Texas Government, Policy and Politics

by Tannahill, Neal

• ISBN13: 9780321202826
• ISBN10: 0321202821
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

This lucid, lively, and completely up-to-date introduction to politics and government in Texas is a must read for anyone wishing to better understand this influential state on the national scene. The People, Economy, and Political Culture of Texas;The Texas Constitution; The Federal Context of Texas Policymaking; Political Participation in Texas; Interest Groups; Political Parties; Elections; The Texas Legislature; The Executive Branch; The Judicial Branch; City Government; Counties, School Districts, and Special Districts; State Budget Policy; Criminal Justice. Anyone interested in Texas politics.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Introduction The Policymaking Process	1	(1)
Learning Objectives	1	(1)
The Stages of the Policymaking Process	2	(7)
Learning Exercise: Applying the Policymaking Model to a Current Policy Issue	6	(3)
The Dynamics of the Policy Process	9	(2)
Texas Online: Texas Crime Victim Rights	11	(1)
Why Study Texas Government?	11	(2)
Textbook Organization	13	(1)
Review Questions	13	(1)
Key Terms	14	(1)
Notes	14	(1)
The People, Economy, and Political Culture of Texas	15	(20)
Learning Objectives	15	(2)
The People of Texas	17	(5)
Texas Online: Exploring Texas	20	(2)
The Texas Economy	22	(5)
Learning Exercise: The Texas Economy	27	(1)
Political Culture	27	(4)
National Perspective: Civil Unions in Vermont	30	(1)
Conclusion: The Socioeconomic Context of Policymaking	31	(2)
Getting Involved: Volunteering	32	(1)
Review Questions	33	(1)
Key Terms	33	(1)
Notes	33	(2)
Texas Constitution	35	(26)
Learning Objectives	35	(2)
State Constitutions	37	(2)
Getting Involved: Joining a Student Club or Organization	38	(1)
Background of the Texas Constitution	39	(4)
Constitutional Convention of 1875	43	(2)
Overview of the Texas Constitution	45	(2)
Texas Online: The Texas Constitution Online	46	(1)
Constitutional Change	47	(8)
Learning Exercise: Predicting Amendment Success	51	(3)
National Perspective: Constitutional Revision in Alabama	54	(1)
Civil Liberties and the Texas Constitution	55	(1)
Conclusion: The Constitutional Context of Policymaking in Texas	56	(2)
Review Questions	58	(1)
Key Terms	58	(1)
Notes	58	(3)
The Federal Context of Texas Policymaking	61	(22)
Learning Objectives	61	(2)
Role of the States in the Federal System	63	(2)
National Perspective: Drilling for Oil in Alaska	64	(1)
States, the Courts, and the Constitution	65	(4)
Getting Involved: Contacting Your Representative in Washington, D.C.	68	(1)
States and Federal Law	69	(2)
Federal Grant Programs	71	(7)
Texas Online: The Texas Office of State-Federal Relations	72	(5)
Learning Exercise: Texas in the Federal System	77	(1)
Conclusion: The Federal Context of Policymaking in Texas	78	(2)
Review Questions	80	(1)
Key Terms	80	(1)
Notes	80	(3)
Political Participation	83	(22)
Learning Objectives	83	(2)
Voting Rights and Minority Participation	85	(5)
Participation in Texas Politics	90	(10)
Texas Online: Online Voter Registration	91	(3)
National Perspective: Mail Voting in Oregon	94	(4)
Learning Exercise: Participation Interview	98	(2)
Conclusion: Participation and Policymaking	100	(3)
Getting Involved: Become a Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrar	101	(2)
Review Questions	103	(1)
Key Terms	103	(1)
Notes	104	(1)
Interest Groups	105	(24)
Learning Objectives	105	(2)
Interest Groups in Texas Politics	107	(10)
Texas Online: Texas Interest Groups	112	(2)
Getting Involved: Joining a Group	114	(3)
Interest Group Tactics	117	(6)
National Perspective: Campaign Contribution Limits in Minnesota	120	(3)
Learning Exercise: Group Political Action	123	(1)
Conclusion: Interest Groups and Policymaking	123	(3)
Review Questions	126	(1)
Key Terms	126	(1)
Notes	127	(2)
Political Parties	129	(26)
Learning Objectives	129	(2)
The Party System	131	(1)
Party Organization	131	(5)
National Perspective: Minor Parties in New York	132	(4)
Texas Online: Political Parties in Texas	136	(1)
History of the Texas Party System	136	(4)
