Chapter 4Participation in State Politics**4 points added to test for attendance, scores posted will be raw scores, wont be posted before MondayPolitical ParticipationPolitical participation is the essence and definition of democracyPolitical participation includes voting, running for office, participation in marches or demonstration, giving money or time to efforts, attending rallies or events, writing letters/emails, wearing button, discussing issues & belonging to an organizationConventional – voting, helping campaigns, signing petitions, running for officeUnconventional – protests, marching and demonstrations, war/conflict (civil disobedience)Sustained political participation refers to consistent voting in presidential and nonpresidential electionsFor democracy to work there has to be some sustained votingYou cant have democracy where a group votes every once in a while because there would be no means of predictionProtest as Political ParticipationNot nearly as common as people think but IS more common than beforeThought this because of media coverageProtests really aren’t spontaneousHave to be covered to get the message outProtest: direct, collective activity to obtain concessionsCivil disobedience: Break “unjust” laws and accept the punishmentSilent protests: the lunch counterViolence: criminal, generally irrational and self-defeatingDoesn’t really help, people need to get behind protests for them to be effectiveNews media: their response often key to successThe effectiveness of protests: highest when goal is clearOfficial responses to protests: may be genuine, symbolic, or tokenState & local governments bear costs of protests: busted budgetsFor protest to be successful: Remain nonviolent, have a clear goal, and media has to cover itPolitical Participation30-55% of the population votes; in midterms TX lowest = 26%, TX usually is around 30-35% for normal – presidential = 40-45% (TX is always on the low side of the scale)Difference between voting in US and other countries – civic cultureVoter turnout is declining across the globeMonday March 28, 2016Political Parties = loose nominations(?) of the statesLiberals and conservatives in one state are different than those of anotherNational committees don’t control anything states do, etc.ONLY influenceEach level’s parties have different platformsState Party Organization runs the stateMicromanage the partiesState Party OrganizationsState Laws Govern PartiesState CommitteesHelp run day to day operationsState Party Chairpersonsperson who actually handles thingsCounty CommitteesOrganizes at county levelGoes down to the precinct levelLowest level you can participate inLocal Party OrganizationsParty control of government is everything at state levelCan tell what policies will be pushedcircle = independentleft and right bases must also turn out to winChapter 6: Legislators in State PoliticsFucntions of the State LegislatorsEnacting Laws: Collectively consider 101,000 per session – pass 19,000Considering constitutional amendments, gubernatorial (governor) appointments, and state courts: Often shared processesApproving budgets: May be single most important functionSome years that’s all they do; all states MUST have balanced budgetServing constituents: Requires great deal of legislators timeConstituents: anyone living in that districtOverseeing state agencies: Frequently need to challenge state administrators** Principal agent model – someone who makes the decision but isn’t the person who carries it out; legislator (principal) makes laws, exec branch (agent) carries it out. Congress has legislative oversight over the bureaucracyMaking of a State LegislatorTypically selected from upper-middle class segments of populationOccupation: groups with flexible work responsibility or retired persons; lawyers, business owners, physiciansEducation: most are college educatedAge: avg is 56 yrsPersonal wealth: recruited from affluent familiesLawyers: trained to deal w public policyAmateurs: most st. legislatures are part time bodiesDescriptive representation: Do legislators mirror the people? NO.Substantive representation: do legislators represent the interests of group? YES.** 140 days out of every 2 yrs – bi annual sessionpaid $7200The Great Incumbency MachineVisibility: campaigning for reelection is almost constant; may take more time than lawmakingGet reelected 85% of the timeBest way to get reelected is do what their constituents want them to doResources of office: Staffs, offices, expense accounts, travel budgetsMoney: Interest groups contributions go overwhelmingly to incumbentsProfessionalism and careerism: professionalism in state legislatures encourages careerismFranking: mailing stuff free of chargeThe Great Incumbency MachineVisibility: Campaigning for reelection almost constantMay take more time than law makingResources of office: Staffs, offices, expense accounts, travel budgetsMoney: interest groups contributions go overwhelmingly to incumbentsInterest groups don’t buy votes!!! They buy votes!!!Professionalism and Careerism: professionalism in the state legislatures encourages careerismTexas doesn’t promote careerismIf theyre doing it, its not for the $$Legislative Apportionment and DistrictingThe impact of reapportionment435 seats in house – TX had 32 seats in 2010, 36 in 2012increase in pop = redistrictDistricting: Partisan and Incumbent GerrymanderingGerrymandering = drawing of district lines for partisan advantageHappens all the time, nothing illegal about it until the reasons are something other than legitimateThe Seats-Votes RelationshipAffirmative Racial Gerrymandering?Minority voiceHard to prove in courtMultimember DistrictsDistrict SizeWho draws the lines?In TX: done by legislature redistricting boardIn 2001 fed judges drew tx linesCan predict the election by how the district is drawnHow often to redistrict?Nothing that says you cant redistrict more than once, only that you have to at least onceNothing is breaking throughHow a Bill becomes a law:Only members of the legislature introduces billsAnyone can write a bill – literally anyoneLots of technical language is used – but if you know how to write that way anyone can write itBills can be introduced in the house or senateRevenue bills must be started in the houseCan be worked through both at the same timeRead, Given a number, & referred to committeeLegislative CommitteeCommittee = back ground of legislatureMost of the work is done in the