Texas Politics Today

, by Maxwell, William Earl; Crain, Ernest; Davis, Edwin S.; Flores, Elizabeth N.; Ignagni, Joseph

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ISBN: 9780534602116 | 0534602118
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 6/24/2005

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TEXAS POLITICS TODAY continues to be a best-selling overview of Texas Politics because it offers students a wide range of viewpoints, drawing on the diverse political and social perspectives of its contributing authors to give students rich, nuanced insight into the political system and decision-making processes of the Lone Star State. Current issues and candid analysis of government increase student awareness of the real effects of state policy on their lives, and encourage them to get politically involved.

Preface

Texas History, Culture, and People

(34)

Politics and Government

(13)

The Republic: 1836--1845

(1)

Early Statehood and Secession: 1846-1864

(1)

Post--Civil War Texas: 1865-1885

(1)

Progress and Reform: 1886-1913

(1)

Farmer Jim: 1914-1918

(1)

The Twenties and the Return of Farmer Jim: 1919-1928

(1)

The Great Depression: 1929-1939

(1)

``Pass the Biscuits, Pappy'': 1938-1945

(1)

Texas After World War II: 1946-1949

(1)

The 1950s

(1)

The 1960s

(1)

The 1970s

(1)

The 1980s

(1)

The 1990s

(1)

The 2000s

(2)

Cultural Regions of Texas

(8)

East Texas

(1)

Gulf Coast

(1)

South Texas

(1)

Southwest Texas

(1)

German Hill Country

(1)

West Texas

(1)

Panhandle

(1)

North Texas

(1)

Central Texas

(1)

Essay: The Texas Irish

(2)

Cultural Diversity

(2)

Conclusion

(1)

Key Terms

(1)

Review Questions

(1)

Logging On

(1)

Get Active!

(1)

Recent Developments

(8)

Essay: The Politics of Cultural Semantics by Fernando Pinon

(2)

Appendix: How Texas Compares

(5)

The Texas Constitution in Perspective

(28)

The National Constitution and the States: Federalism

(4)

Division of Powers

(2)

Limits on States

(2)

The Texas Constitution

(13)

The Texas Constitution in History

(3)

The Texas Constitution Today

(1)

Bill of Rights and Fundamental Liberty

(1)

Separation of Powers

(1)

Legislative Branch

(2)

Executive Branch

(2)

Courts

(1)

Local Government

(1)

Suffrage

(1)

Amending and Revising the Texas Constitution

(2)

The Texas Constitution Compared

(2)

Conclusion

(1)

Key Terms

(1)

Review Questions

(1)

Logging On

(1)

Get Active!

(1)

Recent Developments

(8)

Essay: Governor E. J. Davis and His Legacy for Texas by Lynn R. Brink and Charlotte A. Rike

(3)

Essay: A Square Peg in a Round Hole: The Regime of Governor Edmund J. Davis Reconsidered by Jeremy Curtoys

(4)

Voting and Elections

(40)

Political Participation

(9)

The Participation Paradox

(1)

Who Votes?

(2)

The Practice of Voting

(1)

Voter Turnout in the United States and in Texas

(3)

Reasons for Low Voter Turnout in Texas

(3)

Elections in Texas

(16)

Primary Elections

(5)

General Elections

(2)

Special Elections

(1)

The Conduct and Administration of Elections

(9)

Election Campaigns in Texas

(6)

Who Gets Elected

(1)

The General Election Campaign

(2)

Money in Political Campaigns

(3)

Conclusion

(1)

Key Terms

(1)

Review Questions

(1)

Logging On

(1)

Get Active!

(1)

Recent Developments

(6)

Essay: Electronic Voting: Savior or Destroyer of American Democracy?

(4)

Gina Ulbert

Political Parties

103

(24)

Functions of Political Parties

104

(1)

Characteristics of American Political Parties

105

(2)

Pragmatism

105

(1)

Decentralization

105

(1)

Two-Partyism

106

(1)

Development of the Texas Party System

107

(7)

The One-Party Tradition in Texas

107

(1)

Ideological Basis of Factionalism: Conservatives and Liberals

108

(1)

Conservative and Liberal Factions in the Democratic Party

109

(2)

Rise of the Republican Party

111

(1)

Conservative and Moderate Factions within the Republican Party

112

(2)

Organizational Basis of Party Machinery in Texas

114

(3)

Temporary-Party Organization

115

(1)

Permanent-Party Organization

116

(1)

A New Era of Republican Dominance

117

(3)

Conclusion

120

(1)

Key Terms

121

(1)

Review Questions

121

(1)

Logging On

121

(1)

Get Active!

