William V. Flores & Christina Hughes 
The Texas Experiment [EPUB ebook] 
Politics, Power, and Social Transformation

Chapter 1 Texas Society and Politics: Past and Present
Texas Geography and Resources
King Cotton, Slavery, and Anglo-American Settlements in Texas
Causes and Consequences of the U.S.–Mexican War
Seceding From the Union
Reconstruction
Jim Crow Segregation
Chapter 2 Texas Constitution
What Is a Constitution?
The Historical Constitutions of Texas
Constitution of 1876: “Retrenchment and Reform”
The Texas Bill of Rights
Constitutional Change
Chapter 3 Federalism and Local Government
The Constitutional Basis for Federalism
Policy Tools of the Federal Government
Relationships Between State and Local Government
County Government
School Districts and Special Districts
Chapter 4 Political Culture & Civic Participation
Demographics and Political Ideology
Civic Participation and Political Participation
Turning Out to Vote
Civic Health
Chapter 5 Elections and Voting
The Role of Voting
Barriers To Voting
Enfranchisement in the Political Process
Electoral Districts
Texas Elections
Election 2020 and Beyond
Chapter 6 Political Parties in Texas
The Evolution of the Two-Party System in Texas
The Era of Democratic Party Rule
The Republican Era and One-Party Dominance
The Two Parties Today
Functions and Purposes of Political Parties
Party Structure and Organization
Third Parties in Texas
Chapter 7 The Texas Legislature
Structure of the Texas Legislature
The Amateur Legislature
Chamber Leadership
Legislative Process
Representation in the Texas Legislature
Chapter 8 The Governor and Executive Branch
Office of the Governor
Dispersal of Power in the Plural Executive Branch
The Lieutenant Governor
Officers of the Executive Branch
Chapter 9 The Texas Justice System
Courts and Their Jurisdictions
Organization and Structure of the Texas Court System
Judge Selection
Inequities in the System
Juvenile Interactions With the Criminal Justice System
Chapter 10 Interest Groups and Their Influence
What Are Social Movements and Interest Groups?
Types of Interest Groups
How Interest Groups and Social Movements Influence Policy
The Role of Interest Groups in Lobbying Government
Interest Groups and the Bureaucracy
Chapter 11 The Media, Social Media, and Social Movements
The Role of the Free Press and Media in Our Democracy
Media: Then and Now
Social Media and Political Participation
Polarization, Disinformation, and Weaponization
Media and the Rise of Social Movements in Texas
Chapter 12 Public Policy and Government Budgeting
The Process of Policymaking
Health Care Policy
Energy and Environmental Policies
Education Policy
Tax and Fiscal Policy
The Texas Budget
Local Government Funding
Chapter 13 Texas in the Future: Changing Demography and Changing Perspectives
The Changing Population of Texas and Its Implications for the Future
Education: Will Texas Close the Achievement Gap?
Texas Health Care: The Cost of Disparities
What Will the U.S. and Texas Economy Look Like in 2050?
Transportation in 2050
The Effects of Climate Change on Texas in 2050
The Electoral Front

Gene Preuss, Ph D is an associate professor of history at UHD. He holds a Ph D in history from Texas Tech University. Dr. Preuss is an active member of the Texas State Historical Association, past president of the East Texas Historical Association, and past president of the H-Net Council. He is author of “To Get a Better School System”: One Hundred Years of School Reform in Texas (Texas A&M University Press, 2009), and he co-authored with former U.S. Secretary of Education Lauro F. Cavazos A Kineño’s Journey: On Family, Learning, and Public Service (Texas Tech University Press, 2016).