Texas Politics

1. Political Culture
   1. Introduction
   2. I. The Concept of Political Culture
   3. Political Socialization
   4. II. Political Ideology
   5. III. People and Cultures in Texas Political History
   6. Indigenous Groups
   7. Spanish and Mexican Americans
   8. Anglo and African Americans
   9. IV. Population Growth in Texas Today
   10. V. Texas Public Opinion and Politics
   11. Investigation: Contrasting Values (Part 1 of 2)
   12. Investigation: Contrasting Values (Part 2 of 2)
   13. Conclusion
2. The Texas Constitution
   1. Introduction
   2. I. Characteristics of Constitutions
   3. II. Federal vs. State Constitutions
   4. III. Constitutions in Texas History
   5. The Constitutions of 1836 and 1845
   6. The Constitutions of 1861 and 1866
   7. The Radical Republican Constitution of 1869
   8. The Convention of 1875
   9. IV. The Texas Constitution Today
   10. Articles
   11. Constitutional Powers
   12. Structures and Authority
   13. Education, Taxation, and Revenue
   14. Governing Locally
   15. Amendments and Other Articles
   16. V. Attempts at Revision
   17. Investigation: Propping Up the Constitution (Part 1 of 2)
   18. Investigation: Propping Up the Constitution (Part 2 of 2)
   19. Conclusion
3. The Legislature
   1. Introduction
   2. I. Organization
   3. Legislative Sessions
   4. Serving in the Legislature
   5. Compensation
   6. Investigation: The Terms of a Term (Part 1 of 2)
   7. Investigation: The Terms of a Term (Part 2 of 2)
   8. II. The Legislature’s Makeup
   9. Demographic Characteristics
   10. Incumbency
   11. III. Powers of the Legislature
   12. Other Areas of Authority
   13. Redistricting
   14. IV. Presiding Officers and Powers
   15. Speaker of the House
   16. V. Committees
   17. The Impact of Committees
   18. Conclusion
4. The Legislative Process
   1. Introduction
   2. I. The Actors in the Process
   3. The Unengaged Public
   4. Interest Groups
   5. Staff and the Press
   6. II. How a Bill Becomes a Law
   7. Committee and Floor Action
   8. Conference Committee and Governor’s Desk
   9. III. Between the Boxes and Lines
   10. Committees as the Focus of Politics
   11. Floor Debate
   12. Investigation: Saving for a Rainy Day (Part 1 of 2)
   13. Investigation: Saving for a Rainy Day (Part 2 of 2)
   14. The Ticking Clock
   15. The Rivalry Between the House and Senate
   16. Conclusion
5. The Executive Branch
   1. Introduction
   2. I. The Elected Members of the Executive Branch
   3. Attorney General
   4. Comptroller of Public Accounts
   5. Commissioner of the Land Office and Commissioner of Agriculture
   6. Elected Boards and Commissions
   7. II. Appointees of the Executive Branch
   8. III. State Agencies and the Executive Branch Bureaucracy
   9. Bureaucracy in Perspective
   10. Investigation: The Sun Also Sets (Part 1 of 2)
   11. Investigation: The Sun Also Sets (Part 2 of 2)
   12. Conclusion
6. The Governor
   1. Introduction
   2. I. Qualifications and Patterns
   3. Rewards and Removal
   4. II. Political Influence
   5. Appointments
   6. Veto Powers
   7. Budgeting and Other Powers
   8. III. Informal Powers
   9. IV. Figurehead Status
   10. Investigation: Whose Emergency? (Part 1 of 2)
   11. Investigation: Whose Emergency? (Part 2 of 2)
   12. Conclusion
7. The Judicial Branch
   1. Introduction
   2. I. Foundations of Law
   3. Sources of Laws
   4. II. Organization of the Courts
   5. Local and County Trial Courts
   6. Other Texas Courts
   7. Supreme Courts
   8. III. Judicial Selection and Qualifications
   9. Formal Qualifications for Judges
   10. Characteristics of the Judiciary
   11. Terms of Office
   12. Judicial Conduct and Discipline
   13. Modes of Judicial Selection
   14. Impact of Judicial Selection
   15. The Debate over Judicial Elections in Texas
   16. Investigation: Judge for Sale? (Part 1 of 2)
   17. Investigation: Judge for Sale? (Part 2 of 2)
   18. Conclusion
8. The Criminal Justice System
   1. Introduction
   2. I. Race and Criminal Justice in Texas
   3. Mass Incarceration and Race
   4. Public Opinion of Police and Policing
   5. II. Institutions of the Criminal Justice System
   6. Law Enforcement
   7. The Criminal Trial System
   8. Sentencing
   9. The Jail and Prison System
   10. III. The Special Case of Capital Punishment
   11. Evaluating the Death Penalty
   12. Public Opinion and the Death Penalty
   13. Investigation: Biased Justice (Part 1 of 2)
