Inside Texas Politics
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Home > Society and Social Sciences > Politics and government > Inside Texas Politics: Power, Policy, and Personality in the Lone Star State
Inside Texas Politics: Power, Policy, and Personality in the Lone Star State

Inside Texas Politics: Power, Policy, and Personality in the Lone Star State


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About the Book

The fourth edition of Inside Texas Politics provides an exciting insider's perspective on the world of Texas government. The book's focus on how power struggles have shaped Texas institutions and political processes offers a fresh perspective that differentiates it from all other texts on the market. Brandon Rottinghaus, a well-known political scholar, media commentator, and Dallas native, fills the text with his own insider anecdotes, making Inside Texas Politics, Fourth Edition, fun and relevant for today's students. The text's visual representations of data help students foster the skills they need in order to understand and think critically about the political world around them. Inside Texas Politics is now available as a 2025 digital-only update that incorporates essential new content reflecting the current state of the field. Oxford University Press understands the need for current coverage in Political Science courses and strives to provide instructors and students with the most up-to-date information shaping their course of study.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents About the Authors Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Cultural, Demographic and Political Trends 1.1 The Origins of Texas Native Americans Spanish Settlers Tejanos Anglos Angles of Power: The Benefits and Challenges of Diversity African Americans 1.2 Continuity and Change in the Texas Economy Food and Fiber Fuel King Cattle (And Other Four-Legged Friends) Manufacturing Military and Defense Industries High Tech Health Care Recreation and Retirements Assessing the Texas Economy Great Texas Political Debates: Access on State Documents 1.3 Continuity and Change in the Texas Demographics State Population Growth Is it Bigger in Texas: States with the Largest Population Increases Challenges of Population Growth Racial and Ethnic Trends in Texas Challenges of Shifting Racial and Ethnic Trends An Aging State Challenges of an Aging Texas 1.4 Continuity and Change in Texas Political Culture Insider Interview: Joe Holley, Houston Chronicle Writer Individualistic Political Culture Traditionalistic Political Culture Culture Conflicts Chapter 2: The Texas Constitution 2.1 Constitutional Government 2.2 The Roots of Rebellion and the Declaration of Independence 2.3 The 1836 Constitution of the Republic 2.4 The 1845 Constitution of the (New) State of Texas 2.5 Succession, Reconstruction, and the Constitutions of 1861, 1866 and 1869 The 1861 Constitution --"The Confederacy Constitution" The 1866 Constitution --"The Readmission Constitution" The 1869 Constitution --"The Reconstruction Constitution" 2.6 The Constitution of 1876--The Current Constitution The Crafting of the 1876 Constitution Principles of the Texas Constitution Insider Interview: Former Chief Justice Tom Philips Great Texas Political Debates: Confederate Flag License Plates and the Battle over Free Speech 2.7 Amending the Constitution Constitutional Amendments Recent Major Reform Attempts Is it Bigger in Texas: Number of Words in State Constitutions Angles of Power: Debates About Amending the Constitution Chapter 3: Federalism 3.1 Organizing the Constitutional System The Supremacy Clause Enumerated and Implied Powers Reserved Powers Concurrent Powers Full Faith and Credit 3.2 Advantages of Federalism A Stronger Central Government Angles of Power: Texas, the Military, and Jade Helm Representation Policy Innovation Trust in Levels of Government 3.3 Texas and Federal Funding Is It Bigger in Texas: Federal Aid as a Percentage of General Revenue 3.4 Styles of Federalism Dual Federalism Cooperative Federalism New Federalism Coercive Federalism Insider Interview: Michael C. Massengale, Appeals Court Judge 3.5 Texas and Conflicts Over