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Texas Elections

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Essay #3
In Texas elections serve an important and vital role in how the state functions. They are the people’s way of expressing their right to democracy. It is through these elections that we are able select public officials who will represent our state and work towards making it better. They also allow voters to vote on potential changes to the Texas Constitution. Something that can help to improve the policies that we currently have in our state (Champagne and Harpham 135).
One type of election in Texas is the primary election. This election uses a ballot voting system and allows for the people to select who they want their party’s nominee to be for the general election (Champagne and Harpham 135). The primary election is usually the first …show more content…

It is during this election that public officials are chosen (Champagne and Harpham 136). These officials include the governor, attorney general, comptroller of public accounts, and the lieutenant governor. It happens every two years in November on the Tuesday after the first Monday, and tends not to be held during presidential election years in order to prevent either of the elections from influencing each other. Leading up to this date the Republican nominee and the Democratic nominee campaign against each other for votes (Champagne and Harpham 136).
A third type of election in Texas is known as special elections. These elections have no set schedule and can be set up whenever they are needed. Special elections are usually used to fill up any office vacancies, approve the borrowing of money, and to accept or reject any amendments that could be added to the state’s constitution (Champagne and Harpham 136). Special elections are even held on a more local basis in order to choose members for city council. In addition, during these particular elections, the candidates do not have their party affiliation next to their name (University of …show more content…

These particular groups work to protect the interest of professionals, such as teachers, accountants, and doctors. An example is the Texas Medical Association, which is a professional group representing the interest of doctors within the Texas government (Champagne and Harpham 166). In the case of teachers, professional interests groups work to protect their “…job security, qualifications of teachers, health insurance, pensions, salaries, and other matters… ” (Champagne and Harpham 166). A second type of interest group is those that aim to spread awareness of civil rights. In many cases these groups are working to protect and ensure the rights of minority groups. Some of these groups are well known organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People or the NAACP which works for the civil rights of African Americans. Other civil rights interest groups include the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund. Both of which work towards protecting and improving the lives of Latin and Mexican Americans (Champagne and Harpham 166). Organizations like these have made some significant progress over the years with informing and changing the minds of the public. As well as influencing policy makers of Texas (Champagne and Harpham

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