the weaker party

If you don't know the rules, you don't know how to play the game.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Agency Capture: Regulating coal in Texas

From Texas Tribune:

- Texas coal companies are leaving behind contaminated land. The state is letting them.

- Texas signed off on the restoration of this old mine. Now a leaky landfill is contaminating groundwater.
Posted by The Weaker Party at 11:04 AM
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  • kjefferies@alvincollege.edu

Fall 2024 - Weekly Schedule

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Academic Calendar

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The 1000 Word Essay

  • Fall 2024: For GOVT 2305 - Are the Major Parties Realigning?
  • Fall 2024: For GOVT 2306 - Is Texas Becoming a Swing State?
  • Summer 2 2024: For GOVT 2305 2INS3 and 2INP3 Unpack a Recent Decision of the United States Supreme Court
  • Summer 2 2024: For GOVT 2306 2IN01: Describe a Conflict between the State of Texas and the United States
  • Summer 2 2024: For GOVT 2306 2IN02: What is the Death Star Bill? What might its impact be on local governments in Texas?
  • Summer 1 2024: Essay Topic
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Weekly Active Learning Assignments

  • Active Learning Assignment #1
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  • Weekly Assignments for Spring 2023

Highlighted Posts

  • Ken Paxton's Impeachment
  • Recent lawsuits challenging the Harris County elections of 2022
  • What my students might want to be when they grown up
  • Who Represents Ricky the Railcat? Or, Who Represents Robert Turner High School?

Sections

  • Section One - What is Government?
  • Section Two - Constitutions
  • Section Three - Federalism
  • Section Four - Civil Liberties
  • Section Five - Political Institutions
  • Section Six - Elections and Campaigns
  • Section Seven - Parties and Interest Groups
  • Section Eight - The Media and Public Opinion
  • Section Nine - The Governing Institutions
  • Section Ten - The Legislature
  • Section Eleven - The Executive
  • Section Twelve - The Judiciary
  • Section Thirteen - Public Policy and Equal Treatment
  • Section Fourteen - Public Finance and Economic Policy
  • Section Fifteen - Domestic Policy
  • Section Sixteen - Foreign Policy

I'll use these if I have to

  • 1 Hour Of 6-Tone Car Alarm Siren HD
  • 10 Hours of The Screaming Sheep
  • Bad Saxophone Solo - Christian Song "Give Thanks"
  • Boomhauer talks for 1 hour
  • Kazoo Kid (10 HOURS)
  • Metal Machine Music, Pt. 2
  • Mission Impossible - Flute Fail
  • Nails On Chalkboard | Annoying Sounds with Peter Baeten
  • Orderrrrrrrrr! UK parliament speaker John Bercow's memorable moments
  • Scurvy ain't for the likes of me for 10 minutes
  • Shannon- Henry Gross
  • SIster Mary Elephant - Claaass - wake up
  • The Night Chicago Died (Paper Lace)

Section 1 - GOVT 2305 (Constitutions and Budgets)

  • The Deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation
  • Aristotle and His Classification of Government
  • Britain's Unwritten Constitution
  • British Colonization of the Americas - Merchant Adventurers
  • Checks and Balances
  • Civil Liberties
  • Constitutions, Charters, Statutory Code, etc . . .
  • Declaration of Independence - United States
  • Fiscal Federalism
  • Laws enacted by the First General Assembly of Virginia
  • Limits on Judges
  • Limits on Police
  • Limits on Prosecutors
  • Limits on Punishment
  • Max Weber: Power and Authority
  • Political Liberty: Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition
  • Public Finance: Government Expenditures
  • Public Finance: Government Revenue
  • Religious Liberty: Establishment and Free Exercise
  • Substantive Liberties
  • Territorial History of the USA: Every Month for 400 Years
  • The _______ Powers (fill in the blank)
  • The 10th Amendment - The Reserved Powers
  • The 14th Amendment
  • The 27 Amendments to the Unites States Constitution
  • The 9th Amendment: The Unenumerated Rights
  • The Enumerated Powers
  • The First Virginia Charter 1606
  • The Incorporation of the Bill of Rights to the States
  • The Original United States Constitution
  • The Procedural Liberties
  • The Separation of Powers
  • What is a Government?
  • What is Corruption?
  • What is Federalism?
  • What is Politics?
  • Why do you have to take this class? Part 1
  • Why do you have to take this class? Part 2

