Active Learning Assignment #11

Fall 2024:

This is the next to last written assignment. Next week I'm going to ask you to give me some thoughts on the 1000 word essay. 

This week I want you to tell what confuses you the most about the subject matter of this class. 

Please be thorough - I'll try to make it clear as we start wrapping the class up.

Remember to write at least 150 words.
And remember the rest of the stuff as well.
_____________

Spring 2024: 

GOVT 2305: 

Explain what is driving dysfunction in the U.S. of Representatives.

A few things to read: 

- How dysfunction has defined the House.
- House GOP shrugs at latest dysfunction: 'Everything's gonna be really tenuous'.
- Republican dysfunction drives a wave of House retirements.
- House Dysfunction by the Numbers: 724 Votes, Only 27 Laws Enacted.

See if you can get to the bottom of this.


GOVT 2306: 

What political forces were responsible for the passage of SB 4? 

- Texas immigration law: Here’s what to know about SB 4.
- Texas is on the verge of making illegal border crossings a state crime. Here’s what you need to know.
- TLO: SB4.

Explain how this bill became a law.

_____________

Fall 2023: 

Does the bureaucracy have too much power?

GOVT 2305: 

Does the federal bureaucracy have too much power?

GOVT 2306: 

Pick one of the two below: 

Does the state bureaucracy have too much power?

or

Does the local bureaucracy have too much power?


__________

The regular rules apply.

:)

How the Corporate Takeover of American Politics Began | Robert Reich

From the Texas Tribune: Llano County officials must offer library books they’d removed, judge orders

I expect a lot more of this.

- Click here for the article. 

Officials in Llano County must return to the public library system books they removed and allow them to be checked out again, a federal judge ruled this week.

The Texas judge is also prohibiting the officials from removing any more books while a lawsuit remains pending.

Seven library patrons last year sued the county judge, commissioners court, library board members and library system for restricting and banning books. They argue in the suit that their First Amendment rights to access and receive ideas had been infringed when officials limited access to certain books based on their content and messages. The county residents also alleged their 14th Amendment right to due process was violated as the books were removed without notice or ability to appeal.

The books included a book for teens that calls the Ku Klux Klan a terrorist group, Isabel Wilkerson’s “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” and a comedic children’s book with three stories from Dawn McMillan’s “I Need a New Butt!” series.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman wrote in an opinion filed Thursday that the plaintiffs had “clearly met their burden to show that these are content-based restrictions that are unlikely to pass constitutional muster.”

Still, Pitman dismissed part of the suit, which wanted county officials to reinstate the library’s previous system for e-book access.

County officials appealed Pitman’s order reinstating the banned books, according to court filings. None were immediately reached for comment. Their lawyer, former Texas Solicitor General Jonathan Mitchell, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

- Click here for the original case.

For background:

- Llano County. 

- Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham.

- Llano, Texas.

- United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.

- U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman.

- Amdt1.2.4.1.1 Content Based Regulation.

- former Texas Solicitor General Jonathan Mitchell.
 

 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/idaho-abortion-bill-trafficking-travel_n_641b62c3e4b00c3e6077c80b

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/28/texas-senate-transgender-college-bill/

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/29/texas-legislature-double-dip-pension-salary/

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/29/texas-transgender-health-care-bill/

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/28/texas-legislature-minors-gender-birth-certificate/

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/29/texas-death-penalty-mental-illness/

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/28/texas-diaper-tampon-sales-tax/

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/28/texas-senate-education-savings-accounts/

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/28/texas-legislature-district-attorneys/

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.43.htm

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/BC/htm/BC.102.htm

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LG/htm/LG.243.htm#243.002

TikTok

- https://www.nytimes.com/article/tiktok-ban.html

- https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1143

- https://www.vox.com/recode/2023/3/2/23622149/tiktok-ban-questions

- https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/congressional-efforts-to-ban-tiktok-in-the-u-s-remain-a-danger-to-free-speech

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_TikTok

CIA's 'Facebook' Program Dramatically Cut Agency's Costs

Outstanding work!

- Click here for the it. 

From the Pew Research Center: Positive Views of Supreme Court Decline Sharply Following Abortion Ruling

The federal courts aren't supposed to care about public opinion. That doesn't mean it doesn't matter.

- Click here for the story.

Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act

The U.S. Congress is trying to impose ethical rules upon the U.S. Supreme Court.

I'm asking students to consider where this might violate the separated powers doctrine. 

- Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act.

- CBO: H.R. 7647, Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2022.

- Cost Estimate: H.R. 7647, Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2022.

- Congress.gov: H.R.7647 - Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2022.

- CRS: A Code of Conduct for the Supreme Court?Legal Questions and Considerations.

- U.S. Courts: Ethics Policies.

- Sheldon Whitehouse: Press Release.

Is there a party realignment going on?

- America is heading toward its third great political realignment.

- Our Coming Political Realignment, And The Political Realignment After That.

- The Political Realignment Is Scrambling Party Lines.

- The great realignment.

- Democrats had an opportunity for a major political realignment. They blew it.

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1936_German_parliamentary_election_and_referendum?wprov=sfti1

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justine_Siegemund?wprov=sfti1

 

Links 3/29/23

- https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/mens_rea

- https://www.tdcaa.com/journal/understanding-the-insanity-defense/

- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/htm/CR.46C.htm

- https://www.ncsl.org/civil-and-criminal-justice/possession-of-firearms-by-people-with-mental-illness

- https://namitexas.org/

- https://guides.sll.texas.gov/gun-laws/buying

- https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=HB2780

- https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/rural-electrification

- https://ballotpedia.org/States_with_initiative_or_referendum

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_Safety_and_Health_Administration

- https://tensix.com/what-is-a-results-management-office/ 

From the Houston Chronicle: Texas lawmakers want EV owners to pay $200 annual fee to recoup lost gas tax revenue

Electric vehicles don't need to gas up, which can make it difficult for the state to pay for highway maintenance. This would address that problem.

- Click here for the article.   

Skipping the gasoline pump can save Texas electric vehicle owners some hassle and some costs, but lawmakers are working to make sure they do not skip out on their share of road costs.

Because all-electric cars and trucks do not pay any gasoline excise taxes — the bulk of how the state raises money for roads — state officials are considering a $200 annual renewal fee for any EV, to be paid with the owner's vehicle registration. Two identical bills, Senate Bill 505 by Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, and House Bill 2199 by Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, are both making their way through the Legislature. Nichols and Canales are chairman of the state senate and house transportation committees, respectively.

“This is the third time we have brought this up,” Nichols said last week, shortly before senators on the transportation committee approved a motion to send the bill to the full Senate. In the last legislative session, the bill passed the Senate but failed to get a final vote in the House.

In the two years since, based on a 2021 estimate by the Legislative Budget Board, the state has lost out on $93.4 million in revenue. If the state were to put the $200 annual fee in place, the LBB estimated, it could raise an additional $215 million over the upcoming two years.

Growth, by population and the number of miles driven means Texas is collecting more in motor fuel taxes, while also seeing costs rise for maintenance and reconstruction of its streets and highways. A record $3.78 billion was collected in fiscal 2022 from gasoline and diesel excise taxes, topping the $3.74 billion collected in fiscal 2019, according to the Texas Comptroller. Buoyed by other sources of revenue, the state’s 10-year transportation program has topped $100 billion, a record level of state highway spending.

