POLS 207 9TH Edition Lecture 11 Outline of Last Lecture II different government periods A municipal government period B state intercity government period C federal government era III growth of federal power IV Forms of government A unitary government B confederacy C federalism D federal responsibilities Outline of Current Lecture V federal responsibilities VI shared responsibilities VII purposes of the constitution VIII Chapter 5 on exam Current Lecture Federal responsibilities o National defense o Space program o Postal service Shared responsibilities o Welfare o employment services o Unemployment compensation State responsibilities o Education o Highways and transportation o Health o Sanitation o Fire o Police Purposes of constitution o Legitimacy These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute o Organizing government o Providing power o Limiting governmental power UK has no constitution State constitutions o Bill of rights o Separation of powers o Local governments The present Texas constitution o General features Texas constitution contains preamble and 16 articles The constitution contains many details of policy and gov organization to avoid abuse of gov powers and to protect various private interests long and poorly organized doc Over 500 amendments The constitution reflects the time of its writing an era of strong conservative agrarian interests and reaction to carpetbag rule Contains many unenforceable provisions known as deadwood that conflict with the national constitution Constitutions 432 amendments by the end of 2003 have been necessary de to the restrictive character if the doc but they have produced a constitution that is poorly organized and difficult to read o Specific features Texas constitution is similar in many ways to the US constitution Each gov has executive legislative and judicial branches Both are separation of power systems Both include provisions against unequal or arbitrary gov action The constitutions differ with regard to providing power to the government The national constitution is much more flexible in allowing government to act than the state constitution Chapter 5 ON EXAM