Texas Politics (with InfoTrac)

by Kraemer, Richard H.; Newell, Charldean; Prindle, David F.

• ISBN13: 9780534631291
• ISBN10: 0534631290
• Edition: 9th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-12-21
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Compare the reality of Texas government and olitics to to the ideals of democratic theory with TEXAS POLITICS (WITH INFOTRAC). Exploring three themes: democratic ideals, conservatism, and conflict, this in-depth book introduces you to the political trends and controversial issues taking place in Texas today. This intriguing text explores everything from campaign financing to Texas's role on the international stage. This book is a must-have for anyone interested in Texas politics!

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
The Context of Texas Politics	1	(32)
Introduction	2	(1)
Texas History: A Chronology	3	(12)
The Earliest Days	3	(1)
Anglo-American Colonization	4	(1)
Revolution	4	(1)
Early Statehood	5	(1)
Post--Civil War Texas	6	(1)
The Late Nineteenth Century	7	(2)
The Early Twentieth Century	9	(1)
Wars and Depression	10	(2)
Postwar Texas	12	(1)
Gradual Political Change	13	(1)
Contemporary Texas	14	(1)
Texas as a Democracy	15	(2)
Texas and American Federalism	17	(1)
Texas in the International Arena	18	(3)
The Texas Political Culture	21	(4)
Economy, Taxes, and Services	25	(3)
The People of Texas	28	(2)
The Census	28	(2)
The Political Relevance of Population	30	(1)
The Agenda	30	(1)
Summary	31	(1)
Glossary Terms	31	(1)
Study Questions	31	(1)
Surfing the Web	32	(1)
The Constitutional Setting	33	(28)
Introduction	34	(1)
Purposes of Constitutions	35	(2)
Legitimacy	35	(1)
Organizing Government	35	(1)
Providing Power	36	(1)
Limiting Governmental Power	37	(1)
Texas Constitutions	37	(2)
The Present Texas Constitution	39	(10)
General Features	40	(2)
Specific Features	42	(5)
Amendments	47	(2)
Constitutional Revision	49	(4)
Overview of the Need for Reform	49	(1)
Recent Reform Efforts	50	(3)
Constitutional Politics	53	(5)
Something for Everyone	53	(2)
The Political Process	55	(3)
Summary	58	(1)
Glossary Terms	59	(1)
Study Questions	59	(1)
Surfing the Web	60	(1)
Interest Groups	61	(34)
Introduction	62	(1)
Interest Groups	63	(1)
Definition	63	(1)
Classification	63	(1)
Interest Groups in the Political Process	64	(18)
Who Is Organized?	64	(1)
Functions	65	(1)
Activities	65	(10)
Persuading the Public	75	(2)
Influencing Administrators and Co-opting Agencies	77	(5)
Major Interest Groups in Texas	82	(9)
Texans for Lawsuit Reform	82	(1)
Doctors	83	(1)
Lawyers	84	(1)
The Christian Right	85	(1)
The Oil and Gas Industry	86	(1)
Organized Labor	87	(1)
League of United Latin American Citizens	88	(1)
Teachers	89	(2)
Conclusion	91	(1)
Summary	92	(1)
Glossary Terms	93	(1)
Study Questions	93	(1)
Surfing the Web	93	(2)
Political Parties	95	(32)
Introduction	96	(1)
Ideology	97	(3)
Conservatism	97	(1)
Liberalism	97	(1)
Ideology In Texas	98	(2)
Political Socialization	100	(3)
Family	100	(1)
Schools and Churches	100	(2)
Media	102	(1)
Evaluation	102	(1)
Interests	103	(1)
Texas Political Parties: A Brief History	104	(4)
Functions of Political Parties	108	(2)
Party Organization	110	(8)
Temporary Party Organization	110	(4)
Permanent Party Organization	114	(1)
The (Un)importance of Party Organization	115	(3)
Two Parties, Three Factions (or Perhaps Four)	118	(4)
Republicans	118	(1)
Conservative Democrats	119	(1)
Liberal Democrats	120	(1)
The Future of the Three-Faction System	121	(1)
Third Parties in Texas	122	(2)
Summary	124	(1)
Glossary Terms	125	(1)
Study Questions	125	(1)
Surfing The Web	126	(1)
Voting, Campaigns, and Elections	127	(30)
Introduction	128	(1)
Voting	129	(3)
Why Vote?	129	(1)
Suffrage	130	(1)
Registration	131	(1)
Texas Turnout	132	(4)
Government by the People?	132	(1)
Why Don't Texans Vote?	133	(1)
The Consequences of Nonvoting	134	(2)
Election Campaigns	136	(9)
Campaign Resources	136	(8)
