The fifth edition of this popular text is now expanded and updated to better fit the needs of a stand-alone Texas Politics course. Jillson continues to approach the politics of the Lone Star State from historical, developmental, and analytical perspectives, while giving students the most even-handed, readable, and engaging description of Texas politics available today. Throughout the book students are encouraged to connect the origins and development of government and politics in Texas--from the Texas Constitution, to party competition, to the role and powers of the Governor--to its current day.

The seventh edition of this popular text has been expanded and updated to better fit the needs of a stand-alone Texas politics course. Jillson continues to approach the politics of the Lone Star State from historical, developmental, and analytical perspectives, while giving students the most even-handed, readable, and engaging description of Texas politics available today. Students are encouraged to connect the origins and development of government and politics in Texas to its current practice and alternatives possible through change and reform. This text helps instructors prepare their students to master the origin and development of the Texas Constitution, the structure and powers of state and local government in Texas, how Texas fits into the U.S. federal system, as well as political participation, the electoral process, and public policy in Texas. Texas Politics offers instructors and students an unmatched range of pedagogical aids and tools. Each chapter opens with an engaging vignette and a series of focus questions to orient readers to the learning objectives at hand and concludes with a chapter summary, a list of key terms, review questions, suggested readings, and web resources. "Let’s Compare" boxes help students see how Texas sits alongside other states, "Texas Legends" boxes spotlight key figures in Texas political history, "Pro & Con" boxes bring conflicting political views into sharper focus and every chapter features a timeline of important events in Texas history. New to the 7th Edition Covers the 2016 national elections, the 2017 legislative session, and the 2018 state and national elections as they affect Texas. Highlights Governor Greg Abbott’s call for a constitutional convention; Texas voter ID law updates; redistricting cases; the right of secession; and Obergefell v. Hodges. Provides a detailed study of the 2018–2019 state budget and the taxing and spending decisions that went into it, including the Texas Supreme Court school funding decision of 2016.

You may think you know Texas, but which one? Texas is a land shrouded in myths, and so is its politics. The Real World of Texas Politics pulls back the veil on those myths and reveals the secrets the elites don't want you to know. It lays bare the dual worlds of the Lone Star State: the one for the elites, and the one for the masses. Inspired by the works of political scientist James Lamare, the authors argue that the privileged few have used their superior resources to dominate all aspects of the Texas political system, from voting and elections to government institutions and policymaking. This dominance by the elites has resulted in a subsistence life and limited future for millions of people living in twenty-first century Texas. The authors are insiders -- Locander a political scientist, Shaw a union leader, and Bailey a state representative -- with a combined ten-decade involvement in Texas politics and government. But they're also outsiders, holding views that don't align with the people in power. Rather than placate, they seek to scrutinize with a skeptical eye the most pressing issues facing one of America's most important and most populous states. They lay bare the crass influence of money and power and provide a roadmap for what Texas can do to get state government working for average Texans. The Real World of Texas Politics challenges the economic and political status quo. It peels back the myths to expose how the state's leaders, both Democrats and Republicans, have forsaken the masses to cater to the rich and powerful. Reversing this trend takes knowledge, and this book offers a hefty dose by taking a hard look at how politics and power really work in the Lone Star State.

With an emphasis on policy and active learning, Texas Government: Policy and Politics is a popular and accessible text that is sure to engage students in Texas politics. Known for its exceptionally accessible and comprehensive coverage of the major aspects of Texas government and politics, this text is a complete teaching and learning package for students with little or no background in political science or Texas politics. It employs an emphasis on policy throughout the book, helping to make material relevant to students' lives. The author is known for his ability to provide statistical detail in an extremely lucid, non-intimidating way and his often humorous, insightful critique of Texas government. The seventh edition is thoroughly updated to include new information on topics such as controversy on school funding, campaign finance from the 2000 election, an overview of the 2002 elections, and so much more. At only 13 chapters, Tannahill's text is perfect for a 15-week semester, giving instructors and students no more and no less than they need for the average semester.

This concise yet comprehensive overview compares the reality of Texas politics to the democratic ideal through a thought-provoking reform orientation. Unlike survey texts, this lively paperback engages students in controversial issues and encourages them to participate in class debate.