Lone Star Politics

Tradition and Transformation in Texas
5. Revised Auflage 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5063-4629-8
Verlag: SAGE Publications Inc

Buch, Englisch, 592 Seiten, Format (B × H): 203 mm x 251 mm, Gewicht: 898 g

In Texas, myth often clashes with the reality of everyday governance. This Fifth Edition expands its coverage of civil rights in the state, and includes the contemporary issues that highlight the push and pull between federal, state, and local governments. Critical thinking questions and unvarnished “Winners and Losers” discussions guide students toward understanding Texas government and assessing the state’s political landscape.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Collier, Ken

Galatas, Steven E.

Harrelson-Stephens, Julie D.

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Chapter 1: Introduction
Texas Geography
History: The Birth of Texas Traditions
Mexican Independence
The Texas Revolution
The Republic of Texas
Texas Statehood
Texas in the Confederacy
Reconstruction in Texas
The End of Reconstruction and Rise of the "Redeemers"
Era of Reform
The Great Depression and the New Deal in Texas
Transitions to the Twenty-first Century
Texas Today
A Tradition of Change
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Chapter 2: Texas Constitution
Constitutional Government
The Federal System of the United States
Vertical Federalism
Horizontal Federalism
The Evolving Idea of Federalism
Texas Constitutions
Immigrant Rights
The Republic of Texas: The Constitution of 1836
Statehood: The Constitution of 1845
Secession and the Confederacy: The Constitution of 1861
The First Reconstruction: The Constitution of 1866
The Second Reconstruction: The Constitution of 1869
The Current System: The Constitution of 1876
Individual Freedom
The Legislative Branch
The Executive Branch
The Texas Judiciary
Civil Rights in Texas
Distrust of Government
Criticisms of the Texas Constitution
Amending the Constitution
Constitutional Revision
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Chapter 3: Texas Legislature
The Texas Legislature in Context
Typologies of State Legislatures
Qualifications for Office and Length of Terms
Representation: Theories and Demographics
Winners and Losers
Electing the State Legislature
Single-Member District versus Multi-Member District
Legislature Size and Population Size
Legislative Sessions
The Redistricting Process
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Chapter 4: Legislative Organization and Process
Legislative Organization
Presiding Officers
Political Parties in Texas Legislative Organization
Special Legislative Caucuses
Committees
Winners and Losers
Legislative Process
Introducing Bills in the Legislature
Introducing Resolutions in the Legislature
Legislation in Committee
Debate in the Legislature
Voting on Passage
Trends in Legislative Activity
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Chapter 5: Texas Governors
The Office of the Governor
Qualifications
Terms
Succession
Compensation
Impeachment
Powers of the Governor
Executive Roles
Legislative Roles
Judicial Roles
Other Roles
Military Roles
Texas Governor: Weak?
Informal Powers
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Chapter 6: The Plural Executive and Bureaucracy in Texas
The Plural Executive
Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Agriculture Commissioner
Land Commissioner
Secretary of State
Boards and Commissions
Texas Department of Transportation
Department of State Health Serivces
Railroad Commission of Texas
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
State Board of Education
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Staffing the State Government
Bureaucratic Accountability
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Chapter 7: Texas Judicial System
Judicial Federalism and Texas Courts
Local Trial Courts
Municipal Courts
Justice of the Peace Courts
County-Level Trial Courts
Constitutional County Courts
County Courts at Law and Statutory Probate Cases
District Courts (State-Level Trial Courts)
Appellate Courts
Courts of Appeals (Intermediate Appellate Courts)
Texas's Highest Appellate Courts: The Court of Criminal Appeals and the Supreme Court
Judicial Selection
Judicial Appointment
Judicial Removal
Texas Judges
Problems with the Texas Judiciary
Alternative Systems of Judicial Selection: Appointment and Merit
Criminal Justice in Texas
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Chapter 8: Texas-Sized Justice
Justice in Texas
Incarceration in Texas
Shift to Rehabilitation
Prison Conditions
Privatization of Prisons
Rights of the Accused
Law and Punishment
Tort Reform
Castle Doctrine
Capital Punishment
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Chapter 9: Campaigns and Elections, Texas Style
Democracy, Representation, and Elections in Texas
Voter Qualifications and Registration
