Texas politics : governing the Lone Star State

Cover......Page 1
Half Title......Page 2
Praise......Page 3
Title Page......Page 4
Copyright Page......Page 5
Dedication......Page 6
Brief Contents......Page 8
Table of Contents......Page 10
Special Features......Page 18
Preface......Page 21
Chapter 1: Texas and the Texans: Then And Now......Page 26
Origins and Settlements......Page 28
The Political Culture of Texas......Page 33
The Physical Geography and Early Economy of Texas......Page 35
Becoming Modern Texas......Page 40
Future Challenges......Page 44
Chapter Summary......Page 47
Suggested Readings......Page 49
Notes......Page 50
Chapter 2: The Texas Constitution and American Federalism......Page 53
Texas: A State in the American Federal System......Page 57
The Constitutional History of Texas......Page 61
The Texas Constitution Today......Page 67
Special Rights Provisions of the Texas Constitution......Page 70
The Prospects for Constitutional Reform in Texas......Page 72
Chapter Summary......Page 75
Review Questions......Page 76
Web Resources......Page 77
Notes......Page 78
Chapter 3: Political Participation in Texas: Voters, Campaigns, and Elections......Page 80
The Evolution of Suffrage in Texas......Page 83
Modern Voter Registration and Turnout......Page 90
The Decision to Vote (or Not)......Page 93
Political Campaigns......Page 100
Types of Elections in Texas......Page 108
Electoral Reform Possibilities......Page 110
Chapter Summary......Page 111
Suggested Readings......Page 112
Web Resources......Page 113
Notes......Page 114
Chapter 4: Interest Groups in Texas......Page 117
Interest Groups in Texas......Page 120
Interest Group Activities and Resources......Page 129
Interest Groups and Lobby Reform......Page 138
Chapter Summary......Page 141
Review Questions......Page 142
Web Resources......Page 143
Notes......Page 144
Chapter 5: Political Parties in Texas......Page 146
Major Party Organization in Texas......Page 148
Minor Parties, Independents, and Write-Ins......Page 153
The Evolution of Partisan Conflict in Texas......Page 155
The Partisan Politics of Redistricting in Texas......Page 163
A New Decade of Redistricting Controversy, 2011–2020......Page 168
The Future......Page 173
Chapter Summary......Page 176
Suggested Readings......Page 177
Notes......Page 178
Chapter 6: The Texas Legislature......Page 180
Service in the Texas Legislature......Page 183
Parties and Leaders in the Texas Legislature......Page 187
The Committee System......Page 196
How a Bill Becomes a Law......Page 199
Reforming the Texas Legislature......Page 206
Key Terms......Page 208
Suggested Readings......Page 209
Notes......Page 210
Chapter 7: The Governor and The Executive Branch......Page 212
The Governor......Page 216
The Plural Executive System in Texas......Page 227
Executive Branch Reform......Page 236
Chapter Summary......Page 238
Suggested Readings......Page 239
Notes......Page 240
Chapter 8: The Judicial System in Texas......Page 243
Texas Law and Justice......Page 246
The Structure of Texas Courts......Page 248
Selection of Texas Judges and Juries......Page 255
Are the Texas Courts Just?......Page 260
Judicial Reform in Texas......Page 265
Key Terms......Page 267
Web Resources......Page 268
Notes......Page 269
Chapter 9: Local Government in Texas......Page 271
Texas as a Federal System......Page 276
The Counties......Page 278
Cities and Municipalities......Page 283
Special Districts......Page 294
County and Municipal Reform......Page 296
Chapter Summary......Page 297
Suggested Readings......Page 298
Notes......Page 299
Chapter 10: Budgets and Public Policy: Revenues, Expenditures, and Policy Goals in Texas......Page 301
The Budgetary Process......Page 304
Revenues: Where the Money Comes From......Page 311
Expenditures: Where the Money Goes......Page 314
Exploring the Tax Burden in Texas......Page 324
Chapter Summary......Page 325
Suggested Readings......Page 326
Notes......Page 327
Appendix A: William Barret Travis’s Letter from the Alamo......Page 329
Appendix B: The Texas Declaration of Independence......Page 330
Appendix C: Selections from the Texas Constitution......Page 333
Glossary......Page 339
Index......Page 344