GOVT-2306 · Unit 01 · Ch. 1–2

Texas Politics &
Federalism

⏰ Exam 1: June 19–21, 2026 · Lockdown Browser + Camera Required

📚 Textbook Practicing Texas Politics, 18th Ed. · Access via Blackboard → Cengage MindTap · Included in tuition · MindTap Ch.1&2 Activities due June 20

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Module 1 Learning Objectives

Define political culture and explain how it has influenced politics in Texas. Identify the three political cultures and which one Elazar assigns to Texas.

CH. 1 · LO 1.2

Describe how the frontier experience helped shape political culture in Texas (individualistic and traditionalistic cultures).

CH. 1 · LO 1.2

Discuss the political implications of Texas's size and rank in both geography and population. Identify the four geographic regions and where Houston is located.

CH. 1 · LO 1.3

Identify the four land-based industries that formed the historical basis for the Texas economy. Trace the origin of Texas cattle ranching.

CH. 1 · LO 1.4

Identify five major policy challenges Texas faces in the 21st century including poverty, education, water, environment, and immigration.

CH. 1 · LO 1.5

Describe the demographic makeup of Texas including urbanization (85% urban), fastest-growing groups, and the four most populous counties.

CH. 1 · LO 1.3

Analyze federalism and the distribution of powers: delegated, implied (elastic clause), and reserved powers (10th Amendment). Identify the Supremacy Clause.

CH. 2 · LO 2.1

Identify provisions of the U.S. Constitution concerning limitations on the states (Art. I Sec. 10) and guarantees to the states.

CH. 2 · LO 2.1

Identify provisions concerning interstate relations: Privileges and Immunities Clause, Full Faith and Credit Clause, and state immunity (11th Amendment).

CH. 2 · LO 2.1

Identify some of the reserved powers of the states (police power, taxing power, proprietary power, eminent domain).

CH. 2 · LO 2.1

Describe federal-state relations as an evolving process: grants-in-aid, devolution, and block grants. Identify the trend since the 1980s.

CH. 2 · LO 2.1

Explain the origins and development of the Texas Constitution. Identify all seven constitutions. Know the current constitution, how it is amended, and key features (weak governor).

CH. 2 · LO 2.2–2.3

Chapter 1 — The Environment of Texas Politics

Political Culture, Geography, Economy & Policy Challenges

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Political Culture — Elazar's Three Types

Political culture = attitudes, habits, and general behavior patterns that develop over time and affect the political life of a state.

Moralistic: New England Puritan roots. Political participation = civic duty. Government = public service for the common good. Least common in Texas.
Individualistic: Shaped by the frontier experience. Limited government, rugged self-reliance, pro-business, anti-regulation. Daniel Elazar identifies Texas as strongly individualistic.
Traditionalistic: Rooted in the Old South plantation/patron system. Government maintains the status quo for elite citizens. Historically excluded poor and minorities. Features: right to work, eminent domain, favorable business climate.

Elazar: TX = Individualistic moralistic individualistic traditionalistic frontier experience patron system

Geography — 4 Regions & Key Facts

Texas: 2nd largest state (267,000+ sq mi, behind Alaska) and 2nd in population (29M+, behind California).

1. Texas Great Plains (West Texas) — agriculture, Ogallala Aquifer, Republican
2. Gulf Coastal Plains — Houston is here; petrochemicals
3. Interior Lowlands — Central/North Texas; Austin (govt, universities); Dallas-Fort Worth
4. Basin and Range Province — Trans-Pecos; ONLY mountainous region in Texas

Basin & Range = ONLY mountains Houston = Gulf Coastal Plains 2nd in size and population

Demographics

85% urban today (vs. 80% rural in 1900). Most populous counties: Harris, Dallas, Bexar, Tarrant (combined = 40%+ of state population).
Latinos (~39%) = fastest-growing ethnic group. Anglo population has fallen below 50%.
Policy tools enforcing residential segregation: redlining (discriminatory loan rating), urban renewal (taking property for public projects), gentrification (higher-income displacing lower-income residents).