Voting Rights in Texas
Legal Barriers to Voting in Post-Reconstruction Texas
Eliminating Barriers to Voting for African Americans
Hispanics and Voting Rights
Voting Rights for Women, Members of the Armed Forces, and Younger Voters
Winners and Losers
Types of Elections in Texas
Primary Elections versus General Elections
Direct Democracy Elections
Too Much Democracy?
Voting, Voter Registration, and Turnout
Electronic Voting in Texas
Contemporary Voter Registration and Turnout
Who Votes?
Electoral Competition in Texas Elections
Campaigns in Texas History
Campaigns in Texas Today
Campaign Finance in Texas
Regulating Campaign Finance
Contribution Disclosure
Judicial Campaign Contributions
Campaign Spending
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Chapter 10: Political Parties
The Development of Political Parties in Texas
Parties, Competition, and Voter Participation
Political Parties in Texas
Party Loyalty and Identification
Functions of Parties
The Consequences of Weak Parties
Party Organizations
Local Parties
State Parties
Nominating Presidential Candidates
The State Parties and the National Parties
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Chapter 11: Organized Interests
Organized Interests in Texas Politics
Interest Group Formation
Types of Interests in Texas
What Organized Interests Contribute to the Political Process
Influencing Policy in Texas through Organized Interests
Organized Interests' Spending on Elections
From Activism and Litigation to Lobbying
Lobbying Regulation
Lobbyists' Relationship with Texas Legislators
The Relationship between Organized Interests and Parties
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Ch 12: Local Government in Texas
Local Government: The Basics
County Government, Texas-Style
History and Function of Counties in Texas
Governing Texas Counties
County Finances and Operations
Cities
Forms of City Government
City Elections
Issues in City Government
Homeowners Associations: Not Quite a Government, but Close
Other Forms of Local Government
Special Districts
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Chapter 13: Fiscal Policy
The Policymaking Process
Sources of State Revenue: Taxes
Taxes in Texas History
State Taxes Today
Property Taxes
Winners and Losers
Sources of State Revenue: Other Resources
Federal Grants
Interest, Licensing, and Lottery Funds
Spending and Budgeting
State Budgeting
State Spending
The Rainy Day Fund
The Legislative Budget Board
Fiscal Policy Tools
Tax Expenditures
Subsidies
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Chapter 14: Social Policy, Education, Health, and Immigration
Education Policy
Public Education in Grades K-12
Funding for K-12
Accountability and Reform in K-12
Winners and Losers
Higher Education
Access to Higher Education
Costs of Higher Education
Accountability in Higher Education
Universities' Other Contributions
Winners and Losers
Health and Human Services
Social Welfare Programs
Health Care
Winners and Losers
Immigration Policy
Costs and Benefits of Undocumented Workers
Winners and Losers
Conclusion
Chapter 15: Transforming Texas: Energy, Environment, and Transportation
Oil and Gas in Texas
Oil's Influence in Texas
The Natural Gas Boom and Fracking
Environmental Policy
Texas Air Quality
Water and Scarcity
Alternative Energy
Hazardous Waste
Winners and Losers
Transportation Policy
Railroads
Roads
Mass Transit
Winners and Losers
Conclusion

Über Autor(innen)

Harrelson-Stephens, Julie D.
Julie Harrelson-Stephens is an associate professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, with a PhD from the University of North Texas. She has co-edited, with Rhonda L. Callaway, Exploring International Human Rights: Essential Readings and has been published in Conflict and Terrorism, PS: Political Science and Politics, Human Rights Review, and International Interactions. Her primary research interests include human rights, regime theory, and the Texas governor.

Galatas, Steven E.
Steven Galatas is an associate professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, with a PhD from the University of Missouri. He has published articles in Journal of Politics, Public Choice, Party Politics, Politics and Policy, and PS: Political Science and Politics. His research and teaching concern comparative elections, voting behavior, and Texas judicial and legislative elections.

Collier, Ken
Ken Collier is a professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, with a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of Between the Branches: The White House Office of Legislative Affairs and Speechwriting in the Institutionalized Presidency: Whose Line Is It? He has published articles in such journals as Journal of Politics, White House Studies, Presidential Studies Quarterly, Public Choice, and Social Science Quarterly. His research and teaching currently focus on presidential speechwriting and Texas politics.