term
| What functions are performed by counties in Texas? |
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Definition
| Taxes, jails, rural roads, bridges, etc.. |
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Term
| Which county official has both administrative and judicial responsibilities? |
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Definition
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Term
| Who issues certificates of the title showing proof of ownership for motor vehicles? |
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Definition
| County Tax Assessor Collector |
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Term
| Which is the most visible special district? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
combination of people and interests whose primary purpose is to gain control of government winning elections
**Parties are Not mentioned in the Constitution |
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Definition
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Definition
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Term
| Role of permanent party organization |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
Someone that is not democratic, republic, liberal. They are alone.
Any political party other than the Democratic or Republican Party |
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Term
| Presidential Preference primary |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
1. Favor government regulation of economy to achieve more equal distribution of wealth
2. Favor government involvement in social programs
3. Protect individual freedoms and rights
4. Seek limited role in other social issues (morality, religion) |
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Definition
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Term
| Role of temporary party organization |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
Applies to candidates who have no party affiliation
Limited success due to no campaign organization or fundraising abilities, difficulty gaining ballot access |
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Definition
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Term
| Do the two major parties in Texas have the same structure? Why or why not? |
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Definition
| same goals, mandate elections and follow the Texas Constitution. |
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Term
| What is the underlying assumption of conservative philosophy? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the principal difficulty faced by women candidate for elective office? |
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Definition
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Term
| What type of campaign finance laws does Texas have? |
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Definition
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Term
| After reconstruction and until the 1960's, what party dominated in Texas? |
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Definition
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Term
| The policy of less government regulation of the economy and more government involvement in social problem is known as? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the two main parties in Texas? |
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Definition
| Democratic and Republican |
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Term
| What is a party’s primary interest? |
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Definition
| Concerned with recruitment, nomination and election of citizens to govt offices |
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Term
| Why are two parties alike in structure? |
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Definition
| Texas Election Code mandates it |
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Term
| How many votes do you need to win in a general election in Texas? |
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Definition
| State election laws specify winner must receive largest number of votes (plurality) without a runoff in a general election |
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Term
| At what levels of government to political parties exist? |
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Definition
Parties exist at the national, state, county and precinct
Loosely organized so State and local levels are free to decide their positions on party issues |
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Term
| What does the temporary party organization consist of? |
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Definition
Events are temporary because Not ongoing activities
Consists of Primaries and conventions where members of the major political parties select candidates for public office |
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Term
| What types of party conventions are held and what do they do? |
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Definition
Precinct conventions
Occur every even-numbered year on the first Tuesday in March (early voting Feb 17
Usually sparsely attended
Sometimes propositions are placed on the ballot
County and District Conventions
Select delegate to State convention
Submit resolutions
State Conventions
Write the rules that will govern party
Adopt a party platform
In presidential election years nominate delegates to national convention
Elect slate of presidential electors to cast electoral vote if party ticket wins |
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Term
| What is the role of the Permanent Party Organization and what does it consist of? |
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Definition
In Texas the precinct chairs, county, district and state committees make up the permanent organization
Precinct Chair
Organizes the party’s activities in a district
County and District Executive Committees
Conduct county primaries and arrange county conventions
District executive committee nominates candidates to fill district vacancies
State Executive Committee
Highest permanent party organization in state
Members elected at party’s state convention
Composed of a chair, vice chair, and two members from each senatorial district
State party chair is chief fundraiser. |
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Term
| What is political ideology? |
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Definition
| Attitudes, values and beliefs toward parties, candidates and issues. |
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Term
| What is the difference between a party's permanent organization and its temporary organization? |
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Definition
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Term
| True or False: A political party's state chair is chosen by the temporary organization. |
