One of the four provided Texas government topics (voting bar…

The assignment should be a minimum of 750 words. The submission MUST include a work cited page (Note: there must be a parenthetical citation at the end of each sentence that contains information from a source). The textbook can be one of the sources included on the works cited page (sources other than the textbook may/should be used as well). You should use Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spacing, and one-inch margins on all four sides of the paper. The assignment is to be formatted according to the Modern Language Association (MLA) style which includes a works cited page but does NOT include a title page. Students should research this style in order to properly format the assignment (see the Purdue Online Writing Lab). Writing Assignment Topics Select ONE of the following topics to discuss in the Writing Assignment. The writing assignment should be a minimum of 750 words. You should use information from the textbook and outside sources to complete the assignment in the textbook. You must include a Works Cited page and in-text citations. See the Writing Assignment Instructions for more information. 1. According to Chapter 6 of the textbook, what are some of the historical and more recent barriers to voting in Texas? (Be specific) What accounts for the low level of voter participation in Texas? What can be done to increase voter participation? (Specifically, discuss at least two policy proposals that election officials could adopt.) After the 2020 election, state legislatures controlled by Republicans (including the Texas Legislature) passed election reforms. Counties are in charge of administering elections in Texas. What were some of the changes to election laws in Texas in 2021 and 2023 and how have they impacted a county’s ability to administer elections? Do you think these changes pose undue restrictions on the ability of Texans to vote? 2.Using the data from the Who are Texans graphic in Chapter 8, discuss in detail the gender, racial, age, and educational makeup of the Texas Legislature. What groups are over or underrepresented in the Texas Legislature? If the Texas Legislature had more people of color, more women, or more middle-class members, do you think it would pass different policies? If so, what kinds of policies might they pass? (Be specific.) Why do you think members of the Texas Legislature come from more educated, higher socioeconomic groups? Does the structure of the Texas Legislature encourage or discourage people from particular occupations to run? 3.Looking back at Chapter 3, Texans and Texas politicians have regularly been opposed to an increased federal role in state matters and have argued against federal “preemption.” However, Chapter 11 describes how the state government has not held itself to that same standard when it comes to state preemption of Texas cities and counties. Define “preemption.” What are some areas where the state has either attempted to or was successful in preempting local ordinances and/or local officials? Provide several examples and discuss one of them in detail. What is the argument of the local government on that issue? What is the argument of state officials on the same issue? Which side do you agree with and why? Is it appropriate for state political leaders to argue for more “local control” when dealing with the federal government, but then argue against “local control” when dealing with local governments within the state? What action did the Texas Legislature take during the 2023 session that addressed the issue of local control and do you agree with this action? 4.According to Chapter 10 of the textbook, how are state judges selected in Texas? How does the judicial selection method in Texas compare with the other states? Discuss two different methods used in other states for selecting judges. What are the arguments for each of the selection methods you discussed? How do you think that Texas judges should be selected? Explain your reasoning. Why do you think most states have chosen a judicial selection system different from what the federal government uses? How does being appointed or elected affect the accountability and independence of judges? Do you think voters are more aware of the qualifications of judicial candidates who run in partisan elections compared with those who run in nonpartisan elections? Why or why not? book : Governing Texas, 7th Edition by Anthony Champagne, Edward Harpham, Jason Casellas, and Jennifer Hayes Clark published by W.W. Norton.