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158 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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A Political Party's viablilty/strength is measured using what methods? |
1. % of voters in races for governor and state legislature 2. length of time each party controls the legislature and office of governor 3. frequency with which parties divie control of government and legislation |
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Identify the primary functions of political parties |
1. Recruit candiddates 2. Nominate Candidates 3. Mobilize Voters 4. Contesting Elections 5. Coordinating policy across independant units of government 6. Provide accountability |
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Define Policy Relevance. Is Texas a policy relevant state? |
Change in policy when control of the state goernment shifts from one party to another; no |
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James Madison criticized political parties in which Federalist paper? |
10 |
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Which party dominated Texas politics throughout most of the twentieth century? |
Democrats |
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Providing a label that helps voters identify those seeking office is an important function of ____ |
Political parties in Texas |
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The most important role for political parties in Texas is to ____. |
Provide a label under which candidates can run and with which voters can identify
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The degree to which members of the Texas Republican party have become more conservative and members of the Texas Democratic Party have become more liberal is referred to as _____ |
Partisan Polarization |
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The process by which our parents, teachers and others influence our identification with a political party is referred to as ____. |
Political Socialization |
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Texans are increasingly identifying themselves as _____. |
Independant |
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The most local voting district is called the ___. |
Precinct
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The main role of the precinct convention is to ____. |
Select delegates to the county convention |
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In Texas, the highest level of temporary party organization is the ____. |
State conventions |
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The libertarian party can be considered ____ |
Fiscal conservatives and social liberals |
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A system that allocates representation to legislatures that ensures a voice for minority parties is called a ______ |
Proportional Representation |
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In Texas, why were primary elections more important than general elections during most of the twentieth century? |
In a one party state, the winner of the primary will most likley win the general election |
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The mass exodus of one or more affluent whites from urban areas to suburban areas is sometimes referred to as ____. |
White Flight |
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One of the Republican Party's greatest weeknesses in Texas its lack of support among ____. |
Latinos |
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What are the functions of the county government in Texas? |
1. Construction/maintenance of roads/bridges 2. Law Enforcement 3. Dispute resolution 4. Record keeping 5. Social Services |
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What is the main difference between a special district and a county? |
Special district provides only one specific service within a geographic region |
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In Texas, what is the name of the officer who presides over the county comissioner's court? |
County Judge |
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The job of serving legal papers at the precinct level of a county goes to the ____. |
Constable |
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The chief law enforcement officer in county governments is the ____. |
Sherriff |
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San Antonio operates under which form of city government? |
Council Manager |
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What are the differences between a mayor council and council-manager form of government? |
Mayor council- mayor is the chief executie, city council is the legislative body; council manager-public policies are developed by a city council, executive, and administrative functions assigned to a professional city manager |
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The chief financial officer for a city is called the ____. |
City controller
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Identify the most common form of local government in Texas. |
Council Manager Form |
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Identify School Board duties. What can they do? |
1. Set overall policy for school district 2. Adopt budget for a district 3. Set tax rate 4. Adopt textbooks 5. Hire principals, faculty and support staff 6. Set school calendar 7. Determine salaries and benefits for employees |
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In Texas, who creates special districts? |
The areas voters |
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What are the main sources of revenue for special districts in Texas? |
Property taxes and user fees |
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What type of government is called a hidden government because people often do not exists? |
Special Districts |
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What is the function of the twenty four councils of government in Texas today? |
They are a regional board meant to coordinate local planning and economic development |
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What are the four different methods of political incorporation/inclusion? |