Negative Campaigning	144	(1)
Public Elections	145	(4)
Primary Elections	145	(2)
General Elections	147	(1)
Special Elections	148	(1)
Absentee or Early Voting	148	(1)
Elections of 1994 through 2000	149	(1)
Election of 2002	149	(4)
Election of 2004	153	(1)
Conclusion	154	(1)
Summary	154	(1)
Glossary Terms	155	(1)
Study Questions	155	(1)
Surfing the Web	156	(1)
Organization of the Texas Legislature	157	(36)
Introduction	158	(1)
Functions of Legislative Bodies	159	(3)
Formal Functions	159	(3)
Informal Functions	162	(1)
Structure of the Legislature	162	(14)
Size, Elections, and Terms	162	(2)
Sessions	164	(1)
Legislative Districts	165	(7)
Party and Factional Organization	172	(2)
Compensation	174	(2)
Membership Characteristics	176	(4)
Formal Qualifications	176	(1)
Personal Characteristics	176	(3)
Experience and Turnover	179	(1)
Internal Organization of the Legislature	180	(7)
The Presiding Officers	180	(3)
Legislative Committees	183	(3)
Legislative Staff	186	(1)
General Criticism and Suggested Reforms	187	(3)
Criticism	187	(1)
Suggested Reforms	188	(2)
Summary	190	(1)
Glossary Terms	191	(1)
Study Questions	191	(1)
Surfing the Web	191	(2)
The Legislative Process	193	(30)
Introduction	194	(1)
Power of the Presiding Officers	195	(9)
Procedural Powers	195	(7)
Institutional Powers	202	(2)
Limits on Presiding Officers	204	(2)
Personality and Ambition	204	(1)
Legislators	205	(1)
Interest Groups and State Administration	205	(1)
The Governor	206	(1)
The Electorate/ The Constituents	206	(1)
How a Bill Becomes a Law in Texas	206	(6)
Step One: Introduction and Referral	208	(1)
Step Two: Committee Action	208	(2)
Step Three: Floor Action	210	(1)
In the House: Steps One through Three Repeated	211	(1)
Step Four: Conference Committee	211	(1)
Step Five: The Governor	211	(1)
Legislative Dynamics	212	(3)
Handicaps	212	(2)
Changing Alignments	214	(1)
Evaluation and Reform	215	(4)
Assessing the Legislature	215	(3)
Suggested Reforms	218	(1)
Conclusion	218	(1)
Nonlegislative Lawmaking	219	(1)
Lawmaking by the Governor	219	(1)
Lawmaking by the Administration	219	(1)
Lawmaking by the Courts	220	(1)
Summary	220	(1)
Glossary Terms	221	(1)
Study Questions	221	(1)
Surfing the Web	222	(1)
The Governor	223	(28)
Introduction	224	(1)
Basic Structure of the Governor's Office	225	(6)
Election, Term of Office, and Tenure	225	(1)
Impeachment and Succession	226	(2)
Compensation	228	(1)
Staff and Organization	228	(3)
Qualifications for Governor	231	(3)
Formal Qualifications	231	(1)
Personal Characteristics	231	(3)
Roles of the Governor and Limits on Those Roles	234	(2)
Formal Roles and Limitations	236	(9)
Chief Executive	236	(4)
Chief Legislator	240	(3)
Commander in Chief/Top Cop	243	(1)
Chief of State	244	(1)
Chief Intergovernmental Diplomat	244	(1)
Informal Roles and Limitations	245	(3)
Chief of Party	245	(1)
Leader of the People	246	(2)
Summary	248	(1)
Glossary Terms	249	(1)
Study Questions	249	(1)
Surfing the Web	249	(2)
The Administrative State	251	(33)
Introduction	252	(1)
State Administrative Agencies	253	(8)
Agencies with Elected Executives	255	(3)
Agencies with Appointed Executives	258	(1)
Boards and Commissions	258	(3)
Big Government: How Did It Happen?	261	(4)
Postwar Growth	262	(1)
1980 On	263	(2)
Characteristics of Bureaucracy	265	(4)
Traditional Characteristics	265	(1)
Modern Characteristics	266	(3)
Bureaucratic Survival Techniques	269	(4)
Sources of Bureaucratic Power	269	(3)
Bureaucratic Involvement in the Policymaking Process	272	(1)
What Happens to the Public Interest?	273	(1)
Bureaucratic Orientation	273	(1)
Overstepping the Law	274	(1)
Harnessing the Administrative State	274	(7)
How Much Accountability to the Chief Executive?	275	(2)
How Much Accountability to the Legislature?	277	(2)
How Much Accountability to the Public?	279	(1)
Is There Accountability?	280	(1)
Suggested Reforms	281	(1)
Summary	281	(1)
Glossary Terms	282	(1)
Study Questions	282	(1)
Surfing the Web	283	(1)
