TEXAS POLITICS TODAY encourages critical thinking and civic participation with ideas, essays, and questions related to Texas politics, presented from different viewpoints. MindTap(TM) for Texas Politics-Cengage Learning's fully online learning solution-is automatically included with the book.
Prologue: Texas's Political Roots.
1. Texas Culture and Diversity.
2.
Texas in the Federal System.
3. The Texas Constitution in Perspective.
4.
Voting and Elections.
5. Political Parties.
6. Interest Groups.
7. The
Legislature.
8. The Executive.
9. The Judiciary.
10. Law and Due Process.
11. Local Government.
12. Public Policy in Texas.
Christopher Wlezien is Hogg Professor of Government at the University of Texas at Austin. Previously a professor of political science at Temple University, Dr. Wlezien has published in several political science journals, has edited THE FUTURE OF ELECTIONS STUDIES and BRITAIN VOTES, and was founding co-editor of the Journal of Elections, Public Opinion, and Parties. His research interests include developing a "thermostatic" model of public opinion and policy and examining the interrelationships between preferences for spending and budgetary policy in various domains, and the evolution of voter preferences over the election cycle. A past president of the SWPSA, Dr. Wlezien received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Elizabeth N. Flores is a professor of political science at St. Mary's University. Previously a professor at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Flores has served as a director of the Corpus Christi Regional Transit Authority, written on politics for the Corpus Christi CALLER-TIMES, and co-hosted a public affairs show on PBS. She received her M.A. degree from the University of Michigan. A thirty-five year veteran instructor of political science, Ernest Crain specializes in political party competition, comparative state politics, and Texas public policy. Crain co-authored UNDERSTANDING TEXAS POLITICS, POLITICS IN TEXAS, THE CHALLENGE OF TEXAS POLITICS, and four editions of INTRODUCTION TO TEXAS POLITICS. Crain received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Texas in Austin. Mark P. Jones is the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy's Fellow in Political Science, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, and the Chair of the Department of Political Science at Rice University. Jones is a frequent commentator on Texas politics in the state and national media, and his research on the Texas Legislature is widely cited by media outlets and political campaigns. Jones received his B.A. from Tulane University and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. M. Lynn Davis is a full professor of Government at El Paso Community College. Her specialties include political theory, communication, and process. She has written articles on political discourse and the primary/caucus debate and has edited several textbooks. She currently serves as Government Faculty Coordinator and teaches and mentors other faculty in Blackboard Software. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Davis earned her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from the University of Texas at El Paso. William Earl Maxwell is a professor emeritus at San Antonio College, where he has taught courses in U.S. and Texas government since 1971. Throughout his career Maxwell has focused on innovative teaching techniques and improving the teaching and learning environments for students. As part of that effort, in 1975 Maxwell co-authored UNDERSTANDING TEXAS POLITICS, his first text on Texas government. He also co-authored such texts as POLITICS IN TEXAS and THE CHALLENGE OF TEXAS POLITICS: TEXT WITH READINGS. He completed his undergraduate and graduate work at Sam Houston State University.
