Essentials of Texas Politics. Sixth (6th) Edition.

A concise yet comprehensive overview of Texas government and politics cast in a new, thought-provoking reform-orientation theme. The text explicitly compares the reality of Texas politics with the democratic ideal, using contemporary examples to illustrate each general point and graphics to reinforce learning.

Richard Kraemer served 21 years of active duty in the Air Force before starting his teaching career. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Government, the University of Texas at Austin, in 1970 and has been a faculty member there since 1965. His field is American Government, specializing in Texas Politics and National Security Policy. He is the author and co-author of over a dozen books, mostly about Texas politics, as well as other publications. Dr. Kraemer is the recipient of two teaching awards, the Jean Holloway Award for Excellence in Teaching and a national award from the Arnold Air Society.

Charldean Newell, a Fort Worth native (Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin), is also the co-author of THE EFFECTIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGER (ICMA Press, 2004) and CITY EXECUTIVES (SUNY Press, 1989), and recently edited MANAGING LOCAL GOVERNMENT: CASES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT EFFECTIVENESS (ICMA Press, 2009). She has received four national awards: honorary lifetime membership in the International City/County Management Association, the Staats Career Public Service Award from the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, the Donald C. Stone Award in intergovernmental relations from the American Society for Public Administration, and elective membership in the National Academy of Public Administration. Her 37 years at the University of North Texas included awards from students, colleagues, and alumni.

David Prindle (Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology) has published research in the areas of voting and parties, energy policy, the presidency, and the politics of the entertainment media. His first book, PETROLEUM POLITICS AND THE TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION, won the V.O. Key, Jr. Award, given by the Southern Political Science Association to the best book on Southern politics. He also has written THE POLITICS OF GLAMOUR: IDEOLOGY AND DEMOCRACY IN THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD and RISKY BUSINESS: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF HOLLYWOOD. Professor Prindle is a past recipient of both the Allen Shivers Award for the best teacher in the MIT Department of Government and the Harry Ransom Award for Teaching Excellence, given to the best teacher in the MIT College of Liberal Arts.