The Party Balance	140	(1)
Voting Patterns	141	(1)
Interest Group-Political Party Alliances	142	(1)
Issue Orientation	143	(5)
Learning Exercise: Party Platforms and Support Groups	144	(4)
The Impact of Partisan Change	148	(2)
Getting Involved: Volunteer to Support Your Political Party	149	(1)
The Future of Party Politics in Texas	150	(1)
Conclusion: Political Parties and Policymaking	151	(2)
Review Questions	153	(1)
Key Terms	153	(1)
Notes	154	(1)
Elections	155	(32)
Learning Objectives	155	(1)
The Long Ballot	156	(1)
Types of Elections	157	(8)
National Perspective: The Open Primary in Louisiana	163	(2)
Election Districts	165	(1)
Redistricting	166	(7)
Learning Exercise: Do-It-Yourself Gerrymandering	170	(3)
Money	173	(3)
Texas Online: Follow the Money	175	(1)
Campaigns	176	(1)
The Voters Decide	177	(4)
Getting Involved: Campaigning	181	(1)
Conclusion: Elections and Policymaking	181	(2)
Review Questions	183	(1)
Key Terms	183	(1)
Notes	184	(3)
The Texas Legislature	187	(32)
Learning Objectives	187	(2)
Structure	189	(2)
Membership	191	(5)
Organization	196	(6)
National Perspective: Repealing Term Limits in Idaho	197	(5)
The Legislative Process	202	(6)
Texas Online: Tracking Legislation Online	207	(1)
Legislative Policymaking	208	(6)
Learning Exercise: Know Your Legislators	212	(2)
Getting Involved: Contacting Your State Legislators	214	(1)
Conclusion: The Legislature and the Policymaking Process	214	(1)
Review Questions	215	(1)
Key Terms	216	(1)
Notes	216	(3)
Executive Branch	219	(30)
Learning Objectives	219	(2)
The Governor	221	(11)
Getting Involved: Forming a Study Group	222	(10)
The Executive Bureaucracy	232	(10)
Learning Exercise: Profile of a State Agency	236	(3)
Texas Online: The Textbook Debate	239	(1)
National Perspective: Electricity Deregulation in California	240	(2)
Politics and Administration	242	(4)
Conclusion: The Executive Branch and the Policymaking Process	246	(1)
Review Questions	247	(1)
Key Terms	247	(1)
Notes	247	(2)
Judicial Branch	249	(28)
Learning Objectives	249	(1)
Types of Legal Disputes	250	(2)
Court Procedures	252	(2)
The Texas Court System	254	(7)
Learning Exercise: Small Claims Court in Action	257	(3)
Texas Online: The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals	260	(1)
Judges	261	(2)
Judicial Selection	263	(7)
National Perspective: Drug Courts in Florida	269	(1)
Conclusion: The Judicial Branch and the Policymaking Process	270	(3)
Getting Involved: Volunteer to Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate	271	(2)
Review Questions	273	(1)
Key Terms	273	(1)
Notes	274	(3)
City Government	277	(32)
Learning Objectives	277	(3)
Legal Status of Texas Cities	280	(2)
Forms of City Government	282	(5)
Election Systems	287	(4)
National Perspective: Municipal Elections in New York City	289	(2)
Public Policies in Texas Cities	291	(11)
Learning Exercise: Profile of a City Government	292	(7)
Texas Online: Texas Cities	299	(3)
City Politics in Texas	302	(3)
Getting Involved: Contacting City Officials	303	(2)
Conclusion: City Government and Policymaking	305	(1)
Review Questions	305	(1)
Key Terms	305	(1)
Notes	306	(3)
Counties, School Districts, and Special Districts	309	(32)
Learning Objectives	309	(2)
County Government	311	(12)
Texas Online: Counties Online	318	(4)
National Perspective: Local Government Consolidation in Indiana	322	(1)
School Districts	323	(11)
Getting Involved: Helping a Child Learn	331	(1)
Learning Exercise: Comparing School Districts	332	(2)
Special Districts	334	(3)
Conclusion: Local Government and Public Policy	337	(1)
Review Questions	338	(1)
Key Terms	338	(1)
Notes	339	(2)
State Budget Policy	341	(38)
Learning Objectives	341	(2)
Revenues	343	(14)
Texas Online: Sales Tax Information Online	345	(4)
National Perspective: The HOPE Scholarship in Georgia	349	(8)
Expenditures	357	(9)
Getting Involved: Appealing a Property Appraisal	364	(2)
The Budget Process	366	(5)
Learning Exercise: Trends in State Finance	371	(1)
Conclusion: Budgetary Policymaking	371	(4)
Review Questions	375	(1)
Key Terms	376	(1)
Notes	376	(3)
Glossary	379	(10)
Photo Credits	389	(2)
Index	391