Inside Texas politics power, policy, and personality of the lone star state

Cover......Page 1
Inside Texas Politics......Page 2
Inside Texas Politics: Power, Policy, And Personality Of The Lone Star State......Page 4
Dedication......Page 6
Brief Contents......Page 8
Contents......Page 9
About the Author......Page 17
Preface......Page 18
Chapter 1: The Struggle for Texas: Demographics, Culture, and Political Power......Page 23
  Native Americans......Page 25
  Tejanos......Page 27
  African Americans......Page 28
 Continuity and Change in the Texas Economy......Page 29
  Fuel......Page 30
  High Tech......Page 32
  Great Texas Political Debates: Raising the Minimum Wage......Page 34
  State Population Growth......Page 36
  Is It Bigger in Texas? US States with the Largest Population Increases, 2000–2010......Page 37
  Racial and Ethnic Trends in Texas......Page 39
  Challenges of Shifting Racial and Ethnic Trends......Page 41
  Challenges of an Aging Texas......Page 43
  Insider Interview: Joe Holley, Houston Chronicle Writer......Page 44
  Individualistic Political Culture......Page 46
  Traditionalistic Political Culture......Page 47
  Culture Conflicts......Page 49
 The Insider View......Page 51
Chapter 2: The Texas Constitution......Page 53
 Constitutional Government......Page 55
 The Roots of Rebellion and the Declaration of Independence......Page 56
 The 1836 Constitution of the Republic......Page 59
 The 1845 Constitution of the (New) State of Texas......Page 61
 Secession, Reconstruction, and the Constitutions of 1861, 1866, and 1869......Page 63
  The 1866 Constitution—“The Readmission Constitution”......Page 65
  The 1869 Constitution—“The Reconstruction Constitution”......Page 66
  The Crafting of the 1876 Constitution......Page 68
  Principles of the Texas Constitution......Page 69
  Insider Interview: Former Chief Justice Tom Phillips......Page 71
  Great Texas Political Debates: Confederate Flag License Plates and the Battle over Free Speech......Page 73
  Constitutional Amendments......Page 74
  Recent Major Reform Attempts......Page 80
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Number of Words in State Constitutions......Page 81
  Angles of Power: Debates About Amending the Constitution......Page 82
 The Insider View......Page 84
Chapter 3: Federalism......Page 87
 Organizing the Constitutional System......Page 89
  The Supremacy Clause......Page 90
  Enumerated and Implied Powers......Page 91
  Concurrent Powers......Page 93
  Full Faith and Credit......Page 94
  A Stronger Central Government......Page 95
  Policy Innovation......Page 96
  Trust in Levels of Government......Page 98
 Texas and Federal Funding......Page 99
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Federal Aid as a Percentage of General Revenue......Page 100
  Cooperative Federalism......Page 104
  New Federalism......Page 105
  Coercive Federalism......Page 106
  Insider Interview: George Kelleman, President of the Texas Retailers Association......Page 107
  Texas Versus Washington......Page 109
  Tidelands Controversy......Page 111
  Voter Identification at Election Places......Page 112
  Great Texas Political Debates: Sanctuary Cities......Page 113
 The Insider View......Page 114
Chapter 4: Voting and Elections......Page 117
  Registration......Page 119
  Early Voting......Page 120
  Election Day......Page 122
  Literacy Tests......Page 124
  White Primary......Page 125
  Angles of Power: Political Machines......Page 126
  African Americans......Page 128
  Women......Page 130
  Asian Americans......Page 132
  Why Texans Don’t Vote......Page 133
  Social Pressure and Political Socialization......Page 134
  How Can Voter Turnout be Increased?......Page 135
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Voter Turnout by State, 2016......Page 136
  Voter ID......Page 137
 How to Campaign, Texas Style......Page 138
  Negative Campaigning......Page 139
  Courting the Base......Page 140
  Funding Elections......Page 141
  Money and Election Outcomes......Page 144
  Parties and Straight Ticket Voting......Page 146
  Great Texas Political Debates: Straight Ticket Voting......Page 148
  Will Texas Turn Blue?......Page 149
 The Insider View......Page 150
Chapter 5: Political Parties: Texas in Blue and Red......Page 153
  Simplifying Electoral Choices......Page 155
  Mobilizing Voters......Page 156
  Articulating Interests......Page 157
  Precinct Chairs......Page 158
  State Party Chair......Page 159
  State Party Platforms......Page 160
  Democratic Reign in the Postbellum Era......Page 162
  The Decline of the Democrats......Page 163
  The Rise of the Republicans......Page 165
  Tea Party......Page 167
  Lessons from Texas Party Politics......Page 170