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Definition
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Term
| What do the terms liberal and conservative mean in Texas? |
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Definition
Terms liberals and conservatives mean more to Texans than political party names
Meanings change with time
Each label has varying shades of meaning for people |
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Term
| Why do Texans tend to be conservative in general? |
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Definition
| Because of Individualistic and traditionalism cultures democrats and republicans tend to be conservative |
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Term
| What do modern conservative believe? |
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Definition
1. no govt interference
2. laissez faire – if left to pursue own self-interest especially economic more beneficial and less cost to govt
3. opposed to govt subsidized programs; ex: unemployment insurance |
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Term
| Conservative are divided into two categories. What are they? |
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Definition
Social conservatives: family values; opposed to abortion or gay marriage
Fiscal conservatives: reduced taxes and spending |
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Term
| What do Tea Party activists argue? |
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Definition
Argue size and scope of govt out of control
Ted Cruz won in large part to support from large conservative PACS |
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Term
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Definition
1. Favor government regulation of economy to achieve more equal distribution of wealth
2. Favor government involvement in social programs
3. Protect individual freedoms and rights
4. Seek limited role in other social issues (morality, religion) |
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Term
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Definition
They argue for:
1. Less government regulation of business and economy,
2. but greater government involvement in social programs |
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Term
| What is the primary difference between conservatives and neoconservatives? |
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Definition
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Term
| True or False: Texas Democrats generally have a liberal political ideology. |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| What is the history of the political parties in Texas |
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Definition
1840s to 1870s: Origin of the Party System (Democrats)
Pro-Houston faction
Jackson Democrats
Anti-Houston faction
Calhoun Democrats
1865 to 1873 (Reconstruction Republicans )– E.J. Davis
1870s to1970s: A One-Party Dominant System (Democrats)
Strong Democratic Party
Populist Party
Agrarian based
Conservative Democrats v. Liberal Democrats
1970s to1990s: An Emerging Two-Party System
Resurgence of Republican Party
2000 to 2012: Republican Dominance
Controlled all state-wide elections
George Bush wins presidency in 2000
Republicans take control of the Texas House in 2002 |
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Term
| What have been some of the electoral trends? |
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Definition
Competition between parties has brought more women and minorities
Texas politics become more party centered
Though many self proclaimed independents many vote republican
Dealignment
Voters trend away from allegiance to political parties
Realignment
Voters shift away from one political party to another
Straight-Ticket Voting
Voting for all the candidates of one party
Democrats unsuccessful in statewide elections but still control many county offices
Straight-ticket voting of democratic voters declined
Change in demographics cause optimism |
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Term
| Are third parties successful? |
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Definition
Don’t win many elections.
Success in making the public aware of their issues, persuading major parties adopt some of their issues |
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Term
| Who was the last independent candidate to be elected governor of Texas? |
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Definition
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Term
| True or false: Third parties’ success comes more often in the form of their ability to make the public aware of the issues than in the number of their candidates elected to office. |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the two views on the powers that local governments have or should have? |
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Definition
Dillon’s Rule: Local govts have only powers granted by their state govt – followed in Texas
Cooley Doctrine: Local govt is a matter of absolute rule and the state cannot take it away |
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Term
| Which rule does Texas follow? |
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Definition
Local govts are weaker than state and federal govts.
Texas follows Dillon’s rule |
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Term
| How are local govts in Texas created? |
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Definition
| Texas’s local governments are created by the state and subject to the state. |
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Term
| What laws must they obey? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are some of the Grassroots Challenges of local govts? |
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Definition
More than 80 % of Texans reside in cities. They want their concerns addressed – crime, streets, public schools….
Cities are becoming diverse in population requesting services.
Making sure that all communities receive equal access to public services is a challenge.
Voter apathy a challenge with fewer than 10% participating in local elections. |
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Term
| Do local governments have more flexibility to make their own decisions under Dillon’s Rule or the Cooley Doctrine? Which one does Texas follow? |
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Definition
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Term
| Are federal (or intergovernmental) relations marked by conflict, cooperation, or both? |
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Definition
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Term
| Why is it important to understand how local govt works? |
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Definition
It affects our daily lives the most.
