In Texas

1. In Texas

2. Ideology • Definition • Ideology is a system of beliefs and values about the nature of the good life, society, the economy, moral values, and the role of government.

3. Ideology • "Liberalism" and "conservatism" are the two dominant systems of beliefs and values in American and Texas life today.

4. Ideology • Conservatism • Commonly described as being on the “right wing” of the political spectrum, conservatives argue that economic problems are caused by over-regulation by government

5. Ideology • Liberalism • Commonly described as being on the “left wing” of the political spectrum, liberals usually oppose government activity in the personal sphere while conservatives generally favor government regulation in areas such as religion, health care and illegal drugs.

6. Ideology • Ideology in Texas • Texas has historically been dominated by a combination of the traditionalist and individualist political cultures which are translated, in the Texas case, into an ideology of political conservatism.

7. Political Socialization • Definition • The process of political socialization explains how the attitudes and values of the conservative political culture that dominates Texas is transmitted from one generation to another.

8. PoliticalSocialization • Political socialization is the process by which we teach and learn our political knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, values and habits of behavior. • The basic agents of political socialization are family, schools, churches, and the media.

9. Political Socialization • Family • The most important agent of socialization, the family, furnishes the child's attitude toward authority and community, which, in Texas, means that most parents pass along their political views and philosophies to their children.

10. Political Socialization • Media • The Texas news media, which generally rely for advertising revenues from other businesses, tend to echo the business point of view on most issues

11. Political Socialization • Churches and Public Schools • Catholics tend to want government intervention to help the poor. • Protestants tend to reinforce political conservatism. • Schools tend to not teach politics beyond voting.

12. Interests • Definition • An interest is something of value or some personal characteristic that people share and that is affected by government activity. • When the two major parties differ on public policy issues, people often side with the party favoring their interests regardless of whether their political ideology is in line with the party's.

13. Texas Political Parties • Although no parties existed in Texas prior to statehood, Sam Houston's dominance of Texas politics led to the formation of pro- and anti-Houston factions which debated policy issues. Houston

14. Texas Political Parties • Because Texas entered the Union with Democratic party support as a slave state, most Texans identified with the Democrats. • Most Texans' identification of the Republicans with the abolition of slavery and Reconstruction policies made Texas, like other former Confederate states, a solid one-party Democratic state after the Civil War. Slavery

15. One Party v. Two Party Systems • Two-party systems, such as that of the U.S. at the national level, promote debate on policy issues and provide a forum for emerging minorities and emerging issues. • Political participation (including voter turnout) is generally greater in a two-party system than in a one-party system. • One-party systems promote only limited debate on policy issues and make party labels worthless.

16. Functions of Political Parties • The basic purpose of parties is to win elections and thus gain the opportunity to exercise control over public policy. • Parties may perform a number of functions including: • Involving ordinary people in the political process. • Recruiting political leaders. • Communicating to the leaders the interests of individuals and groups.

17. Functions of Political Parties • Providing factual information and persuasive argument in public policy debates. • Structuring political conflict and debate, sometimes by screen­ing out the demands of minority groups lacking political clout. • Moderating differences between groups. • Partially overcoming the fragmented nature of the political system.

18. Third Parties in Texas • The History of Third Parties in Texas • There have been many third parties in Texas, the most noteworthy of which was the Populist party around the turn of the century. • The Populists, like many other third parties in Texas (and at the national level), did not survive, although some of their positions were adopted by the major parties

19. Third Parties in Texas • Among the other parties that have run candidates in Texas are the Kno-Nothings, Prohibitionists, Socialists, Communists, States Righters, American Independence Party, and the Reform Party.

20. Third Parties in Texas • Know-Nothing Party • The Know-Nothing Party was a secretive American political faction that flourished briefly in the 1850s as a result of "nativist" (anti-Catholic and immigrant) concerns, as well as slavery and states' rights issues. The party saw its end before the start of the Civil War in 1861.