Solution Manual Practicing Texas Politics, 16th Edition CHAPTER 1 The Environment of Texas Politics Learning Objectives 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Describe how political culture has shaped Texas’s politics, government, and public policy. Explain the differences among the geographic regions of Texas. Analyze the relationship between the social history of Texas and the political characteristics of the state’s diverse population. Describe both the four land-based industries that formed the historic basis for the Texas economy and the diversification of the modern Texas economy. Identify five major policy challenges Texas faces in the 21st century.
Summary Overview As the population of Texas booms and becomes more diverse, state lawmakers will face a host of challenges in the public policy arena. Responding to these challenges will require elected officials to not only navigate the political system successfully, but also overcome an entrenched political culture that does not easily accept change. In sheer size and strength, the Texas economy compares favorably to those of entire nations. In addition, the state economy is also remarkably durable and withstood many of the worst parts of the Great Recession. Comprised of four physiographic regions, Texas has a plethora of natural resources that allow economic diversity. Initially, Texas depended heavily on landbased industries such as cattle, cotton, and oil. After the discovery of oil, the energy sector assumed a prominent role alongside agriculture and livestock as major industries. Today, the oil and gas industry continues to be a significant player, even as the modern economy has become more diversified and less dependent on land-based resources. High technology and biotechnology, for instance, are emerging as major employers and important engines of the state economy. Moreover, the service industry is responsible for many of the new jobs, albeit low-paying, that have been created in the state during the last decade. Texas has always had a
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