Assignment:
Demographics and Amendments Paper
It is important to be able to understand how the changing demographics of a state can influence and impact the government, laws, and policies of that state. These influences and impacts can take many different forms. One such form is in the changing of the state government. We have seen this in Texas through many amendments that have been passed throughout the state's history. In order to best understand how changes are reflected, and sometimes amplified over time, important to evaluate concrete examples to demonstrate these changes in government. As such, this is a research paper, this is not conjecture (your opinion/feelings or what you have heard), but instead solidly verifiable information from scholarly and reputable sources.
For this paper, you will be researching and analyzing the demographic changes in Texas and then applying that knowledge and understanding to help explain what has led to some of the many amendments in the Texas Constitution. To support your position, you must provide a detailed explanation of an amendment to the Texas Constitution.
Here are some questions that will help guide you:
1. Demographics:
a. What are demographic categories and how are the measured?
b. Why is understanding demographics important?
c. How and why do politicians take demographics into account when creating laws and policies?
2. Texas Constitution/Amendments
a. According to the Texas Constitution, how are amendments made?
b. Why have so many amendments been proposed (passed or defeated)?
c. Have there been periods in Texas history where many amendments were added versus other periods of Texas history?
3. Amendment Chosen
a. Which amendment have you chosen to explain how demographic changes within the state have impacted government, laws, and/or policies in Texas?
b. What is the general history of this amendment?
c. How does this amendment support your position regarding demographic changes?
This paper should:
• Have a strong introduction that tells the reader what the paper is about and why it's important to pay attention to writing a good introduction
• Have a strong conclusion that ties the paper together
• Be 1,200 words minimum length (not including quotes, heading/title, Works Cited page)
• Be MLA Formatted
• Have at least 3 scholarly sources (great website to determine if your source is scholarly
• Have at least 3 credible sources (great website to determine if your source is credible
• Contain a properly formatted MLA Works Cited page
• Contain properly formatted MLA parenthetical in-text citations, where appropriate
General Recommendations:
• Use good time management - I would try to research one numbered part of the prompt per day and then write the corresponding paragraph the next day. Don't wait until the day this paper is due to start your research and writing. You will not be able to create a well researched and written paper if you wait until the last minute.
• Have someone proof-read your paper - if you do not have anyone who can proof-read your paper, then take advantage of Grammarly.com. While this is not a fail-safe website, it is better than having no one read your paper at all before you turn it in.
• Avoid citation generators at all costs - I have never seen a well formatted Works Cited page that was created using citation generators. Please refer to the OWL at Purdue to learn how to format your Works Cited properly. This is a skill that will help you all throughout your college career.
• Reviewing your paper before you turn it in - make sure it is in MLA format; that means you have your text all the same size, font, and color in double spacing and you have selected to "remove space after paragraph". Your heading includes your name, my name, course, and date. Your header is only your last name and the page number (this needs to be the same size, font, and color as the body of your paper).
Websites that may be helpful:
Tarlton Law Library Texas Constitution
Texas A&M Researching Texas Law: Constitution and Statutes
The Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin
Legislative Reference Library of Texas
United States Census Bureau, Texas
Texas Demographic Center
Texas Tribune
PRB Why is the US Census So Important?
Center for Public Policy Priorities Blog
Ballotpedia
The Texas Lyceum
Texas Standard Government and Politics