  Insider Interview: Jared Woodfill, Former Harris County Republican Party Chair......Page 171
  Redistricting and Party Competition......Page 172
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Party Competition, 1972–2015......Page 173
  The 2001 and 2003 Redistricting Battles: The Drama Begins......Page 175
  Redistricting in 2013: Back to Court......Page 176
  Party Switching......Page 178
  Great Texas Political Debates: Switching Parties......Page 179
  La Raza Unida Party......Page 180
  Libertarian Party of Texas......Page 181
  Independents......Page 182
 The Insider View......Page 183
Chapter 6: Interest Groups......Page 185
  Elite Theory......Page 188
  Which Theory Fits Texas?......Page 189
  The Free Rider Problem......Page 190
  Selective Benefits......Page 191
  Trade Associations and Professional Organizations......Page 192
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Rates of Union Membership......Page 193
  Identity Groups......Page 194
  Government Interests......Page 195
  Citizen Campaigns......Page 196
  Electioneering......Page 197
  Lobbying the Courts, the Legislature, and the Executive Branch......Page 199
  What Lobbyists Do......Page 200
  Insider Interview: Andrea McWilliams, co-founder of McWilliams Government Affairs Consultants......Page 204
  Iron Triangles in Texas......Page 205
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Number of Years Elected Officials Must Wait Before Becoming Lobbyists......Page 206
 Scandals and Reforms......Page 207
  The 1991 Reforms......Page 208
  “A Session of Ethics”......Page 209
  Texas Ethics Commission......Page 210
  Recusal......Page 213
 The Insider View......Page 214
Chapter 7: The Legislature......Page 217
  Powers of the Legislature......Page 219
  Texas House v. Senate......Page 220
  Credit Claiming......Page 222
  The Legislative Session......Page 224
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Length of Legislative Session......Page 226
  Salary......Page 227
  Incumbency and Turnover......Page 228
  The Committee System......Page 230
  Speaker of the House......Page 231
 The Legislative Process......Page 233
  On the Floor......Page 235
  In Conference Committee......Page 236
  The Real Enemy: The Calendar......Page 237
  Rules Rule the Chambers......Page 238
  Angles of Power: Politics Sometimes Makes Unlikely Bedfellows......Page 239
 Working Together......Page 240
  Slowing It Down......Page 241
  Increasing Partisanship......Page 245
  Women Legislators......Page 247
  Race, Religion, and Other Factors......Page 249
 The Insider View......Page 250
Chapter 8: Governors of Texas......Page 253
  Eligibility......Page 255
  Terms......Page 256
  Removal from Office......Page 257
  Succession......Page 258
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Governor Staff Size......Page 259
  Execution of Laws......Page 260
  Appointment Powers......Page 262
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Unilateral Executive Orders by Governor in Select States......Page 263
  Legislative Powers......Page 265
  Military Powers......Page 270
  Judicial Powers: Pardon and Clemency......Page 271
  Legislative Bargaining......Page 272
  Insider Interview: Former Democratic Governor Mark White......Page 273
  Agenda Setting......Page 274
  Great Texas Political Debates: Personal Relations Between Governors and Lieutenant Governors......Page 275
  Appointees......Page 281
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Map of Gubernatorial Power......Page 282
  Criticisms and Reforms......Page 283
 The Insider View......Page 285
Chapter 9: The Plural Executive and the Bureaucracy......Page 287
 Bureaucracy in Texas......Page 289
  What the Texas Bureaucracy Does......Page 290
  Is It Bigger in Texas? State Employees Per 10,000 Residents, 2015......Page 291
  The Structure of the Texas Bureaucracy......Page 293
  Lieutenant Governor......Page 294
  Angles of Power: The Power of the Lieutenant Governor Beyond Politics......Page 296
  Insider Interview: Bill Hobby, Former Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Texas......Page 297
  Attorney General......Page 299
  Is It Bigger in Texas? State Attorneys General Cases Filed, 1980–2013......Page 300
  Comptroller of Public Accounts......Page 303
  Commissioner of the General Land Office......Page 304
  Agriculture Commissioner......Page 305
  Plural Executive Feuds......Page 306
  Secretary of State......Page 307
  Department of Insurance......Page 308
  Department of Transportation......Page 309
  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality......Page 310
  Texas Railroad Commission......Page 311
  State Board of Education......Page 312
  Selection of the Bureaucracy......Page 313