Latinos = fastest growing 85% urban redlining gentrification

Four Land-Based Industries

1. Cattle — traced from Spain → Mexico → Texas longhorn; Texas still leads the nation
2. Cotton — backbone of economy 1900s; Texas yields ~50% of U.S. supply
3. Timber — Gulf Coastal plains; bonanza era mid-1800s–1920s; declined from clear-cutting
4. Oil — Spindletop Field first major wells; Railroad Commission of Texas has regulatory jurisdiction; Texas = 40% of U.S. oil production

Modern: Services = fastest-growing but lowest wages. USMCA replaced NAFTA 2020.

cattle cotton timber oil Spindletop Railroad Commission

21st Century Policy Challenges

Poverty: 1 in 4 children; 18.5% below poverty line; highest uninsured %; refused Medicaid expansion.
Education: Ranks 38th in high school graduation rate; 10%+ of teachers quit each year.
Water: Texas Water Development Board — demand will rise 22% by 2060.
Environment: Texas leads nation in many types of pollution; challenges federal EPA.
Immigration: Undocumented immigrants cost local govts ~$1.44B.

Chapter 2 — Federalism & the Texas Constitution

Powers, Interstate Relations & Texas Constitution of 1876

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Distribution of Powers

Delegated (enumerated/expressed) powers: Article I, Section 8 — specifically listed (coin money, declare war, regulate interstate commerce).
Implied powers: Necessary and Proper (elastic) Clause — allows Congress to expand authority.
Commerce Clause: Article I, Section 8 — regulation of interstate commerce; major tool for expanding federal power.
Reserved powers (10th Amendment): Powers not delegated to the federal government belong to states — police power, taxing power, proprietary power, eminent domain.

delegated = Art I Sec 8 implied = elastic clause Commerce Clause reserved = 10th Amend

Supremacy Clause & State Limitations

Supremacy Clause (Article VI): The Constitution and laws made under its authority are the supreme law of the land; all state officials are bound by it.
Limitations on states (Article I, Section 10): Cannot enter foreign treaties; cannot secede (Texas v. White); cannot coin money; 14th Amendment: cannot deny due process or equal protection.

Supremacy Clause = Art VI Art I Sec 10 Texas v. White = no secession 14th Amendment

Guarantees to States & Interstate Relations

Guarantees: Protection from invasion/domestic violence; cannot be combined or divided without consent; 2 senators per state; at least 1 House member.
Privileges and Immunities (Article IV): Citizens of each state entitled to same rights in all other states.
Full Faith and Credit (Article IV): Civil government actions of one state must be recognized in all states. Does NOT apply to criminal cases (extradition).
11th Amendment — Sovereign Immunity: States generally cannot be sued in federal court.

Privileges & Immunities = Art IV Full Faith & Credit 11th Amend = sovereign immunity

Federal-State Relations & Evolution

Grants-in-aid: Federal money with conditions attached — primary 20th-century tool for extending federal jurisdiction.
Devolution: Shifting of expenditures and responsibilities from federal to state governments (trend since 1980s/Reagan). Texas supports this; has filed 60+ lawsuits against the federal government since 2008 asserting 10th Amendment rights.
Block grants: Fixed sums of money on automatic formula — give states more flexibility than categorical grants.

grants-in-aid devolution (since 1980s) block grants

Texas Constitution of 1876 — Key Facts

Texas's 7th and current constitution. Drafted in reaction to Reconstruction/Davis administration.
Composition: 75 Democrats, 15 Republicans; 40%+ Texas Grange members. Slogan: "retrenchment and reform."
Creates a weak governor (one of the weakest gubernatorial offices in the nation). ~92,000 words; amended 500+ times. Less than 10% voter turnout in amendment elections.