- Click here for the bills in question. 

From The Houston Chronicle: Texas Republicans target Harris County in push to rein in local election officials

More on the fight against local control.  

- Click here for the article. 

Texas Republicans are weighing several election reforms that would expand their oversight of local elections and stiffen legal penalties for election workers who violate the law.

The measures, all aimed squarely at Harris County, are being spearheaded by the same lawmakers who two years ago led a crackdown on voting methods pioneered by Texas’ largest county, like drive-thru and 24-hour voting, in the name of preventing voter fraud.

This time, Republicans are focused less on the mechanics of the voting process itself, proposing broader changes that would empower the secretary of state’s office to oversee local elections, dictate which county officials run elections in large metro areas, and punish election judges and workers with felonies or other tough penalties for running afoul of the Texas Election Code.

Harris County Elections Administrator Cliff Tatum has acknowledged a “dire need” to improve how the county conducts elections. In a report issued several weeks after the midterm, Tatum said the operational systems behind the county’s elections are in “immediate need of upgrades or replacements” and floated the idea of an election-worker evaluation system to make sure the teams running the polls are all up to the task.

Bettencourt’s bill would take a different approach, hiking legal penalties for election officials who intentionally obstruct or fail to deliver election supplies in a timely manner. The same measure would also make it a felony, up from a Class A misdemeanor, to reveal election results before the polls close. That's a response to Harris County’s release of early voting results before the 8 p.m. court-extended deadline in November.

David Weinberg, testifying against the bill on behalf of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, said it would “follow a trend that we're seeing in this legislature of criminalizing the behavior of election workers.”

“There has been a real issue — we've heard this in testimony on other bills today — on retaining and finding poll workers,” Weinberg said. “This bill would make the failure to deliver supplies, it would go from essentially a speeding ticket … to looking at real jail time. That can have a chilling effect on trying to recruit and retain poll workers for your elections.”

Here's more: 

- Texas Republicans take their epic battle against blue cities to a new level.

For as long as he's been in office, Gov. Greg Abbott has waged war with Texas cities, warning that the state is being "California-ized" by local overregulation.

But until now, the offensive has stuck to single measures, like barring cities from regulating most oil and gas drilling or forcing landlords to accept federal housing vouchers. Republican lawmakers have pushed off more sweeping proposals, including attempts to prohibit local governments from passing any ordinance more stringent than state law.

Those sorts of measures are on the table this year in what could be the most productive legislative session yet for conservatives looking to rein in the state's largest cities and counties, most of which are run by Democrats. Among the ideas are enhancing state oversight of county-run elections, taking aim at progressive judges and prosecutors, slashing local officials' emergency powers and broadly restricting the types of regulations cities and counties can enact.

Local officials are watching a few bills in particular, including one backed by Abbott that would bar cities and counties from regulating entire “fields” already controlled by state law.

Under the proposal, local regulations covering agriculture, labor and other areas would be limited to what’s “explicitly authorized” in state codes. State Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Conroe Republican who's carrying the bill in the Senate, said it would “streamline regulations so Texas job creators can have ... the certainty they need to invest and expand.”

Bennett Sandlin, executive director of the Texas Municipal League, said the idea would kneecap local business regulations and could jeopardize commonplace ordinances that overlap with state codes, like limits on overgrown grass and local drought management plans.

“The problem with these bills is just, we don't know the scope when you just talk about whole state codes,” Sandlin said.

From Governing: Trillions in Federal Funds Are on the Way. Here’s How to Make the Most of It.

The latest on fiscal federalism. Spending money ain't as easy as you might think

- Click here for the article. 

State and local governments are ramping up efforts to deploy historic levels of federal funding and make significant investments in communities across the country. But efficiently delivering projects of this magnitude will involve overcoming a number of challenges.

Thanks to recent federal legislation — the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act — government leaders are making important strides toward strengthening America’s infrastructure, spurring economic growth and addressing the climate crisis.

But funding alone won’t guarantee success. The challenges state and local leaders will face involve scale, complexity and accountability, as we explore in a new study co-authored with Kevin Pollari:

• Scale: Although there are some systems in place to process and manage logistics for these sorts of complicated and multifaceted implementation efforts, investments on this scale — totaling more than $2 trillion combined — will ultimately pose several difficulties.

• Complexity: The IIJA, the IRA and the CHIPS Act all establish new programs that consist of numerous initiatives with detailed legislative language that require input from multiple agencies. Under the IIJA alone, more than 45 federal bureaus and 16 federal agencies and commissions will grant funding for 369 new and existing programs.

• Accountability: With so many cooks in the kitchen, it’s hard not to wonder: Who is accountable for seeing projects through, driving them forward and measuring impact?

State and local governments can take several actions to mitigate these implementation challenges and realize the benefits of this historic investment opportunity:

• Establish results management offices: RMOs can centralize operations, increase coordination, track spending and monitor project milestones. They can also help increase focus across different agencies and stakeholders on mission-oriented results for each project. For example, an electric vehicle charging station project with IIJA funding can deploy a state-level RMO to oversee multiple goals, including EV adoption, charging station coverage across different regional areas and compliance with federal spending requirements. It could also track other meaningful outcomes, such as job creation, workforce development and equity advancement.

• Maintain a holistic view of related initiatives: To maximize the impact of federal funding in their communities, state and local agencies must identify links between different investment opportunities and funding streams. Consider, again, the EV market. The IIJA provides $5 billion for EV charging infrastructure, while the IRA offers tax credits for consumers to purchase EVs. If EV chargers aren’t built where EV purchasing demand and adoption is high, or if EV owners lack access to EV chargers in their communities, the combined IIJA and IRA investments may fail to create their intended maximum impact.

• Invest in the workforce, both public and private: Successfully implementing these federal funding streams will require skilled professionals. State and local agencies should continue to invest in their workforces, adopt a skills-based mindset and collaborate with academic institutions and job training organizations to help ensure that staff have the necessary tools and competencies to succeed. Governments also should identify skills gaps in the private sector and explore innovative partnerships with industry, nonprofits and higher education institutions to close those gaps. Arizona, Indiana, Texas and Washington are among states that have been leading the way in emphasizing the benefits of construction jobs — including their potential to pay entry-level professionals higher wages than an entry-level professional with a liberal arts degree.

• Adopt a startup mindset: Many programs and projects supported by the IIJA, the IRA and the CHIPS Act aim to be implemented expeditiously. To achieve ambitious goals and navigate complex challenges, state and local agencies should embrace a startup mindset — focused on altering market conditions and changing deep-seated behaviors — to think creatively and get things done. Cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and digital twinning can help simulate situations and determine the best approaches for each project.

The new federal initiatives represent massive investments in America’s competitiveness for generations to come. But their immense execution challenges will call for thoughtful coordination and management. With the right strategies in place, state and local agencies can help modernize America’s infrastructure, strengthen our economy and increase resiliency in their local communities.

 

- Executing on the $2 trillion investment to boost American competitiveness.