  Sluggish Policymaking......Page 314
  Oversight and Change......Page 316
  Great Texas Political Debates: Sunset Sunset?......Page 318
 The Insider View......Page 320
Chapter 10: The Texas Judiciary......Page 323
  Dispensing Justice......Page 325
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Total Trial Courts......Page 327
  Interpreting the Law......Page 328
 Trial Courts......Page 329
  Local Courts......Page 330
  State District Courts......Page 332
 Appellate Courts......Page 333
  Appellate Courts of Last Resort......Page 335
 Quality of Justice in Texas......Page 337
  Length of Court Cases......Page 338
  Salary: Underpaid Judges?......Page 339
  Turnover of Judges......Page 340
  Access to Justice......Page 341
  Judicial Selection in Texas......Page 342
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Primary Judicial Selection Process by State......Page 343
  Insider Interview: Former Chief Justice Tom Philips......Page 344
  Judicial Qualifications......Page 345
  Problems with Partisan Elections......Page 346
  Great Texas Political Debates: The First Negative Judicial Race......Page 348
 Who Are the Justices?......Page 351
  Hispanics......Page 353
  Public Financing of Elections......Page 354
  Merit Selection......Page 355
 The Insider View......Page 356
Chapter 11: Criminal Justice......Page 359
 Texan Justice......Page 362
  Victim Rights......Page 363
 Types of Crimes......Page 364
  Misdemeanors......Page 365
  Drug Crimes......Page 366
  Pretrial......Page 367
  Trial......Page 368
  Punishment......Page 369
  Angles of Power: Race and Finances in the Texas Prison System......Page 370
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Comparing State Community Supervision Populations......Page 371
  Incarceration......Page 372
  Is It Bigger in Texas? State and Federal Prisoners under Jurisdiction of Correctional Authorities......Page 373
  Great Texas Political Debates: Prison Conditions in Texas......Page 376
  Death Penalty......Page 377
  Restricted Licensing, Employment, and Access to Programs......Page 380
  Parole......Page 381
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Restrictions on Voting Post felony by State......Page 382
  Alternatives to Incarceration......Page 383
  Insider Interview: Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Cathy Cochran......Page 384
  Death Penalty Reform......Page 385
 The Insider View......Page 386
Chapter 12: Local Government......Page 389
  Dillon’s Rule......Page 391
  Local Regulation......Page 392
  Angles of Power: Holding Out for a HERO......Page 393
 County Government......Page 394
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Number of Local Governments......Page 395
  County Sheriff......Page 396
  County Administrators......Page 397
  General Law Cities......Page 398
  Home Rule Cities......Page 399
  Insider Interview: Local Activist Barry Klein, Texas Property Rights Association......Page 400
  Mayor-Council System......Page 402
  Commission Government......Page 403
  Council-Manager System......Page 404
  School Districts......Page 406
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Special Purpose Districts Nationwide......Page 407
  Library Districts......Page 408
  Homeowners’ Associations......Page 409
  City Elections......Page 410
  Low Turnout in Municipal Elections......Page 411
  Local Governments Short on Cash......Page 413
  Rising Debt......Page 415
  Sprawl......Page 418
  Pensions......Page 419
 The Insider View......Page 420
Chapter 13: Budget, Finances, and Policy......Page 423
  Sales Tax......Page 425
  Is It Bigger in Texas? State and Local Sales Taxes, 2016......Page 427
  Property Tax......Page 428
  Oil and Natural Gas Taxes......Page 429
  Sin Taxes......Page 430
  The Rainy Day and Other Funds......Page 431
  Debates Over Taxes......Page 432
  Budget Limitations......Page 434
  Budget Players and Process......Page 435
 Health Care and Welfare......Page 440
  Insider Interview: Eva DeLuna Castro, State Budget Analyst, Center for Public Policy Priorities......Page 441
  Medicaid......Page 442
  The Affordable Care Act......Page 443
  Is It Bigger in Texas? Health Care Sign Ups......Page 444
  Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)......Page 445
  Workers’ Compensation......Page 446
 Immigration and Border Security......Page 447
  School Finance......Page 449
  Angles of Power: School Finance......Page 450
  Teacher, Student, and School Performance......Page 452
  Diversity in Public Education......Page 453
  Higher Education......Page 455
  Water......Page 457
  Energy Sources......Page 459
 The Insider View......Page 461
Glossary......Page 463
Notes......Page 469
Credits......Page 489
Index......Page 492