1. Political Culture
   1. Introduction
   2. The Concept of Political Culture
   3. Political Socialization
   4. Influences on Texas Political Culture: Classical Liberalism and Social Conservatism
   5. Influences on Texas Political Culture: Populism
   6. People and Cultures in Texas Political History
   7. Indigenous Groups
   8. Spanish and Mexican Americans
   9. Anglo and African Americans
   10. Population Growth in Texas Today
   11. Texas Public Opinion and Politics
   12. Investigation: Public Opinion and Political Culture in Texas
   13. Chapter Quiz: Political Culture
2. The Texas Constitution
   1. Introduction
   2. Characteristics of Constitutions
   3. State Constitutions vs. the U.S. Constitution
   4. Constitutions in Texas History
   5. The Constitutions of 1836 and 1845
   6. The Constitutions of 1861 and 1866
   7. The Radical Republican Constitution of 1869
   8. The Convention of 1875
   9. The Texas Constitution Today
   10. The Preamble and the Bill of Rights
   11. Constitutional Powers
   12. Structures and Authority
   13. Education, Taxation, and Revenue
   14. Governing Locally
   15. Amendments and Other Articles
   16. Investigation: Public Opinion and Constitutional Amendments in Texas
   17. Attempts at Revision
   18. Chapter Quiz: The Texas Constitution
3. The Legislature
   1. Introduction
   2. Organization
   3. Legislative Sessions
   4. Serving in the Legislature
   5. Compensation
   6. The Legislature’s Makeup
   7. Demographic Characteristics
   8. Incumbency
   9. Powers of the Legislature
   10. Other Areas of Authority
   11. Redistricting
   12. Presiding Officers and Powers: The President of the Senate
   13. Presiding Officers and Powers: Speaker of the House
   14. Committees
   15. The Impact of Committees
   16. Investigation: Public Opinion and Legislative Officers in Texas
   17. Chapter Quiz: The Legislature
4. The Legislative Process
   1. Introduction
   2. The Actors in the Process
   3. The Unengaged Public
   4. Investigation: Public Opinion and the Legislature in Texas
   5. Interest Groups
   6. Staff and the Press
   7. How a Bill Becomes a Law
   8. Committee and Floor Action
   9. Conference Committee and Governor’s Desk
   10. Between the Lines
   11. Committees as the Focus of Politics
   12. Floor Debate
   13. The Ticking Clock
   14. The Rivalry Between the House and Senate
   15. Chapter Quiz: The Legislative Process
5. The Executive Branch
   1. Introduction
   2. The Elected Members of the Executive Branch
   3. Investigation: Public Opinion and Elected Officials in Texas
   4. Attorney General
   5. Comptroller of Public Accounts
   6. Commissioner of the Land Office and Commissioner of Agriculture
   7. Elected Boards and Commissions
   8. Appointees of the Executive Branch
   9. State Agencies and the Executive Branch Bureaucracy
   10. Bureaucracy in Perspective
   11. Chapter Quiz: The Executive Branch
6. The Governor
   1. Introduction
   2. Qualifications and Patterns
   3. Succession and Removal
   4. Political Influence
   5. Appointments
   6. Veto Powers
   7. Budgeting and Other Powers
   8. Investigation: Public Opinion and the Governor’s Agenda in Texas
   9. Informal Powers
   10. Figurehead Status
   11. Chapter Quiz: The Governor
7. The Judicial Branch
   1. Introduction
   2. Foundations of Law
   3. Sources of Laws
   4. Organization of the Courts
   5. Local and County Trial Courts
   6. Other Texas Courts
   7. Highest Courts
   8. Judicial Selection and Qualifications
   9. Formal Qualifications for Judges
   10. Characteristics of the Judiciary
   11. Terms of Office
   12. Judicial Conduct and Discipline
   13. Modes of Judicial Selection
   14. Judicial Elections and Judicial Neutrality
   15. The Debate over Judicial Elections in Texas
   16. Investigation: Public Opinion and the Judicial System in Texas
   17. Chapter Quiz: The Judicial Branch
8. The Criminal Justice System
   1. Introduction
   2. Race and Criminal Justice in Texas
   3. Public Opinion of Police and Policing
   4. Mass Incarceration and Race
   5. Institutions of the Criminal Justice System
   6. Law Enforcement
   7. The Criminal Trial System
   8. Sentencing
   9. The State Jail and Prison System
   10. The Special Case of Capital Punishment
   11. Evaluating the Death Penalty
   12. Public Opinion and the Death Penalty
   13. Investigation: Public Opinion and the Death Penalty in Texas
   14. Attempts at Reform
   15. Implementing Reform
   16. Chapter Quiz: The Criminal Justice System
9. Elections, Voting, and Campaigns
   1. Introduction
   2. Election Types
   3. Getting on the Ballot
   4. Voting Requirements
   5. Voting Patterns
   6. Investigation: Public Opinion and Election Law in Texas
   7. Campaigns as Mobilization
   8. Voter Identification
   9. Targeting Strategies
   10. Voter Contact
   11. Advertising and Media
   12. Social Media
   13. Endorsements, Events, and Speeches
   14. Polling
   15. The Financial Impact of Campaigns
   16. Rising Campaign Costs
   17. Regulating Contributions
   18. Campaign Finance Regulation in Texas
   19. The Debate over Money in Politics
   20. Chapter Quiz: Elections, Voting, and Campaigns
10. Political Parties
    1. Introduction
    2. Parties in Democracy
    3. Party Roles and Functions
    4. Getting Involved: Register and Vote
    5. Getting Involved: Run for Office
    6. Getting Involved: Organize Your Precinct
    7. Party Systems
    8. The History of Parties in Texas
    9. Statehood and Secession (1845–1865)
    10. Reconstruction (1865–1877)
    11. Democratic Dominance and Divisions
    12. The New Deal Alliance and Texas
    13. The Civil Rights Movement
    14. The Rise of the Republican Party
    15. The Parties Today
    16. The Republican Party of Texas
    17. The Democratic Party of Texas
    18. Beyond the Major Parties
    19. Investigation: Public Opinion and Policy Preferences in Texas
    20. The Future of Party Politics in Texas
    21. Urban, Suburban, and Rural Politics
    22. Organizational Strength
    23. Chapter Quiz: Political Parties
11. Interest Groups
    1. Introduction
    2. Interest Groups in Texas Government
    3. Distinguishing Interest Group Types
    4. What Interest Groups Do
    5. Organizing Sub-Governments
    6. How They Do It: Interest Group Tools and Techniques
    7. Other Types of Influence
    8. Media Strategy and Public Meetings
    9. Investigation: Public Opinion and Special Interest Groups in Texas
    10. Chapter Quiz: Interest Groups
12. Public Policy
    1. Introduction
    2. The Policymaking Process
    3. Funding Texas
    4. Taxes and Fairness
    5. The Politics of Generating Revenue
    6. Texas’s Budget: Breaking It Down
    7. Texas’s Budget: Health and Human Services
    8. The Politics of Healthcare
    9. Public Education
    10. Infrastructure Issues
    11. Transportation Policy
    12. Water Policy
    13. Reliable Electricity
    14. Investigation: Public Opinion and Policymaking in Texas
    15. Chapter Quiz: Public Policy
13. Local Government
    1. Introduction
    2. Foundations of Local Government
    3. Municipal Government
    4. Home Rule Cities
    5. Investigation: Public Opinion and Local Government in Texas
    6. Forms of Municipal Government
    7. Municipal Revenue and Expenditures
    8. County Government
    9. Organization of County Government
    10. Local Government Debt
    11. Special Districts
    12. Education and Municipal Utility Districts
    13. Chapter Quiz: Local Government
14. Federalism
    1. Introduction
    2. The Federal System
    3. Federalism and the Constitution
    4. U.S. Federalism
    5. Cooperative Federalism
    6. Policy and Funding
    7. Texas vs. the United States
    8. From Conflict to Cooperation
    9. States’ Rights
    10. Federalism and Partisan Loyalty
    11. Partisanship and Federalism
    12. Investigation: Public Opinion on State and Federal Government in Texas
    13. Chapter Quiz: Federalism

