What are the selective incentives to group participation?
Selective incentives are benefits that are available only to those who participate in a group or organization. These incentives play a crucial role in motivating individuals to join and remain active in a group. Here are some examples of selective incentives to group participation:
Material Incentives: These include tangible benefits such as discounts, free merchandise, or financial rewards. For example, a membership card that offers discounts at certain stores or restaurants can serve as a material incentive for joining a group.
Solidarity Incentives: These incentives appeal to individuals' desire for social belonging and affiliation. By joining a group, individuals can feel a sense of camaraderie and belonging with others who share similar interests, values, or goals. Social events, group outings, or community gatherings can strengthen these bonds.
Expressive Incentives: Some individuals are motivated to join groups because it allows them to express their identity or values publicly. This can include participating in protests, rallies, or other forms of activism to demonstrate support for a cause or belief.
Informational Incentives: Groups may offer members access to valuable information, resources, or expertise that they would not have access to otherwise. This can include newsletters, workshops, seminars, or access to experts within the group.
Status Incentives: Membership in certain groups can confer social status or prestige within a community or society. For example, belonging to an exclusive club or organization may enhance an individual's reputation or social standing.
Access Incentives: Some groups offer exclusive access to opportunities, networks, or resources that are not available to the general public. This can include job opportunities, networking events, or access to influential individuals within the group's network.
Personal Fulfillment Incentives: Participation in a group may provide individuals with opportunities for personal growth, skill development, or the satisfaction of contributing to a cause they believe in. This can include volunteering, skill-building workshops, or leadership opportunities within the group.
By offering a combination of these selective incentives, groups can attract and retain members who are motivated by different factors, ultimately strengthening the organization and its ability to achieve its goals.
How can voter participation be increased?
Increasing voter participation is crucial for a healthy democracy, and there are several strategies that can be employed to achieve this:
Voter Education: Educating voters about the importance of their participation, how the electoral process works, and the impact of their vote can motivate them to engage in the electoral process. This can be done through civics education in schools, public awareness campaigns, and easily accessible information about candidates and issues.
Improving Access to Voting: Making it easier for people to vote can increase participation. This can include measures such as expanding early voting periods, implementing automatic voter registration, allowing online voter registration, and providing mail-in voting options. Additionally, ensuring that polling places are accessible and well-staffed can reduce barriers to voting.
Youth Engagement: Engaging young people in the political process early on can foster lifelong civic engagement. This can be done through programs in schools, youth-oriented voter registration drives, and efforts to make voting more relevant and accessible to young people.
Community Outreach: Building trust and relationships within communities can encourage voter participation. Community organizations, faith-based groups, and grassroots movements can play a crucial role in mobilizing voters by reaching out to them directly, providing information and resources, and addressing specific concerns and barriers to voting.
Campaign Finance Reform: Reforming campaign finance laws to reduce the influence of money in politics can help ensure that the voices of all citizens are heard, regardless of their financial resources. This can include measures such as public financing of elections, stricter disclosure requirements for campaign donations, and limits on the amount of money that can be contributed to political campaigns.
Increasing Political Representation: Increasing the diversity of candidates running for office and ensuring that elected officials are representative of the communities they serve can help engage voters who may feel marginalized or underrepresented in the political process.
Civic Engagement Programs: Implementing programs that encourage civic engagement and participation, such as voter registration drives, civics classes, and volunteer opportunities, can help build a culture of active citizenship and increase voter turnout.
Addressing Barriers to Participation: Identifying and addressing barriers that prevent certain groups from participating in the electoral process, such as voter suppression tactics, language barriers, lack of transportation, or restrictive voter ID laws, is essential for ensuring that all eligible voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots.
By implementing a combination of these strategies, policymakers, community leaders, and grassroots organizations can work together to increase voter participation and strengthen democracy.
What are the basics of lobbying regulation?
1 - Registration: Lobbyists typically need to register with government authorities, disclosing who they are representing and what issues they are lobbying on. This ensures transparency and accountability in the lobbying process.
2 - Disclosure: Lobbyists may be required to disclose their activities, including whom they're lobbying, the issues they're advocating for or against, and the resources they're using (such as funding or support).
3 - Ethical Standards: Many jurisdictions have codes of conduct or ethical standards that lobbyists must adhere to. This can include rules about conflicts of interest, gifts or favors, and honesty in communications.
4 - Reporting Requirements: Lobbyists might be required to report their activities at regular intervals, detailing their interactions with government officials, expenditures, and any other relevant information.
5 - Restrictions on Gifts and Contributions: To prevent undue influence, there may be limits on the value of gifts or contributions that lobbyists can offer to public officials.
6 - Cooling-off Periods: Some jurisdictions impose cooling-off periods, during which former government officials or employees cannot immediately transition into lobbying roles. This is to prevent the revolving door phenomenon and conflicts of interest.
7 - Anti-Corruption Measures: Lobbying regulations often include anti-corruption measures to prevent bribery, kickbacks, or other forms of illicit influence.
8 - Penalties for Non-Compliance: There are usually penalties for violating lobbying regulations, which can range from fines to criminal charges, depending on the severity of the offense.
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Questions from my 8 week online class - please note that I'm still in the process of answering these. If you are a student, try pasting these questions into Chat GPT. See what you find.
- What is the difference between lobbying and interest groups?
An interest group is a political organization. They are somewhat similar to political parties except that they do not recruit candidates to run under a label. Instead, they attempt to influence candidates and members of the three governing institutions.
Click here for more: Interest Groups.
Lobbying is a tactic used by interest groups to influence government, specifically the legislative and executive branches. A lobbyist is a person whose skill set includes the ability to effectively communicate with office holders and staffers in those institutions.
Click here for more: Lobbying.
- What is a special session?
In Texas, a special session is one that occurs after the end of the regular session. The governor, and only the governor can call one if there are unresolved issues remaining after the end of the regular session. They can only last for 30 days, and can only deal with issues approved by the governor. Governors can call as many as they wish.
Click here for regular sessions.
Click here for special sessions.
Click here for Texas Legislature 101: Understanding the state government and how it passes laws.
- Why would someone go to an appellate court?
The purpose of an appellate court is to hear allegations that a procedural irregularity of some sort occurred in a trial. Someone would go to an appellate court if, after being found guilty of a crime, or liable of a civil infraction, they believe a procedural error has occurred. The result may be a reversal of the trial decision, or a new trial. Or the appellate court could rule that the trial was fine.
Click here for more: Texas Courts of Appeals.
- Which political parties and interest groups dominate Texas politics, and what impact do they
have on policy decisions?
Texas has a history of social conservatism and traditionalism. In its early years, it had an agrarian economy, but over the past century, it has become more business oriented. The parties and interest groups that support those positions tend to be dominant, at least statewide. This in not necessarily true for the cities.
Statewide, the Texas Democratic Party was dominant until it reacted against the national party's shift towards equal protection and civil rights. Conservative Democrats in Texas slowly shifted towards the Texas Republican Party in the 40s and 50s. By the 90s and early 2000s, the statewide shift was complete, though Democrats continue to be strong in the cities.
The oil and gas sector continues to be the dominate interest group in the state, but other business groups are powerful as well. These include real estate, finance, and hi tech. Groups that support labor and the public sector - teachers for example - are less powerful.
- What are the consequences for representation and political power, and how does Texas'
redistricting process operate?
Building off the previous answer, the consequences are that public policy in the state tends to favor the interests on business, as well as people who promote traditional conservative lifestyles.
Redistricting occurs every 10 years following each national census. The simply purpose of the census is to reapportion each state's representation in the United States House of Representatives according to its population. The numbers are then used to guide the redrawing of each district in order to ensure that each district has the same number of people in it. This process is done by the legislature of each state.
Each state also takes that data and uses it to redraw the districts in their respective legislatures and any other districts that might apply. The process is overseen by the Texas Redistricting Board.
- Click here for their website.
Question 1: What are the various levels of the judiciary system and what does each level do? I
noticed this was on the quiz and wanted a better understanding of these levels.
The levels of the Texas Judiciary are established - but not laid out - in Article 5 of the Texas Constitution. The levels are laid out more thoroughly in Texas Government Code, but the best way to answer your question is to check out the following map;
- Court Structure of Texas.
Question 2: Why is the lieutenant governor important, what does he dictate over? On the quizzes,
the role of lieutenant governor seems significant since there were several questions about this
position.
The Texas Lieutenant Governor is one of several positions created in Article 4 of the Texas Constitution. It is independently elected, meaning that the governor has not control over it. The position is established to be the presiding officer of the Texas Senate, which contains the power to appoint people to committees, designate committee chairs, and steer legislation through the bill making process. That is the key to the position's power.
Click here for more.
Question 3: What is the largest difference between the parties in terms of views like tradionalists
and individualists or are they more alike than different? I have noticed they have a lot in
common in the textbook and quizzes where their radical ideas are different, but others are the
same.