 

From ProPublica: Greg Abbott’s Executive Power Play

A look at how Greg Abbott has consolidated power.

- Click here for the article. 

Currently, the governor’s office accrues power largely through vetoes and appointments. While the Legislature can override a veto, governors often issue them after the legislative session ends. The governor is the only one who can call lawmakers back.

During a typical four-year term, a governor makes about 1,500 appointments to the courts and hundreds of agencies and boards covering everything from economic development to criminal justice. The longer governors serve, the more loyalty they can build through appointments.

Abbott’s predecessor, Republican former Gov. Rick Perry, set the stage for building power through appointments. Over 14 years, Perry, a former state representative who became Texas’ longest-serving governor, positioned former employees, donors and supporters in every state agency.

Perry could not be reached for comment through a representative.

In contrast to his predecessor, Abbott, a jurist with no legislative experience, found other avenues to interpret and stretch the law. Abbott has benefited from appointments and vetoes, but he has also taken advantage of emergency orders and disaster declarations like no other governor in recent state history.

Disaster declarations are generally used for natural calamities such as hurricanes and droughts and are useful legally for governors who could face legislative gridlock or state agency inaction if going through normal channels. Abbott’s use of such tools has grown even as his party holds a majority in the state Legislature.

In his eight years as governor, Abbott has issued at least 42 executive orders. Perry signed 80 orders during his 14-year tenure, though they rarely brought controversy. He once required human papillomavirus vaccines for girls but backtracked after pushback from the Legislature.

“Rick Perry experimented with and developed a number of tools that former governors had,” said Cal Jillson, professor of political science at Southern Methodist University. “That he sharpened appointments would be one of those, executive orders would be another of those, the use of the bully pulpit would be a third. And Abbott went to school on that.”

Aiding Abbott in his push to strengthen executive power have been what is essentially a Republican-controlled state with no term limits for officeholders, a Legislature that meets every two years and innate fundraising skills that have helped him draw about $282 million (adjusted for inflation) in campaign contributions in the decade since he first ran for governor. He has used some of that haul to oppose candidates for office, including those in his own party, who have crossed him.

“It’s surprising that even the legislative leadership in the Republican Party has acquiesced to the degree they have because the powers that Abbott has accrued have to come from somewhere else, and it’s coming from them,” said Glenn Smith, an Austin-based Democratic strategist.

Last year, state lawmakers filed 13 bills aiming to curb the governor’s powers under the state’s disaster act, including Republican proposals that would require the Legislature’s permission to extend executive orders, which the governor now does every 30 days.

For instance, in 2019 Abbott issued an executive order to extend the state’s plumbing board after it was on track to shut down because of legislative inaction. He was able to do so by using his power under a disaster declaration that he first issued when Hurricane Harvey pummeled the state in 2017. He continued to renew the disaster declaration for nearly four years.

Abbott similarly continues to renew his 2020 COVID-19 disaster declaration even as he downplays the severity of the pandemic.

During the last legislative session, the only measure that passed — and was signed by Abbott — is a bill that removed the governor’s authority to restrict the sale, dispensing or transportation of firearms during a declared disaster.

“He governs like a judge, and that’s where the autocratic side comes out,” said state Rep. Lyle Larson, a Republican lawmaker whom Abbott tried to oust in 2018 after he pushed a measure that would make the governor wait a year before appointing to boards anyone who donated more than $2,500 to his campaign. The San Antonio lawmaker, who defeated Abbott’s preferred candidate at the time, has decided not to seek reelection.

The purpose of the Texas government - according to Article 3, Section 48 of the original 1876 Constitution

A nice addition to our look at public policy: 

SEC. 48. The Legislature shall not have the right to levy taxes or impose burdens upon the people, except to raise revenue sufficient for the economical administration of the government, in which may be included the following purposes:

- The payment of all interest upon the bonded debt of the State;

- The erection and repairs of public buildings;

- The benefit of the sinking fund, which shall not be more than two per centum of the public debt; and for the payment of the present floating debt of the State, including matured bonds for the payment of which the sinking fund is inadequate;

- The support of public schools, in which shall be included colleges and universities established by the State; and the maintenance and support of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.

- The payment of the cost of assessing and collecting the revenue; and the payment of all officers, agents and employees of the State government, and all incidental expenses connected therewith;

- The enforcement of quarantine regulations on the coast of Texas;

- The protection of the frontier.

Links 3/28/23

- https://science.house.gov/subcommittees

- https://www.senate.gov/committees/hearings_meetings.htm

- https://www.banking.senate.gov//hearings/recent-bank-failures-and-the-federal-regulatory-response

- 2024 United States Senate elections.

- Patriot Act.

- House fails to override Biden's first veto.

- Vetoes, 1789 to Present.

- H.J.Res.30.

- George Washington exercises first presidential veto.

- Rally 'round the flag effect.

- International Court of Justice.

.

Bighorn Rams Head Butting

An illustration of the checks and balances

From the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions: No Company is Above the Law: The Need to End Illegal Union Busting at Starbucks

A hearing set for tomorrow - 3/29/23

- Click here for the link.

- Click here for the statement from the committee's chair.

Pew Research Center: What public opinion surveys found in the first year of the war in Ukraine

Since we looked at opinion regarding the war in Iraq, we might as well look at attitudes about our involvement in Ukraine.

- Click here for the article.  

- International public opinion of President Vladimir Putin and Russia turned much more negative following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

- International opinions of NATO turned more positive in several countries after the war began.

- After Russia invaded Ukraine, there was a sharp increase in the share of U.S. adults viewing Russia as an enemy of the United States.

- In a survey conducted around a month after the invasion, 72% of Americans said they had at least some confidence in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to do the right thing in world affairs, while just 6% said the same about Putin.

- Between March 2022 and January 2023, there was a decline in the share of Americans – especially Republicans – viewing the war as a major threat to U.S. interests.

- Four-in-ten Republicans in the U.S. said in January 2023 that the country is providing too much aid to Ukraine, up from 9% who said so early in the war.

- As of January 2023, Americans were more likely to approve than disapprove of the Biden administration’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but attitudes varied widely by party.

 https://newrepublic.com/article/171357/optimism-cant-fix-climate-politics?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=EB_TNR&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1679929216-1

 https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/03/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-spending-abortion-2024/

 https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/25/middleeast/israel-judiciary-netanyahu-explainer-intl/index.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Israeli_judicial_reform?wprov=sfti1

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/03/26/israels-judicial-reform-protests/11484367002/

 https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/02/mexico-democracy-autocrat-andres-manuel-lopez-obrador/673137/  

https://www.wsj.com/articles/mexicos-supreme-court-halts-electoral-overhaul-e4673eb7

Pew Research Center: A Look Back at How Fear and False Beliefs Bolstered U.S. Public Support for War in Iraq

A look at how public opinion was molded by the Bush Administration in order to support the war.

- Click here for the article.

Twenty years ago this month, the United States launched a major military invasion of Iraq, marking the second time it fought a war in that country in a little more than a decade. It was the start of an eight-year conflict that resulted in the deaths of more than 4,000 U.S. servicemembers and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis.

