Description
Known for the extremely student-friendly, jargon-free style of the two books from which it was made, the new American and Texas Government: Policy and Politics introduces the essentials of American and Texas government in a way that any student can understand.
Neal Tannahill’s American Government and Texas Government are offered together in one comprehensive and accessible text. This new version features the same public policy emphasis that shows students the impact that government has on their lives, and offers the wealth of useful study aids and exercises to engage students in the course material and encourage them to become active participants in their government. This new edition is published as a Longman Study Edition and therefore contains a battery of chapter tests for student study and practice. It also offers the latest coverage of issues in both American and Texas government, including the results of the 2008 elections, immigration reform, and the challenge posed by nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea.
Table of Contents
PART I: AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Introduction Government, Politics, and the Policymaking Process
The Importance of Government
Government and Politics
The Public Policy Approach
Chapter 1 A Changing America in a Changing World
Political Culture
The International Environment
The Demographic Environment
The Economic Environment
Conclusion: The Cultural, International, and Socioeconomic Context for Policymaking
Chapter 2 The American Constitution
The Background of the Constitution
Constitutional Principles
The Living Constitution
The Constitution, Politics, and Public Policy
Conclusion: The Constitutional Environment for Policymaking
Chapter 3 The Federal System
The Constitutional Basis of Federalism
Federal Grant Programs
Conclusion: Federalism and Public Policy
Chapter 4 Public Opinion
Political Socialization
Measuring Public Opinion
Political Knowledge
Support for Democratic Principles
Political Trust and Political Legitimacy
Political Efficacy
Political Philosophy
Conclusion: Public Opinion and Public Policy
Chapter 5 Political Participation
Forms of Participation
Explaining Participation
Patterns of Participation
Nonvoters
Trends in Voter Turnout
Participation Rates in Comparative Perspective
Increasing Voter Turnout
Participation Bias
Conclusion: Political Participation and Public Policy
Chapter 6 The Media
The Media Landscape
Government Regulation of the News Media
Covering the News
Media Biases
Conclusion: The Media and Public Policy
Chapter 7 Interest Groups
Why People Join Groups
Types of Interest Groups
Interest Group Tactics
The Strength of Interest Groups
Conclusion: Interest Groups and Public Policy
Chapter 8 Political Parties
The Party System
Party Organization
Political Cycles and Party Realignment
Party Identification: Democrats, Republicans, and Independents
Voting Patterns
Issue Orientation
Divided Government
Conclusion: Political Parties and Public Policy
Chapter 9 Elections
Types of Elections
Election Districts and Redistricting
Election Campaigns
Congressional Elections
Presidential Elections
The Voters Decide
Conclusion: Elections and Public Policy
Chapter 10 Congress
Bicameralism
Membership
Organization
The Legislative Process
Conclusion: Congress and Public Policy
Chapter 11 The Presidency
The Constitutional Presidency
Presidential Powers
Two Presidencies Thesis
The Development of the Modern Presidency
The Organization of the Presidency
Theories of Presidential Leadership
Presidential Popularity
The Presidency in Context
Conclusion: The Presidency and Public Policy
Chapter 12 The Federal Bureaucracy
Organization of the Bureaucracy
Personnel
Rulemaking
Politics and Administration
Subgovernments and Issue Networks
Conclusion: The Federal Bureaucracy and Public Policy
Chapter 13 The Federal Courts
Judicial Policymaking
Political History of the Supreme Court
The Federal Court System
Power, Politics, and the Courts
Conclusion: The Courts and Public Policy
Chapter 14 Economic Policymaking
The Goals of Economic Policy
Tax Revenues
Budget Deficits and Surpluses
Government Expenditures
Fiscal Policymaking
Monetary Policymaking
Conclusion: Economic Policymaking
Chapter 15 Civil Liberties Policymaking
The Constitutional Basis of Civil Liberties Policymaking
Civil Liberties Issues and Policies
Conclusion: Civil Liberties Policymaking
Chapter 16 Civil Rights Policymaking
The Constitutional Basis of Civil Rights Policymaking
Civil Rights Issues and Policies
Conclusion: Civil Rights Policymaking
Chapter 17 Foreign and Defense Policymaking
The International Community
The Ends and Means of American Foreign and Defense Policy
The History of American Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy
Defense Policy
Conclusion: Foreign and Defense Policymaking
PART II: TEXAS GOVERNMENT
Chapter 18 The People, Economy, and Political Culture of Texas
The People of Texas
The Texas Economy
Political Culture
Conclusion: The Socioeconomic Context of Policymaking
Chapter 19 Texas Constitution
State Constitutions
Background of the Texas Constitution
Constitutional Convention of 1875
Overview of the Texas Constitution
Constitutional Change
Individual Rights and the Texas Constitution
Conclusion: The Constitutional Context of Policymaking in Texas
Chapter 20 The Federal Context of Texas Policymaking
Role of the States in the Federal System
States, the Courts, and the Constitution
States and Federal Law
Federal Grant Programs
Conclusion: The Federal System and the Policy Process
Chapter 21 Political Participation
Voting Rights and Minority Participation
Participation in Texas Politics
Conclusion: Participation and Policymaking
Chapter 22 Interest Groups
Interest Groups in Texas Politics
Interest Group Tactics
Conclusion: Interest Groups and Policymaking
Chapter 23 Political Parties
The Party System
Party Organization
History of the Texas Party System
The Party Balance
Voting Patterns
Interest Group-Political Party Alliances
Issue Orientation
The Impact of Partisan Change
The Future of Party Politics in Texas
Conclusion: Political Parties and Policymaking
Chapter 24 Elections
The Long Ballot
Types of Elections
Election Districts
Redistricting
Money
Campaigns
The Voters Decide
Conclusion: Elections and Policymaking
Chapter 25 The Texas Legislature
Structure
Membership
Organization
The Legislative Process
Legislative Policymaking
Conclusion: The Legislature and the Policymaking Process
Chapter 26 Executive Branch
The Governor
The Executive Bureaucracy
Administrative Oversight
Conclusion: The Executive Branch and the Policymaking Process
Chapter 27 Judicial Branch
Types of Legal Disputes
Court Procedures
The Texas Court System
Judges
Judicial Selection
Conclusion: The Judicial Branch and the Policymaking Process
Chapter 28 City Government
Legal Status of Texas Cities
Forms of City Government
Election Systems
Public Policies in Texas Cities
City Politics in Texas
Conclusion: City Government and Policymaking
Chapter 29 Counties, School Districts, and Special Districts
County Government
School Districts
Special Districts
Conclusion: Local Government and Public Policy
Chapter 30 State Budget Policy
Revenues
Expenditures
The Budget Process
Conclusion: Budgetary Policymaking
Chapter 31 Criminal Justice
Crime Statistics
Criminal Prosecution Process
Capital Punishment
Juvenile Justice
Corrections
Conclusion: Criminal-Justice Policymaking
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American and Texas Government: Policy and Politics, CourseSmart eTextbook, 10th Edition
Format: Electronic Book
$57.20 | ISBN-13: 978-0-205-77811-9
