Practicing Texas Politics (Text Only)

Brown et al. have thoroughly updated their market-leading survey of Texas government with new coverage of public policy, giving special attention to political developments since 2010. Extensive coverage of the 2012 general election, and its results, provides students with the most up-to-date information available. Selected Reading and chapter-opening cartoons encourage further discussion of timely topics, in addition to conflicts, within the state of Texas. Features such as the thoroughly revised "Students in Action" section in each chapter provide students with a wide range of views on current issues and relevant topics, as well as suggestions for how they can play an active role in Lone Star State politics.

Lyle C. Brown, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, is Professor Emeritus at Baylor University. Other academic experience includes teaching at Mexico City College (now University of the Americas), Texas College of Arts & Industries (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville), and Wayland Baptist College (now Wayland Baptist University). Lyle served as president of the Southwest Council of Latin American Studies. He is co-editor of RELIGION IN LATIN AMERICAN LIFE AND LITERATURE and author or co-author of articles in professional journals, anthologies, and textbooks. His involvement in Texas politics includes participation in precinct, county, and state conventions.

Joyce Langenegger teaches government at Blinn College-Bryan and is the Director of Professional Development. She received her M.A. and J.D. from Baylor University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Fielding Graduate University. She was named the Blinn College-Bryan Academic Faculty Member of the Year for 2014. She has been named to WHO'S WHO AMONG AMERICA'S TEACHERS three times and received a NISOD Award for Teaching Excellence and a "Most Valuable Player" award from San Jacinto College for her work there as a professor and an administrator. Joyce is a frequent workshop presenter on innovative teaching strategies. She practiced law for a number of years and has been involved with politics at the local and state level.

Sonia Garcia, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara, is Chair of the Political Science Department at St. Mary's University. She has published articles on Latina politics and is a co-author of MEXICAN AMERICANS & THE LAW: EL PUEBLO UNIDO JAMÁS SERÁ VENCIDO (2004). Sonia also is the lead author of POLITICAS: LATINA PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN TEXAS (2007), which examines the first Mexican-American women elected to public office in Texas from various levels of offices.

Ted Lewis, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, is Vice President of Academic Affairs at Pellissippi State Community College. He has taught government and political science at the college level for nearly 30 years. He was previously dean of instruction at Loan Star College-Cyfair and Professor, Chair of the Political Science Department, and Director of the Learning Communities Program at Collin County Community College. Dr. Lewis has conducted workshops on Texas election procedure for the Texas Secretary of State and has served as a county party chairperson, on state political party executive committees, and on several statewide candidate campaign advisory committees. He has delivered numerous national presentations and has published articles in such journals as the Community College Journal of Research and Practice, the Journal of the League for Innovation in the Community College, and the National Social Science Journal. He is listed in both WHO'S WHO IN AMERICAN POLITICS and WHO'S WHO AMONG AMERICA'S TEACHERS.

Robert E. Biles, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, is Professor and former Chair of Political Science at Sam Houston State University. He has published several books and numerous scholarly articles. Bob has served as a professional staff member for the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a member of the local school board, county political party chair, county election supervisor, state board member of a citizen's lobbying group, a member of advisory committees to the Texas Commissioner of Higher Education and the Texas State Board for Educator Certification, and secretary and president of the Women's Caucus of the Southwestern Social Science Association. He has received four Fulbright grants to teach and do research in Latin America. He received his university's top award for research, his college's award for teaching, and the first university Faculty Senate award for administration.