Federalism Texas Versus Washington Tidelands Controversy Red River Border Dispute Immigration Great Texas Political Debates: Sanctuary Cities Voter Identification at Election Places Common Core Education Standards Chapter 4: Voting and Elections 4.1 Voting in Texas Registration Types of Elections Early Voting Mobile Voting Election Day Administration 4.2 Suffrage Struggles and Their Consequences Literacy Tests Poll Tax White Primary Hispanics Angles of Power: Political Machines Insider Interview: Victor Morales, U.S. Senatorial Candidate in 1996, US House Candidate in 1998 African Americans Women Asian Americans 4.3 Voter Turnout in Texas Why Texans Don't Vote Social Pressure and Political Socialization Is It Bigger in Texas: Voter Turnout By State, 2016 How Can Voter Turnout be Increased? Voter ID 4.4 How to Campaign, Texas Style Building Campaign Infrastructure Image, Limelight, and the Media Negative Campaigning Courting the Base Microtargeting Surfing National Trends Funding Elections 4.5 Who Wins and Why Money and Election Outcomes Parties and Straight Ticket Voting Incumbents and Voter Turnout Great Texas Political Debates: "No Excuse" Mail Voting The Electoral System Will Texas Turn Blue? Chapter 5: Political Parties: Texas in Blue and Red 5.1 The Functions of Parties Simplifying Electoral Choices Recruiting Candidates Mobilizing Voters Articulating Interests Organizing Government 5.2 Party Organization Precinct Chairs County Party Chairs State Party Chair Party Executive Committees Party Conventions State Party Platforms 5.3 Rise and Fall of Political Parties in Texas Democratic Reign in the Postbellum Era The Decline of the Democrats The Rise of the Republicans Tea Party Fissures in the Republican Party Lessons from Texas Party Politics Insider Interview: Jared Woodfill, Harris County Republican Party Chair 5.4 Party Competition Apportionment Is it Bigger in Texas? Party Competition: 1972-2015 Legislative Redistricting The 2001 and 2003 Redistricting Battles: The Drama Begins Angles of Power: The 2003 Redistricting Battle and the Killer Ds Party Switching Great Texas Political Debates: Switching Parties 5.5 Third Parties and Independents La Raza Unida Party Libertarian Party of Texas Green Party of Texas Independents Chapter 6: Interest Groups 6.1 Interest Groups in the Political Process Pluralist Theory Elite Theory Transactional Theory Which Theory Fits Texas? 6.2 Why Join Interest Groups? The Free Rider Problem Selective Benefits 6.3 Types of Interest Groups Business Groups Trade Associations and Professional Organizations Labor Unions Is It Bigger in Texas? Rates of Union Membership Identity Groups Public Interest Groups Single-Issue Groups Government Interests 6.4 What Interest Groups Do Education Citizen Campaigns Electioneering Lobbying the Courts, the Legislature, and the Executive Branch 6.5 Lobbying: The Third House The Role of Lobbyists What Lobbyists Do Insider Interview: Andrea McWilliams, Co-Founder of McWilliams Government Affairs Consultants Iron Triangles in Texas Is It Bigger in Texas? Number of Years Elected Officials Must Wait Before Becoming Lobbyists 6.6 Scandals and Reforms Sharpstown Scandal The 1991 Reforms Current Ethics Legislation 6.7 Oversight of Interest Groups Texas Ethics Commission Great Texas Political Debates: Donations and Legal Defense Funds Recusal Disclosure Chapter 7: The Legislature 7.1 The Functions of the Legislature and Legislators Lawmaking Texas House vs. Senate Casework Winning Reelection 7.2 The Texas Legislature in Context The Legislative Session Is It Bigger in Texas? Length of Legislative Session Legislative Staff Legislative Boards and Councils Salary Great Texas Political Debates: Should Texas Have Annual Legislative Sessions? Incumbency and Turnover Consequences of the Texas Legislative Structure 7.3 How the Legislature is Organized The Committee System Speaker of the House Angles of Power: Choosing a Speaker The Lieutenant Governor 7.4 The Legislative Process In Committee On the Floor House and Senate Agreement In Conference Committee The Real Enemy: The Calendar Rules Rule the Chambers 7.5 Working Together Slowing It Down Speeding It Up Increasing