Texas Politics Today

by MAXWELL/CRAIN

• ISBN13: 9780314127815
• ISBN10: 031412781X
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-08-11
• 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

Introduction	xi	(1)
George W. Bush
Introduction to Cyberpolitics in Texas	xii
1 Texas Culture, People, and History	1	(24)
Texas Cultural Regions	2	(5)
Politics and Government	7	(15)
ESSAY: Big Hat, No Cattle	22	(3)
Dr. Terry Spurlock
2 The Texas Constitution in Perspective	25	(24)
The National Constitution and the States: Federalism	26	(2)
The Texas Constitution	28	(13)
The Texas Constitution Compared	41	(4)
ESSAY: Governor E. J. Davis and His Legacy for Texas	45	(4)
Lynn R. Brink
Charlotte A. Rike
3 Voting and Elections	49	(32)
Political Participation	50	(10)
Elections in Texas	60	(16)
ESSAY: We Didn't Cross the Border, The Border Crossed Us	76	(5)
John Francis Burke
Adolfo Santos
4 Political Parties, Factions, and Campaigns	81	(28)
Functions of Political Parties	82	(1)
Characteristics of American Political Parties	83	(2)
Development of the Texas Party System	85	(7)
Organizational Basis of Party Machinery in Texas	92	(4)
Election Campaigns in Texas	96	(6)
Competitive Parties in Texas: A New Era	102	(4)
ESSAY: Get Involved--Influence Your Political Party	106	(3)
David Robinson
5 Interest Groups	109	(20)
Factors That Affect Interest Group Power	110	(5)
Factors That Empower Special Interests in Texas	115	(2)
Conclusions About Balance in the Political System	117	(1)
The Regulation of Lobbying	118	(4)
The Craft of Lobbying	122	(1)
Which Interests Are Powerful?	123	(3)
ESSAY: The Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce: A Profile	126	(3)
Roy E. Thoman
6 The Legislature: Organization and Structure	129	(20)
Geographic Districts	130	(2)
Qualifications for Membership	132	(4)
Organization of Texas Legislature	136	(5)
Amateurism in Texas Legislature	141	(4)
ESSAY: Women in the Texas Legislature: Seen and Heard? A Preliminary Study of Memberships and Chairmanships on "Mega" Committees	145	(4)
Linda Potter
7 The Legislative Process	149	(26)
Powers of the Presiding Officers	150	(14)
Restraints on Powers of Presiding Officers	164	(4)
ESSAY: Pete Laney, A New Breed of Speaker	168	(2)
Patricia Caperton Parent
ESSAY: A Changing of the Guard: Republicans Gain a Majority in the Texas Senate for the First Time in 125 Years	170	(5)
Thomas H. Little
8 The Governor	175	(20)
Qualifications, Tenure, and Staff	176	(4)
Tools of Persuasion	180	(11)
ESSAY: The Governor of Texas as Party Chief	191	(4)
Ted Lewis
9 The Bureaucracy	195	(26)
Characteristics of Bureaucracy	196	(4)
The Bureaucracy and Public Policy	200	(7)
The Texas Administration	207	(10)
ESSAY: Texas Performance Review	217	(4)
Charles Garofalo
10 The Judiciary	221	(24)
Civil Criminal Cases	223	(1)
Original and Appellate Jurisdiction	223	(1)
Court Organization	224	(29)
Juries	253
Selection of Judges	237	(1)
The Politics of Judical Selection in Texas	238	(4)
ESSAY: Big Money Influence in Texas Judicial Elections	242	(3)
Nasser Momayezei
11 Law and Due Process	245	(36)
Civil Law	246	(4)
The Elements of Crime	250	(5)
Law Enforcement	255	(5)
The Courts	260	(7)
Rehabilitation and Punishment	267	(4)
Conclusion	271	(2)
ESSAY: Capital Punishment, Is it Cruel and Unusual Punishment?	273	(8)
Herbert J. Bailey
12 Taxing and Budgeting	281	(22)
Revenues	282	(13)
The Budgetary Process	295	(2)
Conclusion	297	(2)
ESSAY: Property Tax Reform in Texas	299	(4)
Robert L. Peterson
13 Spending and Services	303	(26)
Education in Texas	304	(13)
Health and Human Services	317	(6)
Transportation	323	(2)
Conclusion	325	(2)
ESSAY: Community College Integration: A Brief Case Study	327	(2)
Elizabeth N. Flores
14 Local Government	329	(26)
Municipalities	331	(9)
Counties	340	(6)
Special Districts	346	(2)
Councils of Government (COGs)	348	(1)
Conclusion	348	(2)
ESSAY: Who Pays for Sports Stadiums? The Politics of Local Taxes	350	(5)
William Faegin, Jr.
Epilogue: Texas in the 21st Century	355	(10)
Appendix	365	(6)
Index	371