TEXAS GOVERNMENT 2306

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TEXAS GOVERNMENT 2306

• UNIT 4
• POLITICAL PARTIES

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Reasons Texas Was a One-Party Democratic State

• SLAVERY
• Republican Partys early opposition to slavery
•  
• CIVIL WAR
• Republican President Lincolns role in defeating
  Confederacy during Civil War
•   
• RECONSTRUCTION
• Harsh policies pursued by Republicans during
  Reconstruction

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CAUSES OF RISE OF REPUBLICAN PARTY IN TEXAS

• Northerners moving to Texas
• Growing liberalism of Democratic Party in
  1960s and 1970s 
• Popularity of President Reagan-1980s
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• Weakening memories of Civil War,
  Reconstruction

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HOW DEMOCRATIC WAS TEXAS?

• 1928-1952No Republicans elected to Texas
  Legislature 
• 1874-1961No Republican elected to statewide
  office 
• Most races on ballot were uncontested
• 1978
• Democrats won 86 of races
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• Republicans won 14 of races

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2000 Presidential Election -Bush vs. Gore
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Levels of Party Competition-1961-1984
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Levels of Party Competition 1989-1994
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Party Competition in the States- 2002
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Party Competition in the States - 2006
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Changing Party Affiliation in Texas 1964-1004
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Party Affiliation in Texas -1952-2002
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Party Primary Voting Patterns in Texas
1972-2004
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Republican Officeholders in Texas
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Republican Officeholders in Texas - 1975 vs. 2005
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Republican Officeholders in Texas - 1973-2007
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The Number of Republican and Democratic
Officeholders1973 vs 2007
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RISE OF TEXAS REPUBLICAN PARTY1

• 1961--Election of US Senator John Tower 
• 1978Election of Governor Bill Clements 
• 1984Election of US Senator Phil Gramm 
• 1988--Republicans won 4 statewide races 

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RISE OF TEXAS REPUBLICAN PARTY2

• 1993Election of US Senator Kay B. Hutchison 
• 1994Election of Gov. George W. Bush 
• 1998-Relection of Gov. Bush Rep. Maj. In
  Texas Senate 
• 2002-Republicans winning all statewide offices
  control of both Texas House Senate 

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RISE OF TEXAS REPUBLICAN PARTY3

• 2003Top 3 state officials Governor, Lt.
  Governor, Speaker-all Republican
• 2007Top 3 state officials Governor, Lt.
  Governor, Speaker-all Republican (although
  Republicans lost 6 House seats gained one
  Senate seat)

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Party Ideology in Texas
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Ideology- National Republicans Texas Democrats
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TEXAS REPUBLICANSISSUE STANDS

• Less government
• Strong national defense
• Pro-life on abortion
• Limit govt. economic regulations
• Anti-union
• Less govt. in civil rights
• End affirmative action
• Traditional family values

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TEXAS DEMOCRATSISSUE STANDS

• More activist government
• Protect social programs funding
• Pro-choice on abortion
• Govt. regs. necessary to protect workers,
  consumers, environment, end business abuses
• Active govt. role in civil rights
• Support affirmative action
• Maintain separation of church state

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The Texas Democratic Republican Party
Platforms-A Comparison
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TEXAS REPUBLICANS

• Conservatives ultra-conservatives
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• Evangelical Protestants (born-again
  Christians)
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• Newcomers to Texas
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• Primarily Anglos
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• Younger voters
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• More educated
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• More men

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TEXAS DEMOCRATS

• Primarily middle class poor
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• Workers--blue collar/unions
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• Catholics Jews
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• Native Texans
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• Minorities liberal Anglos
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• Older Voters
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• Less educated
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• More women

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Party Identification by Social Group
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TEXAS POLITICAL PARTIES REGIONAL SUPPORT

• TEXAS REPUBLICANS
• Panhandle, Permian Basin, Lubbock, Abilene,
  suburban areas, esp. of Dallas-FW Houston
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• TEXAS DEMOCRATS
• Strongest in Hispanic South Texas, conservative
  East Texas, inner city areas

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Democratic Republican Voting Counties-1996
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Democratic Republican Voting Counties-2002
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Democratic Republican Voting Counties-2006
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EFFECTS OF TWO-PARTYISM IN TEXAS

• VOTERS HAVE MORE CHOICES
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• INCREASED VOTER INTEREST AND TURNOUT
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• GOVERNMENT MORE RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC
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• LESS GOVT. CORRUPTION
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• LESS POWERFUL INTEREST GROUPS

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LIBERAL/ CONSERVATIVE COMPARISON 

•     Role of Government 
•     Taxes Budget
•     Economic Regulation
•     Social Programs
•     Crime
•     Environment
•     Civil Rights
•     Moral Issues
• o Abortion
• o Gay Rights
• o Pornography
• o School Prayer
• Schools/Education

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TEXAS POLITICAL FUNDS REPORTING DISCLOSURE ACT

• No raised until campaign treasurer appointed
• Candidates PACsno cash contributions
  exceeding 100
• No direct contributions from corporations
  labor unions
• File sworn statements listing contributions
  expenditures with Secretary of State
• Criminal civil penalties
• Enforcement Texas Ethics Commission

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CAMPAIGN TACTICS 

• Building an image
• Use of media importance of TV
• Choosing Issues
• TimingPeaking
• Raising money
• o   PACs
• o   Wealthy contributors
• o   Personal wealth
• o   Small contributions
• o Political Party

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