Lone Star Politics delves into the state’s rich political tradition by exploring how myth often clashes with the reality of everyday governance. Explaining who gets what and how within the state, this Nacogdoches author team provides an engaging narrative on the evolution of Texas politics, utilizing the comparative method to set Texas in context with other states’ constitutions, policymaking, electoral practices, and institutions. Responding to user demand, the authors have split or added chapters to provide more in-depth coverage of much-desired topics, including the legislature and legislative process, the governor and bureaucracy, parties and organized interests, as well as fiscal, criminal justice, and social policy. In addition, new chapter objectives and critical thinking questions reinforce learning and encourage analysis. Students will come away with a strong understanding of Texas government and the needed foundation to assess the state’s political landscape. Beyond more depth and breadth, the new third edition now features a full-color design. The book’s photos, tables, charts, and maps leap off the page in vivid detail and help students focus on key takeaways. Lone Star Politics delivers well-crafted and colorful content without breaking the bank.

Key Features:

• Three current chapters split to focus greater attention on the legislature and legislative process, on the governor and the bureaucracy, and on parties and organized interests;
• A new chapter on criminal justice policy with expanded coverage of capital punishment in Texas; 
• A chapter on fiscal policy with in-depth analysis of taxes and budgeting; and 
• A new chapter focused on social policy, including covering public schools, higher education, welfare, healthcare, the environment, immigration, and transportation. 
• Thorough updating throughout to address recent events and new scholarship, including: 
  • Homeowners associations as new forms of local government,
  • New state mandates in higher education,
  • Changes to K-12 testing, 
  • The impact of the Affordable Care Act on health care policy in Texas, 
  • The impact of social media on campaigns, 
  • Expanded discussion of the U.S. v. Arizona immigration decision, and 
  • Expanded discussion of campaign finance and the impact of the Citizens United decision. 
• New full-color interior design showcases a stunning photo program and a fabulous set of graphics, including tables, figures, charts, and maps that encourage data literacy.
• New chapter objectives align with the Texas Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM), reinforcing chapter content for effective study and review. 
• New critical thinking questions at the end of the “Winners and Losers” sections encourage critical assessment, presenting a balanced and realistic approach to the state’s politics.
• Texas vs. ______ boxes are an extension of the book’s comparative method, encouraging students to think about how Texas differs. Examples include the election processes of Texas vs. North Dakota, judicial elections in Texas vs. Missouri, and the death penalty in Texas vs. California.
• Texas Legends boxes showcase figures and events that have shaped—and continue to influence—Texas politics. Examples include revolutionary Sam Houston, the state’s first African American legislator, Barbara C. Jordan, and the Galveston hurricane. 
• A marginal glossary provides quick reference to key terms and concepts.

***Package with one of our Introductory American Government texts and save your students money!!!

• Expanded coverage to adds more depth and breadth with:
  • three current chapters split to focus greater attention on the legislature and legislative process, on the governor and the bureaucracy, and on parties and organized interests;
  • a new chapter on criminal justice policy with expanded coverage of capital punishment in Texas;
  • a chapter on fiscal policy with in-depth analysis of taxes and budgeting; and
  • a new chapter focused on social policy, including covering public schools, higher education, welfare, healthcare, the environment, immigration, and transportation.
• Thorough updating throughout to address recent events and new scholarship, including:
  • homeowners associations as new forms of local government,
  • new state mandates in higher education,
  • changes to K-12 testing,
  • the impact of the Affordable Care Act on health care policy in Texas,
  • the impact of social media on campaigns,
  • expanded discussion of the immigration decision, and
  • expanded discussion of campaign finance and the impact of the Citizens United decision.

CQ Press is pleased to comply with the Higher Education Opportunity Act. Please email heoacompliance@cqpress.com for additional information that may be available. Be sure to include your name, contact information, academic affiliation, and the title, author, and edition of the book in question.

Contact us at collegesales@cqpress.com if we may assist you in your book selection or if you have feedback to share. Thank you for your consideration of CQ Press books.

• Introduction
• Constitution
• Legislature
• Legislative Process
• Governor
• Bureaucracy
• Courts
• Justice
• Campaigns and Elections
• Parties
• Organized Interests
• Local Government
• Fiscal Policy
• Social Policy: Education, Healthcare, Welfare
• Social Policy: Environment, Immigration, Transportation

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).

Instructor’s Resources: http://college.cqpress.com/instructors-resources/collier

• Test bank with over 400multiple-choice, short-answer, and essay questions, with Respondus test generation capability, provides an ideal ready resource for assessment.
• PowerPoint slides offer succinct chapter outlines as a basis for building your lectures.
• Downloadable graphics from the book can be utilized in lecture slides or on exams to test on data literacy.

Student Resources: http://college.cqpress.com/sites/lonestar3e/Home.aspx - NEW 3rd Edition
http://lonestar.cqpress.com - 2nd Edition

• The student companion website serves as a helpful study aid, containing:
  • Chapter summaries with review questions,
  • Self-graded quizzes,
  • Interactive key term flashcards, and
  • Annotated links to a wealth of video content.

Lone Star Politics blog
http://lonestarpolitics.wordpress.com/

In addition to keeping the book fresh and current with frequent postings, the authors effectively contextualize and frame all linked videos, commentary, and articles with classroom learning in mind. Check out a post or two, and the Lone Star Politics blog will become your go-to resource for both insightful and entertaining examples and cases relevant to the Texas Government course—a great way to kick off a lecture or an in-class discussion.

Lone Star Politics on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/LoneStarPolitics

The Authors also use Facebook to quickly share links to news stories on Texas politics.

Lone Star Politics, 3e + Electronic Version
Collier, Galatas, Harrelson-Stephens
ISBN: 978-1-4522-9118-5, $80

Keeping the Republic, 6e + Lone Star Politics, 3e
Barbour, Wright, Collier, Galatas, Harrelson-Stephens
ISBN: 978-1-4522-9081-2, $160

Keeping the Republic, ESSENTIALS 6e + Lone Star Politics, 3e
Barbour, Wright, Collier, Galatas, Harrelson-Stephens
ISBN: 978-1-4522-9080-5, $143

Keeping the Republic, 5e Brief + Lone Star Politics, 3e
Barbour, Wright, Collier, Galatas, Harrelson-Stephens
ISBN: 978-1-4522-9082-9, $116

The Logic of American Politics, 6e + Lone Star Politics, 3e
Kernell, Jacobson, Kousser, Vavreck, Barbour, Wright, Collier, Galatas, Harrelson-Stephens
ISBN: 978-1-4522-9079-9, $141