The war began March 19, 2003, with an overwhelming show of American military might, described by the unforgettable phrase “shock and awe.” Within weeks, the United States achieved the primary objective of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as the military operation was called, ousting the regime of dictator Saddam Hussein.

Yet the military campaign that began so auspiciously ended up deeply dividing Americans and alienating key U.S. allies. As Americans looked back on the war four years ago, 62% said it was not worth fighting. Majorities of military veterans, including those who served in Iraq or Afghanistan, came to the same conclusion.

The bleak retrospective judgments on the war obscure the breadth of public support for U.S. military action at the start of the conflict and, perhaps more importantly, in the months leading up to it. Throughout 2002 and early 2003, President George W. Bush and his administration marshaled wide backing for the use of military force in Iraq among both the public and Congress.

The administration’s success in these efforts was the result of several factors, not least of which was the climate of public opinion at the time. Still reeling from the horrors of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Americans were extraordinarily accepting of the possible use of military force as part of what Bush called the “global war on terror.”

By early 2002, with U.S. troops already fighting in Afghanistan, large majorities of Americans favored the use of military force in Iraq to oust Hussein from power and to destroy terrorist groups in Somalia and Sudan. These attitudes represented “a strong endorsement of the prospective use of force compared with other military missions in the post-Cold War era,” Pew Research Center noted at the time.

Bush and senior members of his administration then spent more than a year outlining the dangers that they claimed Iraq posed to the United States and its allies. Two of the administration’s arguments proved especially powerful, given the public’s mood: first, that Hussein’s regime possessed “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD), a shorthand for nuclear, biological or chemical weapons; and second, that it supported terrorism and had close ties to terrorist groups, including al-Qaida, which had attacked the U.S. on 9/11.

For more: 

- Wikipedia: Iraq War.

- Council on Foreign Relations: Timeline of the Iraq War.

- Britannica: Iraq War 2003–2011.

History of Middle East involvement.

- Wikipedia: United States foreign policy in the Middle East.

- A quarter of America's 400 wars have been in the Middle East and Africa, study finds.

From Psychology Today: The Dark Side of Political Ambition Machiavellian personalities may enjoy political campaigning more than others.

Is our competitive political system biased in favor of the ambitious. 

I have a hunch James Madison would agree.

- Click here for it.

In personality psychology, Machiavellianism refers to a cynical and manipulative approach to interpersonal relationships that embraces “moral flexibility” for personal gain. People high in Machiavellian traits, or “Machs,” place a high priority on money, power, and competition, and are said to pursue their goals at the expense of, or at least without regard for the welfare of, others (Jones & Paulhus, 2009).

Machiavellianism has also been identified as a member of the “dark triad,” a group of socially aversive, self-centered traits that also includes narcissism (a grandiose sense of one’s own superiority to others and feelings of entitlement to special treatment) and psychopathy (callous disregard for the rights of others combined with reckless impulsivity) (Jones & Figueredo, 2013).

Although all three members of the dark triad share a common core of interpersonal antagonism, there has been debate about to what degree they are distinct from each other. In particular, there have been concerns that existing measures of Machiavellianism essentially tap the same traits as psychopathy, and therefore may be redundant (Miller, Hyatt, Maples‐Keller, Carter, & Lynam, 2017). However, a recent study (Peterson & Palmer, 2019) suggests that Machs are notable for their political ambition, whereas psychopaths do not care much for politics. Hence, there may be a meaningful and theoretically relevant distinction between Machiavellianism and psychopathy after all. 

Although the concepts of Machiavellianism and psychopathy share common elements, such as willingness to use manipulation and deceit to achieve one’s goals, psychopathy is also associated with impulsivity, whereas, in theory, Machs should be more planful and oriented to long-term rather than short-term goals. Additionally, it has been suggested that, unlike psychopathy, Machiavellianism is associated with less violent, less overtly aggressive forms of misconduct, such as cheating, lying, and betrayal, especially when retaliation is unlikely or impossible (Jones & Paulhus, 2009). For example, Machs are more likely to cheat on term papers than multi-choice tests. Hence, their cheating tends to be strategic, rather than recklessly impulsive.

For more on political narcissism:

- Dissecting narcissism within politics’ highest ranks.

- 

 https://puck.news/svbs-valley-of-death/

https://puck.news/the-last-days-of-svb/

https://puck.news/two-days-in-the-valley/

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/20-banks-that-are-sitting-on-huge-potential-securities-lossesas-was-svb-c4bbcafa

https://www.axios.com/pro/fintech-deals/2023/03/27/big-bank-deposits-rise-small-banks-see-outflows-svb

Active Learning Assignment #10

Fall 2024

How did Mussolini Consolidate power in Italy? 

We've been looking at the U.S. Constitution and reading through Federalist 51 in order to understand the nature of separated power, as well as its importance in a maintaining a free society. The purpose is to ensure that no one person or institution can control all aspect of governmental power in a society. This is tyranny.

People who want to become tyrants have to do so by consolidating the legislative, executive, and judicial powers. The trick is doing so.

Benito Mussolini did, Hitler was impressed enough to follow how example. Others have dome the same.

So what did he do?

Use your searching skills and see if you can answer this. 

The greater detail, the higher the grade.

Pretty please: 

- Submit your answer through Blackboard.
- It is due for full credit on midnight the on the assigned date.
- It will be subject to a penalty if turned in late.
- Is can be turned in for partial credit until the end of the semester.
- The grade is commensurate to the quality of the work.
- There is a 150 word minimum requirement.
- You may write as much as you wish. 

_________________________

Spring 2024

The Texas Constitutional Amendments

Texas had elections on November 7, 2023. The only statewide issues were a series of proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. 

Here are some links for more info about each.
- Texas Legislative Council.
- Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
- Ballotpedia.

For GOVT 2305:

Look at the subject of these amendments and think about the reserved powers as mentioned in the 10th Amendment, as well as the concept of federalism. Are the policy areas involved fully reserved to the states, or are they held concurrently by the state and national governments? Might these amendments alter these arrangements?

For GOVT 2306: 

Since we are talking about the executive branch, explain to me how these amendments will be in fact implemented? Will it be by a state agency? Will it be by a local government? Maybe something else? 



Pretty please: 

- Submit your answer through Blackboard.
- It is due for full credit on midnight the on the assigned date.
- It will be subject to a penalty if turned in late.
- Is can be turned in for partial credit until the end of the semester.
- The grade is commensurate to the quality of the work.
- There is a 150 word minimum requirement.
- You may write as much as you wish.

______

Spring 2023 

We've been talking about the separated powers and the fact that the system of checks and balances is designed to keep them separate. I've introduced a few thoughts and posted a few stories about what different people have done to concentrate political power within their nations: Mussolini's Fascist Party is one example. 

Some suggest that we are naïve to think that this can't happen here. 

If it was to happen, how would it? 

If you are in GOVT 2305, answer for the national government.

If you are in GOVT 2306, answer for the state of Texas.

Tell me what steps it would it take to take either government over. 

As always: 

Pretty please: 

- Submit your answer through Blackboard.
- It is due for full credit on midnight the on the assigned date.
- It will be subject to a penalty if turned in late.
- Is can be turned in for partial credit until the end of the semester.
- The grade is commensurate to the quality of the work.
- There is a 150 word minimum requirement.
- You may write as much as you wish.

