Essential Concepts in US and State Political Systems

Key Concepts in US and State Government

Legislative Procedures and Committees

Resolving Bill Differences

Where are differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill resolved?

Conference Committee

Executive Branch Roles and Powers

Duties of the Lieutenant Governor

What are the duties of the Lieutenant Governor?

The Lieutenant Governor's duties include the power to:

• Vote in the event of a tie (when presiding over the Senate).

Governor's Directive Power

What is directive power?

The power of the Governor to issue binding orders to state agencies.

Political Parties and Elections

Formal Structure of Political Parties

The formal structure of the party itself is referred to as:

The party as organization.

Winning the General Election

To win the general election, a candidate must win with an absolute majority of the votes.

Republican Party Gains in 1998

The GOP achieved their most impressive gains in 1998 with the election of George W. Bush, resulting in only Republicans holding statewide executive and judicial offices.

Judicial System and Law

Understanding Key Court Cases

Understand what each court case is about. One significant case is:

• Hernandez et al. v. Driscoll Consolidated ISD

Election of State Judges

What does the constitution say about how state judges are elected?

Election by the legislators.

Federal Power and the Commerce Clause

Through the use of the Commerce Clause, Congress criminalized the production and use of medical marijuana even in states where the growing and use of homegrown marijuana for medicinal purposes was legal.

Interest Groups and Lobbying

Lobbyist Reporting Requirements

What must lobbyists report?

Lobbyists must report:

• Any gift over $50 to a state employee.

Business Interest Group Focus

Business and agriculture interest groups are interested in all of the following EXCEPT:

Encouraging government regulations.

Government Structure and Decentralization

Functions Assigned to Local Government Units

The state government decentralizes power by assigning many functions to units of local government, especially:

Special districts.

Defining a Unitary System

A system where the central government holds primary authority is known as:

A unitary system.

Texas Regional Demographics

Cultural Ties in the Texas Border Region

Which of the following is NOT correct about the modern South and Far West Texas area known as the Texas Border?

The incorrect statement is that:

The area's residents have strong ties to the German, Czech, and Polish cultures. (This area is primarily influenced by Mexican and Hispanic culture.)