Lone Star PoLitics pays homage to the legendary political history of Texas while exploring how myth clashes with the reality of the state’s day-to-day governance. How has Texas developed and flourished, but also failed to respond fully to new challenges? Explaining who gets what and how within the state, this Nacogdoches author team provides an engaging narrative on the evolution of Texas politics, setting it in context with other states’ constitutions, policymaking, electoral practices, and school systems. 

Updated to cover recent events, the second edition includes new discussion and expanded coverage of:

• the results of the 2010 gubernatorial elections;
• the impact of the Great Recession on Texas; 
• the legislative process and the organization of the legislature;
• the “Texas two-step;”
• state education policy;
• the controversial reauthorization of the Texas Department of Transportation; and 
• the effect of recent court cases.

Highly regarded “Texas vs. ______” boxes (which compare Texas to other states) and “Texas Legends” boxes (which showcase figures and institutions that have shaped—and continue to influence—Texas politics) have been enhanced in every chapter. Concise and a great value, Lone Star Politics provides well-crafted content and numerous tables, figures, maps, and photos at an affordable cost.

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1. Introduction: “Gone to Texas”

2. Texas Constitution

3. Texas Legislature

4. Governors and Bureaucracy in Texas

5. Texas Judicial System

6. Local Government in Texas

7. Elections: Texas Style

8. Parties and Organized Interests

9. Policy

Generally speaking, this text is better than other Texas texts I’ve used. Lone Star Politics is better written, offers more timely examples, and is generally more accessible to students. The writers do a wonderful job keeping the style strong and suitable for college students.

I enjoyed the general tenor of the book- it reads more like a history book, which makes it less dry than your typical government book. I believe Texan issues are well covered in this text, and I, and my students, like the boxes, maps, and key terms. These make the text ideal for an intro class, and it is very effective at engaging students at the freshman level.

I found Lone Star Politics to be ideal for a Texas politics course. As a non-native Texan myself, it helped make sense of Texan politics, the short legislative cycle, the relative power of the governor, and had a good unbiased political history of the state. The pedagogical features make the book very accessible. It’s lively, engaging and good for all levels of students.

Ken Collier is associate professor at Stephen F. Austin State University with a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. He has is the author of Between the Branches: The White House Office of Legislative Affairs and is currently conducting research on presidential speechwriting and gubernatorial elections. He has published articles in such journals as White House Studies, Presidential Studies Quarterly, Public Choice, and Social Science Quarterly.

Steven Galatas is associate professor at Stephen F. Austin State University with a PhD from University of Missouri. He has published articles in Journal of Politics, Public Choice, , Party Politics, PS: Politics and Political Science, and Politics and Policy. His research and teaching concerns comparative elections, voting behavior, and campaign finance.

Julie Harrelson-Stephens is associate professor at Stephen F. Austin State University with her PhD from the University of North Texas. She is the coeditor of Exploring International Human Rights: Essential Readings (with Rhonda L. Callaway).

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