The Judiciary	284	(29)
Introduction	285	(1)
The Myth of the Nonpolitical Judiciary	286	(2)
The Players in the System of Justice	288	(2)
The Attorney General (AG)	288	(2)
Lawyers	290	(1)
The State Bar of Texas	290	(1)
The Court System	290	(5)
Municipal Courts	292	(1)
Justice of the Peace (JP) Courts	292	(1)
County Courts	292	(1)
State Trial Courts: The District Courts	293	(1)
Intermediate State Appellate Courts: The Courts of Appeals	293	(1)
Highest State Appellate Courts	294	(1)
Juries	295	(1)
Grand Juries	295	(1)
Trial Juries	296	(1)
Police	296	(1)
Removal and Reprimand of Lawyers and Judges	296	(1)
Issues Facing the Texas Judiciary	297	(13)
Too Much Crime, Too Many Criminals	297	(2)
Judicial Selection	299	(1)
Partisan Elections?	299	(3)
Is Justice for Sale?	302	(1)
Equal Justice?	303	(7)
Summary	310	(1)
Glossary Terms	311	(1)
Study Questions	311	(1)
Surfing The Web	311	(2)
The Substance of Justice	313	(29)
Introduction	314	(1)
Civil Liberties	315	(10)
Freedom of Expression	315	(3)
Freedom of Religion	318	(3)
A Right to Keep and Bear Arms?	321	(2)
Abortion	323	(2)
Civil Rights	325	(7)
School Segregation	325	(1)
Education: A Basic Right?	326	(2)
Civil Rights in Modern Texas: Jasper and Tulia	328	(3)
Civil Rights for Convicted Criminals	331	(1)
Capital Punishment	332	(3)
Torts and Tort Reform	335	(4)
Conclusion	339	(1)
Summary	339	(1)
Glossary Terms	340	(1)
Study Questions	340	(1)
Surfing the Web	340	(2)
Local Government	342	(39)
Introduction	343	(1)
Counties: Horse-Drawn Buggies?	344	(12)
Historical and Legal Background	344	(1)
Organization and Operation of County Government	345	(4)
County Finance	349	(1)
County Politics	350	(2)
An Evaluation of County Government	352	(4)
Cities: Managed Environments	356	(15)
Organization of City Government	359	(5)
City Finance	364	(4)
City Politics	368	(3)
Special Districts: Our Hidden Governments	371	(4)
What Is a Special District?	372	(1)
Why Special Districts?	372	(2)
Assessment of Special Districts	374	(1)
School Districts	375	(1)
Local Government: Prospects for the Future	375	(2)
Leadership in Local Government	377	(1)
Summary	378	(1)
Glossary Terms	379	(1)
Study Questions	379	(1)
Surfing the Web	380	(1)
The State Economy and the Financing of State Government	381	(33)
Introduction	382	(1)
The Texas Economy	383	(4)
The Past	383	(2)
The Present	385	(1)
Analysis	386	(1)
Where Does the Money Come From?	387	(17)
Collection and Administration	390	(1)
Nontax Sources of Revenue	390	(3)
Taxation	393	(6)
The Tax Burden in Texas	399	(1)
The Dawn of the Twenty-first Century	399	(5)
Where Does the Money Go?	404	(7)
Planning and Preparation	405	(1)
Authorization and Appropriations	406	(1)
Execution/Spending	407	(4)
Summary	411	(1)
Glossary Terms	412	(1)
Study Questions	412	(1)
Surfing the Web	413	(1)
Issues in Public Policy	414	(31)
Introduction	415	(4)
The Business of Business	419	(5)
Modern Policy Initiatives	420	(3)
Ongoing Concerns	423	(1)
Poverty and Welfare	424	(9)
Poverty in Texas	425	(1)
The Players and the Major Programs	426	(4)
Recent Policy Developments	430	(2)
Analysis	432	(1)
Saving the Environment	433	(6)
Is There Any Water? Is It Safe to Drink?	434	(1)
Is the Air Safe to Breathe?	435	(2)
The Land: Is It Safe to Walk Here? Is There Room?	437	(1)
Analysis	438	(1)
Highways and Byways	439	(3)
The Situation	439	(1)
Actions and Analysis	440	(2)
Conclusions	442	(1)
Summary	442	(1)
Glossary Terms	443	(1)
Study Questions	443	(1)
Surfing the Web	444	(1)
The Future of Texas Politics	445	(18)
Introduction	446	(1)
The Texas Political System	447	(2)
Political Culture	447	(1)
The Inputs to the Political System	448	(1)
The Coming Challenges	449	(10)
The Economy	450	(2)
Population	452	(4)
Urban Texas	456	(1)
Preventing the Worst of All Possible Futures	457	(2)
The Future of Texas Democracy	459	(2)
Summary	461	(1)
Glossary Term	461	(1)
Study Questions	461	(1)
Surfing the Web	462	(1)
Notes	463	(18)
Glossary	481	(5)
Index	486