Texas Government

1
Texas Government

• Introduction

2
Political Culture

• A culturally diverse state, varying by region
• Cultural diversity promotes a mix of political
  culture
• Individualistic individual pursuit of interests
  with minimal interference from government.
• Traditionalistic government needed to preserve
  the social order

3
Politics and Government

• After Texas secured independence from Mexico, it
  became a Republic in 1836
• Then, in 1845, the United States annexed Texas as
  the 28th state
• Texas retained ownership of public lands
• Revenue for their use benefits higher ed
• As a slave state, Texas seceded in 1860, only to
  rejoin the Union in 1869 after defeat of the
  confederacy in 1865

4
Post-Civil War Texas (1865-1875)

• Occupation by federal troops
• New Constitution in 1869, with provisions
  favorable to the NorthRepublican Governor
• Resentment of Republican rule helps entrench
  Democrats in power after former Confederates
  allowed vote in 1873
• Yet another Constitution ratified in 1876
• This is todays Texas Constitution

5
Texas (1886-1918)

• One of the most progressive states
• Regulation of the railroads, child labor laws,
  taxes, direct primaries (in 1905)
• Governor James Stephen Hogg
• Edward M. House
• James E. Ferguson
• Democratic Party reigns

6
Post WWI Texas

• Texas continues to promote progressive policies
  in the 1920s, including electing a woman governor
  in 1924
• Miriam A. Ferguson
• Texas suffers, like the nation, during the Great
  Depression, and supports FDR and the New Deal
• Discovery of oil in East Texas (1930) lessens the
  Depressions impact

7
Post WWII Texas

• Democrats still in power, but begins to fragment
• Rise of Lyndon Johnson to prominence
• Split in Democratic Party during 1952
  presidential election
• Conservative versus liberal split in Party
• LBJ, first president from Texas

8
Rise of the Republican Party

• John Tower replaces Johnson as senator from Texas
• First Republican senator since Reconstruction
• William Clements elected governor in 1979
• First Republican governor since 1874
• Phil Gramm votes for Reagans tax cut plan, then
  voted in as a Republican

9
Texas Politics Today

• Replacement of Democrats as majority party
  becomes complete in 2002 state elections
• Republicans reapportion congressional districts
  in 2003
• This shrewd political move further entrenched
  Republican control, by giving Republicans
  majority of House seats in Congress in 2004 and
  2006

10
Future of Texas Politics

• Today
• Closely divided legislatur
• Senate 19 Reps/12 Dems
• House Reps have 2 seat advantage
• What about 2010?
• House takeover by Democrats?
• Long-term demographic changes make Texas a blue
  state?