1. Demand/Protest- includes violent and non violent protests (sit ins, demonstrations, boycotts) to engage elected officials 2. Use of legal challenges- usually voting rights lawsuits that challenge the redisticting of the electoral system 3. Political elites are cultivated or groomed by elites for elected office (usually a probusiness candidate) 4. Coalition politics- coming toggether of minorty and liberal white groups to influence political decisions |
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What are two conflicting views about the appropriate roles of courts in a democracy? |
Some believe courts should be above politics, others believe courts should be responsive to the electorate |
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Supreme Court |
Statewide jurisdiction, final appellate jurisdiction in civil cases and juvenile cases |
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Court of Criminal Appeals |
Statewide jurisdiction, final appelllate in criminal cases |
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Court of Appeals |
Regional jurisdiction, intermediate appeals from tral courts in their respective courts of appeals districts |
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District Courts |
456, ORIGINAL jurisdisction in civil actions over 200 or $500 , divorce, title to land, contested elections, and contested probate mattters; original jurisdiction in felony cromonal matters, juvenile mtters, 13 district courts are named criminal district courts, some others directed to give preference to certain specialized areas |
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Constitutional County Courts |
(254), origina jurisdiction in civil actions between $200-10,000. probate (contested matter transderred to district court), exclusive origina jurisdiction over misdemeanors with fines grater than $500 or a jail sentence; appeals de novo from lower courts or on the record from municipal courts of record |
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Statutory County Courts at Law |
(233); limited jurisdiction over civil matters, most under $100,000. limited jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal matters, appeals de novo or on the record from municipal courts of record |
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Statutory Probate Courts |
(18( limited primaly to probate matters, guardianship, mental health commission |
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Municipal Courts |
criminal misdemeanors punishable by fines only, exclusive jurisdiction over municipal ordidnance violators (up to $2000), limited civil penalties in cases involving dangerous dogs, magisrate functions
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Justice of the Peace Courts |
Civil actions u nder 10,000, small claims, criminal misdemeanors punishable by fines only, magistrate functions |
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Methods of selecting a judge |
Election or appointment by governor
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What types of cases does the Texas Supreme Court hear? |
Civil and juvenile cases |
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Which court in Texas has automatic jurisdiction over all death penaty cases? |
Court of Criminal Appeals |
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The Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals have appellate jurisdiction, which means they have the authority to do what? |
Review judgement of another lower court (appeals) |
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Appealse at the level of the court of appeals are typically heard by panels of how many judges? |
3 judges |
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The main trial courts in Texas are called ____? |
District courts |
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Just of the Peace Courts handle which kind of disputes? |
Small Claims |
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The majority of cases in municipal courts involve _____? |
Traffic and parking violations |
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Why does it typically cost more money to win a seat on the Texas Supreme Court than a seat on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals? |
There are few interest groups that contribute money to the Criminal Appeals Court candidates campaign, which keeps down the cost of the election |
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What is the most important role the governor of Texas plays in the judicial process? |
Appointing judges to fill any vacancies on the bench |
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What is the most important part of a judicial candidate's campaign in Texas? |
Party affiliation |
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Why is it difficult for voters to learn about judicial candidates in Texas? |
Judicial races tend to have low visibility campaigns, overshadowed by high visibility races, too many judicial candidates on one ballot |
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What is the particular problem in Texas judicial elections known as the "name game?" |
different types of names make it harder for you to win an election, latino name will hurt candidate, Anglo names win |
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What was the ruling of the Fifth Circuit federal court of appeals in 1993 in the case of League of Latin American Citizens vs. Mattox? |
Judges should be elected in nonpartisan elections from smaller judicial districts, have elections from smaller districts in larger counties; party affiliation of minority candidiates for judicial election, candidates explain the failure in judicial elections |
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According to a recent increase in campaign contribution limitation, in what situation must a judge rescue himself/herself from a case? |
In situation in which a judge receives campaign contributions from a party to a lawsuit |
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What is the most important type of case that the Supreme Court handles? |
Tort Law Case |
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Elections serve a number of functions in a democratic society. Identify them. |
1. Bestow legitimacy upon the government 2. Provide for an orderly transition of power from one group to anoter 3. Allow citizens to express their opinion about public policy choices |
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Who said "man is a political animal?" |
Aristotle |
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Identify several factors used to determine who votes. |