Will SB12 and/or SB13 violate the free speech clause in the U.S. Bill of Rights?

Is the Texas Legislature setting itself up for a court fight by banning books and drag shows? 

Might be see some checking and balancing in the near future?

Here are the bills in question: 

SB 12 Author: Hughes
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to State Affairs
Caption: Relating to restricting certain sexually oriented performances on public property, on the premises of a commercial enterprise, or in the presence of a child; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.

SB 13 Author: Paxton | Bettencourt | Creighton | Hughes | Middleton | et al.
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to Education
Caption: Relating to a school district's library materials and catalog, the creation of local school library advisory councils, and parental rights regarding public school library catalogs and access by the parent's child to library materials and to affirmative defenses to prosecution for certain offenses involving material or conduct that is obscene or otherwise harmful to children.

Local control seems to be under attack in Texas

Local governments in Texas are subject to state power. 

The 88th legislature wants to expand that power.

Here are a few stories related to that effort.

- Local control is under attack in Austin.

- STATUS OF BILLS ATTACKING LOCAL CONTROL.

- As lawmakers begin a new session, Texas mayors want to maintain control of local issues.

- House Bill looks to expand state authority, shrink local control.

- The Demise of Local Control.

DARPA 2021 Year In Review

Simpsons - Think of the children compilation

Is Putin influenced by public opinion in Russia

Maybe not

- US intel skeptical Putin will be swayed by Russian public opinion over war in Ukraine.

 

US intelligence officials are skeptical that any change in Russian public opinion against the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine – even a dramatic one – would have an effect in persuading Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict, according to multiple sources familiar with the latest intelligence.

Officials also doubt that the war, which many strategists believe has been an unmitigated disaster for Russia’s military, is likely to lead to the removal of Putin from power, at least in the short term.

That assessment reflects the extent to which officials believe Putin has cemented his control over Russia during his more than two decades in power. Although intelligence officials believe Putin is keenly sensitive to small shifts in public opinion, his ability to crack down on protests and control the media still helps insulate him against any significant popular uprising – leaving him free to prosecute the war on his own terms.

Huey Long: The Dictator of Louisiana

From the House Energy and Commerce Committee: “TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms”

An example of an investigation by a legislative committee:  

- Click here for it.

- What is the House Energy and Commerce Committee?

- From the House: Investigations & Oversight.

- Click here for the press release regarding the hearing: 

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) today announced the details of a full committee hearing with TikTok CEO Shou Chew, who will appear before the committee to testify on TikTok’s consumer privacy and data security practices, the platforms’ impact on kids, and its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. It will be Chew’s first appearance before a congressional committee. The hearing is titled "TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms.”

“Americans deserve to know the extent to which their privacy is jeopardized and their data is manipulated by ByteDance-owned TikTok’s relationship with China. What’s worse, we know Big Tech companies, like TikTok, use harmful algorithms to exploit children for profit and expose them to dangerous content online. We need to know what actions the company is taking to keep our kids safe from online and offline harms. We look forward to hearing from Mr. Chew directly and continuing Energy and Commerce’s efforts to bring Big Tech CEOs before the committee to answer for their companies’ destructive actions.”

This full committee hearing is titled "TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms.”

From Just Security: Litigation Tracker: Pending Criminal and Civil Cases Against Donald Trump

A nice way to cover the judiciary and the penal code: 

- Click here for the article. 

On both the criminal and civil litigation fronts, former President Donald Trump faces a bevy of lawsuits and investigations, with more cases likely to follow. Some are civil suits stemming from his pre-presidential business dealings. Others are defamation claims from women he allegedly assaulted. More still are criminal probes and civil actions that scrutinize his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The Chart below tracks all these cases. It will be continually updated as major legal developments occur.

These cases bear on two pressing questions. First, will Trump maintain his long streak of eluding legal liability in the face of so many lawsuits? Second, if Trump is held to account for illegal conduct, what impact will such a development have on his—and his family’s—political and business fortunes?

Criminal charges—one would think—would be among the most damaging outcomes. After all, a criminal prosecution of a former president would be a singular event in American history. No former president has ever been indicted, much less convicted. Trump lost any immunity from indictment that he may have possessed as president the moment he left office on Jan. 20. To be sure, most of the criminal probes detailed below are in their infancy, so the odds of an actual conviction at this time remain improbable. Even so, the mere stigma of criminal charges against the former president could reshape the American political landscape and the historical understanding of Trump’s behavior.

The civil cases could certainly do their fair share of damage as well, directly or indirectly. If Trump falters in one of his business-related suits, his companies may be subject to massive penalties, or worse. Even apart from such sanctions, his empire is reportedly struggling under looming debt obligations and reduced revenues, a slump which could worsen if his reputation continues to deteriorate.

With these legal threats bearing down on the former president from nearly every direction, this tracker collects them in one place.

Links 3/23/23

- 2002 Iraqi presidential referendum.

- First U.S. Congress.

- U.S. Treasury: Money Laundering.

- Legal affairs of Donald Trump.

- G. Thomas Porteous, Jr.

- Texas Supreme Court.

 

From the BBC: How Xi Jinping made himself unchallengeable

How did the Xi Jinping consolidate power?

- Click here for the article. 
 

Mao Zedong, the founding father of Communist China, once famously said: "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Mao ensured it was the party, not the state, which controlled the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Since then, the CCP leader has also been Central Military Commission (CMC) chairman.

Mr Xi was luckier than his predecessor Hu Jintao because he became the CMC chairman instantly - and wasted no time in weeding out opposition within the armed force

The most shocking episode came in 2014 and 2015, when former CMC Vice Chairman Xu Caihou and former PLA General Guo Boxiong were accused of corruption.

"They were already retired when the axe fell, but Xi's ability to target them reduced the former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin's lingering influence in the PLA," said Joel Wuthnow, a senior fellow at the Pentagon-funded National Defense University.

"It also sent a powerful signal to current serving military officers that no one who resists Xi's control is immune from harm," he added.

In 2015, Mr Xi also overhauled the structure of the military. He abolished the four military headquarters - staff, politics, logistics and armaments - and replaced them with 15 smaller agencies.

The new structure allows the CMC to issue orders directly to the various branches of the military - extending as far as even financial auditors, who now have to report directly to the CMC, adds Mr Wuthnow.

Above all this is the insistence upon absolute loyalty to Mr Xi - something that is still being reiterated.

Last month the People's Liberation Army Daily, the country's official military newspaper, published an article emphasising that the CMC is in overall command.

"The message helps counteract any tendency that might develop in the military to build loyalty towards senior PLA leaders who might someday oppose Xi," said Timothy Heath, a senior international defence researcher at US think tank RAND corporation.

"Loyalty to the party means the PLA is expected to carry out any and all orders to keep the party, and Xi in particular, in power."

From Grid: SVB and mid-size banks spent $50 million to weaken Dodd-Frank

More on money in politics.

- Click here for the article. 

A group of mid-size banks spent nearly $50 million on a lobbying blitz supporting 2018 legislation that eliminated oversight rules experts now say could have prevented the recent collapse of one its members, Silicon Valley Bank, or SVB.

