Texas Politics Today

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

• ISBN13: 9780534602116
• ISBN10: 0534602118
• Edition: 12th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-24
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Texas History, Culture, and People	1	(34)
Politics and Government	2	(13)
The Republic: 1836--1845	2	(1)
Early Statehood and Secession: 1846-1864	3	(1)
Post--Civil War Texas: 1865-1885	3	(1)
Progress and Reform: 1886-1913	4	(1)
Farmer Jim: 1914-1918	5	(1)
The Twenties and the Return of Farmer Jim: 1919-1928	6	(1)
The Great Depression: 1929-1939	7	(1)
``Pass the Biscuits, Pappy'': 1938-1945	8	(1)
Texas After World War II: 1946-1949	9	(1)
The 1950s	10	(1)
The 1960s	11	(1)
The 1970s	11	(1)
The 1980s	12	(1)
The 1990s	12	(1)
The 2000s	13	(2)
Cultural Regions of Texas	15	(8)
East Texas	16	(1)
Gulf Coast	16	(1)
South Texas	17	(1)
Southwest Texas	18	(1)
German Hill Country	19	(1)
West Texas	19	(1)
Panhandle	20	(1)
North Texas	20	(1)
Central Texas	21	(1)
Essay: The Texas Irish	21	(2)
Cultural Diversity	23	(2)
Conclusion	25	(1)
Key Terms	25	(1)
Review Questions	25	(1)
Logging On	26	(1)
Get Active!	26	(1)
Recent Developments	27	(8)
Essay: The Politics of Cultural Semantics by Fernando Pinon	28	(2)
Appendix: How Texas Compares	30	(5)
The Texas Constitution in Perspective	35	(28)
The National Constitution and the States: Federalism	36	(4)
Division of Powers	36	(2)
Limits on States	38	(2)
The Texas Constitution	40	(13)
The Texas Constitution in History	40	(3)
The Texas Constitution Today	43	(1)
Bill of Rights and Fundamental Liberty	43	(1)
Separation of Powers	44	(1)
Legislative Branch	44	(2)
Executive Branch	46	(2)
Courts	48	(1)
Local Government	48	(1)
Suffrage	49	(1)
Amending and Revising the Texas Constitution	49	(2)
The Texas Constitution Compared	51	(2)
Conclusion	53	(1)
Key Terms	53	(1)
Review Questions	54	(1)
Logging On	54	(1)
Get Active!	54	(1)
Recent Developments	55	(8)
Essay: Governor E. J. Davis and His Legacy for Texas by Lynn R. Brink and Charlotte A. Rike	56	(3)
Essay: A Square Peg in a Round Hole: The Regime of Governor Edmund J. Davis Reconsidered by Jeremy Curtoys	59	(4)
Voting and Elections	63	(40)
Political Participation	64	(9)
The Participation Paradox	64	(1)
Who Votes?	64	(2)
The Practice of Voting	66	(1)
Voter Turnout in the United States and in Texas	67	(3)
Reasons for Low Voter Turnout in Texas	70	(3)
Elections in Texas	73	(16)
Primary Elections	73	(5)
General Elections	78	(2)
Special Elections	80	(1)
The Conduct and Administration of Elections	80	(9)
Election Campaigns in Texas	89	(6)
Who Gets Elected	89	(1)
The General Election Campaign	90	(2)
Money in Political Campaigns	92	(3)
Conclusion	95	(1)
Key Terms	96	(1)
Review Questions	96	(1)
Logging On	96	(1)
Get Active!	97	(1)
Recent Developments	97	(6)
Essay: Electronic Voting: Savior or Destroyer of American Democracy?	99	(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