Interesting question. Texas is primarily a traditionalist / individualist state, with pockets of moralism in the urban areas. Policies that preserve traditional values - which includes opposition to same-sex marriage and equal treatment in general - and create favorable conditions for business, tend to be adopted by the Republican Party while those that directly focus on the well being of individuals tend to be adopted by the Democratic Party.
Sometimes there is overlap between the two major parties in the positions they take. Sometimes - like now - there is less. This is a measure of polarization. If the positions of the two parties are extreme, and there is no middle ground, then we say that's a time of party polarization. The parties have little in common. If not, and there is middle ground - opportunity to compromise - then there is less polarization. The parties have more in common.
Why do they agree sometimes and disagree others? Lots of people study this. Generally its a consequence of the nature of politics at a particular moment in time, and what it takes to win a specific election.
For more on the Texas Democrats click here.
For more on the Texas Republicans click here.
My first topic is understanding the organization of the political parties.
There are things that should help you understand parties in Texas, as well the rest of the nation.
1 - Their principle purpose is to win elections and control the governing apparatus.
2 - The winner take all system favors the development of two major parties, that is, parties that are in fact competitive and likely to win elections. In Texas these are the Republican and Democratic Parties. Smaller - minor parties - exist as well, but do not get enough votes to actually win elections. However. they can have an influence on elections by having an impact on the number of votes received by major party candidates.
- Click here for more on winner take all elections.
- Click here for more on the two party system.
3 - Parties exist on the national, state, and local (county) levels. Since the United States has a federal system of government, and elections occur on all levels, parties exist on all levels in order to coordinate attempts to control each level of government. This means that there is a national party, 50 state parties, and over a thousand county parties in the nation. In addition, there are small clubs and other affiliated organizations.
4 - The major parties are divided into permanent and temporary organizations. The former consists of the staff required to run day to day operations, the latter is composed of people who vote in primaries and participate in party conventions.
- Click here for more.
The next topic is the purpose of government sessions and special sessions.
Look at the answer above for special sessions.
If you want more:
Legislative sessions and years.
Special Sessions of the Texas Legislature.
My last topic is understanding the difference between the 1845 constitution and the Texas constitution.
I assume you mean the current Texas Constitution which was written in 1876 and amendment about 520 times since then. In structural terms, they are very similar, meaning that they establish three governing institutions and are based on "the people." There are other such similarities.
They are also significantly different in many areas. The 1845 constitution was the Texas' first state constitution and bore similarities to other state constitutions. Recall that the 1836 Constitution was a national constitution. The 1876 Constitution was the last of three constitutions Texas offered as a condition for allowing it to be officially re-recognized by the national government. Two previous attempts had failed.
Other differences include that after the rebellion, the article on slavery became the article on suffrage. After the ratification of the initial 1876 constitution, which favored the interests of farmers, it was modified gradually over time to favor the interest of business.
There's much more. Hopefully this helps you get a handle on that. For more, you should check out the following website: Tarlton Law Library.
I linked you to the page which contains further links to al the Texas Constitutions
You might also get something out of these:
- Constitution of 1845.
- Constitution of 1876.
I still get a little confused on how the voting works in order to vote someone in office, a higher office in Texas. Each role seems so different.
Each role is different. That's why you are confused - it's confusing, but there is a reason for it. Review the material in the chapters on each of the governing departments, as well as the chapter on elections. Then think about it. I want you to be prepared for the tests and quizzes, but really understanding this stuff takes time. It will makes much more sense the more you participate.
For now just understand that for state office, each major office - with exceptions - is elected to office first by being nominated by the voters of their party in a primary election, then by all voters in a general election. This happens every even numbered year. Often national and local positions are determined then as well. The individuals who can vote, must meet qualifications laid out in the Texas Constitution and register to vote.
The length of terms varies depending on what we expect from each position.
2 year terms - House of Representatives
4 year terms - Senate and Executive Positions
6 year terms - Appellate courts
Check out this page in the Texas Secretary of States' website, it list all of the candidates for office in Texas in the 2024 election.
- Offices up for Election in 2024.
How many Texas constitutions where there? Or modifications? Some readings make it seem like so many but other readings make it seem like one.
The best way to find out is to look through the info you can find here: Constitutions of Texas 1824 - 1876.
You'll notice there have been 8.
In addition, the current constitution has been modified over 500 times since it was originally written and ratified in 1876. For more click here:
Why was the permit university fund created?
The Permanent University Fund was created to be a funding source for UT and Texas A&M.
Click here for more.
What is the difference between lobbying for federal policy and state policy specifically in Texas?
Obviously the biggest difference is what the purpose of the lobbying is. To impact national policy or state policy. Those are different and involve different sets of players, under different sets of rules.
If you want to jump into it:
- LOBBYING IN TEXAS - A GUIDE TO THE TEXAS LAW.
- 2022 Lobbying Disclosure.
- Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
According to Chat GPT, these are the basics of any lobbying regulations:
1 - Registration: Lobbyists typically need to register with government authorities, disclosing who they are representing and what issues they are lobbying on. This ensures transparency and accountability in the lobbying process.
2 - Disclosure: Lobbyists may be required to disclose their activities, including whom they're lobbying, the issues they're advocating for or against, and the resources they're using (such as funding or support).
3 - Ethical Standards: Many jurisdictions have codes of conduct or ethical standards that lobbyists must adhere to. This can include rules about conflicts of interest, gifts or favors, and honesty in communications.
4 - Reporting Requirements: Lobbyists might be required to report their activities at regular intervals, detailing their interactions with government officials, expenditures, and any other relevant information.
5 - Restrictions on Gifts and Contributions: To prevent undue influence, there may be limits on the value of gifts or contributions that lobbyists can offer to public officials.
6 - Cooling-off Periods: Some jurisdictions impose cooling-off periods, during which former government officials or employees cannot immediately transition into lobbying roles. This is to prevent the revolving door phenomenon and conflicts of interest.
7 - Anti-Corruption Measures: Lobbying regulations often include anti-corruption measures to prevent bribery, kickbacks, or other forms of illicit influence.
8 - Penalties for Non-Compliance: There are usually penalties for violating lobbying regulations, which can range from fines to criminal charges, depending on the severity of the offense.
How are people with left and right political ideologies dispersed in Texas?
Generally the more conservative people - especially regarding social policy - can be found in rural and suburban areas, and the more liberal individuals are found in urban areas.
For more detail:
- Political ideology among adults in Texas.
- SOME NOTES ON THE POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE 2022 ELECTION IN TEXAS.
- The seven political states of Texas.
- The New Political Geography of the Lone Star State.
- Analysis: The blue dots in Texas’ red political sea.
What methods are used to incentivize political participation?
Great question. Interest groups and political parties ask it also. There are many factors that reduce engagement, but often its simply because people don't always feel that they will have no impact, or that they don't have to. They can free ride on the participation of others. This is an inevitable problem with working within groups.
For interest groups I'd suggest reviewing the material on selective incentives. These are designed to provide a tangible benefit for people in order to encourage them to work for a group's goals.
Type this into Chat GPT and see what answer you get: What are the selective incentives to group participation?
For increasing voter turnout, type this: how can voter participation be increased?
It's a great tool, use it.
What is the struggle for Texas?
I really don't know what that question is supposed to mean unless it pertains to political disputes and attempts to win elections and control the apparatus of the government.
If it's about struggling to retain some sort of "Texan" identity, then we have to define what the identity is. It's a pretty big and diverse state.
What does federalism mean?
The division of government into three levels: the national, state, and local.
What are Texas political parties?
Political organizations that recruit candidates to compete in elections for government office.
How does the influx of people migrating to Texas with Democratic views affect the future of
Texas as a “Republican” state? What are some of the biggest threats to the identity of Texas?
If the newcomers are mostly Democrats, then that jeopardizes the ability of the Republican Party to continue to dominate the state.
Is the Plural Executive an effective way to govern a state like Texas? Is there a more effective model out there?
No it is not, but that why Texas has it. A plural executive makes the execution of the laws less efficient, but that also makes it more controllable but the general population. Dispersing power makes it easier to limit.
It is more efficient to have a singular executive, like exists on the national level.
How does the structure of the Texas government impact the policymaking process? I think specifically the plural executive and a bicameral legislature confuse me a little. Related to this, I also wonder how they balance the power between all these officials.
The simple purpose of the structure of Texas politics is to limit its power by slowing it down. Both the plural executive and the bicameral legislature slow the policy making process down by separating power in the executive and legislative branches respectively. Doing so helps balance power within each branch since one often needs the others in order to establish and implement policy.
In what ways does the Texas Constitution of 1876 continue to influence contemporary Texas politics and governance in current times? I want to learn what policies have persisted all of these years and what we had to modify.
Double check the info in your textbook chapter. Recall that it has been amended over 500 times since 1876, so its impact had changed in significant ways.
What hasn't changed is the basic structure and duties of the each of the governing institutions, the relationship between the Texas government and the people of Texas. the relationship between the Texas government and local governments in the state, the requirement that free public education be provided, that the state controls its public lands, and a handful of others.