   14. Investigation: Biased Justice (Part 2 of 2)
   15. IV. Attempts at Reform
   16. Implementing Reform
   17. Conclusion
9. Elections, Voting, and Campaigns
   1. Introduction
   2. I. Election Types
   3. Getting on the Ballot
   4. II. Voting Requirements
   5. Voting Patterns
   6. Investigation: Power to the Procrastinators (Part 1 of 2)
   7. Investigation: Power to the Procrastinators (Part 2 of 2)
   8. III. Campaigns as Mobilization
   9. Voter Identification
   10. Targeting Strategies
   11. Voter Contact
   12. Advertising and Media
   13. Social Media
   14. Events and Speeches
   15. Polling
   16. IV. Campaigns as Part of the Political System
   17. Rising Campaign Costs
   18. Regulating Contributions
   19. Campaign Finance Regulation in Texas
   20. Debate over Money in Politics
   21. Conclusion
10. Political Parties
    1. Introduction
    2. I. Parties in Democracy
    3. Party Roles and Functions
    4. Getting Involved
    5. Run for Office
    6. Organize Your Precinct
    7. II. Party Systems
    8. III. The History of Parties in Texas
    9. Statehood and Secession (1845–1865)
    10. Reconstruction (1865–1877)
    11. Democratic Dominance and Divisions
    12. The New Deal Alliance
    13. The Civil Rights Movement
    14. The Rise of the Republican Party
    15. IV. The Parties Today
    16. Republican Party of Texas
    17. Democratic Party of Texas
    18. Third Parties
    19. Investigation: Party Favors (Part 1 of 2)
    20. Investigation: Party Favors (Part 2 of 2)
    21. V. The Future of Party Politics in Texas
    22. Urban, Suburban, and Rural Politics
    23. Organizational Strength
    24. Conclusion
11. Interest Groups
    1. Introduction
    2. I. Interest Groups in Texas Government
    3. II. Distinguishing Interest Group Types
    4. III. What Interest Groups Do
    5. Organizing Sub-Governments
    6. IV. How They Do It: Interest Group Tools and Techniques
    7. Investigation: Making the Grade (Part 1 of 2)
    8. Investigation: Making the Grade (Part 2 of 2)
    9. Other Types of Influence
    10. Media Strategy and Public Meetings
    11. Conclusion
12. Public Policy
    1. Introduction
    2. I. The Policymaking Process
    3. II. Funding Texas
    4. Taxes and Fairness
    5. The Politics of Generating Revenue
    6. III. Health Care and Education
    7. Health and Human Services
    8. The Politics of Health Care
    9. Public Education
    10. IV. Infrastructure Issues
    11. Transportation Policy
    12. Investigation: Where the Rubber Meets the Road (Part 1 of 2)
    13. Investigation: Where the Rubber Meets the Road (Part 2 of 2)
    14. Water Policy
    15. Conclusion
13. Local Government
    1. Introduction
    2. I. Foundations of Local Government
    3. II. Municipal Government
    4. Home Rule Cities
    5. Investigation: Banning the Ban (Part 1 of 2)
    6. Investigation: Banning the Ban (Part 2 of 2)
    7. Forms of Municipal Government
    8. Municipal Revenue and Expenditures
    9. III. County Government
    10. Organization of County Government
    11. Local Government Debt
    12. IV. Special Districts
    13. Education and Municipal Utility Districts
    14. Conclusion
14. Federalism
    1. Introduction
    2. I. The Federal System
    3. Federalism and the Constitution
    4. American Federalism
    5. Cooperative Federalism
    6. II. Policy and Funding
    7. Texas vs. the United States
    8. From Conflict to Cooperation
    9. States’ Rights
    10. III. Federalism and Partisan Loyalty
    11. Parties in Government
    12. Investigation: Take the Money and Fund (Part 1 of 2)
    13. Investigation: Take the Money and Fund (Part 2 of 2)
    14. Conclusion

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Authors

James R. Henson, PhD
Texas Politics Project
University of Texas at Austin

Joshua M. Blank, PhD
Texas Politics Project
University of Texas at Austin

Publisher

Mary Jane Lindrum

Senior Editor

Jacob Caselli

Development Editor

Zara Elizabeth Crockett
Alexander Hogan
Autumn McGimsey

Photo Research

Zara Elizabeth Crockett

Illustrator

Clint McFarlin

Software Developers

David Perkowski
Matt Bennink
Carter Sowers

Investigation Author

Sharon Manna, PhD
North Lake College

Advisors

Gary Keith, PhD
University of the Incarnate Word

Jennie Linder Cunningham, MA
Texas A&M University

Contributors

Kathryn Matlack
John T. Morris
Timothy Fackler
Tracey Storey