That legislation, which received bipartisan support in Congress, eliminated key reforms instituted by the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010 for banks with between $50 billion and $250 billion in assets — regulations developed after the last major financial crisis. The two-dozen mid-size banks that stood to benefit from the 2018 bill spent $46 million lobbying lawmakers and executive branch agencies over a key 18-month period while the legislation was being discussed and implemented, a Grid analysis has found.

The banks’ lobbying efforts were accompanied by a flood of campaign cash to key federal lawmakers. Members of the Senate Banking Committee received $2.4 million in campaign contributions from the commercial banking industry during the 2018 campaign cycle.

It paid off: The bill was a rare bipartisan success. The Senate passed it with a 67-31 vote in March 2018, and the House followed, voting 258-159 in May, before then-President Donald Trump signed it into law. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the then-chair of the Senate Banking Committee, said at the time that “relief from enhanced prudential standards” for banks with less than $100 billion in assets was “a key provision of the bill.”

“The primary purpose of the bill is to make targeted changes to simplify and improve the regulatory regime for community banks, credit unions, midsize banks and regional banks to promote economic growth,” Crapo said in 2018.

Five years later, however, critics have blamed those weakened standards for a pair of bank failures that put the U.S. financial system on the brink of systemic failure. The exact causes of Silicon Valley Bank’s failure are still being debated — and will likely be investigated in the coming months. But critics of the 2018 law argue that it helped set the stage for the current crisis by removing the stricter regulatory oversight that SVB would have been subject to under the 2008 law. And they’re placing the blame squarely on the bank lobby.

Links 3/22/23

- Biden issues first veto, knocks Marjorie Taylor Greene.

- GOP, Manchin look to nullify ‘woke’ Biden rule.

- Joe Manchin and Jon Tester tee up Biden’s first veto.

- U.S. Department of Labor.

- H.J.Res.30 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights"

Hitler's BLOODY PURGE - The Night Of The Long Knives

Links 3/21/23

- https://www.wipo.int/amc/en/arbitration/what-is-arb.html

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Arbitration_Act

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_of_1907

- Why Banks are Not Allowed in Bankruptcy.

- Federal Reserve Act.

- Parent Company of Silicon Valley Bank Files for Bankruptcy.

- How Banks Become Insolvent.

From the Washington Post: Want to Understand Politics? Focus on Ambition.

This is why we have separated powers.

- Click here for the article. 

Let’s talk a bit about ambition.Once upon a time, I taught a course called “The Politican,” which was about … you guessed it: politicians. It was an unusual course because there is no real study of politicians as a group — there are scholars of U.S. politics who specialize in Congress, in the presidency, in state government, in parties, in social movements, in voters, and more, but not in politicians. As far as I know, the same applies to all the other broad subfields within the larger discipline.

It seemed to me that one of the topics the class should cover was ambition. But I was dissatisfied with how political scientists wrote about the concept. The questions they asked were about which office a politician might seek — and how badly he or she wanted it. I wound up thinking that such questions often yielded very limited insights. For example, it’s reasonable to say that ambitious politicians will be more likely to run for higher office if there’s no incumbent on the ballot or if national tides favor their political party. More generally, the higher the barrier to office the more ambition it will take to run. Or to think of another example: Yes, we might want to group together senators such as Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar, who have sought the presidency before and probably are thinking of trying again; senators such as Patty Murray and Lisa Murkowski, who seem to have reached the office they’re interested in and want to say there; and those like Pat Leahy and James Inhofe, who are on their way to retirement. And those groups might help us understand some of their behavior — hey, the presidential candidates in the Senate judiciary committee are trying to raise their profiles within their party!

But it struck me that these kinds of observations didn’t reveal much about the larger idea of ambition. One smart group of undergrads pushed me to what I think is a more useful way of thinking about the topic. Instead of asking “how much?” or “for which office?,” we should think instead about how different politicians are seeking different things. We can ask: Why did Joe Biden, or Mitch McConnell, or Elizabeth Warren, or Jeb Bush, or Bernie Sanders get into politics in the first place? What would they count as success? What, in other words, is the content — the substance — of their ambition?

A politician who is mainly in it to fix a specific injustice (say, an unjust war or an overly intrusive government) is going to act a lot differently than one who likes the wheeling and dealing aspects of legislating. Or one who likes being on TV. Or one who wants to advance the interests of some demographic group. Or one who is a huge fan of a party leader and is inspired to emulate him or her. Or one who is essentially just carrying on the family business. Not only are all these lawmakers different, but it seems to me that those differences might help explain their choices. Not just how members of Congress vote within the chamber, but how they spend their time, which committee assignments they seek, whether they’re workhorses or show horses, whether they’re drawn to legislative or executive positions, and much more.

There are clearly some problems with this approach, from the challenge of actually knowing what the content of anyone’s ambition is to the dangers of focusing too much on individual politicians and not the environment they work in and the incentives they encounter. But I do think it’s a promising way of thinking about politics. On the one hand, it can do what biographers do and give careful attention to the particulars of individual politicians — but it could also be useful for generalizing across larger groups. And that could help answer other important questions about how the ambitions of politicians may have changed over time, or may differ across countries, or from national level to local levels, or more.

The congressional budget and appropriations committees, and the president's budget

- From the White House: President’s Budget.

- From the White House: FACT SHEET: The President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2024.

- The House Budget Committee.

- The Senate Budget Committee.

- The House Appropriations Committee.

- The Senate Appropriations Committee.

__________

The Budget Process:  

- Center for Budget and Policy Priorities: Policy Basics: Introduction to the Federal Budget Process.

- National Priorities Project: Budget Process - Federal Budget 101.

- From the White House: OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.

- Wikipedia: United States budget process.

- Senate: Budget.

- CRS: Introduction to the Federal Budget Process.

A few items regarding congressional dysfunction

These might be useful if this is the subject of your 1000 word essay.

- Issue One: Congressional Dysfunction. 

- Roll Call: The 5 M’s for Describing Why Congress Is Broken.

- VOA: Experts See Gridlock, Dysfunction Likely in Incoming Congress.

- ProPublica: Our Reading Guide on Congressional Dysfunction.

- Federalist Society: A Critique of the ‘Congressional Dysfunction’ Critique of the Major Questions Doctrine.

- PEARLAND HISTORY.

- https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/chatgpt-and-beyond-how-to-handle-ai-in-schools

- https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/12/chatgpt-ai-writing-college-student-essays/672371/

- https://medium.com/geekculture/how-to-detect-if-an-essay-was-generated-by-openais-chatgpt-58bb8adc8461

- https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/12/chatgpt-ai-writing-college-student-essays/672371/

- https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/houston-isd-takeover-goals-regain-control-17843824.php

- 

 

Active Learning Assignment #9

Fall 2024


What happens to your ballot after you've voted?

When we talk about elections, we tend to focus more on how votes are cast instead of how they are compiled and counted. I want to focus attention on that. The best way to understand the process is to look at what is outlined in official websites. Here are two. One is on the national level, the other is on the state level. 

- The United States Election Assistance Commission: Election Results, Canvass, and Certification.

- The Texas Secretary of State: Canvassing and Post-Election Procedures.

