The Influence Of Foreign Governments On Modern Texas Government

Name Institutional Affiliation Course Title Instructor Date Influence of Foreign Governments on Modern Texas Government Diverse forces derived from Texas historical beginnings mostly affect the modern its government. Since its early days, Texas has had over six states that claim to rule its land and people. For instance, France, Spain and Mexico had their flags flowing over the State before its becoming the Republic of Texas. During the Civil War, the Confederate flag flew over its land after it joined the United States in 1845. In addition, there have been diverse immigrant populations in Texas owing to its proximity to Mexico. This history has undoubtedly affected the governance of the state Texas. The structure of governments in the United States has since history invited the participation of some interest groups at different stages of the policy-formulation process. Organizations, universities and foreign governments have mainly attempted to influence the policy-making process and the political leaders in the US (Schmidt et al. 245). This paper argues that the modern Texas government is a product of some acting forces from foreign governments that have had a close association with the United States annexed the state of Texas. Before joining the United States in 1845, Texas had been mainly shaped by the traditions of the Anglo-America. The 1836 Constitution Texas, for instance, rested on the principles of Anglo-America as defined in the drafted 1833 constitution that Texas should remain as a distinct state within the Mexican Federal Republic (May). Also apparent were the influences of the Mexicans and the Spanish with significant legacies appearing in the Texas constitutions being the merging of equity and law, community property and the protection of individual property from forced seizures for debt recovery. The stability of homesteads was an extension of these legacies of protecting properties claimed by Texas. In 1845, Texas state constitution was drafted as a requirement for joining the United States (May). This constitution borrowed much from the United States Constitution. For instance, concepts such as the written constitution should be the source of authority for citizens, the guarantee of individual rights, separation of powers and the republic forming a government were all concepts derived from the US constitution. One principle maintained by the Texas state is that of the authorities accorded to state legislatures who are people’s representatives and have all the powers that are not limited by the state constitution, federal laws or the US Constitution. While sharing these universal principles, Texas state constitution differs from other state constitutions because of the influence of regional and state cultures and politics. The political history of the state of Texas is fascinating since the government combines traditionalistic and individualistic political cultures. The state of Texans is renowned for its western frontier heritage; the individualistic political culture upholds individual achievement (Brown 5). Some of the persisting characteristics of the political culture are the single sheriff culture, a lone cowboy. Government activities are encouraged as long as the operation will yield opportunity for individual achievement. On the other hand, the traditionalistic political culture has long been practiced in Texas due to the prevailing reverence to the elite rule in a heretical society. The political practice represents the values of the migrants who came to the fertile cotton land of east Texas during the 19th century (Brown 6). Government policy in the state of Texas is upheld on the premise that the power of society’s dominant groups is reinforced. Considering that traditionalism and individualism are prevalent in Texas, the state can be described to be a conservative state that does not support government activities lightly, especially when the government interferes with the economy. The government of Texas not allowed meddling with people's business and private affairs are more valued (Brown 23). W...