Section 2 - GOVT 2305 (The Political Institutions)

  • A History of Interests in the United States
  • A rage for paper money . . .
  • Campaign Finance
  • Campaigns
  • Collective Action, the Free Rider Problem and Selective Incentives
  • Elections - Basic Concepts
  • Elections in the United States Constitution
  • Elections, Appointments, and the Separated Powers
  • Federalist 10
  • Freedom of Assembly: Interest Groups and Political Parties
  • Freedom of Speech: Public Opinion
  • Freedom of the Press: The Media
  • Freedom to Petition: Lobbying
  • Information, Disinformation, and Misinformation
  • Interest Groups
  • Is a Campaign Finance Constitutionally Protected Free Speech? Buckley v Valeo
  • Is Voting a Right Guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution?
  • Issue Networks, Iron Triangles, and the Revolving Door
  • Parties as Organizations
  • Parties in the Electorate
  • Parties in the Government
  • Political Culture
  • Political Eras of the United States
  • Political Parties
  • Public Opinion and Ideology
  • Suffrage
  • The Battle Over Suffrage
  • The First Amendment and the Political Institutions
  • The Political Institutions
  • The Voting Rights Act and Shelby v Holder
  • U.S. Election Code
  • Voter Registration
  • What is a Mega Donor?
  • What is a Political Action Committee (PAC)?
  • What is a Super PAC?
  • What is Democracy?

Section 3 - GOVT 2305 (The Governing Institutions)

  • The Governing Institutions
  • The Separation of Powers
  • Representation, Efficiency, and Fairness
  • What is a representative? What is an administrator? What is a judge?
  • The Checks and Balances
  • The Legislative Power
  • The U.S. Constitution - Article One
  • Congress
  • United States Code
  • The Executive Power
  • The U.S. Constitution - Article Two
  • U.S. Administrative Law
  • The Presidency
  • The Bureaucracy
  • The Judicial Power
  • The U.S. Constitution - Article Three
  • U.S. Case Law
  • The U.S. Supreme Court
  • The Federal Courts

Section 4 - GOVT 2305

  • What Is Public Policy?
  • Market Failure
  • Public Goods - What are they? What types exist?
  • Federalism and Public Policy
  • Public Policy and the Enumerated Powers
  • Foreign Policy

Section 1 - GOVT 2306 (Constitutions and Budgets)

  • A collection of videos regarding counties in Texas
  • All About the 2024-2025 Texas Budget
  • Amendments to the 1876 Texas Constitution
  • Constitutions, Charters, Statutory Code, etc . . .
  • Declaration of Independence - Texas
  • Federalism
  • Fiscal Size-Up: Areas of Spending
  • From the Texas Education Agency: Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for K - 12. Government
  • Local Government
  • Terminology for GOVT 2306 Module 1
  • Texas Constitution, Article 11: Municipal Corporations
  • Texas Constitution, Article 9: Counties
  • Texas Local Government Code
  • The Constitutions of Texas
  • The Current Texas Constitution
  • The First Virginia Charter 1606
  • The Harris County 2024 Budget
  • The original 1876 Texas Constitution
  • The States within the United States Constitutional System
  • Video: Annexation History - Planning and Development Department - City of Houston
  • Video: How the Texas Budget Works: An Overview
  • Video: Territorial History of the USA: Every Month for 400 Years
  • Video: What is a Constitution's Purpose?
  • Video: What is the Purpose of Article IV?
  • What are Single Purpose Governments?

Section 2 - GOVT 2306 (The Political Institutions)

  • Campaign Finance
  • Campaigns
  • Collective Action, the Free Rider Problem and Selective Incentives
  • Elections
  • Elections in the Unites States Constitution
  • For Comparison: The U.S. and Texas Bills of Rights
  • Interest Groups
  • Political Culture
  • Political Freedom
  • Political Parties
  • Public Opinion and Ideology
  • Suffrage
  • Terminology for GOVT 2306 Module 2
  • Texas Constitution - Article 6 - Suffrage
  • Texas Election Code
  • Texas Party Platforms
  • The First Amendment and the Political Institutions
  • The Political Institutions
  • What is a Megadonor?
  • What is a Political Action Committee?
  • What is a Super PAC?
  • What is Democracy?

