Reference no: EM133942211
Assignment:
Review texas government
• Describe the rules for voting in Texas and how Texas compares to other states in terms of voting and voter registration.
• Explain the role of the states in the rules for voting.
• Discuss the following: National Commission on Voting Rights, same-day registration, the various types of elections that are held in Texas.
• Discuss the various forms of political participation.
• Discuss the factors that affect voter turnout and political participation in Texas as well as the ideas for increasing voter turnout.
• Discuss the history of voting in Texas.
• Discuss the following factors that have had an impact on voting in Texas: poll tax, Jim Crow laws, literacy tests, the White Primary, the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
• Explain how voters make decisions on voting, including straight-ticket voting, retrospective voting, pocketbook voting, prospective voting, ballot fatigue, incumbency advantage, party affiliation.
Elections and Campaigns in Texas
After reading and studying the materials you should be able to:
• Compare and contrast the different types of primaries and explain the role of the primary election. Describe primary elections in Texas.
• Explain why primaries are not all on the same day.
• Explain the key elements and phases of deciding to run for office and becoming a political party's nominee in a partisan election.
• Explain the key elements and phases of political campaigns and elections.
• Discuss the following factors and the role each plays in campaigning and getting elected: name recognition, visibility.
• Discuss the reasons to host traditional party conventions.
• Describe the following: party platform, the role of television and the internet in campaigning.
• Differentiate between a primary and the general election.
• Explain how the electoral college operates - including winner-take-all, the district system.
• Explain the significance of mid-term elections and the coattail effect.
Political Parties in Texas
After reading and studying the materials you should be able to:
• Explain the difference between the party in the electorate and the party in government. Define party identification and explain its significance.
• Compare and contrast the organization of parties nationally, in the states and locally.
• Discuss the history of political parties (including third parties in addition to the major parties) in Texas.
• Discuss the role of party identification in voting.
• Compare the permanent and temporary party organizations in Texas. Explain how officials of these are selected.
• Explain the distribution of party identifiers in Texas.
• Identify and discuss ideology and the differences between the various ideologies.
• Compare and contrast primary and caucus candidate and delegate selection processes.
Interest Groups and Lobbying in Texas
After reading and studying the materials you should be able to:
• Define the essential characteristics of interest groups and why they form.
• Discuss interest groups, their goals, which are the most powerful.
• Explain what a lobbyist is and what lobbyists do, and explain how long members of the Texas House and Senate must wait before becoming lobbyists.
• Differentiate between interest groups and political parties, explain what goals each has, and which parties have dominated in Texas politics over the years (from previous chapter).
• Explain the following benefits of interest group membership: solidary, purposive and material benefits.
• Identify and discuss the types of interest groups in Texas - explain which are the most powerful.
• Explain the role of the Texas Ethics Commission.
• Discuss the strategies used by interest groups to influence government.
• Discuss how interest groups are regulated in Texas