Amendment process: Joint resolution passed by 2/3 vote in each legislative chamber → published → simple majority of voters in regular or special election → governor proclaims.

Texas's 7 constitutions: 1827 (Coahuila y Tejas) → 1836 (Republic) → 1845 (Statehood) → 1861 (Secession) → 1866 (Reconstruction) → 1869 → 1876 (current)
Texas annexed 1845. Unique right: may divide into up to five states with consent of legislature and Congress.

7 constitutions 1876 = current weak governor 2/3 each chamber + simple majority voters annexed 1845

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QUIZ COMPLETE

Discussion Practice

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Exam 1 has been completed.

Discussion questions will be added here when Unit 2 materials become available,
or when preparing for the final exam review.

Exam 1 Notes Framework

GOVT 2306 · Unit 1 · Ch. 1–2 · Prof. Chapa

Exam: June 19–21 · Lockdown Browser

Ch. 1 — Texas Politics Environment

Government = public institution with authority to allocate values through laws

Politics = process of making policies; who gets power and what they do with it

Public Policy = government action to meet a public need or goal

Political Culture = attitudes/habits shaping political life over time

3 cultures: Moralistic (duty), Individualistic (limited govt), Traditionalistic (elite)

Elazar: Texas = STRONGLY INDIVIDUALISTIC

Texas: 2nd in population (CA) and 2nd in land area (AK) = 267,000+ sq mi

ONLY mountainous region: Basin and Range Province (Trans-Pecos)

Houston = Gulf Coastal Plains region

85% urban today (was 80% rural in 1900)

4 most populous counties: Harris, Dallas, Bexar, Tarrant

Fastest growing: Latinos (~39%); Anglos now below 50%

4 land industries: Cattle, Cotton, Timber, Oil

Cattle: Spain → Mexico → Texas longhorn; TX leads nation

Oil: Spindletop; Railroad Commission of Texas regulates

Service industry = fastest growing but LOWER wages

Redlining = discriminatory loan rating (residential segregation)

Gentrification = higher-income displacing lower-income

Texas Water Dev. Board: demand up 22% by 2060

Policy challenges: poverty, healthcare (highest uninsured %), education (38th graduation), water, environment, immigration

Ch. 2 — Federalism & TX Constitution

Federalism = division of power between national and state govts

10th Amendment = powers not given to feds reserved to states

Supremacy Clause (Art. VI) = federal law is supreme law of land

Delegated powers = Art. I Sec. 8 (listed: coin money, declare war, regulate commerce)

Implied powers = Necessary and Proper (elastic) Clause

Commerce Clause = Art. I Sec. 8; major federal expansion tool

Reserved powers = police, taxing, proprietary, eminent domain

Limitations (Art. I Sec. 10): no treaties, no secession, no coining money

Texas v. White = states CANNOT secede

14th Amendment = due process + equal protection (limits states)

Privileges & Immunities (Art. IV) = same rights in all states

Full Faith & Credit (Art. IV) = civil actions recognized in all states; NOT criminal

11th Amendment = sovereign immunity (states not sued in fed court)

Grants-in-aid = federal tool to influence state policy (with conditions)

Devolution = shift responsibilities to states (since 1980s/Reagan)

Block grants = fixed formula money, more state flexibility

Texas: 7 constitutions; CURRENT = Constitution of 1876

1876: 75 Dem + 15 Rep; 40%+ Grange; "retrenchment and reform"

WEAK GOVERNOR = one of weakest in nation

Amendment: 2/3 EACH chamber → simple majority voters; <10% turnout

Texas annexed 1845; right to divide into up to 5 states

Separation of powers = Legislative, Executive, Judicial (Art. II TX Const.)

Exam tip: Exam format may include multiple choice, true/false, and short essay. Lockdown browser and camera are required. The lowest of your four regular exam scores will be dropped. Final exam is required and cannot be dropped.