Read through them and outline the process as clearly and thoroughly as you can.

All rules apply
- Submit your answer through Blackboard.
- It is due for full credit on midnight the on the assigned date.
- It will be subject to a penalty if turned in late.
- Is can be turned in for partial credit until the end of the semester.
- The grade is commensurate to the quality of the work.
- There is a 150 word minimum requirement.
- You may write as much as you wish. 


_________________

Spring 2024

What, exactly, is going on in the United States House of Representatives? 

They don't seem to be able to select a speaker - which is the only specific position mentioned in the U.S. Constitution for that chamber. I simply want you to explain to me the hang-up. Also tell me how you think this might be resolved.

You might even explore the possibility that it may not be resolved. That takes us down a different road. How might the House of Representatives function without a speaker? What does a speaker actually do?  

For your reading pleasure: 

- Wikipedia: Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
- The New Republic: The Republican House Speaker Doom Loop.
- NYT: Republicans Tap Jordan for Speaker, but Delay Vote as Holdouts Balk.
- Politico: House Dem leader: ‘Informal’ discussions underway on speakership mess.

___________

For 2306 students: 

What is an educational savings account?

Part of the fuss over school vouchers involves somethings called an educational savings account. I'm not completely sure what this is, but it seems to be a financial device that allows for funds to be pulled from Texas' general revenue fund and made available to private schools. The precise design of it can change. Other states have approached this in different ways. Describe how these programs can work.

- ALEC: The Education Savings Account Act.
- EdWeek: Education Savings Accounts, Explained.
- Texas Tribune: What you need to know about education savings accounts.
- Coalition for Public Schools: Education Savings Accounts.
- The Policy Circle: Education Savings Accounts.

Please:

- Submit your answer through Blackboard.
- It is due for full credit on midnight the on the assigned date.
- It will be subject to a penalty if turned in late.
- Is can be turned in for partial credit until the end of the semester.
- The grade is commensurate to the quality of the work.
- There is a 150 word minimum requirement.
- You may write as much as you wish.

Texas Legislature Bills By Committee Criminal Jurisprudence

From the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
 - Click here for the list.

From the House Committee on Corrections
- Click here for the list.

From the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice.
- Click here for the list.

Links to governmental institutions - they might even be useful

For GOVT 2305

The Legislature: 
- U.S. House of Representatives. 
- House Rules
- U.S. Senate.
- Senate Rules
- Congress.gov.
- U.S. Code.

The Executive: 
- The White House.
- Federal Register.
- Federal Administrative Law.

The Judiciary: 
- U.S. Supreme Court.
- U.S. Courts.
- U.S. Case Law.

__________

For GOVT 2306

The Texas Legislature:
- Article 3 - 1876.
- Article 3 - Current.
- Texas House of Representatives.
- House Rules.
- Texas Senate.
- Senate Rules.
- Statutory Code
- Texas Legislature Online

The Texas Executive: 
- Article 4 - 1876.
- Article4 - Current.
- Texas Governor.
- Lieutenant Governor.
- Attorney General.
- Comptroller of Public Accounts.
- Commissioner of the General Land Office.
- Agriculture Commissioner
- Texas Secretary of State.
- The Texas Register.

The Texas Judiciary:
- Article 5 - 1876.
- Article 5 - Current. 
- Texas Supreme Court
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
- Texas Courts.
- Texas Case Law.

From the Texas Legislature: The 2024-2025 General Appropriations Bills

- HB 1.

- SB 1.  

An update on priority legislation in the Texas Legislature 3/19/23

The deadline for introducing legislation has passed. These are at the top of the heap in the House and Senate

 - DATES OF INTEREST | 88TH LEGISLATURE.

- Texas Legislature: Filed House Bills.

- Texas Legislature: Filed Senate Bills.

Priority Bills: 

Taxes

HB 2 Author: Meyer | Bonnen | Burrows | Thierry | Raymond
Last Action: 03/13/2023 H Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to providing property tax relief through the public school finance system and property tax appraisal and administration.

HB 5 Author: Hunter | Meyer | Burrows | Shine | Longoria
Last Action: 03/01/2023 H Referred to Ways & Means: Mar 1 2023 11:49AM
Caption: Relating to agreements to create jobs and to generate state and local tax revenue for this state.

SB 3 Author: Bettencourt | Alvarado | Birdwell | Blanco | Campbell | et al.
Last Action: 03/15/2023 S Vote taken in committee
Caption: Relating to an increase in the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from ad valorem taxation by a school district, an adjustment in the amount of the limitation on school district ad valorem taxes imposed on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect increases in the exemption amount, and the protection of school districts against the resulting loss in local revenue.

SB 4 Author: Bettencourt | Huffman | Parker
Last Action: 03/20/2023 S Placed on intent calendar
Caption: Relating to the maximum compressed tax rate of a school district.

SB 5 Author: Parker | Alvarado | Bettencourt | Blanco | Campbell | et al.
Last Action: 03/15/2023 S Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of a portion of the appraised value of tangible personal property a person owns that is held or used for the production of income and a franchise tax credit for the payment of certain related ad valorem taxes.


Education

HB 3 Author: Burrows | King, Tracy O. | Moody | King, Ken | Bonnen
Last Action: 03/09/2023 H Referred to Youth Health & Safety, Select: Mar 9 2023 2:44PM
Caption: Relating to the development and implementation of, and funding for public school safety and security requirements.

HB 8 Author: VanDeaver | Kuempel | Buckley | Bonnen | Longoria
Last Action: 03/20/2023 H Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the administration, coordination, and support of public higher education, including the public junior college state finance program and an Advanced Career and Education (ACE) scholarship program for students enrolled in dual credit courses.

HB 11 Author: Dutton
Last Action: 03/09/2023 H Referred to Public Education: Mar 9 2023 2:44PM
Caption: Relating to the rights, certification, and compensation of public school educators, including financial and other assistance provided to public schools by the Texas Education Agency related to public school educators and to certain allotments under the Foundation School Program.

HB 13 Author: King, Ken | Burrows | King, Tracy O. | González, Mary | Buckley
Last Action: 03/09/2023 H Referred to Youth Health & Safety, Select: Mar 9 2023 2:44PM
Caption: Relating to training, preparedness, and funding for school safety and school safety emergencies.

SB 8 Author: Creighton | Bettencourt | Campbell | King | Middleton | et al.
Last Action: 03/22/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to public education, including parental rights and public school responsibilities regarding instructional materials and the establishment of an education savings account program.

SB 9 Author: Creighton | Bettencourt | Campbell | Hinojosa | Huffman | et al.
Last Action: 03/22/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the rights, certification, and compensation of public school educators and assistance provided to public schools by the Texas Education Agency related to public school educators and to certain allotments under the Foundation School Program.

SB 10 Author: Huffman | Alvarado | Bettencourt | Birdwell | Blanco | et al.
Last Action: 03/22/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to benefits paid by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

SB 11 Author: Nichols
Last Action: 03/07/2023 S Referred to Education
Caption: Relating to measures for ensuring safety and security in public schools, including measures related to certain student records and truant conduct.