121

(1)

Recent Developments

122

(5)

Essay: The 2003 Redistricting of Texas

123

(4)

David Romero

Interest Groups

127

(34)

Constitutional Guarantees

129

(1)

What Interest Groups Are

129

(1)

What Interest Groups Do

130

(1)

Direct Means of Influencing Government

131

(2)

Lobbying the Legislative and Executive Branches

131

(1)

Filing Suit in Court

132

(1)

Advising and Serving the State

133

(1)

Organizing Public Demonstrations

133

(1)

Indirect Means of Influencing Government

133

(1)

Electioneering

133

(1)

Educating the Public

133

(1)

Socializing

134

(1)

Why People Join Interest Groups

134

(1)

Types of Interest Groups

135

(2)

Economic Interest Groups

135

(1)

Noneconomic Interest Groups

135

(1)

Mixed Interest Groups

136

(1)

Factors That Affect Interest Group Power

137

(4)

Culture of Nonparticipation

137

(1)

Party Competition

137

(1)

Part-Time Legislature

137

(1)

Decentralization of Executive Branch Power

137

(1)

Law

138

(1)

The Media

138

(1)

Constituent Influence

139

(1)

Interest Groups as Checks on Interest Groups

139

(1)

Campaign Contributions

140

(1)

Conclusions About Balance in the Political System

141

(1)

The Regulation of Lobbying

142

(3)

Who Must Register and Report Lobbying Costs?

142

(1)

What Does a Lobbyist Report?

143

(2)

What Is Not Reported as Lobbying That Affects Lobbying?

145

(1)

Access to the Reports of Lobbyists

145

(1)

Reporting to Clients

145

(1)

The Craft of Lobbying

145

(3)

Before the Legislature

145

(1)

Before Administrative Agencies

146

(1)

Before the Courts

147

(1)

Which Interests Are Powerful?

148

(2)

Interest Group Dynamics and Power

150

(2)

Conclusion

152

(1)

Key Terms

153

(1)

Review Questions

153

(1)

Logging On

154

(1)

Get Active!

154

(1)

Recent Developments

155

(6)

Essay: The Texas Pro-Voucher Lobby and Its ``Influence Production'' Machine

156

(5)

Mitzi Mahoney

The Legislature: Organization and Structure

161

(24)

Geographic Districts

162

(5)

Qualifications for Membership

167

(3)

Formal Qualifications

167

(1)

Informal Qualifications

167

(3)

Organization of the Texas Legislature

170

(4)

Presiding Officers

170

(2)

Legislative Committees

172

(1)

Legislative Staff

173

(1)

Amateurism in the Texas Legislature

174

(4)

Terms

174

(1)

Compensation

175

(1)

The Limited Session

176

(2)

Conclusion

178

(1)

Key Terms

178

(1)

Review Questions

178

(1)

Logging On

179

(1)

Get Active!

179

(1)

Recent Developments

180

(5)

Essay: Are Texas Legislative Elections Competitive?

181

(4)

John David Rausch Jr.

The Legislative Process

185

(26)

Powers of the Presiding Officers

186

(15)

Procedural Tools of Leadership

186

(13)

Institutional Tools of Leadership

199

(2)

Restraints on the Powers of the Presiding Officers

201

(2)

Personality

201

(1)

The Team

201

(1)

The Lobby and Bureaucracy

201

(1)

The Governor

201

(1)

Political Climate

202

(1)

Political or Economic Ambition

202

(1)

Other Legislators

203

(1)

Conclusion

203

(1)

Key Terms

203

(1)

Review Questions

204

(1)

Logging On

204

(1)

Get Active!

205

(1)

Recent Developments

205

(6)

Essay: 5 PACs United for GOP House Groups Gave $1.7 Million for Twenty-Two Races, Winning Seventeen; Biggest Backers Driving Business Agenda

206

(2)

Christy Hoppe

Essay: Lobbyists Lining Up behind New GOP Leadership Groups Feel Heat for Backing Losers

208

(3)

Ken Herman

Dave McNeely

The Governor

211

(22)

Qualifications, Tenure, and Staff

212

(4)

Formal Qualifications

212

(1)

Informal Criteria

213

(1)

Tenure, Removal, and Succession

214

(1)

Compensation

214

(1)

Staff

214

(2)

Tools of Persuasion

216

(11)

Legislative Tools of Persuasion

217

(4)

Executive Tools of Persuasion

221

(5)

Governor as Party Chief

226

(1)

Conclusion

227

(1)

Key Terms

227

(1)

Review Questions

227

(1)

Logging On

228

(1)

Get Active!

228

(1)

Recent Developments

229

(4)

Essay: Governors and Texas Agencies

230

(3)

Patricia Caperton Parent

The Bureaucracy

233

(30)

Characteristics of Bureaucracy

234

(4)

Size

234

(2)

Neutrality

236

(1)

Hierarchy

237

(1)

Expertise

237

(1)

The Bureaucracy and Public Policy

238

(9)

Clientele Groups

238

(1)

The Legislature, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker

239

(1)

The Governor

240

(1)

The Iron Texas Star

240

(2)

Public Support

242

(1)

Expertise

242

(1)

Information

242

(1)

Administration of the Law

243

(1)

Accountability

243

(4)

The Texas Administration

247

(6)

Elected Executives

247

(3)

Appointed Executives

250

(1)

Boards and Commissions

251

(2)

Conclusion

253

(1)

Key Terms

254

(1)

Review Questions

254

(1)

Logging On

254

(1)

Get Active!

255

(1)

Recent Developments

255

(8)

Essay: Agencies and Influence: A Special Case in the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (``What a Tangled Web...'')

