POSI 2310 - EXAM 4 REVIEW
Texas Legislature - Identify the limitations of the Texas Legislature - Describe the timing, length and character of Regular Session & Special Session - Identify Structure, Composition, Election, Terms Lengths - List the impacts of Bicameral Structure on the legislative process - Understand the process of redistricting - Compare the powers of 2 Presiding Officers and their pro temps - Distinguish between different types of committees - Identify the functions (Constituent, Judicial, Admin.) & Immunities of the Leg - Explain the purpose and characteristic of various types of bills - Appropriations/Budget, Senate Blocker Bill purpose and vote threshold - Number of readings required for bill to pass - 3 Periods in the Leg. Session (30-30-80), what happens in each period - Steps in Passing a Law & Procedural Tactics (Mark-up, Table, Public Input, Filibuster, Chubbing, etc.) - Governor's Action, including Line-Item Veto, & when the different laws go into effect
TX Governor & Executive Branch - Plural/Fragmented - Nature of the Executive; Informal vs. Formal Powers - Gubernatorial Election, Terms, Impeachment, Succession & Compensation - Roles and Limitations of the Governor: Rank Nationally? - Qualifications - Formal (Institutional) vs. Informal (Personal) - Appointment powers, Clemency Powers, etc. - Texas Enterprise Fund - Role of Legislature, Bureaucrats and Courts in policy making - Temporary vs. Permanent Government - Weber's analysis of bureaucracy VS. Modern Bureaucracy - Tools for Public Scrutiny, purpose of various Acts - Civil Merit/Service System Purpose & Paradox - Issues/Problems with Administration - How Bureaucracy is held Accountable - Government Employment Perks & Drawbacks - Basic Roles of Key Executives (including SBOE and RRC)
Texas Judicial Branch - Role of Judges & Juries (Grand Juries, Criminal vs. Civil Verdicts) - Civil vs. Criminal Law - Types of Jurisdiction - Basic Structure of Courts (focus on what is unique to each court) - Roles of the TX Supreme Court - Judicial Selection: Independence & Accountability (Election, Appt.& Merit Plan) - Bias in the administration of justice - Economic and Ethnic - Capital Punishment in TX & Results of Tort Reform