SB 13 Author: Paxton | Bettencourt | Creighton | Hughes | Middleton | et al.
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to Education
Caption: Relating to a school district's library materials and catalog, the creation of local school library advisory councils, and parental rights regarding public school library catalogs and access by the parent's child to library materials and to affirmative defenses to prosecution for certain offenses involving material or conduct that is obscene or otherwise harmful to children.

SB 15 Author: Middleton | Bettencourt | Campbell | Creighton | Flores | et al.
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to requiring a student of a public institution of higher education who competes in intercollegiate athletic competitions to do so based on the student's biological sex.

SB 16 Author: Hughes
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to Education
Caption: Relating to the purpose of public institutions of higher education and a prohibition on compelling students enrolled at those institutions to adopt certain beliefs.

SB 17 Author: Creighton | Campbell | King | Kolkhorst | Middleton | et al.
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to Education
Caption: Relating to public higher education reform; authorizing administrative penalties.

SB 18 Author: Creighton | Campbell | Flores | King | Kolkhorst | et al.
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to Education
Caption: Relating to tenure and employment status at public institutions of higher education in this state.

SB 19 Author: Huffman
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to Finance
Caption: Relating to the administration and investment of, and distribution and use of money from, certain constitutional and statutory funds to support general academic teaching institutions in achieving national prominence as major research universities and driving the state economy; redesignating the national research fund as the Texas University Fund.

SB 25 Author: Kolkhorst | Alvarado | Bettencourt | Blanco | Campbell | et al.
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to Health & Human Services
Caption: Relating to support for nursing-related postsecondary education, including scholarships to nursing students, loan repayment assistance to nurses and nursing faculty, and grants to nursing education programs.


Criminal Justice

HB 4 Author: Capriglione | Longoria
Last Action: 03/13/2023 H Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to the regulation of the collection, use, processing, and treatment of consumers' personal data by certain business entities; imposing a civil penalty.

HB 6 Author: Goldman
Last Action: 03/13/2023 H Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence: Mar 13 2023 3:37PM
Caption: Relating to the criminal penalties for certain controlled substance offenses; increasing a criminal penalty.

HB 16 Author: Moody | Thompson, Senfronia | Johnson, Ann | Leach | Cook
Last Action: 03/20/2023 H Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the adjudication and disposition of cases involving delinquent conduct, certain juvenile court proceedings, and planning and funding for services for children in the juvenile justice system.

HB 17 Author: Cook | Moody | Leach | Metcalf | Burrows
Last Action: 03/13/2023 H Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence: Mar 13 2023 3:37PM
Caption: Relating to the official misconduct and removal of district attorneys and county attorneys.

HB 19 Author: Murr
Last Action: 03/22/2023 H Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the creation of a specialty trial court to hear certain cases; authorizing fees.

SB 2 Author: Hughes
Last Action: 03/15/2023 H Received from the Senate
Caption: Relating to conduct constituting the criminal offense of illegal voting; increasing a criminal penalty.

SB 20 Author: Huffman | Parker
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to State Affairs
Caption: Relating to the enforcement of criminal offenses by district attorneys, criminal district attorneys, and county attorneys.

SB 21 Author: Huffman
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to State Affairs
Caption: Relating to conduct of and complaints against current and former judges.

SB 22 Author: Springer | Blanco | Creighton | Eckhardt | Hall | et al.
Last Action: 03/22/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the establishment of grant programs to provide financial assistance to qualified sheriff's departments, district attorney's offices, and county attorney's offices in rural counties.

SB 23 Author: Huffman
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to State Affairs
Caption: Relating to increasing the minimum term of imprisonment and changing the eligibility for community supervision and parole for certain felony offenses in which a firearm is used or exhibited.

SB 27 Author: Hughes
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to Jurisprudence
Caption: Relating to the creation of a specialty trial court to hear certain cases; authorizing fees.


Border Security

HB 7 Author: Guillen
Last Action: 03/13/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: Mar 13 2023 3:37PM
Caption: Relating to public services and programs in the southern border region of this state to address the effects of ongoing criminal activity and public health threats, including methods of financing those services.

HB 20 Author: Schaefer
Last Action: 03/13/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: Mar 13 2023 3:37PM
Caption: Relating to measures to ensure the safety and welfare of the southern border region of this state, including protection from ongoing criminal activity and public health threats; creating a criminal offense; creating a civil penalty.


Utilities

HB 9 Author: Ashby | Hunter | Hernandez | Longoria
Last Action: 03/07/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: Mar 7 2023 12:31PM
Caption: Relating to the development and funding of broadband and telecommunications services; making an appropriation.

HB 18 Author: Slawson | Patterson | González, Mary | Burrows | Darby
Last Action: 03/20/2023 H Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the protection of minors from harmful, deceptive, or unfair trade practices in connection with the use of certain digital services.

SB 6 Author: Schwertner | King
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to Business & Commerce
Caption: Relating to the establishment of the Texas Energy Insurance Program and other funding mechanisms to support the construction and operation of electric generating facilities.

SB 7 Author: Schwertner | King
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to Business & Commerce
Caption: Relating to the reliability of the ERCOT power grid.


Water 

HB 10 Author: King, Tracy O.
Last Action: 03/07/2023 H Referred to Natural Resources: Mar 7 2023 12:31PM
Caption: Relating to financial assistance provided and programs administered by the Texas Water Development Board.

SB 28 Author: Perry
Last Action: 03/20/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to financial assistance provided and programs administered by the Texas Water Development Board.


Health and Human Services

HB 12 Author: Rose | Thompson, Senfronia | Walle | Thierry | Howard
Last Action: 03/16/2023 H Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to the duration of services provided under Medicaid to women following a pregnancy.

HB 15 Author: Thompson, Senfronia | Craddick | Buckley
Last Action: 03/20/2023 H Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to the creation of the Mental Health and Brain Research Institute of Texas.

SB 24 Author: Kolkhorst | Campbell | Creighton | Hall | King | et al.
Last Action: 03/15/2023 S Vote taken in committee
Caption: Relating to the powers and duties of the Health and Human Services Commission and the transfer to the commission of certain powers and duties from the Department of Family and Protective Services.

SB 26 Author: Kolkhorst | Alvarado | Bettencourt | Blanco | Campbell | et al.
Last Action: 03/09/2023 S Referred to Health & Human Services
Caption: Relating to local mental health authority and local behavioral health authority audits and mental and behavioral health reporting, services, and programs.

SB 29 Author: Birdwell
Last Action: 03/20/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to prohibited governmental entity implementation or enforcement of a vaccine mandate, mask requirement, or private business or school closure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.


Business Development

HB 14 Author: Harris, Cody
Last Action: 03/22/2023 H Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to certain approval procedures for property development review by a political subdivision.


Social Policy

SB 12 Author: Hughes
Last Action: 03/13/2023 S Referred to State Affairs
Caption: Relating to restricting certain sexually oriented performances on public property, on the premises of a commercial enterprise, or in the presence of a child; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.

SB 14 Author: Campbell | Bettencourt | Hall | Hughes | Kolkhorst | et al.
Last Action: 03/16/2023 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Caption: Relating to prohibitions on the provision to certain children of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria and on the use of public money or public assistance to provide those procedures and treatments.