Partisanship 7.6 Demographic Representation Women Legislators African Americans Insider Interview: Senfronia Thompson, State Representative, Houston, Texas Hispanics Religion and Other Factors Chapter 8: Governors of Texas 8.1 Rules of the Office Eligibility Informal Qualifications Terms Removal from Office Succession Is It Bigger in Texas: Governor Staff Size Salary and Staff 8.2 Formal Powers of Texas Governors Execution of Laws Appointment Powers Is It Bigger in Texas: Unilateral Executive Orders by Governor in Select States Legislative Powers Military Powers Judicial Powers: Pardon and Clemency 8.3 Informal Powers of Texas Governors Legislative Bargaining Insider Interview: Former Democratic Governor Mark White Agenda Setting Great Texas Political Debates: Budget Powers of the Governor 8.4 Weak and Strong Governor Is It Bigger in Texas? Governor Power by State Sheer Length of Term Appointees Angles of Power: A "Power Grab" or Efficient Executive? Party Power Criticisms and Reforms Chapter 9: The Plural Executive and the Bureaucracy 9.1 Bureaucracy in Texas The Size of the Texas Bureaucracy Is It Bigger in Texas? State Employees per 10,000 Residents, 2015 What the Texas Bureaucracy Does The Structure of the Texas Bureaucracy 9.2 Independently Elected Officers Lieutenant Governor Is It Bigger in Texas? Lieutenant Governor Power Index Angles of Power: The Power of the Lieutenant Governor Beyond Politics Insider Interview: David Dewhurst, Former Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Texas Attorney General Comptroller of Public Accounts Commissioner of the General Land Office Agriculture Commissioner Plural Executive Feuds 9.3 Governor-Appointed, Single-Head Agencies Secretary of State Commissioner for Health and Human Services Department of Insurance 9.4 Governor-Appointed, Multimember Agencies Public Utility Commission Department of Transportation Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 9.5 Multimember Elected Commissions and Hybrid Agencies Texas Railroad Commission Texas Ethics Commission State Board of Education 9.6 Controlling the Bureaucracy Selection of the Bureaucracy Sluggish Policymaking Oversight and Change Great Texas Political Debates: Sunset Sunset? Chapter 10: The Texas Judiciary 10.1 The Role of the Courts Dispensing Justice Is It Bigger in Texas: Total Trial Courts Interpreting the Law 10.2 Trial Courts Local Courts County Trial Courts State District Courts 10.3 Appellate Courts Intermediate Appellate Courts Appellate Courts of Last Resort 10.4 Quality of Justice in Texas Angles of Power: Two Supreme Courts? Caseloads: Overworked Judges? Length of Court Cases Salary: Underpaid Judges? Is It Bigger in Texas? Salaries of Judges in the Five Most Populous States Turnover of Judges Access to Justice 10.5 Judicial Selection and Removal Judicial Selection in Texas Insider Interview: Former Justice Reveca Aizpuru Huddle, First Court of Appeals Censure and Removal from Office Judicial Qualifications Problems with Partisan Elections 10.6 Who Are the Justices? Women African Americans Hispanics Asians 10.7 Reforming the System Non-Partisan Elections Merit Selection Public Financing of Elections Limiting Fundraising Totals Great Texas Political Debates: The "Geezer Amendment" and Age Limits Chapter 11: Criminal Justice 11.1 Texan Justice Rights of the Accused Victim Rights 11.2 Types of Crimes Misdemeanors Felonies Drug Crimes Juvenile Crime 11.3 Criminal Justice Process in Texas Pretrial Trial Angles of Power: Race and Finances in the Texas Prison System Punishment Incarceration Is It Bigger in Texas: State and Federal Prisoners under Jurisdiction of Correctional Authorities Great Texas Political Debates: Prison Conditions in Texas Death Penalty 11.4 Life After Prison Restricted Licensing, Employment, and Access to Programs Voting Rights Is It Bigger in Texas: Restrictions on Voting Post Felony by State Parole 11.5 Reforms Alternatives to Incarceration Bail Reforms Addressing Prison Suicides Grand Jury Reform Death Penalty Reform Insider Interview: Former Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Cathy Cochran Chapter 12: Local Government 12.1 The Powers and Functions of Local Government Dillon's Rule Great Texas Political Debates: Paid Sick Leave Local Regulation 12.2 County Government Is It Bigger in Texas? Number of Local Governments County Judge and Commissioner's Court County Sheriff County Prosecutors County Administrators County Finance Officials 12.3 City Governments General Law Cities Home Rule Cities Insider Interview: Local Activist Barry Klein, Texas Property Rights Association 12.4 Types of City Government Mayor-Council System Commission Government Council-Manager System 12.5 Special Districts Is It Bigger in Texas? Special Purpose Districts Nationwide School Districts Special Improvement Districts Junior/Community College Districts Library Districts Municipal Utility Districts Hospital Districts Homeowners' Associations 12.6 Elections County Elections City Elections Minority Representation in Municipal Governments Low Turnout in Municipal Elections Voting and Corruption 12.7 Issues in Local Government Local Governments Short on Cash Angles of Power: The Stadiums That Ate Texas Rising Debt Cooperation Across Governments Sprawl To Zone or Not to Zone Pensions Chapter 13: Budget, Finances, and Policy 13.1 Taxes and Other Revenue Sources Sales Tax Is It Bigger in Texas: State and Local Sales Taxes, 2019 Property Tax Insider Interview: Dale Craymer, President of the Texas Taxpayers & Research Association Angles of Power: Putting a Lid on Property Taxes Franchise (Business) Taxes Oil and Natural Gas Taxes Car Taxes: Motor Fuel Tax ("Gas" Tax) and Motor Vehicle Taxes Sin Taxes 13.2 Alternative Sources of Funds Fees and Fines Great Texas Political Debates: A "Poor Tax"? The "Rainy Day" And Other Funds Why No Income Tax? Debates Over Taxes 13.3 The Budget Budget Cycle Budget Limitations Budget Players and Process Budget Tricks Chapter 14: Public Policy In Texas 14.1 Public Policy Priorities and Process 14.2 Health Care and Welfare Medicare Insider Interview: Eva DeLuna Castro, State Budget Analyst, Center for Public Policy Priorities Medicaid Children's Health Insurance Program The Affordable Care Act Social Security Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Great Texas Political Debates: Drug Testing for Benefits Is It Bigger in Texas? Maximum TANF Benefit As A Percentage Of The Poverty Line Unemployment Benefits Workers' Compensation 14.3 Immigration and Border Security Economic Impact Public Opinion and State Laws Deportations and Border Security 14.4 Education Sources of K-12 Funding School Finance Teacher, Student, and School Performance Angles of Power: Standardized Tests and Education Accountability Diversity in Public Education Vouchers Special Education Bullying 14.5 Higher Education Funding Community Colleges Standards Affirmative Action 14.6 Transportation Is It Bigger in Texas? Unmet Demand for Transportation (Percentage of Population) 14.7 Energy and the Environment Water Water and Air Pollution Energy Sources Glossary Notes Credits

About the Author :
Brandon Rottinghaus is Professor and Pauline Yelderman Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Houston. He is co-host of the Party Politics Podcast on Houston Public Media (KUHF), and the creator of Monday Morning Politics on Fox 26 Houston (KIRV).

Review :
Inside Texas Politics is a comprehensive and accessible account of Texas politics, and answers all the 'so what?' questions that help students grasp and apply the material to their daily lives. Inside Texas Politics is one of the best textbooks available because it combines practice and scholarship in one place." - Craig Goodman, University of Houston-Victoria


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Product Details
  • ISBN-13: 9780197672419
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
  • Publisher Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
  • Edition: Revised edition
  • Language: English
  • Returnable: Y
  • Sub Title: Power, Policy, and Personality in the Lone Star State
  • Width: 204 mm
  • ISBN-10: 0197672418
  • Publisher Date: 17 Oct 2023
  • Binding: Paperback
  • Height: 254 mm
  • No of Pages: 560
  • Spine Width: 20 mm
  • Weight: 1030 gr


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