But the amendments have changed many things over time.
Texas can now get in debt, bail has been restricted, the issuance of property taxes has been narrowed, the terms of executive officials has been expanded, the income tax has been prohibited, some forms of gambling have been allowed, funding has been made available to business interests, as well as a handful of others.
For more, try comparing the original 1876 document to the current document.
- 1876 version.
- 2024 version.
What role do interest groups play when shaping Texas government policies? How can they contribute to our political outcomes on controversial topics like immigration, healthcare, etc?
Assume that behind any area of public policy is a set of groups organized to protect the various interests. They fight amongst each other to ensure that whatever is being considered will best secure the interests of that group. They do so in a variety of ways.
I just pasted this into Chat GPT: What tactics do interest groups use to influence public policy?
Give it a try, I found lots of good stuff.
How may political ideologies and/or partisan divisions affect Texas public policy, more specifically on health and education, and how does Texas's approach to public policy compare to other states? Lastly, are there any very recent discussions regarding healthcare in Texas?
Read through this: State Political Culture.
Here's one place you can go to catch up on health care policy in Texas: Texas Tribune.
An interest group is a political organization. They are somewhat similar to political parties except that they do not recruit candidates to run under a label. Instead, they attempt to influence candidates and members of the three governing institutions.
Click here for more: Interest Groups.
Lobbying is a tactic used by interest groups to influence government, specifically the legislative and executive branches. A lobbyist is a person whose skill set includes the ability to effectively communicate with office holders and staffers in those institutions.
Click here for more: Lobbying.
- What is a special session?
In Texas, a special session is one that occurs after the end of the regular session. The governor, and only the governor can call one if there are unresolved issues remaining after the end of the regular session. They can only last for 30 days, and can only deal with issues approved by the governor. Governors can call as many as they wish.
Click here for regular sessions.
Click here for special sessions.
Click here for Texas Legislature 101: Understanding the state government and how it passes laws.
- Why would someone go to an appellate court?
The purpose of an appellate court is to hear allegations that a procedural irregularity of some sort occurred in a trial. Someone would go to an appellate court if, after being found guilty of a crime, or liable of a civil infraction, they believe a procedural error has occurred. The result may be a reversal of the trial decision, or a new trial. Or the appellate court could rule that the trial was fine.
Click here for more: Texas Courts of Appeals.
- Which political parties and interest groups dominate Texas politics, and what impact do they
have on policy decisions?
Texas has a history of social conservatism and traditionalism. In its early years, it had an agrarian economy, but over the past century, it has become more business oriented. The parties and interest groups that support those positions tend to be dominant, at least statewide. This in not necessarily true for the cities.
Statewide, the Texas Democratic Party was dominant until it reacted against the national party's shift towards equal protection and civil rights. Conservative Democrats in Texas slowly shifted towards the Texas Republican Party in the 40s and 50s. By the 90s and early 2000s, the statewide shift was complete, though Democrats continue to be strong in the cities.
The oil and gas sector continues to be the dominate interest group in the state, but other business groups are powerful as well. These include real estate, finance, and hi tech. Groups that support labor and the public sector - teachers for example - are less powerful.
- What are the consequences for representation and political power, and how does Texas'
redistricting process operate?
Building off the previous answer, the consequences are that public policy in the state tends to favor the interests on business, as well as people who promote traditional conservative lifestyles.
Redistricting occurs every 10 years following each national census. The simply purpose of the census is to reapportion each state's representation in the United States House of Representatives according to its population. The numbers are then used to guide the redrawing of each district in order to ensure that each district has the same number of people in it. This process is done by the legislature of each state.
Each state also takes that data and uses it to redraw the districts in their respective legislatures and any other districts that might apply. The process is overseen by the Texas Redistricting Board.
- Click here for their website.
Question 1: What are the various levels of the judiciary system and what does each level do? I
noticed this was on the quiz and wanted a better understanding of these levels.
The levels of the Texas Judiciary are established - but not laid out - in Article 5 of the Texas Constitution. The levels are laid out more thoroughly in Texas Government Code, but the best way to answer your question is to check out the following map;
- Court Structure of Texas.
Question 2: Why is the lieutenant governor important, what does he dictate over? On the quizzes,
the role of lieutenant governor seems significant since there were several questions about this
position.
The Texas Lieutenant Governor is one of several positions created in Article 4 of the Texas Constitution. It is independently elected, meaning that the governor has not control over it. The position is established to be the presiding officer of the Texas Senate, which contains the power to appoint people to committees, designate committee chairs, and steer legislation through the bill making process. That is the key to the position's power.
Click here for more.
Question 3: What is the largest difference between the parties in terms of views like tradionalists
and individualists or are they more alike than different? I have noticed they have a lot in
common in the textbook and quizzes where their radical ideas are different, but others are the
same.
Interesting question. Texas is primarily a traditionalist / individualist state, with pockets of moralism in the urban areas. Policies that preserve traditional values - which includes opposition to same-sex marriage and equal treatment in general - and create favorable conditions for business, tend to be adopted by the Republican Party while those that directly focus on the well being of individuals tend to be adopted by the Democratic Party.
Sometimes there is overlap between the two major parties in the positions they take. Sometimes - like now - there is less. This is a measure of polarization. If the positions of the two parties are extreme, and there is no middle ground, then we say that's a time of party polarization. The parties have little in common. If not, and there is middle ground - opportunity to compromise - then there is less polarization. The parties have more in common.
Why do they agree sometimes and disagree others? Lots of people study this. Generally its a consequence of the nature of politics at a particular moment in time, and what it takes to win a specific election.
For more on the Texas Democrats click here.
For more on the Texas Republicans click here.
My first topic is understanding the organization of the political parties.
There are things that should help you understand parties in Texas, as well the rest of the nation.
1 - Their principle purpose is to win elections and control the governing apparatus.
2 - The winner take all system favors the development of two major parties, that is, parties that are in fact competitive and likely to win elections. In Texas these are the Republican and Democratic Parties. Smaller - minor parties - exist as well, but do not get enough votes to actually win elections. However. they can have an influence on elections by having an impact on the number of votes received by major party candidates.
- Click here for more on winner take all elections.
- Click here for more on the two party system.
3 - Parties exist on the national, state, and local (county) levels. Since the United States has a federal system of government, and elections occur on all levels, parties exist on all levels in order to coordinate attempts to control each level of government. This means that there is a national party, 50 state parties, and over a thousand county parties in the nation. In addition, there are small clubs and other affiliated organizations.
4 - The major parties are divided into permanent and temporary organizations. The former consists of the staff required to run day to day operations, the latter is composed of people who vote in primaries and participate in party conventions.
- Click here for more.
The next topic is the purpose of government sessions and special sessions.
Look at the answer above for special sessions.
If you want more:
Legislative sessions and years.
Special Sessions of the Texas Legislature.
My last topic is understanding the difference between the 1845 constitution and the Texas constitution.
I assume you mean the current Texas Constitution which was written in 1876 and amendment about 520 times since then. In structural terms, they are very similar, meaning that they establish three governing institutions and are based on "the people." There are other such similarities.
They are also significantly different in many areas. The 1845 constitution was the Texas' first state constitution and bore similarities to other state constitutions. Recall that the 1836 Constitution was a national constitution. The 1876 Constitution was the last of three constitutions Texas offered as a condition for allowing it to be officially re-recognized by the national government. Two previous attempts had failed.
Other differences include that after the rebellion, the article on slavery became the article on suffrage. After the ratification of the initial 1876 constitution, which favored the interests of farmers, it was modified gradually over time to favor the interest of business.
There's much more. Hopefully this helps you get a handle on that. For more, you should check out the following website: Tarlton Law Library.
I linked you to the page which contains further links to al the Texas Constitutions
You might also get something out of these:
- Constitution of 1845.
- Constitution of 1876.
I still get a little confused on how the voting works in order to vote someone in office, a higher office in Texas. Each role seems so different.
Each role is different. That's why you are confused - it's confusing, but there is a reason for it. Review the material in the chapters on each of the governing departments, as well as the chapter on elections. Then think about it. I want you to be prepared for the tests and quizzes, but really understanding this stuff takes time. It will makes much more sense the more you participate.
For now just understand that for state office, each major office - with exceptions - is elected to office first by being nominated by the voters of their party in a primary election, then by all voters in a general election. This happens every even numbered year. Often national and local positions are determined then as well. The individuals who can vote, must meet qualifications laid out in the Texas Constitution and register to vote.
The length of terms varies depending on what we expect from each position.
2 year terms - House of Representatives
4 year terms - Senate and Executive Positions
6 year terms - Appellate courts
Check out this page in the Texas Secretary of States' website, it list all of the candidates for office in Texas in the 2024 election.
- Offices up for Election in 2024.
How many Texas constitutions where there? Or modifications? Some readings make it seem like so many but other readings make it seem like one.
The best way to find out is to look through the info you can find here: Constitutions of Texas 1824 - 1876.
