Instructor's Manual to Accompany:
The World of Texas Politics
Chapter 12: Texas Politics and the Future
Outline:
I. Introduction: Texas remains a conservative state. It continues to operate under the 1876 Constitution which charted a course based on minimal government.
II. Political Changes: Based on the one party tradition, the Texas Legislature has operated on a nonpartisan basis for over 100 years. However, trends in Texas and around the nation point toward increasing partisanship, and the Texas Legislature seems destined to move in the same direction. It is even possible that the Republican Party will soon become dominant in the state.
III. Changes in Criminal Justice: High crimes rates have caused public opinion to demand more punishment and less rehabilitation in the criminal justice system. Both the Penal Code and the Juvenile Code have been toughened, and Texas has built an enormous prison system so that more people can be put in prison and kept there longer.
IV. Economic Changes: The state economy is producing a plentiful supply of jobs in light manufacturing and retail sales and service, but wage levels remain low. High tech industries hold great promise, but their development depends heavily on the willingness of the state to support the industry with a well educated work force.
V. Education Trends: Academic standards have been increased, but the public is balking at paying the costs of more effective education.
VI. Demographic Trends: The ethnic composition of the state is changing rapidly, and the population of the state is expected to double in some parts of the state by 2010. Sometime shortly thereafter, it is likely that there will be no majority ethnic/racial/skin color group. Demand for government services will increase, but Texas current distinction as having some of the poorest children in the nation will likely persist.
VII. Significant Issues And Unresolved Problems
A. Infrastructure Needs: Roads and bridges are old and unsafe.
B. Tax Reform: Revenue sources need to be brought up to date with the economy of the state.
C. Changes in the Economy: Retail sales and service along with high tech.
D. Cultural Diversity and Affirmative Action: More diversity but less support for righting old wrongs.
VIII. Summary and Conclusion: Changes are occurring rapidly, but both the public and elites seem determined to maintain the political status quo. Even the growth of the Republican Party is, in some ways, merely an extension of politics as usual. Politics as usual means that Texans continue to pretend that government should remain minimal and, when it does act, that it should do so only to maintain a favorable climate for business.
Summary:
The struggle for equality continues in Texas, but considerable improvement has occurred since the 1960s. More Hispanics and African Americans serve in public office and represent Texans in the legislature and Congress. The state has an open system of registration and voting, and discrimination is not allowed. The economic elite, while remaining strong, no longer win every battle in the state legislature, although they continue winning most of the time. Texas traditions of individualism and conservatism still retard the growth of state government, but modernization seeps in here and there. Texans express a symbolic preference for less government but an operational preference for more government services. The state’s future population will be concentrated primarily in large metropolitan areas, and the changing demographics will see a continuation of the struggle between elites and non-elites – between business and consumer interests. Texas elites are likely to be challenged increasingly by a variety of groups. The major challenges in the future will be to find innovative solutions to ever-increasing public problems with limited resources.
Discussion Topics:
1. Discuss the state’s most significant problems for the future and have the students propose solutions to the problems. The class may then examine the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed solutions.
2. Have students identify and prioritize the problems the state faces in the future, then have them determine which of the state’s current programs should be eliminated in order to fund the new ones.
3. Conduct a survey and find out what students think the role of the government should be with regard to programs or solutions to social problems.
4. Discuss the potential impact of the Hopwood decision on the future of Texas higher education for minority groups.
Individual or Small Group Projects:
1. Compare Texas revenue and expenditure trends with those of other states with large populations. Identify the similarities and differences in expenditures. The Book of the States has data for all 50 states.
2. Compare the demographic trends in Texas with those of other states – especially states such as California, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Michigan.
3. Research and determine the impact of new Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action, particularly affirmative action in higher education.
Essay Questions:
1. What are the state’s most significant problems for the future?
2. How will changing demographics affect future demand for state programs?
3. Which policy areas will pose the most difficult challenges and why?
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