The final for the 8 week 2306 class will be opened on Blackboard on Thursday December 5 at noon and will close 24 hours later. As with the test for 2305, you have two hours to complete the test. Double check for specifics about the test on Blackboard.
Here are some hints about what topics to focus on for the final. Think of this as a start.
- single and general purpose governments
- the role of the states in the original constitutional order
- reserved, implied and delegated powers
- the impact of the 14th Amendment on the states
- where money is collected and where it is spent in Texas
- which parties are competitive in Texas - which are not
- the governor's powers over the legislature
- the governor's appointment powers
- education policy
- the public policy process
- conflict over the funding of education - both K-12 and higher ed - in Texas
- the budgetary process in Texas
- Texas as a pay as you go state
- the Legislative Budget Board
- the rainy day fund
- federalism and law enforcement
- the role of counties
- the role of different courts in the state
- the trial process
- the bill making process
- the influence of lobbyists
- the battle over state power during the US Constitutional Convention
- turnout in state elections
- the role of city councils
- the different governing systems on the local level
- the content of the Texas Bill of Rights
- the subject of the different articles in the Texas Constitution
- community college governance
- independent school districts
- voter qualifications in the state
- the voter registration process
- the electoral process in the state - who does what?
- political culture
- home rule and general law cities
- county elected officials
- the factors limiting governmental power in the state
- Jacksonian democracy
- committee in the Texas legislature
- power in the Texas House and Senate
- the amateur legislature
- plurality and majority elections in the state
- the content of the Texas Declaration of Independence
- Smith v Allwright
- city officials
- the role of cities in the governing process
- Dillon's Rule
- term limits
- the types of special districts in the state
- the plural executive
- the elected judiciary
- the Texas Ethics Commission
- the Texas Railroad Commission
- the various constitutions throughout Texas history
- competition between the parties in the state
- the 1876 Constitution
- the ratification process
- the districting process in the state
- education in the Texas Constitution
- the length of the Texas Constitution
- changes in Texas political orientations
- parties in the state
- mayors and city managers
- primary and general elections
- the role of the different state-wide offices in the state
- Texas parties and their relationships with national parties
- the constitutional nature of cities in the state
- the checks and balances
- direct and indirect election in the state
- the progressive movement in Texas