You'll notice there have been 8.
In addition, the current constitution has been modified over 500 times since it was originally written and ratified in 1876. For more click here:
Why was the permit university fund created?
The Permanent University Fund was created to be a funding source for UT and Texas A&M.
Click here for more.
What is the difference between lobbying for federal policy and state policy specifically in Texas?
Obviously the biggest difference is what the purpose of the lobbying is. To impact national policy or state policy. Those are different and involve different sets of players, under different sets of rules.
If you want to jump into it:
- LOBBYING IN TEXAS - A GUIDE TO THE TEXAS LAW.
- 2022 Lobbying Disclosure.
- Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
According to Chat GPT, these are the basics of any lobbying regulations:
1 - Registration: Lobbyists typically need to register with government authorities, disclosing who they are representing and what issues they are lobbying on. This ensures transparency and accountability in the lobbying process.
2 - Disclosure: Lobbyists may be required to disclose their activities, including whom they're lobbying, the issues they're advocating for or against, and the resources they're using (such as funding or support).
3 - Ethical Standards: Many jurisdictions have codes of conduct or ethical standards that lobbyists must adhere to. This can include rules about conflicts of interest, gifts or favors, and honesty in communications.
4 - Reporting Requirements: Lobbyists might be required to report their activities at regular intervals, detailing their interactions with government officials, expenditures, and any other relevant information.
5 - Restrictions on Gifts and Contributions: To prevent undue influence, there may be limits on the value of gifts or contributions that lobbyists can offer to public officials.
6 - Cooling-off Periods: Some jurisdictions impose cooling-off periods, during which former government officials or employees cannot immediately transition into lobbying roles. This is to prevent the revolving door phenomenon and conflicts of interest.
7 - Anti-Corruption Measures: Lobbying regulations often include anti-corruption measures to prevent bribery, kickbacks, or other forms of illicit influence.
8 - Penalties for Non-Compliance: There are usually penalties for violating lobbying regulations, which can range from fines to criminal charges, depending on the severity of the offense.
How are people with left and right political ideologies dispersed in Texas?
Generally the more conservative people - especially regarding social policy - can be found in rural and suburban areas, and the more liberal individuals are found in urban areas.
For more detail:
- Political ideology among adults in Texas.
- SOME NOTES ON THE POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE 2022 ELECTION IN TEXAS.
- The seven political states of Texas.
- The New Political Geography of the Lone Star State.
- Analysis: The blue dots in Texas’ red political sea.
What methods are used to incentivize political participation?
Great question. Interest groups and political parties ask it also. There are many factors that reduce engagement, but often its simply because people don't always feel that they will have no impact, or that they don't have to. They can free ride on the participation of others. This is an inevitable problem with working within groups.
For interest groups I'd suggest reviewing the material on selective incentives. These are designed to provide a tangible benefit for people in order to encourage them to work for a group's goals.
Type this into Chat GPT and see what answer you get: What are the selective incentives to group participation?
For increasing voter turnout, type this: how can voter participation be increased?
It's a great tool, use it.
What is the struggle for Texas?
I really don't know what that question is supposed to mean unless it pertains to political disputes and attempts to win elections and control the apparatus of the government.
If it's about struggling to retain some sort of "Texan" identity, then we have to define what the identity is. It's a pretty big and diverse state.
What does federalism mean?
The division of government into three levels: the national, state, and local.
What are Texas political parties?
Political organizations that recruit candidates to compete in elections for government office.
How does the influx of people migrating to Texas with Democratic views affect the future of
Texas as a “Republican” state? What are some of the biggest threats to the identity of Texas?
If the newcomers are mostly Democrats, then that jeopardizes the ability of the Republican Party to continue to dominate the state.
Is the Plural Executive an effective way to govern a state like Texas? Is there a more effective model out there?
No it is not, but that why Texas has it. A plural executive makes the execution of the laws less efficient, but that also makes it more controllable but the general population. Dispersing power makes it easier to limit.
It is more efficient to have a singular executive, like exists on the national level.
How does the structure of the Texas government impact the policymaking process? I think specifically the plural executive and a bicameral legislature confuse me a little. Related to this, I also wonder how they balance the power between all these officials.
The simple purpose of the structure of Texas politics is to limit its power by slowing it down. Both the plural executive and the bicameral legislature slow the policy making process down by separating power in the executive and legislative branches respectively. Doing so helps balance power within each branch since one often needs the others in order to establish and implement policy.
In what ways does the Texas Constitution of 1876 continue to influence contemporary Texas politics and governance in current times? I want to learn what policies have persisted all of these years and what we had to modify.
Double check the info in your textbook chapter. Recall that it has been amended over 500 times since 1876, so its impact had changed in significant ways.
What hasn't changed is the basic structure and duties of the each of the governing institutions, the relationship between the Texas government and the people of Texas. the relationship between the Texas government and local governments in the state, the requirement that free public education be provided, that the state controls its public lands, and a handful of others.
But the amendments have changed many things over time.
Texas can now get in debt, bail has been restricted, the issuance of property taxes has been narrowed, the terms of executive officials has been expanded, the income tax has been prohibited, some forms of gambling have been allowed, funding has been made available to business interests, as well as a handful of others.
For more, try comparing the original 1876 document to the current document.
- 1876 version.
- 2024 version.
What role do interest groups play when shaping Texas government policies? How can they contribute to our political outcomes on controversial topics like immigration, healthcare, etc?
Assume that behind any area of public policy is a set of groups organized to protect the various interests. They fight amongst each other to ensure that whatever is being considered will best secure the interests of that group. They do so in a variety of ways.
I just pasted this into Chat GPT: What tactics do interest groups use to influence public policy?
Give it a try, I found lots of good stuff.
How may political ideologies and/or partisan divisions affect Texas public policy, more specifically on health and education, and how does Texas's approach to public policy compare to other states? Lastly, are there any very recent discussions regarding healthcare in Texas?
Read through this: State Political Culture.
Here's one place you can go to catch up on health care policy in Texas: Texas Tribune.
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Ask Chat GPT
What would Kevin sound like if he could talk?
ChatGPT: Since Kevin can't talk, we can only speculate on what his voice might sound like based on his appearance, personality, and any other characteristics you've given him. Would you like to describe Kevin a bit more so we can imagine what his voice might be like?
He's small, think, purple, and covered in fur. He is very flexible.
ChatGPT: Given Kevin's small size, fur covering, and flexibility, his voice might have a playful and energetic tone to match his lively personality. It could be high-pitched to reflect his small stature but still carry a sense of enthusiasm and curiosity. His voice might also have a slight raspiness or squeakiness, adding to his charm and uniqueness. Overall, Kevin's voice would likely be dynamic and expressive, capturing the essence of his adventurous nature.
ChatGPT: Since Kevin can't talk, we can only speculate on what his voice might sound like based on his appearance, personality, and any other characteristics you've given him. Would you like to describe Kevin a bit more so we can imagine what his voice might be like?
He's small, think, purple, and covered in fur. He is very flexible.
ChatGPT: Given Kevin's small size, fur covering, and flexibility, his voice might have a playful and energetic tone to match his lively personality. It could be high-pitched to reflect his small stature but still carry a sense of enthusiasm and curiosity. His voice might also have a slight raspiness or squeakiness, adding to his charm and uniqueness. Overall, Kevin's voice would likely be dynamic and expressive, capturing the essence of his adventurous nature.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
https://search.txcourts.gov/Case.aspx?cn=22-1074&coa=cossup
https://www.txcourts.gov/supreme/case-summaries/cases-heard-during-the-2023-24-term/22-1074-city-of-houston-v-sauls/
https://www.txcourts.gov/supreme/case-summaries/cases-heard-during-the-2023-24-term/
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/htm/CR.1.htm
https://www.icc-ccs.org/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-map
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/sustainable-aviation-fuel-biden-refineries-19429055.php
https://www.history.com/news/spirit-photography-civil-war-william-mumler
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
More questions from Turner High School classes
For discussion in class:
- What topics to write about for the 1000 word essay?
- How do the concepts and principles discussed in our Texas government lectures apply to real-world political situations and policymaking in Texas today?
- Can you elaborate on any recent developments or controversies in Texas government that relate to the topics covered in our lectures?
- What are some of the worst punishments for criminals in Texas?
- Is there a timeline or deadline for legislation to sign bills?
- How much power does a Mayor really have?
- How much influence to people actually have over policies? Or does the power come from the right of people to go against the policy?
- Of people disagree with the actions of the city and make major protests against the city (even as far as rioting)- would that issue still have to go through the state before reaching the federal level?
- Do you think the two major parties will, eventually, die out like other parties in the past? What would that mean for parties that are more known on a local scale?
- Comparing local government and federal government, does the local government have stricter laws against crime? Or does the national since they deal with larger laws that could be broken?
- Which do you think is more effective- the city or state government? Are they basically the same or is the state more of a 'representative' of the federal government? Regarding the topics we have discussed recently.
