assignment

Paper must be double spaced, with one inch margins, 12 point font and include section headers for each of the paper sections noted below (Three Representational Roles and Role You Choose, Influence of Legislative Leaders, Rank and Explain Influences of Institutional Factors, and Explain Your Vote) and at least three full pages long.

Objective: The objective for this assignment is for students to understand and critically analyze the multiple pressures on policy makers in Texas as they most listen to their leaders, the governor, the voters (social responsibility) and their own conscience (personal responsibility) in deciding how to cast their vote on a controversial issue.

Assignment: You have recently been elected as a Republican to the Texas House of Representatives from a competitive district (even number of Democrats, Republicans and Independents) just outside of Dallas. One of the first bills that you must vote on is House Bill 3- a bill to require all votes be cast on election day, prohibiting early voting or voting my mail in Texas. Your constituents support the bill as does the Lt. Governor, because they believe the bill will significantly reduce voter fraud and increase faith in the election results. However, you oppose the bill because you believe it will make it harder for elderly and rural voters to cast their votes and that voter fraud is not a significant problem. The Speaker of the House and the Governor oppose the bill as well.

In explaining how you will vote on the bill, be sure to explain the following:

• What Representational Role you will adopt (trustee, delegate or politico). (Unit 4 Written Lectures, Slide 4-25). Be sure to discuss all three representational roles.
• How will the Speaker of the House, the Lt. Governor and Governor of Texas influence the fate of the bill? (Unit 4 Written Lectures, Slides 4-9, 4-10, 4-18 & 4-22)
• How do you think constituents might try to influence your vote? (Unit 4 Written Lectures, Slide 4-20)
• Which factors noted above and in your notes (constituents, governor, party leaders and your own opinion) will influence your vote? Rank them in importance. (Unit 4, Written Lectures, Slide 4-20, 4-21)
• Will you vote for or against the bill? Please explain your answer thoroughly. You should refer back to the representational role here. (Unit 4 Written Lectures, Slide 4-25)

NOTE: Your focus in this paper is NOT the particular bill, but how the various players and your constituents will impact your vote, regardless of the topic of the bill.

The paper should include subject headers (ie. Representational Roles, Influence of Legislative Leaders, etc.)

Assessment: Your Assignment will be assessed based on the following rubric.