Section 3 - GOVT 2306 (The Governing Institutions)

  • Terminology for GOVT 2306 Module 3
  • The Governing Institutions
  • The Separation of Powers
  • The Texas Legislature - Relevant Links
  • The Texas Executive: Elective Offices - Relevant Links
  • The Texas Executive: The Bureaucracy - Relevant Links
  • The Texas Judiciary - Relevant Links
  • The Legislative Power
  • The Executive Power
  • The Judicial Power

Section 4 - GOVT 2306 (Public Policy)

  • Terminology for GOVT 2306 Module 4
  • Market Failure
  • What Is Public Policy?
  • Categories of Public Policies
  • Federalism and Public Policy
  • Fiscal Size-Up - Areas of Public Policy in Texas
  • Education Policy in Texas
  • Health and Human Services Policy in Texas
  • Business and Economic Development Policy in Texas
  • Criminal Justice and Public Safety in Texas
  • Natural Resources Policy in Texas
  • Regulatory Policy in Texas
  • Laws related to Women, Children, Families, and Marriage
  • The Culture Wars

Terms and Lecture Notes

  • . . . A rage for paper money
  • 117th Congress - Major Laws
  • 1st United States Congress
  • An Overview of Public Policy
  • Appointments
  • Campaign Finance
  • Campaign Professionals
  • Campaigns
  • Candidates
  • Checks and Balances
  • City Ordinances
  • Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights
  • Constitutions and Charters
  • Declaration of Independence - Texas
  • Declaration of Independence - United States
  • Disinformation
  • Economic Policy
  • Elections
  • Elections in the United States Constitution
  • Equal Protection / Civil Rights
  • Executive Departments and Agencies
  • Federalism
  • Federalism and Public Policy
  • Federalist 10
  • Federalist 51
  • For Comparison: The U.S. and Texas Bills of Rights
  • Foreign Policy
  • Forms of Government: Aristotle and His Classification of Government
  • Interest Groups
  • Lobbying
  • Local Government
  • Market Failure
  • No Really . . . why do you have to take this class? Part 1
  • No really . . . why do you have to take this class? Part 2
  • Political Culture
  • Political Parties
  • Political Polarization
  • Popular Sovereignty - Dual Sovereignty - Tribal Sovereignty
  • Public Goods - What are they? What types exist?
  • Public Opinion
  • Public Policy
  • Public Policy and the Enumerated Powers
  • Regulatory Policy
  • Social Policy
  • State Political Culture
  • Suffrage
  • Territorial History of the USA: Every Month for 400 Years
  • Texas Constitution - Amendments
  • Texas Constitution - current version
  • Texas Constitution - Development
  • Texas Constitution - original 1876 versiobn
  • Texas Election Code
  • Texas Legislature - 88th Regular Session
  • Texas Public Policy - Fiscal Size-Up: Areas of Spending / State Agencies
  • The Bureaucracy
  • The Culture Wars
  • The deficiencies of the confederated system
  • The Executive
  • The Federal System
  • The First Amendment and the Political Institutions
  • The First Virginia Charter 1606
  • The Fiscal Size-Up
  • The Governing Institutions
  • The Judiciary
  • The Legislature
  • The Political Institutions
  • The Powell Memo
  • The Press
  • The Separated Powers
  • The Separated Powers and The Checks and Balances
  • The States within the United States Constitutional System
  • U.S. Constitution: The Enumerated Powers - Article 1, Section 8
  • U.S. Executive Departments - The First Three
  • United States Executive Agencies created in the 19th Century
  • United States Executive Departments Created in the 20th Century
  • Voter Turnout and Political Behavior
  • Washington's Farewell Address 1796
  • What is Power
  • What Is Public Policy?

Daily Readings and General Info

  • Ballotpedia
  • Bills and Resolutions introduced in Congress
  • C-Span: Congressional Chronicle
  • Constitution Annotated
  • Gammel's Laws of Texas
  • Good Party: Glossary
  • Open States: Texas Legislature
  • Quorum Report - Daily Buzz
  • ScotusBlog Round-Up
  • Texas Legislature Online: General Reports
  • Texas State Law Library: Case Law
  • Texas State Law Library: Research Guides by Topic
  • Texas Tribune: Texas Legislature 2023
  • TLRL: Daily Clips
  • U.S. Congress - Bills to be considered by the House Floor
  • U.S. Congress - Bills to be considered by the Senate Floor

1000 Word Essay Topics

  • For Spring 2023: 1000 word topics for 2305 and 2306
  • For Fall 2022 - 2023 mini semester: Legislative Priorities for Interest Groups in Texas
  • For Fall 2022: Evaluate Legislative Activity
  • For Summer 2022: Major cases from the 2021-2022 Supreme Court session

Texas Legislative Priorities - 88th Session

  • Priorities for the 88th Session the Texas Legislature
  • 1 - Property Tax Relief
  • 2 - The Power Grid
  • 3 - Border Security
  • 4 - Law Enforcement
  • 5 - Education
  • 6 - Elections
  • 7 - Guns
  • 8 - LGBTQ Texan's Rights
  • 9 - Abortion
  • 10 - Health Care
  • All About the Texas Budget
  • An update on priority legislation in the Texas Legislature 3/19/23

GOVT 2305 - Chapter Terms

  • GOVT 2305 Chapter One: Introduction

GOVT 2306 - Chapter Terms

  • Chapter One: Lone Star Politics
  • Chapter Two: Lone Star Politics - Constitutions
  • Chapter Three: Lone Star Politics - Texas Legislature
  • Chapter Four: Lone Star Politics – Texas Governors
  • Chapter Five: Lone Star Politics - The Plural Executive and Bureaucracy in Texas
  • Chapter Six: Lone Star Politics - Texas Judicial System
  • Chapter Seven: Lone Star Politics - Texas Sized Justice
  • Chapter Eight: Lone Star Politics - Campaigns and Elections, Texas Style
  • Chapter Nine: Lone Star Politics - Political Parties
  • Chapter Ten: Lone Star Politics - Organized Interests
  • Chapter Eleven: Lone Star Politics - Local Government in Texas
  • Chapter Twelve: Lone Star Politics - Fiscal Policy
  • Chapter Thirteen: Lone Star Politics - Energy, Environment, Transportation, and Trade Policies: Transforming Texas
  • Chapter Fourteen: Lone Star Politics - Social Policy: Education, Health, and Immigration
  • GOVT 2305 Key Terms - Chapter One: Introduction
  • Key Terms - Week 2
  • Key Terms - Week 3
  • Key Terms - Week 4
  • Key Terms - Week 5
  • Key Terms - Week 6
  • Key Terms - Week 7
  • Key Terms - Week 8
  • Key Terms - Week 9
  • Key Terms - Week 10
  • Key Terms - Week 11
  • Key Terms - Week 12

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      • Agency Capture: Regulating coal in Texas
      • https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/b...
      • From Wikipedia: Crimes Act of 1790
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      • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apportionment_Act_of...
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      • From Harris Votes: ABOUT THE COUNTY CLERK
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      • What is Ranked Choice Voting?
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    • ►  July (75)
    • ►  June (61)
    • ►  May (38)
    • ►  April (56)
    • ►  March (59)
    • ►  February (33)
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General Online Resources

  • 1911 Encyclopedia
  • AmCharts
  • American Government Definitions
  • Answers.com
  • Answers.Com: History, Politics and Society
  • Archiving Early America
  • Bob Bullock Historical Museum
  • CIA World Factbook
  • City Data
  • Cliffs Notes: American Government
  • Dictionary of the History of Ideas
  • Digital Sanborn Maps
  • Double Tongued Dictionary
  • Encyclopedia Britannica Online
  • Fallacies - The Nizkor Project
  • From Revolution to Reconstruction
  • Great Books Index
  • Historical Statistics of the United States 1789 - 1945
  • History of the British Monarchy
  • Houston History
  • Justice Learning
  • Keele Guide to Political Views and Ideology
  • Library of Congress: Prints and Images
  • LibriVox
  • National Archives
  • National Atlas
  • National Security Archives
  • Newspaper Archive
  • Online Etymology Library
  • Our Documents
  • Outline of U.S. History - State Department
  • Political Dictionary
  • Politics Glossary: WAPO
  • Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • Texas Archival Resources Online
  • Texas Handbook Online
  • Texas Online -- The Official Portal
  • Texas Politics: Online Textbook
  • Texas State Library
  • The Ancient Library
  • The Avalon Project
  • The Center for American History
  • The First Measured Century
  • The Fiscal Year 2009 U.S. Budget
  • The Founders' Constitution
  • The International World History Project
  • The Library of Economics and Liberty
  • The Online Library of Liberty
  • ThisNation.com
  • Thomas
  • Times Topics
  • Times Topics: People
  • U.S. Census Bureau
  • WEPIN - Index to Anti-Federalist Papers
  • Where the Money Goes
  • Wiki Summary
  • Wikimapia
  • Wikipedia
  • Word Spy

