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Texas Experience, The: Lone Star Politics, Policy, and Participation, 1st edition

Published by Pearson (July 13, 2019) © 2020

  • Texas Tribune
  • Paul Benson Tarrant County College
  • Anthony Giardino Tarrant County College

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For courses in Texas Government.

Government, the Texas way

The Texas Experience: Lone Star Politics, Policy and Participation brings the fast-paced, ever-changing world of Texas law, leadership and politics to life. This innovative text was created in partnership with award-winning, digital-first media organization The Texas Tribune to help the next generation of Texas voters become informed, educated and civically engaged. Captivating features promote increased voter participation and greater accountability to policy and government.

From Lyndon Johnson to the Bush dynasty to the events unfolding today, Texas has defined American government. It's time your students help define Texas government.

Hallmark features of this title

  • Each chapter's learning objectives and assessments have been aligned with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's student learning outcomes. This allows instructors to demonstrate their students' mastery of the key concepts and skills.
  • Chapter 6, dedicated entirely to Texas media, analyzes the way government actions are covered by the Texas press.
  • Photos from the Texas Tribune depict major recent events, creating a visual narrative that enhances rather than repeats the text.
  • Inside the Federalist System features explain the state's interactions with the national government as it implements public policy.
  • Explore Further sections spotlight important books and articles, and provide web links to sites that offer information beyond the textbook.

Highlights of the DIGITAL UPDATE for Revel (available for Spring 2023 classes)

Instructors, contact your sales rep to ensure you have the most recent version of the course.

  • UPDATED: The text has been thoroughly updated to reflect recent developments in Texas, including:
    • changes in the party infrastructure in Texas through the 2022 elections
    • how the state switched from solidly Democratic to solidly Republican
    • how tax and non-tax revenue impacts policy making, including the COVID-19 pandemic response and the economic recovery that followed
    • a renewed look at the challenges created by the COVID-19 recession
  • UPDATED: Thanks to a partnership with the Texas Tribune, the text offers frequent updates to articles, interactives and data, ensuring that all content is up to date and meaningful to students.

Features of Revel; published 2019

  • Texplainers: Texas Government Explained videos walk students through difficult concepts in a clear, interesting way, catering to visual and auditory learners. These videos include compelling discussions with Texas Tribune founders Ross Ramsey and Evan Smith, as well as several of their reporters.
  • Texas Tribune news footage videos illuminate both historical and current events, as well as resonant issues like the debate over sanctuary cities and the opioid crisis.
  • American Government Explained videos illustrate complex political concepts in a simplified and entertaining way. And Politics in Plain Sight videos show students how politics influences their daily activity.
  • Texas Tribune Bulletins offer Texas Tribune articles and photographs, refreshed twice a year, that put current events into the context of Texas politics.
  • Texas Tribune Texplainer features pose readers' questions, and the Texas Tribune investigates and reports the answers.
  • “What Do You Think? What Does Texas Think?” polls encourage students to explore their own views on important political issues and compare their opinions to state polling results and those of their peers in the course.
  1. Texas Society and Political Culture
  2. Federalism and the Texas Constitution
  3. Voting and Elections in Texas
  4. Political Parties in Texas
  5. Interest Groups in Texas Politics
  6. The Media and Public Opinion in Texas
  7. The Texas Legislature
  8. The Governor in Texas
  9. The Plural Executive and the Bureaucracy in Texas
  10. The Texas Courts System
  11. Local and County Governments and Special Districts in Texas
  12. Criminal Justice Policy in Texas
  13. Public Policy, Finance, and Budgeting in Texas

About our authors

The Texas Tribune is the only member-supported, digital-first, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans, and engages with them, about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. The Tribune was founded by John Thornton (a venture capitalist in Austin for nearly 20 years and a passionate believer in public media), Evan Smith (the veteran editor-in-chief of Texas Monthly and host of a weekly interview program on PBS stations), and Ross Ramsey (former owner and editor of Texas Weekly, the state’s premier newsletter on politics and government, now rebranded as The Blast). The Texas Tribune and its destination website were launched in November 2009. Now with a staff of nearly 70 dedicated reporters, editors, technologists, designers and business leaders, the Tribune has continued to advance its mission of bringing greater transparency and accountability to public policy, politics and government through news, data and events.

Paul Benson has taught at Tarrant County College NW for 30 years. He has served as faculty association president and is currently department chair. He has a background in journalism and is a presenter at social science conferences. He is the commissioner of 2 fantasy football leagues.

Tony Giardino is a 30-year veteran of the law enforcement community and is currently assigned to the professional standards detail. Aside from teaching Texas Government for more than 20 years, he is a senior instructor for several police academies. He is an 8-time recipient of the Nick Fowler Award for excellence in teaching and he serves as an assessor for the Texas Police Chiefs Association.

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Revel

Inspire engagement through active learning. Revel® integrates interactives and assessments into a compelling digital narrative. By applying concepts as they read, students immerse themselves in learning, deepening their understanding. This mobile, user-friendly platform empowers students to learn and study on the go, anytime, anywhere, on any device.

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Help students learn, wherever life takes them

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