Chapter 4 Texas Government

Texas Republicans are currently in what is called a...?

"divided movement."

What are the three recognized Democratic factions?

1. Liberal 2. Moderate 3. Conservative (Blue Dog Democrats)

What are the levels of political parties?

1. Precinct 2. County 3. State

Democrats have been a minority party since...?

1994

In what year did every statewide elected official become Republican?

1998

In 2008, how many Texans identified with the Democratic Party and Republican Party?

37 percent Republican and 30 percent Democrat

In the 1950s, how many Texans identified with the Democratic Party, Republican Party, and independent?

60 percent Democratic, 10 percent Republican, and the rest independent

What percent of Texan voters identify with either the Republican or Democratic party?

91 percent

Explain unity and disunity

Whenever a single party becomes dominant in a state, factions within the party appear (such as the Tea Party movement in the Republican Party). Parties need to keep these factional disputes under control, or risk losing voters to the other party.

Most important question for a Tea Party Member...

Who is the real conservative?

Can voters vote in either party's primary?

Yes

Did Texas secede?

Yes, because it was a southern state

Does ethnicity play a role it politics?

Yes. As a result most Hispanics and African Americans tend to be more Democrat than Republican

What started in 1940?

a schism in the party due to integration (the Dixiecrat movement)

What third party emerged in 1960?

a strong Latino movement under the "la Raza Unida" banner

When was Davis thrown out of office?

at the end of Reconstruction in 1876

What did the Democratic party split into?

conservative and liberal ideologies

What happens at state conventions during Presidential election years?

delegates are selected to the national nominating convention

How does the Libertarian Party lean?

economically conservative (favoring border security and reduced government spending) and socially liberal

During what time period did Democrats dominate the southern states?

from the end of Reconstruction through the 1990's

What is the biggest problem for third parties?

getting on the ballot

How can a third party be assured a spot on the ballot?

if you win at least 5 percent of the votes in the last general election

When did Republicans start to become popular in Texas?

late 1950s and 1960s in presidential and U.S. senate elections

Who makes up most of the Democratic party?

mainly ethnic groups

Do most major cities run by Democrats and Republicans?

most leadership is democratic (although they do not run under a party label)

Does the Tea Party run candidates?

no, but they do support the most conservative of the Republicans

What are Blue Dog Democrats?

people who have grown up democrat but are more Republican in their conservatism

Where do delegates chosen at the precinct level go?

the county convention (or district convention) in urban areas

What is Partisan Polarization?

the degree to which Democrats have become more liberal and Republicans have become more conservative

What is the temporary party organization?

the precinct convention

What happens to delegates at county conventions?

they get elected to the state convention

If you cannot get 5 percent of the votes in the last general election, how can a third party get on the ballot?

they must get enough petition signatures (enough to equal 1% of the votes in the last gubernatorial election) to qualify

What is Political Socialization?

we get our social beliefs from friends and family

Explain the influence Hispanics on politics

An estimated 20 percent of registered voters in Texas are Hispanic, a demographic change that has made Hispanic voters a growing and more influential group. Hispanics have not, as yet, fully realizes their potential voting strength, but it is inevitable that they will be a major player in state politics.

At the time of statehood, what party was Texas affiliated with?

Democratic

The election of who began the two-party state in Texas?

Governors Bill Clements in 1978 and George W. Bush in 1994

What happens when you vote in a primary?

It is stamped either Republican or Democrat to keep you from voting in both primaries.

Who represents the Libertarian Party?

Kinky Freedman

Most Democrats would be labeled as...?

Liberal

Does Texas have a system of party registration for voters?

No

What are the two groups of Republicans?

Pro-Business and Tea Party

After the Civil War, who was elected due to Radical Republicanism punishing the Confederacy?

Republican Edmund J. Davis

County Level

The county chair is elected at the party's primary election.

Explain the urban, suburban, and rural influences on politics

The interstate highway expansion in Texas has encouraged "white flight," the exodus of affluent whites from cities, leaving the urban areas with an eroding tax base and poor minority populations. Thus, cities have become more Democratic, rural areas have remained solidly conservative, and the suburbs are a hybrid mix with the party swing depending on specific area and local issues.

Explain the influence African-Americans have on politics

The majority tend to vote Democrat (similar to other areas of the United States). African-Americans have had some political success, mainly in large cities. Lee Brown was elected Mayor of Houston in 1997, and Ron Kirk became Dallas's first African-American Mayor in 1997.

What does the county chair do?

They head the county executive committee and the county executive is responsible for running the county's primary elections and planning the county convention.

What does the precinct chair do?

They head the precinct convention and serves on the county executive committee.

When did a conservative pattern of voting occur and what was it named?

1950s (Shivercrats) and 1960s (anti-Catholic sentiment over the Kennedy candidacy) and it's called Presidential Republicanism

What does a political party do?

1. The most important function of parties in Texas is that they provide a label under which candidates may run and with which voters may identify. 2. The party label becomes the standard used in casting a ballot for a candidate. 3. Parties assist in raising money for candidates' campaigns and in helping candidates with legal requirements. They also train candidates for campaigns. 4. Parties sometimes recruit candidates. 5. Parties assist in getting out the vote. 6. The party helps organize the government once officials have been elected.

What are 4 issues in Texas Party politics?

1. unity and disunity 2. urban, suburban, and rural influence 3.African American population 4. Hispanic voters

What percent of voters say they would join the Tea Party if it was fully organized?

18 percent

When did party's start selecting candidates to run for their party?

1800s

What time period did Texas have no political parties?

1836-1845

When was the party primary introduced?

1900s

Who fell out of favor when he urged Texas not to secede along with the South at the start of the Civil War?

General Sam Houston

Precinct Level

In each election precinct, a precinct chair will be elected.

State Level

The state executive committee and state chair and vice chair coordinate the party's statewide activities.