Constitutional Links

  • Avalon: Documentary Record
  • Constitution Daily
  • Constitution Finder
  • Constitutional Law Prof Blog
  • Justia US Constitution
  • LOC: Creating the Constitution
  • National Constitutional Center
  • Texas Constitution
  • The Constitution - Analysis and Interpretation
  • The Constitutional Accountability Center
  • The Founder's Constitution
  • U.S. Constitution - Findlaw
  • U.S. Constitution - U.S, Archives
  • U.S. Constitution - Wikipedia
  • U.S. Constitution Online
  • onecle.com: analysis and interpretation

Networks

  • Iron Triangles
  • LittleSis
  • Muckety
  • Program on Networked Governance
  • The Issue Crawler
  • Visual Complexity

Budgeting

  • Budget of the United States Government
  • CBO: Monthly Budget Review
  • Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
  • Economic History of the United States
  • Federal Tax Brackets
  • History of the U.S. Tax System
  • NYT: Obama's 2012 Budget
  • NYT: You Fix the Budget
  • State Budget Solutions
  • Taxation History of the United States
  • Texas Budget Source
  • Texas Legislative Budget Board
  • Texas State and Local Tax Law Blog
  • Texas Taxpayers and Research Association
  • United States Public Debt

Legislative Links

  • Alvin City Council
  • C-Span Congressional Glossary
  • Congress 101
  • Congress.org
  • Congressional Bills
  • Congressional Caucuses
  • Congressional Committee Material
  • Congressional Documents
  • Congressional Hearings
  • Congressional Institute
  • Congressional Record
  • Congressional Reports
  • Congressional Research Service
  • Congresspedia
  • Dennis Bonnen - Texas House District 25
  • GovTrack: Members of Congress and Their Districts
  • Jefferson's Manual
  • John Cornyn - U.S. Senate
  • Kay Bailey Hutchison - U.S. Senate
  • Legislative Glossary
  • Legislative Reference Library of Texas
  • Legistorm
  • Lieutenant Governors of Texas
  • Membership of the 111th Congress: A Profile
  • Membership of the 112th Congress: A Profile
  • Mike Jackson - Texas Senate District 11
  • NYT: Inside Congress
  • National Committee for an Effective Congress
  • Open CRS Network
  • OpenCongress
  • Public and Private Laws
  • Roles and Duties of a Member of Congress
  • Roll Call
  • Ron Paul - U.S. House Texas District 14
  • S. 1
  • Senate Glossary
  • Technorati: Congress
  • Telicon
  • Texas House Journals
  • Texas House Research Organization
  • Texas House of Representatives
  • Texas Legislative Council
  • Texas Legislative Information
  • Texas Legislature Online
  • Texas Senate
  • Texas Senate Journals
  • Texas Speakers
  • Texas Statutes
  • Texas Statutes
  • The Dirksen Congressional Center
  • The Hill
  • The Hill: Lawmaker Ratings
  • The Library of Congress
  • The Texas Legislative Process
  • Thomas - Legislative Information
  • U.S. Congressional Lawmaking and Debates
  • U.S. Government Accountability Office
  • U.S. House of Representatives
  • U.S. House: The House Explained
  • U.S. Senate
  • United States Congressional District Shapefiles
  • United States Congressional Serial Set
  • Washington Post: U.S. Congress Votes Database
  • voteview

Executive Links

  • A Visual History of the American Presidency
  • ABA Report on Signing Statements
  • Alvin, Texas City Manager
  • Alvin, Texas Mayor
  • American Presidents Blog
  • American Presidents Online Resources
  • American Presidents: C-Span
  • Code of Federal Regulations
  • Compilation of Presidential Documents
  • Executive Agencies: FindLaw
  • Federal Register
  • Governors of Texas
  • Index of Presidential Signing Statements
  • Pardon Power
  • Potus - Tracker
  • Presidential Rhetoric
  • Technorati: President
  • Texas Attorney General
  • Texas Comptroller
  • Texas Ethics Commission
  • Texas Governor
  • The American Presidency Project
  • The Center for the Study of the Presidency
  • The Texas Register
  • The White House
  • Times Topics: Barack Obama
  • Times Topics: George W. Bush
  • Times Topics: Presidents and the Presidency
  • USA.gov
  • vicepresidents.com