257

(4)

Christy Woodward Kaupert

Essay: Agencies and Influence: Another Special Case---ERCOT (The Tangled Web Redux)

261

(2)

Christy Woodward Kaupert

The Judiciary

263

(32)

Civil and Criminal Cases

265

(1)

Original and Appellate Jurisdiction

266

(1)

Court Organization

266

(11)

Municipal Courts

266

(3)

Justices of the Peace

269

(2)

County Courts

271

(1)

District Courts

271

(2)

Courts of Appeals

273

(2)

Court of Criminal Appeals

275

(1)

Supreme Court

276

(1)

Juries

277

(2)

Grand Jury

277

(1)

Petit (Trial) Jury

278

(1)

Selection of Judges

279

(1)

The Politics of Judicial Selection in Texas

280

(4)

Conclusion

284

(1)

Key Terms

285

(1)

Review Questions

285

(1)

Logging On

285

(1)

Get Active!

286

(1)

Recent Developments

287

(8)

Essay: Runaway Campaign Contributions in Texas Supreme Court Races: Causes, Impact, and Proposed Reforms

288

(7)

John C. Domino

Law and Due Process

295

(40)

Civil Law

297

(3)

Types of Civil Law

297

(1)

Issues in Civil Law

298

(2)

The Elements of Crime

300

(4)

The Crime

300

(1)

The Criminal

300

(3)

The Victim

303

(1)

Law Enforcement

304

(5)

State Agencies

304

(1)

Local Agencies

305

(1)

Prevention of Crime

305

(1)

Detection of Crime

306

(1)

Enforcement of Law

306

(1)

Gathering Evidence

306

(1)

Arrest

307

(1)

Detention

307

(2)

The Courts

309

(7)

Pretrial Court Activities

309

(2)

Formal Charges

311

(1)

Pretrial Hearings

311

(1)

Plea Bargaining

312

(1)

The Trial

312

(2)

Posttrial Proceedings

314

(1)

The Special Case of Juvenile Courts

315

(1)

Rehabilitation and Punishment

316

(3)

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

316

(2)

Clemency

318

(1)

Texas Youth Commission

318

(1)

Jails

318

(1)

Conclusion

319

(1)

Key Terms

320

(1)

Review Questions

320

(1)

Logging On

320

(1)

Get Active!

321

(1)

Recent Developments

321

(14)

Essay: Texas Is Number One! Statistics and Other Controversies in the Death Penalty Debate

323

(4)

Neal Coates

Essay: In Search of a Solution to America's Drug Problem: Will History Repeat Itself?

327

(8)

Orlando N. Bama

Taxing and Budgeting

335

(24)

Revenues

337

(10)

Taxation

338

(2)

Issues in Taxation

340

(5)

Other Revenues

345

(2)

The Budgetary Process

347

(2)

Conclusion

349

(1)

Key Terms

350

(1)

Review Questions

350

(1)

Logging On

350

(1)

Get Active!

350

(1)

Recent Developments

351

(8)

Essay: Possible Texas Tax Reforms

352

(5)

Albert Luther Ellis III

Essay: Is Texas Last? An Examination of Political Culture and Health Insurance for Children

357

(2)

Gary Tschoepe

Spending and Services

359

(30)

Education in Texas

361

(10)

Elementary and Secondary Schools

361

(2)

The Politics of Public Education

363

(5)

Higher Education

368

(3)

Health and Human Services

371

(6)

Income Support

371

(2)

Health Programs

373

(1)

Unemployment Programs

374

(1)

The Politics of ``Welfare''

375

(2)

Transportation

377

(2)

Highway Programs

377

(1)

The Politics of Transportation

378

(1)

Conclusion

379

(1)

Key Terms

379

(1)

Review Questions

379

(1)

Logging On

380

(1)

Get Active!

380

(1)

Recent Developments

381

(8)

Essay: ``Robin Hood'' Lives! Texas School Finance Reform, 2005

382

(3)

Glenn David Garrison

Essay: The Negative Impact of Texas' Fiscal Conservatism and Antigovernment Philosophy

385

(4)

Brian K. Dille

Local Government

389

(32)

Municipalities

391

(9)

Forms of Government

392

(3)

Municipal Election Systems

395

(1)

Revenue Sources and Limitations

396

(2)

Issues and Trends

398

(2)

Counties

400

(8)

Functions of Counties

401

(2)

Structure and Organization of Counties

403

(3)

Issues and Trends

406

(2)

Special-District Governments

408

(3)

Issues and Trends

409

(2)

Councils of Government

411

(1)

Conclusion

411

(1)

Key Terms

412

(1)

Review Questions

412

(1)

Logging On

412

(1)

Get Active!

413

(1)

Recent Developments

414

(7)

Essay: A Nationwide Civic Organization Promotes Local Distinctiveness

415

(2)

Rick Henderson

Essay: Ethnic Polarization: A Major Factor in Corpus Christi's At-Large Elections

417

(4)

Robert R. Bezdek

Juan Carlos Huerta

Glossary

421

(8)

Index

429

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Texas Politics Today

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials