Governing Texas

A comprehensive “Citizen’s Guide” to Texas politics and government Governing Texas is the most trusted source for accurate, comprehensive coverage. With its new “Citizen’s Guide” features, popular infographics, and groundbreaking InQuizitive study tool, Governing Texas inspires students to think critically about recent political controversies and become more informed voters and political participants. Publisherâ€TMs Notice Half-title Page Title Page Copyright Contents in Brief Contents Preface About the Authors Acknowledgments Half-title Page Chapter 1: The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas Texas Political Culture The Land Economic Change in Texas Who Are Texans? Urbanization Study Guide Chapter 2: The Texas Constitution The Role of a State Constitution The Texas Constitutions: 1836–1876 The Constitution of Texas Today Recent Attempts to Rewrite the Texas Constitution Study Guide Chapter 3: Texas in the Federal System What Is Federalism? Federalism in the Constitution How Does Federalism Work? Current Issues Involving Federalism Study Guide Chapter 4: Political Parties The Roles and Structure of Political Parties in Texas Texasâ€TMs History as a One-Party State Texas Party Politics Today Study Guide Chapter 5: Campaigns and Elections Features of Elections in Texas Participation in Texas Elections Campaigns Study Guide Chapter 6: Interest Groups and Lobbying Interest Groups in the Political Process How Interest Groups Impact Elections Individuals as Lobbyists Study Guide Chapter 7: The Legislature Structure of the Texas Legislature Redistricting Powers of the Legislature How a Bill Becomes a Law in Texas Power and Partisanship in the Legislature Study Guide Chapter 8: The Executive Branch The Governor The Plural Executive Boards, Commissions, and Regulatory Agencies Study Guide Chapter 9: The Judiciary The Legal Process Court Structure Judicial Politics Issues in the Texas Court System Today Study Guide Chapter 10: Local Government County Government in Texas City Government in Texas Special Purpose Districts Financial Issues Facing Local Government Study Guide Chapter 11: Public Finance What Is the Budget? Spending and Revenue in Texas State Funds The Texas Constitution and the Budget The Budgetary Process Study Guide Chapter 12: Public Policy The Policy-Making Process Education Policy Welfare Policy Medicaid and Health Care Policy Study Guide Chapter 13: Crime, Corrections, and Public Safety Policing in Texas Categorizing Crime in Texas The Criminal Justice Process Crime, Corrections, and the Texas Prison System The Integrity of the Texas Criminal Justice System Study Guide Chapter 14: Building the Future: Public Policies for a Changing Texas Transportation Policy in Texas Demographic Change in Texas Higher Education Policy in Texas Water Policy in Texas Study Guide Appendix The Declaration of Independence (1836) Ordinance of Annexation Approved by the Texas Convention on July 4, 1845 Sam Houstonâ€TMs Address on Secession (1860) and Declaration of Causes (1861) Ordinance of Secession Null (1866) and Texas v. White et al. (1869) From Governor Richard Cokeâ€TMs Second Inaugural Address (1876) The Texas Constitutionâ€TMs Bill of Rights (1876 plus amendments) Endnotes Answer Key Credits Glossary-Index