- Why does Texas have a plural executive and has it always had one?
- Why does Texas vest so much power in the lieutenant governor when other states do not?
- How are the qualifications that a person has to have to hold an office decided and can they be changed?
- How can you contact the Texas government to express your concerns with something, and will it make a difference?
- Which one of the branches is the most powerful in Texas government?
- Does the Texas government have more power than other states do?
- One question I have about this class is how governor Abbot gained more power than the usual Texas Governor. There's been a couple times these past weeks where Governor Abbot's higher degree of power has come up. While I understand that he now has the power, thus allowing him to have more influence, I don't know how he obtained this position. Who helped him? Why is no one opposing him? And what does this mean for the next governor.
- My next question is what happened in Eagle Pass? There was obviously this huge standoff, and people started talking about civil war and secession, then it just stopped. What happened? I read all up on the actual conflict, but the resolution has never been talked about. I just seems curious that the whole country was freaking out, then in a blink of an eye, everyone forgot about it. Who won? Did Texas get the power it wanted, or did the federal government win?
- My final question is why the two party system still exists. In modern day, there is simply too many controversial issues to group everyone into 2 parties. Furthermore, this 1 on 1 competition has inflamed political divides, and caused downright hateful relations between both politicians and citizens. Why is this still the practice? Why can't we establish more parties that correctly display a more appropriate set of views for an individual, rather than attempting to say you're this or that.
1. When there is a difference between federal and state laws, how do they understand which laws apply at the federal level and which are specific to individual states? How do they distinguish the reasons and importance to know when a legal issue falls under federal jurisdiction or when it's governed by state laws?
2. When trying to understand the court system hierarchy, and how that came about, why did they choose to make it a multi-tired court system? I understand why the federal courts and state courts operate on different levels. How do they navigate the hierarchy and understand which court jurisdiction is over a particular case?
3. How did the legal terminology within the court system come to be? Since the legal system has it's own unique language and jargon, which makes it very difficult for non-lawyers to understand. There are 3 phrases that are still not clear to me, which are "due process", "burden of proof", and "precedent". How can I remember the key terms, when not every case is the same, but still uses the same vocabulary?
1. What would earn an A on the 1000 word paper?
2. What is the most important part of this class in the real world? All of it? What should we retain?
3. What criminal charges could Ricky be charged with?
1. What is Jeremiah's middle name?
2. What is your opinion on a monarchy and how do you think this would affect our country. if it were implemented.
3. What about parliament in the same context of the previous question.
- What role does the Texas Railroad Commission play in regulating industries, and how does it impact the state's economy and environment?
- How does the Texas judicial system handle cases differently from the federal system?
- How does the essay have to be formatted, what exactly are we writing about?
1. I'm still extremely confused as to why not many people vote in Texas elections. Are they optional?
2. What is a deferred disposition in a trial?
3. When has the Texas supreme court ever been used?
1: One thing I am interested in, and one thing that I do not understand very well is interest groups. How do they influence others? What is the point of them? Why are they important? And what is the point of specialized interest groups? What do they support?
2: Another thing I do not fully understand is polarization. What are the factors that influence party polarization? And why is the right moving more right while the left is not moving as left? And is there a pattern here that has been evident throughout history? Why is it important, and what does that mean?
3: One more thing that I'm not super clear in is the implementation of amendments. How are they established, and how are they enforced to make sure everything is fair? And why do there seem to be loopholes in the constitution that allows people to be seemingly unconstitutional?
1) How does the size of Texas affect it's government, especially compared to the other states?
2) What does the Railroad commission do if we don't really use railroads anymore?
3) Has the whole speaker issue in the House been solved?
1 How has the teaching of Texas Government affect you?
2 Do I truly need this class, and do other states learn their own government class?
3 Are juries chosen at random or do they go through who has been chosen in a long time?
- How does the Texas governor address issues related to energy, given the state's significant role in oil and gas production?
- How does the governor handle budgetary matters and fiscal policy in Texas?
- How does the governor approach issues related to gun rights and gun control legislation in Texas?
Question 1: Why is federalism going to continue to be a problem/ controversy in the united states.
Question 2: What are two parts of the congress and how are they separated?
Question 3: i feel like there's nothing else that I'm so confused about.
- What topics to write about for the 1000 word essay?
- How do the concepts and principles discussed in our Texas government lectures apply to real-world political situations and policymaking in Texas today?
- Can you elaborate on any recent developments or controversies in Texas government that relate to the topics covered in our lectures?
- What are some of the worst punishments for criminals in Texas?
- Is there a timeline or deadline for legislation to sign bills?
- How much power does a Mayor really have?
- How much influence to people actually have over policies? Or does the power come from the right of people to go against the policy?
- Of people disagree with the actions of the city and make major protests against the city (even as far as rioting)- would that issue still have to go through the state before reaching the federal level?
- Do you think the two major parties will, eventually, die out like other parties in the past? What would that mean for parties that are more known on a local scale?
- Comparing local government and federal government, does the local government have stricter laws against crime? Or does the national since they deal with larger laws that could be broken?
- Which do you think is more effective- the city or state government? Are they basically the same or is the state more of a 'representative' of the federal government? Regarding the topics we have discussed recently.
- Why does Texas have a plural executive and has it always had one?
- Why does Texas vest so much power in the lieutenant governor when other states do not?
- How are the qualifications that a person has to have to hold an office decided and can they be changed?
- How can you contact the Texas government to express your concerns with something, and will it make a difference?
- Which one of the branches is the most powerful in Texas government?
- Does the Texas government have more power than other states do?
- One question I have about this class is how governor Abbot gained more power than the usual Texas Governor. There's been a couple times these past weeks where Governor Abbot's higher degree of power has come up. While I understand that he now has the power, thus allowing him to have more influence, I don't know how he obtained this position. Who helped him? Why is no one opposing him? And what does this mean for the next governor.
- My next question is what happened in Eagle Pass? There was obviously this huge standoff, and people started talking about civil war and secession, then it just stopped. What happened? I read all up on the actual conflict, but the resolution has never been talked about. I just seems curious that the whole country was freaking out, then in a blink of an eye, everyone forgot about it. Who won? Did Texas get the power it wanted, or did the federal government win?
- My final question is why the two party system still exists. In modern day, there is simply too many controversial issues to group everyone into 2 parties. Furthermore, this 1 on 1 competition has inflamed political divides, and caused downright hateful relations between both politicians and citizens. Why is this still the practice? Why can't we establish more parties that correctly display a more appropriate set of views for an individual, rather than attempting to say you're this or that.
1. When there is a difference between federal and state laws, how do they understand which laws apply at the federal level and which are specific to individual states? How do they distinguish the reasons and importance to know when a legal issue falls under federal jurisdiction or when it's governed by state laws?
2. When trying to understand the court system hierarchy, and how that came about, why did they choose to make it a multi-tired court system? I understand why the federal courts and state courts operate on different levels. How do they navigate the hierarchy and understand which court jurisdiction is over a particular case?
3. How did the legal terminology within the court system come to be? Since the legal system has it's own unique language and jargon, which makes it very difficult for non-lawyers to understand. There are 3 phrases that are still not clear to me, which are "due process", "burden of proof", and "precedent". How can I remember the key terms, when not every case is the same, but still uses the same vocabulary?
1. What would earn an A on the 1000 word paper?
2. What is the most important part of this class in the real world? All of it? What should we retain?
3. What criminal charges could Ricky be charged with?
1. What is Jeremiah's middle name?
2. What is your opinion on a monarchy and how do you think this would affect our country. if it were implemented.
3. What about parliament in the same context of the previous question.
- What role does the Texas Railroad Commission play in regulating industries, and how does it impact the state's economy and environment?
- How does the Texas judicial system handle cases differently from the federal system?
- How does the essay have to be formatted, what exactly are we writing about?
1. I'm still extremely confused as to why not many people vote in Texas elections. Are they optional?
2. What is a deferred disposition in a trial?
3. When has the Texas supreme court ever been used?
1: One thing I am interested in, and one thing that I do not understand very well is interest groups. How do they influence others? What is the point of them? Why are they important? And what is the point of specialized interest groups? What do they support?
2: Another thing I do not fully understand is polarization. What are the factors that influence party polarization? And why is the right moving more right while the left is not moving as left? And is there a pattern here that has been evident throughout history? Why is it important, and what does that mean?
3: One more thing that I'm not super clear in is the implementation of amendments. How are they established, and how are they enforced to make sure everything is fair? And why do there seem to be loopholes in the constitution that allows people to be seemingly unconstitutional?
1) How does the size of Texas affect it's government, especially compared to the other states?
2) What does the Railroad commission do if we don't really use railroads anymore?
3) Has the whole speaker issue in the House been solved?
1 How has the teaching of Texas Government affect you?
2 Do I truly need this class, and do other states learn their own government class?
3 Are juries chosen at random or do they go through who has been chosen in a long time?
- How does the Texas governor address issues related to energy, given the state's significant role in oil and gas production?
