Proud to be Texan Vocabulary
African American Laundress
She represents Fanny McFarland, a freed slave who became a successful landowner and developer.
Amendment
A change or added statement to a document.
Annex
To add to one's own territory to form a larger country.
Appoint
To name someone officially to an office.
Barbara Jordan
1st African American woman elected to the Texas Senate.
Bicameral
Consisting of two houses; the Senate and House of Representatives.
Big Bend
A mountainous area in the west Texas desert where the Rio Grande makes a sharp turn.
Bill
A proposed law that is presented to Senators & Representatives to vote on.
Bluebonnets
State flower of Texas.
Buffalo Soldiers
A name given to the Black Calvary, men of the 9th and 10th, by their Native American foes.
Capitol
The building in which Senators and Representatives work and meet in.
Chili
The state dish of Texas.
Civic Affairs
Issues relating to a citizen, a city, or a citizenship.
Conquistador
Spanish conqueror in North and South America.
Constitution
Laws of nation or state that establish the powers of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people.
Cowboy
Worked cattle and took them up the trail.
Cowgirl and Cowboy
Men and women who participate in the sport of rodeo.
Davey Crockett and Ole Betsy
A congressman from Tennessee, he fought at the Alamo and had a nickname for his gun.
Debate
To discuss back and forth opposing arguments on a proposed law.
Democracy
A form of government in which the supreme power is given to the people.
Diverse
Differing from one another.
Election
The process of voting to choose a person for office.
Goddess of Liberty
The statue that sits atop the dome of the Texas Capitol.
Governor
This person is the head of the state of Texas - Chief Executive.
Gulf of Mexico
Large body of water on the coast of Texas and Louisiana.
Horses
Used for transportation by Native Americans, cowboys and soldiers.
House of Representatives
A body of 150 members in the Texas legislature.
Judicial Branch
This branch of government has the power to interpret laws and consists of the courts.
Law
A rule of procedure that is enforced by a specific authority.
Leadership
The act of directing others.
Legislature
This branch of government has the power to make laws.
Llano Estacado
Also called the "Staked Plains", it is one of the largest tablelands in North America.
Longhorns
Breed of cattle that was very hardy and had very long horns.
Mesquite
Native Americans used pods from this tree to make tea, syrup and ground meal.
Mexican Vaquero
Working cowboy family from Spain or Mexico.
Miriam Ferguson
1st woman elected to the office of Governor.
Mission
A religious settlement set up to Christianize the Native Americans.
Missionary and burro
A person sent to do religious or charity work.
Monarch Butterfly
The state insect of Texas.
Native American Family
Original human inhabitants of the land now known as Texas.
Palo Duro Canyon
A Texas natural wonder (also known as the Grand Canyon of Texas) that was carved by a branch of the Red River.
Pledge
A promise or agreement that must be kept.
Prickly Pear
The pads of this cactus can also be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
Rosie the Riveter
She represents the women who went to work for the first time outside of their homes during World War II to fill the need left by men being gone to war. Example: Women who flew planes.
Rotunda
A round building or room, covered by a dome.
Roughneck
Oilfield worker.
Sam Houston
The first President of the Republic of Texas.
Senator
A person who is elected to a body of 31 members in the Texas legislature.
Sunset Red Texas Granite
The type of material that the Texas Capitol's exterior walls are made of.
Term
The length of time a person may serve in office once elected.
Texas Ranger
These protectors of the Texas frontier were a diverse group and included Anglos, Hispanics and American Indians.
Treaty Oak
Legend has it that the Father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin, signed the first boundary treaty with the local Indians under this tree.
Vote
A formal expression of one's opinion; you do this when you elect someone to office.
Yucca
This plant is sometimes called the "Spanish Dagger".