SES Model- education, income, age, religion, other (gender, ethnicity) |
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Identify the many reasons why Texas has low voter turnout: |
1. Low levels of educational attainment 2. Low per capita income 3. High poverty rate 4. Location of the South 5. Young population 6. Traditionalistic and Individualistic political culture 7. Candidate centered elections and little party competition 8. Lack of Media attention to substantive political issues 9. Large number of undocumented residents and felons *Education and income are most important* |
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When it comes to political participation, Verba and Nie identified six types of participants. Identify and Describe them: |
1. Inactives-those who take no part in politics 2. Voting Specialists- people who only vote 3. Pariochial Participants: those who become active in politics when the issue has a direct effect on them 4. Campaigners: those who like the activity and the controversial and competitive nature of political campaigns 5. Communalists: those who while being active voters avoide the combat and controversy of partisan campaigns and are attractive to other kinds of nonpartisan and non-controversial community activity 6. Complete activists: those who get involved in all levels and kinds of activity |
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In Texas, the primary elections are usually held in what month? |
March |
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Runoff primaries are generally held when? |
Second Tuesday in April |
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What is the purpose of a primary election? |
To select a party's nominee for a general election |
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Officially, Texas has a what kind of primary? |
Closed |
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Major statewide officials are elected in nonpresidential election years because _____. |
To prevent popular presidential candidates from influencing outcome of Texas races |
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Independant candidates are rarely on the Texas ballot because ___. |
Substantial requirements to get one's name on ballot and lack political support of party organizations and advantage of having party label on ballot |
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WOmen were given the right to vote in the US with the passage of what? |
19th Amendment |
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The poll tax was made illegal in federal elections with the passage of what? |
24th Amendment |
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The most recent renewals of the Voting Rights act requires what? |
Bilingual ballots required in areas where more than 5% speak another language |
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Early voting increases the polling period from twelve hours to _____. |
Additional two weeks prior to election
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Early voting in Texas has been shown to produce what? |
Modest increase in voter turnout |
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_____ is the traditional start of the general election campaign in Texas. |
Labor Day |
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In Texas ELections, the ____ play the largest role in running campaigns |
Candidates |
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The most costly item for most political campaigns is |
Media advertising |
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Articles of Texas Constitution |
I-Bill of Rights (limits powers of government) II- Powers of Government (Separation of Powers, 3 Branches) III- Legislative Branch (longest article) IV- Executive Branch V-Judicial Branch VI- Suffrage VII- Education VIII- Taxation and Revenue (Income Tax) IX and XI- Local Government (creation, organization, and operation of counties and municipal corporations) X, XII, XIII, XIV- Railroads, Private Corporations, Spanish and Mexican Land Titles, Public Lan XV-Impeachment XVI- General Provisions (Catchall Article) XVII-Amending the Constitution |
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County Commissioners Court |
The main governing body of each county; has the authority to set county tax rate and budget |
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County Commissioner |
Government official (4 per county) on the county commissioner's court whose main duty is the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges |
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Constable |
Precinct level county official involed with serving legal papers and in some counties, enforcing the law |
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County Attorney |
county official who prosecutes lesser criminal cases in the county court |
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District Attorney |
public official who prosecutes the more serious criminal cases in the district court |
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District Clerk |
public official who is the main record keeper of the district court |
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County Tax Assessor Collector |
public official who maintains the county tax records and collects the taxes owed to the county |
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Home Rule Charter |
rules under which a city operates |
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Mayor Council Form of Governmet |
A form of city government in which the mayor is the chief executive and the city council is the legislative body; in the strong mayor council variation, the mayor's powers enable him or her to control executive departments and the agenda of the city council; in the weak mayor council variation, the mayor's power is more limited |
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At Large Election |
an election in which officials are selected by voters of the entire geographical area, rather than from smaller districts within that area |
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Single Member District |
An electorate that is allowed to elect only one representtive for each district |
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Commissioner form of Governmet |
A form of city government in which the city is run by a small group of elected commissioners who act in both legislative and executive capacities |
