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