It’s important to understand why public policies are made. |
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Term
| What are 2 Legal Status of Municipalities (Cities)? |
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Definition
General-law city – A community with a population of less than 201 or more; adopt a charter prescribed by the Texas legislature
Home-rule city – City of more than 5,000 can draft a local charter that is adopted, amended or repealed by majority vote in a city wide election |
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Term
| What is principle advantage of home rule cities? |
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Definition
Flexibility on how they will organize and operate
2. Charter establishes powers of officers, sets salaries and terms, spells out procedures for making city laws
3. Home rules cities exercise 3 powers not held by the state or general law cities: |
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Term
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Definition
1. Recall – remove officials
2. Initiative- propose a law through petition and approved by popular vote
3. Referendum – through a petition approves or repeals an existing city law
Note: Bonds secured by taxes and constitutional amendments must be submitted to voters for approval |
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Term
| What are 4 Forms of Municipal Government? |
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Definition
1. Strong mayor-council (IAH - Pasadena)
2. Weak mayor-council
3. Council - manager
4. Commission - (Smaller cities) |
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Term
| How do non-partisan elections affect elections? |
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Definition
Voter turnout low
Reduced minority representation
More personal and less issue oriented |
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Term
| Do Cities and special districts have partisan elections? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is redistricting and why is it required? |
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Definition
Redistricting – Under federal law, all city council districts lines must be redrawn to represent same population
Redistricting has been challenged due to gerrymandering |
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Term
| Why is redistricting so important? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are 2 ways of organizing elections? |
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Definition
What are At-large elections?
Members are elected on a city wide basis
What are Single-member district elections?
Members are elected from an area within city
What is cumulative voting?
When multiple seats are vacant in an at large election, voters cast one or more votes in any combination |
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Term
| Do Socioeconomic changes make a difference on who is elected/election rules? |
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Definition
Increasing urbanization
Diversity in population
Differences in education and economic development have resulted in a more diverse state |
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Term
| What types of services do cities provide? |
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Definition
Police and fire protection,
streets, water,
sewer and sanitation,
parks and recreation,
libraries,
airports, hospitals, community development, housing
Regulations
Zoning, construction, food service |
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Term
| What are other sources of Revenue? |
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Definition
Property tax exemptions and caps
Fees
Bonds |
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Term
| What is the bottom line when shortage in revenue? |
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Definition
| Pressure against increasing taxes results in cutting services or finding other means of raising revenue. |
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Term
| How does Texas try to Generate Revenue for Economic Development? |
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Definition
Tax reinvestment zones (TRZs)
Tax breaks to attract investment in blighted inner-city and other areas needing development |
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Term
| 1. Which of the following election forms tend to increase the representation of minorities in local government: nonpartisan elections, redistricting, at-large elections, single-member district elections, or cumulative voting? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the two largest tax sources that provide revenue to local governments? Do these taxes usually provide enough revenue for local governments to meet the demands placed on them? |
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Definition
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Term
| What type of Structure and Operations do Counties have and are all counties the same? |
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Definition
County structures are set As required by Texas Constitution
All counties have the Same basic structure
Texas Constitution provides for Partisan election to serve four-year term for all elected county officials |
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Term
| What is the structure and Operation Commissioners Court? |
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Definition
Major policy-making body of the county
Membership includes four elected commissioners for specific precinct |
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Term
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Definition
Presiding county officer
Completes administrative and judicial functions |
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Term
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Definition
County Attorney and District Attorney
County Sheriff
Chief law enforcement officer
Law enforcement and judges
District court clerk, justices of the peace, constables
Country Clerk and County Tax Assessor-Collector
Treasurer and Auditor |
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Term
| What are the sources of revenue for counties? |
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Definition
Taxation
Property tax
Sales tax
Revenues from nontax sources
Fees
Federal grants-in-aid
Bonds
Tax incentives and subsidies
Tax abatements, reimbursements, tax increment financing |
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Term
| How and what does the County pay for? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
County Government Reform
Merit systems or home rule
Border Counties
High growth because of NAFTA and immigration
Most impoverished counties in the nation
Colonias (2300)
Depressed housing settlements often without running water or sewage systems
Border security |
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Term
| True or False: Local residents of each county can determine the structure of their own county government. |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the major policymaking body in each Texas county? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is usually the most important source of revenue for county governments? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are Special Districts? |
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Definition
Public School Districts
Junior or Community College Districts (50)
Noneducation Special Districts (2,300) |
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Term
| What is Municipal Annexation? |
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Definition
Provides process for home-rule cities grappling with suburban sprawl
Extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ)
Allows regulation and annexation of unincorporated areas
Intended to improve order and planning |
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Term
| What are the two primary ways that Texas deals with problems in metropolitan areas? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which groups want to be annexed? Which do not? |
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Definition
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