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Council-Managor form of Government |
A form of City government in which public policies are developed by the city council and executive and administratie functions are assigned to professional city manager |
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Special District |
A unit of local government that performs a single service such as education or sanitation within a limited geographic area |
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School District |
A specific type of special district that provides public education in a designated area |
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Property Tax |
A tax based on the assessment of the value of one's property, which is used to fund the services provided by local government such as education |
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User Fee |
a fee paid for public goods and services, such as water or sewage service |
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Texas Supreme Court |
The highest civil court in Texas, consists of nine justices and has final state appellate authority over criminal cases |
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Texas Court of Criminal Appeals |
the highest criminal court in Texas, consists of nine justices and has final state appellate authority over criminal cases |
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Court of Appeals |
the 14 intermediate level appellate courts that hear appeals from district and county courts to determine whether the decisions of these lower courts followed legal principles and court procedures |
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District Courts |
the major trial courts in Texas which usually have general jurisdiction over a broad range of civil and criminal cases |
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County Courts |
the courts that exist in some counties that are presided over by county judges |
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Justice of the Peace Courts |
Local trial courts with limited jurisiction over small claoms an very minor criminal misdemeanors |
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Municipal Courts |
Local trial courts with limited jurisdiction over violations of city ordiances and very minor criminal misdemeanors; municipal courts are located on each of Texas' incorporated cities and towns |
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Orinance |
Regulation enacted by a city government |
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Civil Law |
Branch of law that deals with disputes; usually between private individuals over relationships, obligation, and responsibility |
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Complaint |
Presentation of a grievance by the plaintiff in a civil case |
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Answer |
the presentation of a defendant's defense against an allegation in a civil case |
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Contingent Fee |
a fee paid to a lawyer in a civil case and which is contingent on winning the case |
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Preponderance of Evidence |
the standing of proof in civil jury case, by which the plaintiff must show that the defendant i more than likley not the cause of the harm suffered by the plaintiff |
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Capital Case |
criminal case in which the death penalty is a possible punishment |
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Felony |
a serious criminal offense punishable by prison sentence or a fine; capital felony is punishable by death |
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Misdemeanor |
a minor criminal offense, usually punishable by a small fine or a short jail sentence |
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Grand Jury |
a jury that determines whether sufficient evidence is available to justify a trial; grand juries do not rule on the accused's guilt or innocence |
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Indictment |
a written statement issued by a grand jury tat charges the suspect with a crime and states that a trial is warranted |
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Bench Trial |
a trial held without a jury and before only a judge |
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Plea Bargain |
negotiated agreement in a criminal case in which a defendant agrees to plead guilty in return for teh state's agreement to reduce the severity of criminal charge or prison sentence the defendant is facing |
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Beyond a Reasonable Doubt |
the legal standard in criminal cases, which requires the prosecution to prove that a reasonable doubt of innocence does not exist |
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En Banc |
referring to an appellate hearing with all judges participating |
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Retention Election |
an election in which voters decide whether to keep an incumbent office by voting "yes" or "no" to retain the incumbent and where there is no opposing candidate |
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Merit Selection |
a judicial reform under which judges would be nominated by a blue ribbon committee, appointed by the governor, and after a brief period in office, would run in a retention election |
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Judicial Campaign Fairness Act |
a judicial reform uner which campaign contributions are limited by the amount that a judicial candidate can recieve from donors |
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Primary Election |
a ballot vote in which citizens select a party's nominee for the general election |
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Runoff Primary |
a second primary election held between the two candidates who recieved the most votes in the first primary election if no candidate in the first primary election recieved a majority |
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Open Primary |
A primary election in which any registered voter can participate in the contest, regardless of party affiliation |
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Closed Primary |
a primary election in which only registerd members of a particular political party can vote |
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General Election |
the election in which voters cast ballots to select public officials |