- How does the governor handle budgetary matters and fiscal policy in Texas?
- How does the governor approach issues related to gun rights and gun control legislation in Texas?
Question 1: Why is federalism going to continue to be a problem/ controversy in the united states.
Question 2: What are two parts of the congress and how are they separated?
Question 3: i feel like there's nothing else that I'm so confused about.
Friday, April 26, 2024
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Dear Chat GPT: Is it legal to feed absent students to the homeless?
ChatGPT: No, it is not legal to feed absent students to the homeless or anyone else. This action would be considered highly unethical, illegal, and morally reprehensible. It violates numerous laws and human rights principles, including the right to life, dignity, and bodily integrity. Additionally, it goes against the fundamental principles of decency and respect for human life. If you have concerns about feeding programs or the welfare of homeless individuals, there are legal and ethical ways to address them that do not involve harming others.
Me: What if it was with the consent of the student?
ChatGPT: Even if a student were to consent to being fed to the homeless, it would still be illegal and unethical. Consent cannot be given for actions that are inherently harmful or violate fundamental rights. Feeding someone to the homeless would constitute a serious violation of human rights, including the right to life and dignity, regardless of whether the person consents.
Furthermore, individuals who are homeless deserve compassion and support, not to be involved in actions that could harm others or themselves. Any proposal involving such actions should be rejected outright and reported to appropriate authorities. If there are concerns about the welfare of students or the homeless, there are legal and ethical ways to address them that prioritize the well-being and rights of all individuals involved.
Me: What if it is just a body part, like a finger?
ChatGPT: Regardless of whether it involves a whole person or just a body part, feeding anyone, including the homeless, with human body parts is illegal, unethical, and morally unacceptable. Such actions would violate numerous laws, including those related to bodily integrity, consent, and sanitation. Additionally, it would be a severe violation of human rights and dignity.
Feeding someone a body part, even with their consent, raises serious concerns about coercion, exploitation, and the disregard for human life and dignity. Furthermore, it could potentially pose health risks to the recipient and violate regulations related to food safety and public health.
If there are concerns about the welfare of students or individuals experiencing homelessness, it's essential to seek appropriate and legal means to address those concerns while upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals involved.
Me: Are there some moral systems that allow for the feeding of absent students to the homeless?
ChatGPT: No mainstream moral system would condone or justify the feeding of absent students to the homeless. Such an action goes against the fundamental principles of morality and ethics, which prioritize the dignity, rights, and well-being of all individuals. All major moral systems, including utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and others, would condemn such a practice as deeply unethical and morally reprehensible.
Utilitarianism, for example, focuses on maximizing overall happiness and minimizing suffering. Feeding absent students to the homeless would cause immense harm and suffering to both the students and the homeless individuals involved, far outweighing any potential benefits.
Deontological ethics, on the other hand, emphasizes duties and principles that must be followed regardless of the consequences. Such actions would violate principles of respect for human dignity, autonomy, and the prohibition against treating individuals as means to an end.
Virtue ethics emphasizes the development of moral character and the pursuit of virtuous behavior. Feeding absent students to the homeless would be considered a severe moral failing, incompatible with the virtues of compassion, justice, and respect for human life.
In short, no moral system would justify or allow for such a reprehensible action. Any argument attempting to justify it would likely involve a serious misunderstanding or distortion of moral principles.
Me: What if it was with the consent of the student?
ChatGPT: Even if a student were to consent to being fed to the homeless, it would still be illegal and unethical. Consent cannot be given for actions that are inherently harmful or violate fundamental rights. Feeding someone to the homeless would constitute a serious violation of human rights, including the right to life and dignity, regardless of whether the person consents.
Furthermore, individuals who are homeless deserve compassion and support, not to be involved in actions that could harm others or themselves. Any proposal involving such actions should be rejected outright and reported to appropriate authorities. If there are concerns about the welfare of students or the homeless, there are legal and ethical ways to address them that prioritize the well-being and rights of all individuals involved.
Me: What if it is just a body part, like a finger?
ChatGPT: Regardless of whether it involves a whole person or just a body part, feeding anyone, including the homeless, with human body parts is illegal, unethical, and morally unacceptable. Such actions would violate numerous laws, including those related to bodily integrity, consent, and sanitation. Additionally, it would be a severe violation of human rights and dignity.
Feeding someone a body part, even with their consent, raises serious concerns about coercion, exploitation, and the disregard for human life and dignity. Furthermore, it could potentially pose health risks to the recipient and violate regulations related to food safety and public health.
If there are concerns about the welfare of students or individuals experiencing homelessness, it's essential to seek appropriate and legal means to address those concerns while upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals involved.
Me: Are there some moral systems that allow for the feeding of absent students to the homeless?
ChatGPT: No mainstream moral system would condone or justify the feeding of absent students to the homeless. Such an action goes against the fundamental principles of morality and ethics, which prioritize the dignity, rights, and well-being of all individuals. All major moral systems, including utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and others, would condemn such a practice as deeply unethical and morally reprehensible.
Utilitarianism, for example, focuses on maximizing overall happiness and minimizing suffering. Feeding absent students to the homeless would cause immense harm and suffering to both the students and the homeless individuals involved, far outweighing any potential benefits.
Deontological ethics, on the other hand, emphasizes duties and principles that must be followed regardless of the consequences. Such actions would violate principles of respect for human dignity, autonomy, and the prohibition against treating individuals as means to an end.
Virtue ethics emphasizes the development of moral character and the pursuit of virtuous behavior. Feeding absent students to the homeless would be considered a severe moral failing, incompatible with the virtues of compassion, justice, and respect for human life.
In short, no moral system would justify or allow for such a reprehensible action. Any argument attempting to justify it would likely involve a serious misunderstanding or distortion of moral principles.
Non compete clauses
- FTC Announces Rule Banning Noncompetes.
- Non-Compete Clause Rule.
- The FTC banned non-competes. What that means for workers and companies.
- What Is a Non-Compete Agreement? Its Purpose and Requirements.
- Groups sue to block FTC’s new rule barring noncompete agreements.
- Lina Khan.
- Douglas Farrar.
- Federal Trade Commission.
- The Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust.
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
From Houston Public Media: Voters Approve $3.5 Billion Bond For METRO Transit Projects
A four year old story covering future planned transportation projects in Houston.
- Click here for the article.
With a two-thirds majority, Houston-area voters approved a $3.5 billion bond issue to pay for transit projects. This is the first time since 2003 that METRO has asked voters to borrow more money through bonds.
METRO says it will combine the bond money with federal and local funds to help pay for $7.5 billion in improvements through its METRONext Moving Forward Plan. Transit officials say the plan is designed to address the region's growing population and alleviate traffic congestion.
METRO's plans include a bus rapid transit line to Bush Intercontinental Airport along with a light rail line to Hobby Airport. The transit agency also wants to build new park and ride facilities and make enhancements to the current bus network.
"People who don't use any public transportation, whether it's buses or rail, still support this," Rice University's Bob Stein, previously told Houston Public Media. "And I suspect they do so out of a very selfish expectation that if someone does use rail or buses, their roadways for their individual vehicles will be less congested."
There was some opposition to the bond issue. A Political Action Committee was formed to campaign against it, with critics saying they were concerned about METRO's plans for spending the money. They also called into question future ridership projections, saying money should go instead for street improvements under METRO's General Mobility Program.
Eye Contact with Trump: Hear dismissed juror describe 'odd' court experi...
An interesting feature of the judiciary's use of the jury system.
Regular citizens can come face to face with former presidents.
Regular citizens can come face to face with former presidents.
Professor Fact Checks Money Laundering Scenes, from 'Ozark' to 'Narcos' ...
We had a question in class about money laundering recently.
Here's a video on it.
Here's a video on it.
From ScotusBlog: Court divided over constitutionality of criminal penalties for homelessness
The United States Supreme Court hears a case involving
- Click here for the article.
The Supreme Court on Monday was divided over a challenge to the constitutionality of ordinances in a southwest Oregon town that fines people who are homeless from using blankets, pillows, or cardboard boxes for protection from the elements while sleeping within the city limits. The city argued that the ordinances merely bar camping on public property by everyone, while the challengers contended that the laws effectively make it a crime to be homeless in the city and therefore violate the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
The ordinances impose a $295 fine for violations, with the fine increasing to more than $500 if it is unpaid. After two citations, police officers can issue an order that bans the individual from city property; a violation of that order exposes the individual to conviction on criminal trespass charges, which carry penalties of up to 30 days in jail and a $1250 fine.
After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled, in a case involving Boise, Idaho, that the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment prohibits the imposition of criminal penalties for sitting or sleeping outside by people experiencing homelessness who do not have access to shelter, three people who are homeless in Grants Pass went to court to challenge that city’s ordinances. The lower courts agreed with the challengers that enforcement of the ordinances violates the Eighth Amendment, setting the stage for the Supreme Court’s review on Monday.
The case is City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson.