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Authors

James R. Henson, PhD
Texas Politics Project
University of Texas at Austin

Investigations Author

Sharon Manna, PhD
Dallas College North Lake Campus

Text Readability Project Advisor

Jennifer Ross, MA
Lone Star College-University Park

Advisors

Gary Keith, PhD
University of the Incarnate Word

Jennie Linder Cunningham, MA
Texas A&M University

Leigh-Anne Regenold, MA
Tarrant County College – Northeast Campus

Texas Politics Project Contributors

Joshua M. Blank, PhD

Timothy Fackler, PhD

Kathryn Matlack

John T. Morris, PhD

Tracey Storey, MA

Peer Reviewers

Tony Giardino, MA
Tarrant County College

Rachel German, PhD
University of Texas—Austin

Stefan Haag, MA
Austin Community College

Carrie Laughlin
Austin Community College

Sharon Manna, PhD
Dallas County Community College District

Chad Mueller, PhD
Northwest Vista College

God’swill Osa, MA
University of Texas—Austin

Focus Group

Patrizio Amezcua, MA
San Jacinto College

Kaylyn Carew, MA
Temple College

Reynaldo S. Flores, MPA
Dallas College Richland Campus

Victor Hinojosa, MA
Western Texas College

Al Kyle, MS
Trinity Valley Community College

Sharon Manna, PhD
Dallas College North Lake Campus

Jan McCauley, MA
Tyler Junior College

William Parent, MA
San Jacinto College

Leigh-Anne Regenold, MA
Tarrant County College – Northeast Campus

Jennifer Ross, MA
Lone Star College-University Park

Ray Sandoval, PhD
Dallas College Richland Campus

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Mary Jane Lindrum

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