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Special Election |
an election that is not held on a regularly scheduled basis; in Texas, a special election is called to fill a vacancy in office, to give approval for state overnment, to borrow money, or to ratify amendments in the Texas Constitution |
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19th Amendment |
1919, guaranteed women the right to vote |
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Suffrage |
term referring to the right to vote |
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Poll Tax |
state imposed tax on voters as a prerequisite to voting; rendered unconstitutional in the national elections by the 24th Amendment and in state elections by the supreme court in 1966 |
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Early Registration |
the requirement that a voter register long before the general election; in effect in Texas until 1971 |
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White Primary |
primary election in which only whote voters are elegible to participate |
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Jaybird Party |
after the white primary was ruled unconstitutional, this offshoot Democratic party preselected candidates for teh democratic primary and prohibited African Americans from participating |
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Voting Rights Act of 1965 |
important legislation passed in order to ensure that African Americans would be guaranteed the right to vote; reviewed several times since 1965; also prevents the dilution of minorty voting strength |
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Motor Voter Lae |
national act (1993) that requires states to allow people to register to vote when applying for a driver's license |
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Early Voting |
procedure that allows voters to cast ballots during the two week period before the regularly scheduled election date |
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Redistricting |
Process of redrawing election districts and redistributing legislative representatives in the Texas House, Texas Senate, and US House; usually happens every 10 years to reflect shfits in population or in response to legal challenges in existing districts |
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Sore Loser Law |
candidates who were defeated in the primary election may not file as an independant in the general election for that year |
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Dealignment |
declining attractiveness of the parties to the voters; reluctance to identify strongly witha party and decrease in reliance on party affiliation; a movement among voters towards nonpartisanship resulting in a weakening party structure |
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Party Realignment |
member of one party shifts affiliation to another party; reorganization of the dominant political parties |
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Alignment |
social and economic groups that consistently support each party; arrangement or alliance of groups |
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Partisan Polarization |
the degree to which Republicans have become more conservative and Democrats have become more liberal |
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Political Socialization |
introduction of individual into the political culture; learning the underlying beliefs and values on which a political system is based |
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Precinct |
most basic level of political organization at the local level |
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Precinct Chair |
the local party official, elected in the party's primary election, who heads the precinct convention and seres on the party's county executive committee |
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County Chair |
county party official who heads the county executive commiittee |
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State Executive Committee |
The committee responsible for governing a party's activities throughout the state |
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Precinct Convention |
a meeting held by a political party to select delegates for county convention and to submit resolutions to the party's state platform; precinct conventions are held on the day of the party's primary election and are open to anyone who voted in that election |
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County Convention |
a meeting held by political party following its precinct conventions for the purpose of elecing delegates to the state convention |
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State Convention |
A party meeting held every two years fo the purpose of nominating canidates to statewide office, adopting a platform, electing the party's leadership and in presidential election years selecting delegates for tha national convention and choosing presidential electors |
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Dixiecrats |
conservative democrats who abandoned the national Democractic party in the 1948 presidential election |
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Single Member District |
an electorate that is allowed to elect only one representative for each district |
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Duvergers Law |
the observation that in single member district's system of electing representatives a two party system will emerge |
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Proportional Representation |
a multimember district system that allows each political party representation in proportion to its percentage of the total vote |
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Occupy Movement |
political movement aimed at limiting the influence of Wall Street and big corporations to American Politics; created following government bailouts in 2008 |
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Tea Party Movement |
created after Obama, advocates lower government spending, lower taxes, and limited governmet |
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Presidential Republicanism |
voting pattern in which conservatives vote Democratic for state offices but Republican for presidential candidates |
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Blue Dog Democrats |
conservative Democrats mostly from the South |