Judicial Links

  • Alvin Municipal Court
  • American Judicature Society
  • C-Span: U.S. Supreme Court
  • FindLaw
  • FindLaw: Supreme Court Center
  • Flashcards: Con Law- Concept Cards
  • Harris County Courts
  • Harvard Law Review
  • History of the Supreme Court
  • Houston Municipal Court
  • Judgepedia
  • Juror History
  • Landmark Supreme Court Cases
  • National Center for State Courts
  • On The Docket: Northwestern University Law School
  • OYEZ: Supreme Court Media
  • Point of Law
  • Sandra Day O'Connor Project on the State of the Judiciary
  • ScotusWiki
  • Supreme Court Practice, Ninth Edition
  • Supreme Court Statistics
  • Technorati: Supreme Court
  • Texas Courts Online
  • Texas Municipal Courts Association
  • Texas Municipal Courts Education Center
  • Texas Review of Law and Politics
  • The Supreme Court Historical Society
  • The Supreme Court of Texas
  • The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
  • The U.S. Supreme Court
  • Times Topics: U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Courts
  • United States Courts: Education Resources
  • Washington Post: Supreme Court

Political Parties

  • Brazoria County Democratic Party
  • Brazoria County Republican Party
  • Encyclopedia of Political Parties and Elections
  • Fort Bend County Democrats
  • Fort Bend County Republican Party
  • Galveston County Democratic Party
  • Galveston County Republican Party
  • Harris County Democratic Party
  • Harris County Republican Party
  • Polarized America
  • Texas Democratic Party
  • Texas Democratic Party 2008 Platform
  • Texas Democratic Party--Handbook of Texas
  • Texas Republican Party
  • Texas Republican Party 2008 Platform
  • Texas Republican Party--Handbook of Texas
  • The Fall of Conservatism
  • The Rules of the Texas Demnocratic Party
  • U.S. Democratic Party
  • U.S. Republican Party

Elections

  • All About Redistricting
  • Ballot Access News
  • Ballotpedia
  • Brazoria County Ballot for May 10, 2008 Elections
  • Brazoria County Elected Officials
  • Brazoria County: Elections
  • Cook Political Report
  • CQ 2008 Election Guide
  • Election Law Blog
  • FactCheck
  • Federal Election Commission
  • fivethirtyeight
  • Frontloading
  • Gallup: Election 2008 Polls
  • Galveston County: Elections
  • Harris County: Elections
  • International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
  • League of Women Voters
  • NCSL: Voter ID Requirements
  • Non Profit Vote
  • November General Election Candidates
  • NYT: 2010 Exit Polls
  • NYT: Elections 2008 Page
  • Political Maps
  • Politifact
  • RedistrictingOnline.org
  • Texas Redistricting
  • Texas Secretary of State: Elections Division
  • The Campaign Trail
  • The Center for Voting and Democracy
  • The Electoral Knowledge Project
  • The Living Room Candidate
  • U.S. Election Assistance Commission
  • U.S. Election Atlas
  • U.S. General Election Exit Polls Series
  • United States Election Project
  • Voter History
  • Voting America

Campaigning and Public Relations

  • Blakemore and Associates
  • Campos Communications
  • Complete Campaigns
  • Empower Texans PAC
  • Fero Hewitt Global
  • Johnston Campaigns
  • Open Secrets: Super PACs
  • The Word Doctors

Money in Politics

  • Follow the Money
  • Open Secrets
  • Texans for Public Justice

Polls

  • American National Election Studies
  • American Research Group
  • Edison/Mitofsky Exit Polls
  • Houston Area Survey
  • Knowledge Networks
  • Media Curves
  • MSNBC exit polls
  • New York Times Polls
  • NYT: 2008 Exit Poll
  • Pew Hispanic Center
  • Pew Research Center
  • Pew Research Center: People and the Press
  • Pollster
  • President Bush's Approval Ratings
  • Presidential Approval Center
  • Rasmussen Reports
  • Real Clear Politics: Polls
  • Texas Lyceum Poll
  • The Gallup Poll
  • Zogby International

Interest Groups

  • AFL-CIO
  • American Civil Liberties Union
  • Christian Coalition
  • Free Market Foundation
  • National Association of Counties
  • National Conference of State Legislatures
  • National League of Cities
  • National Rifle Association
  • Texas Association of Business
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