From The Texas Tribune - 4/23/24
- In one Texas county, elections officials shoulder new costs and burdens to appease skeptics.
In Brazos County, suspicions about elections burst into the open last fall, just weeks after a visit from an out-of-state group calling for ballots to be hand-counted.
“Ever since these machines came along, I’ve heard nothing but accusations of fraud,” said another resident. “I am asking you to investigate. Something was wrong in the 2020 election. Voting machines do only what they’re programmed to do.”
- Texas politics leave transgender foster youth isolated — during and after life in state care.
LGBTQ+ foster kids have lost the little protections and affirmations once afforded to them as Texas’ top leaders waged statewide battles that riled public panic about queer people.
Studies show LGBTQ+ kids are more likely to become wards of the state compared with their straight and cisgender counterparts. It’s not difficult to imagine why. Many queer youth enter the system for the same reasons their peers do: abuse, neglect or a parent dealing with addiction. But many LGBTQ+ kids also get rejected by their parents or run away from hostile homes.
Yet Texas’ Child Protective Services doesn’t track the sexual orientation or gender identity of youth in foster care. And as state leaders prioritized legislating everything from transgender kids’ access to certain health care and the places drag queens can perform, they also quietly stalled efforts to better train adults charged with caring for trans foster youth.
“Right now the governor and the Legislature would like nothing better than to just be able to wash their hands of everything LGBTQ-related,” said Sharon Fonvielle-Baughman, who abruptly retired as the Department of Family and Protective Services’ special investigations director last year.
- Texas inmates are being ‘cooked to death’ in extreme heat, complaint alleges.
April signals the beginning of blistering heat for much of Texas. And while the summer heat is uncomfortable for many, it can be deadly for the people incarcerated in Texas’ prison system where temperatures regularly reach triple digits.
With another sweltering summer likely ahead, prison rights advocates on Monday filed a complaint against Texas Department of Criminal Justice executive director Bryan Collier, arguing that the lack of air conditioning in the majority of Texas prisons amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.
The filing came from four nonprofit organizations who are joining a lawsuit originally filed last August by Bernie Tiede, an inmate who suffered a medical crisis after being housed in a Huntsville cell that reached temperatures exceeding 110 degrees. Tiede, a well-known offender whose 1996 murder of a wealthy widow inspired the film “Bernie,” was moved to an air-conditioned cell following a court order but he’s not guaranteed to stay there this year.
Monday’s filing expands the plaintiffs to include every inmate incarcerated in uncooled Texas prisons, which have led to the deaths of dozens of Texas inmates and cost the state millions of dollars as it fights wrongful death and civil rights lawsuits.
- Travis County district attorney faces removal attempt under Texas’ “rogue” prosecutors law.
A Travis County resident is seeking to remove progressive District Attorney José Garza from office using a 2023 Texas law aimed at limiting the discretion of locally elected prosecutors. A state district judge in Comal County on Friday appointed an attorney to represent Texas and pursue the case.
House Bill 17 took effect Sept. 1 and allows courts to remove district attorneys for "official misconduct." That could include refusing to prosecute certain criminal offenses under state law, such as low-level marijuana possession.
When Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill, the Republican leader said the goal of the law was to "hold rogue district attorneys accountable." The GOP priority legislation gained steam after progressive district attorneys, including Garza, said they would not prosecute people seeking abortions banned under Texas law.
However, elected district attorneys have significant prosecutorial discretion, meaning they get to decide which cases to pursue. As KUT previously reported, the law undermines this longtime convention.
Travis County resident Mary Dupuis filed a petition to remove Garza from office on April 8. The filing came just over a month after Garza won the March Democratic primary for district attorney in a landslide.
Monday, April 22, 2024
Who is David Pecker? What is the National Enquirer?
Pecker was the first witness in today's Trump trial.
An example of the relationship the exists between the media and politics.
- Click here for the Wikipedia on David Pecker.
David Jay Pecker is an American publishing executive and businessman, who was the CEO of American Media until August 2020. He was the publisher of Men's Fitness, Muscle and Fitness, Flex, Fit Pregnancy, Shape and Star. He was also the publisher of National Enquirer, Sun, Weekly World News, and Globe.
In 2018, Pecker became embroiled in controversy regarding his involvement in a catch and kill operation to buy exclusive rights to stories that might embarrass his friend Donald Trump, to prevent the stories from becoming public during the latter's 2016 presidential campaign.
- Click here for the entry on the National Enquirer.
The National Enquirer is an American tabloid newspaper. Founded in 1926, the newspaper has undergone a number of changes over the years. The National Enquirer openly acknowledges that it pays sources for tips, a common practice in tabloid journalism that results in conflicts of interest.
It has also been embroiled in several controversies related to its catch and kill practices and allegations of blackmail. It has struggled with declining circulation figures because of competition from other glossy tabloid publications.
- Click here for the entry on American Media.
A360 Media, LLC (branded a360media), formerly American Media, Inc. (AMI), is an American publisher of magazines, supermarket tabloids, and books based in New York City. Originally affiliated with only the National Enquirer, the media company's holdings expanded considerably in the 1990s and 2000s. In November 2010, American Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to debts of nearly $1 billion, but has continued to buy and sell magazine brands since then.
AMI has been in the news affiliated with accusations of catch and kill operations. On December 12, 2018, the U.S. Attorney's Office reported that AMI admitted to paying $150,000 to Karen McDougal in concert with a candidate's presidential campaign for the sole purpose of preventing damaging allegations prior to the 2016 US presidential election.
According to its September 2018 non-prosecution agreement with Southern District of New York federal prosecutors, AMI "shall commit no crimes whatsoever" for three years, otherwise "A.M.I. shall thereafter be subject to prosecution for any federal criminal violation of which this office has knowledge."
From the New York Times: Senate Passes Two-Year Extension of Surveillance Law Just After It Expired
For our look at military and security policy - both domestic and foreign.
- Click here for the article.
The Senate early on Saturday approved an extension of a warrantless surveillance law, moving to renew it shortly after it had expired and sending President Biden legislation that national security officials say is crucial to fighting terrorism but that privacy advocates decry as a threat to Americans’ rights.
But after hours of negotiation, the Senate abruptly reconvened late on Friday for a flurry of votes in which those proposed revisions were rejected, one by one, and early on Saturday the bill, which extends Section 702 for two years, won approval, 60 to 34.
“We have good news for America’s national security,” Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic majority leader, said as he stood during the late-night session to announce the agreement to complete work on the bill. “Allowing FISA to expire would have been dangerous.”
In a statement, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland praised the bill’s passage, calling Section 702 “indispensable to the Justice Department’s work to protect the American people from terrorist, nation-state, cyber and other threats.”
Ahead of final passage, the Senate rapidly voted down a series of amendments proposed by privacy-minded lawmakers. Approving any of them would have sent the bill back to the House, allowing the statute to lapse for a more significant period.
“Any amendment added to this bill at this moment is the equivalent of killing the bill,” warned Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia and the chairman of the Intelligence Committee.
While the program has legal authority to continue operating until April 2025 regardless of whether Congress extended the law, the White House sent a statement to senators on Friday warning them that a “major provider has indicated it intends to cease collection on Monday” and that another said it was considering stopping collection. The statement did not identify them, and the Justice Department declined to say more.
- What is FISA?
- H.R.7888 - Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act.
- Roll Call Vote.
From the Washington Post: House passes foreign aid bill, sending help to Ukraine and Israel
A small part of the ongoing Unites States budget process.
- Click here for the article.
The House passed a sweeping $95 billion package Saturday to aid foreign allies amid global threats, showcasing broad support for America’s role in the world in a risky push by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), whose far-right flank is threatening to oust him for the action.
. . . The Senate is expected to consider the foreign aid measures early next week, and President Biden is expected to sign the package.
In a statement after Saturday’s votes, Biden credited the House for coming together “to answer history’s call, passing urgently needed national security legislation that I have fought for months to secure.”
. . . all Democrats present and a minority of Republicans broke a months-long legislative logjam and approved $60 billion in aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia. The vote was 311 to 112, with all those objecting coming from the most conservative wing of the GOP conference.
. . . It is also a major win for Johnson — despite the threats to his job — as he increasingly leads a coalition of more-mainstream House Republicans and Democrats in shepherding high-priority legislation to passage.
. . . Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) celebrated the development, saying the chamber “finally advanced this essential investment in the strength of our alliances and partnerships, the credibility of our commitments, and the capacity of our own armed forces to defend America and deter aggression.”
The House also overwhelmingly passed $26 billion in funding for Israel, which includes $9 billion in humanitarian aid, some of which will be allotted toward Gaza, during Saturday’s votes. The move comes days after Israel carried out a strike on Iran in retaliation for missiles and drones launched by Iran last weekend.
. . . Twenty-one Republicans opposed the bill, joining 37 Democrats, many of whom voted against the measure even though it contained humanitarian aid for Gaza because it strips funding for a U.N. agency capable of delivering the aid into the region. The United States defunded the U.N. Relief and Works Agency after U.S. intelligence and Israel found that 12 of the agency’s 13,000 Gaza employees participated in Hamas’s cross-border attack on Oct. 7.
