This document contains Kimberlyn Bledsoe's reflections on various political topics from her course. She discusses her motivations for participating in the political system, such as feeling she can make a difference by voting given the women's suffrage movement. She also expresses views on legalizing marijuana, maintaining abortion rights, the death penalty, educational funding, Texas' influence on federal government as a large state, and lessons learned about voting and Texas politics.

1. Kimberlyn Bledsoe
Major: Bachelor of
Science in
Dental Hygiene

2. What motivates me to be an active
participant in our political system?
▪ Feeling like I have a say in things and could possibly make a
difference makes me want to vote. Also, the fact that women had to
fight very hard to even get a right to vote in this world, that alone
makes me want to vote.
▪ A change I would really like to see is the legalization of medical
marijuana. I feel like numerous issues could be solved if this
happened inTexas and/or all 50 states.
▪ Something that I would like to see stay the same and just be left
alone is abortion laws and rights. I would just like women to be able
to have that choice on their own free will without all the controversy.

3. The Death Penalty
▪ Before this semester I did not know too
much about the death penalty. I found it
super interesting!
▪ I learned that a person from a non
penalty state can receive the death
penalty through the Federal
Government.
▪ 29 states have made the death penalty
legal,Texas being one of them.
▪ The cost of lethal injections have gone
up tremendously over the last years.

4. Educational Funding
 Every child in this country should receive the
education he/she deserves.
 I believe it is the most important political issue to
consider for future generations because the children
today are our future in everything, including
government.
 Education should not matter what race, religion, or
social class children are categorized in.
 One of these children could be our future president
one day and the way the world is, everyone would
want them to be educated.

5. What Role DoesTexas Play in Influencing the
Federal Government?
 Texas plays a big role in
influencing the federal
government.
 Texas is the second largest
state.
 We have 38 members in the
electoral college.
 As well as the most
electoral votes than any
other state.

6. Lessons Learned  I have never actually voted in any election
before, after taking this course I think I
have obtained a lot more knowledge as to
why it is important to and I feel as though I
can make a difference by voting in the
upcoming election in 2020.
 I learned that…
 Texas is a one sided state –
Republican.
 Texas has the highest death
penalty rate in the U.S.
 The voter turnout is low.
 Judges are elected in partisan
elections. Another way of
letting us express our freedom
by giving us the choose of
voting and choosing who we
want.