My take on Texas government.

1. Politics Presentation
By: Brandon Green
Major: Biology

2. Motivation to Participate
• Change is required to advance as a society socially and politically, who doesn’t want to be
apart of change.
• It’s our civic duty to elect the government we choose to represent us.
• Two things in our state government that I would like to see change, is our views on education
and Planned Parenthood.
• One thing that our government should maintain and have stay the same is our gun laws, I’d
vote for that.

3. Texas Government Knowledge
• I knew our government process was slow, but I guess I never realized just how slow it was,
especially after all of the lobbying.
• Our governor is actually relatively weak compared to other governors.
• I would have liked to have seen more specific examples pertaining to more recent events and
the arguments that are going on with them. Not just the “textbook” answers.

4. Immigration
• Texas definitely has it’s problems, but I believe that immigration is its biggest, and will
continue to be the biggest issue, until there is a proper solution.
• The reason I believe its such an issue, other than tax reasons, is that there is really no right
answer to deal with it. There’s always going to be a certain group of people that are
dissatisfied with the ruling or outcome.
• The issue is only growing due to cities like Austin that classify themselves as sanctuary cities,
which provides a safe haven for illegal immigrants.
• Letting everyone in is not the answer, nor is keeping everyone out, we as a like minded society
must come together to solve this rising issue.

5. Texas Influence
• Texas influence is a major player in the federal government decision making. Due to its sheer size
and population, Texas has a lot of power/weight to throw around depending on the decisions being
made.
• Texas is also a very conflicted state, and I would argue that it’s that most conflicted out of the entire
U.S.. Constant clashing between conservatives and liberals happens all across the state so much that
for example, a gay marriage legal license had to be brought to the supreme court due to arguments
that occurred in Austin over gay marriage before it was finally legalized in Texas.
• I think the Texas government stands as a symbol for strong conservative beliefs, so having the
support of Texas also brings in other like minded states.

6. Learning Aftermath…
• One of the things I learned in the course of this semester that I really never thought about, is just
how hard independent parties are bullied. The Republican and Democratic parties basically shove
aside independent candidates, which is why it will be a long time before Texas ever see’s one gain
much authority.
• Another thing I learned while researching, was about how little our representatives, as well as
senators care about the contents of the legislation they pass. Nine times out of Ten if a member of
the democratic party wants to pass something, a Republican representative will vote no, immediately.