. . . The House also overwhelmingly approved sending $8 billion to allies in the Indo-Pacific as they face threats from China, 385 to 34. All who voted against the measure were far-right Republicans.
The House also passed a measure full of bipartisan priorities, including potentially banning TikTok, seizing Russian assets to resell to Ukraine, and putting conditions on Ukraine aid that comes in the form of a loan.
For more:
- H.R.8035 - Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024.
- H.R.8034 - Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024.
- H.R.8036 - Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024.
- H.R.8038 - 21st Century Peace through Strength Act.
- What is a supplemental appropriation?
- Click here for more on the appropriations process.
For further inquiry: Who are the far right Republicans who have voted against these measures?
- House Republican infighting getting worse after foreign aid vote.
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Questions from GOVT 2305 - THS01
For class discussion
I'll more as the answers come in:
1. Are Mayors like city presidents?
2. Party polarization and why it's important
3. How was the Supreme Court able to make SB4 become a law for a couple hours even though the president didn't approve of it
The Economic Policy is a section I am not too confident about . Trying to do the quiz wasnt too difficult because of the difficult, but I couldn't quite grasp what the section was about.
Bureaucracy and its regulations can be confusing.
Language used in legal documents or court rulings.
I would like to hear about the voter shift.
The rules sourding constitutional carry and your rights against a police officer.
Federal Funding
The only amendment to be ratified by state convention was which one?
The president is the commander in chief, but Congress has the power to declare war; this is an example of what?
I understand what each branch does. One question that is from the essay is what is misinformation?
The only thing I really struggled with were the questions over the constitution quiz. It was pretty hard and I had to take it a ton of times to get a understanding of it.
One thing that I'm confused about right now is how elections work, specifically the presidential ones. From my rough understanding, our primary votes go towards the electoral college and who represents us. Then during the actual election our vote is just the popular vote, which does not decide who will actually become president. I'm not sure if this is right, but that is one thing I'd like to learn more about.
I'm struggling to remember the separation of powers, specifically what branch is authorized to do what.
I would like a reminder of the election processes of the judges, senators, and representatives.
I also need a refresher about the Electoral College and the voting process for the president.
The first thing I am confused about is the SB 4 and whether or not Texas can enforce immigration laws. My second thing is what the Federal Government has planned for the year 2025. And my last thing is why does federalism continue to be a source of controversy in the U.S.. Oh and who is the real Ricky??
If I got to learn more about how different factors play into outcome sof bills passing or making it through and why there isnt an age limit but how there is a age minimum for offices and to run. Those are the only two things I might have questions about, but otherwise thats it.
One thing i'm still confused about is elections. I don't understand why a candidate can lose even if the majority of people in the US voted for them. Why is that a thing? If most of the US wants a candidate to be president, why is it that they can still lose? Doesn't that defeat the point of an election? Something else I'm confused about is political parties. Why do we only have two main parties? Why is it so difficult for another one to win, let alone get even close to winning? I don't understand why the candidates have to have a label. Why can't they express their ideas and we go off of that? I also still don't understand what a bureaucracy is.
I'll more as the answers come in:
1. Are Mayors like city presidents?
2. Party polarization and why it's important
3. How was the Supreme Court able to make SB4 become a law for a couple hours even though the president didn't approve of it
The Economic Policy is a section I am not too confident about . Trying to do the quiz wasnt too difficult because of the difficult, but I couldn't quite grasp what the section was about.
Bureaucracy and its regulations can be confusing.
Language used in legal documents or court rulings.
I would like to hear about the voter shift.
The rules sourding constitutional carry and your rights against a police officer.
Federal Funding
The only amendment to be ratified by state convention was which one?
The president is the commander in chief, but Congress has the power to declare war; this is an example of what?
I understand what each branch does. One question that is from the essay is what is misinformation?
The only thing I really struggled with were the questions over the constitution quiz. It was pretty hard and I had to take it a ton of times to get a understanding of it.
One thing that I'm confused about right now is how elections work, specifically the presidential ones. From my rough understanding, our primary votes go towards the electoral college and who represents us. Then during the actual election our vote is just the popular vote, which does not decide who will actually become president. I'm not sure if this is right, but that is one thing I'd like to learn more about.
I'm struggling to remember the separation of powers, specifically what branch is authorized to do what.
I would like a reminder of the election processes of the judges, senators, and representatives.
I also need a refresher about the Electoral College and the voting process for the president.
The first thing I am confused about is the SB 4 and whether or not Texas can enforce immigration laws. My second thing is what the Federal Government has planned for the year 2025. And my last thing is why does federalism continue to be a source of controversy in the U.S.. Oh and who is the real Ricky??
If I got to learn more about how different factors play into outcome sof bills passing or making it through and why there isnt an age limit but how there is a age minimum for offices and to run. Those are the only two things I might have questions about, but otherwise thats it.
One thing i'm still confused about is elections. I don't understand why a candidate can lose even if the majority of people in the US voted for them. Why is that a thing? If most of the US wants a candidate to be president, why is it that they can still lose? Doesn't that defeat the point of an election? Something else I'm confused about is political parties. Why do we only have two main parties? Why is it so difficult for another one to win, let alone get even close to winning? I don't understand why the candidates have to have a label. Why can't they express their ideas and we go off of that? I also still don't understand what a bureaucracy is.
I am confused about a lot of things in this class, however if there had to be three things that I was
confused about would have to be what different floor chambers function as to the congress or the
United States as a whole. The distribution of power between the different branches, political parties, and
the different levels of government. Finally, how to people contribute to the governing parties either
during elections, supporting a government bill and benefiting society. I feel like I should learn more
about these because it would explain a lot of the functionality of government and if the people will
change votes or how the government runs itself. It could also show how different people an come into
the government and show how they have different ideas for their parties, or could possibly have
something that an benefit society and either bring it down. This is really it though.
Friday, April 19, 2024
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
The Public Policy Process
- Agenda Setting
- Policy Formulation
- Policy Adoption
- Policy Implementation
- Policy Evaluation
- Policy Formulation
- Policy Adoption
- Policy Implementation
- Policy Evaluation
The Issue Attention Cycle
- Up and down with
ecology--
the "issue-attention
cycle"
American public attention
rarely remains sharply focused upon any one domestic issue for very
long--even if it involves a continuing problem of crucial importance
to society. Instead, a systematic "issue-attention cycle" seems strongly
to influence public attitudes and behavior concerning most key
domestic problems. Each of these problems suddenly leaps into prominence, remains there for a short time, and then --though still largely
unresolved--gradually fades from the center of public attention.
A study of the way this cycle operates provides insights into how
long public attention is likely to remain sufficiently focused upon
any given issue.
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Links - 4/16/24
- Can a Child Inherit Their Parents’ Debt When They Die?
- Bankruptcy Basics.
- What Is Bankruptcy?
- Selecting a Business Structure.
- List of oldest companies.
- Jan. 6 defendant asks Supreme Court to throw out obstruction charge.
- DEVILLIER ET AL. v. TEXAS.
- What Is Inverse Condemnation?
- The Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
- Enron.
- U.S. intelligence warns Israel about Iranian drone attack - report.
- THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION - ARTICLE 7. EDUCATION.
- Biden administration agrees to provide $6.4 billion to Samsung for making computer chips in Texas.
- Taylor ISD approves Samsung, Linde Chapter 313 applications.
- DARPA.
Monday, April 15, 2024
From Wikipedia: Catch and Kill
The tactic at the heart of Trump's current trial in NY:
- Click here for the article.
Catch and kill is a surreptitious technique employed by newspapers and media outlets to prevent an individual from publicly revealing information damaging to a third party.
Using a legally enforceable non-disclosure agreement, the publisher purports to buy exclusive rights to "catch" the damaging story from the individual, but then "kills" the story for the benefit of the third party by preventing it from ever being published. The individual with the information frequently does not realize that the tabloid intends to suppress the individual's story instead of publishing it. The practice is technically distinct from using hush money, in which the individual is bribed by the third party to intentionally conceal the damaging information, but identical for all practical intents and purposes.
The National Enquirer and its parent company American Media, Inc. have attracted attention for using the practice.
- Click here for the article.
Catch and kill is a surreptitious technique employed by newspapers and media outlets to prevent an individual from publicly revealing information damaging to a third party.
Using a legally enforceable non-disclosure agreement, the publisher purports to buy exclusive rights to "catch" the damaging story from the individual, but then "kills" the story for the benefit of the third party by preventing it from ever being published. The individual with the information frequently does not realize that the tabloid intends to suppress the individual's story instead of publishing it. The practice is technically distinct from using hush money, in which the individual is bribed by the third party to intentionally conceal the damaging information, but identical for all practical intents and purposes.
The National Enquirer and its parent company American Media, Inc. have attracted attention for using the practice.
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