- Provide a timeline for the development of the federal courts.

- Provide a timeline for the development of the courts in Texas.

- Provide a timeline for the development of local and municipal courts in Texas and Harris County.

From the Washington Post:

- We studied 180 voter-fraud cases. Many charged cite honest mistakes.

- Your phone knows you’re at the doctor, and data brokers are profiting from it.

- - What is a data broker?

- Democrats demand reform after judge says DOJ ordered her to reverse rulings.

- - Provide a timeline for the development of immigration courts in the United States.  

- Why headlights seem more blinding than ever.

 

For 10.28.2026

- Provide a timeline of voter turnout for midterm elections.

- What factors explain why some people turnout to vote while others do not?

- What efforts are being made to impact voter turnout in the 2026? Are any efforts being made to discourage people to vote?

Does the "Right to Information" exist within a loose readings of the U.S. Constitution?

- Is there a right to information contained in the Bill of Rights?

A few random articles regarding current elections.

- Trump’s Attacks on Voting Raise Fears He Will Try to Challenge Midterm Results.

- On Trump’s Order, Justice Dept. Seeks to Block Alaska Vote if Republican Loses.

- The New Worst-Case Scenario for Election Officials: Federal Interference.

- Israel’s High-Stakes Election: What to Know.

 

From Harris County: Election Manual 2026 - 2027.

- Click here for it.  

- Election Workers. 

From the New York Times: How a Legal Backlash Against Big Tech Is Forcing Big Changes

Public policy can be shaped by the courts as much as it can be shaped by the legislature - maybe more so.

- Click here for the article.  

From ScotusBlog

The previous term of the Supreme Court included a large amount of cases involving President Trump's expansive use of executive power. This one looks to be the same.

- The Trump Term?

- Another Trump Term? 

- What are the principal ways the campaigns seek to influence and manipulate public opinion?

- What current attempts are being made to influence public opinion during the 2026 campaign?

- What impact are social media influencers having on the 2026 campaign so far?

- American Influencer Association.

- The American Influencer Council.  

- List the dominant influencers paid to promote the Republican Party and/or Republican candidates.

- List the dominant influencers paid to promote the Democratic Party and/or Democratic candidates.

- How are social influencers recruited and compensated for working for political campaigns?

- Do any influencers work solely for either major party in Texas?

- What are the powers of the Texas Governor? How has its power increased over recent decades?

- Compare the powers of the Texas Governor with the President of the United States.

Greg Abbott

- What is the political background of Greg Abbott? 

- How has Greg Abbott used the power of the governor?

- What are the principal sources of funds for Greg Abbott?

- Describe Greg Abbott's campaign organization.

Gina Hinojosa

- What is the political background of Gina Hinojosa?

- How might Gina Hinojosa use the power of the governor?

- What are the principal sources of funds for Gina Hinojosa?

- Describe Gina Hinojosa's campaign organization.

From the New York Times - 10.26.2026

- Lula Wins Brazil’s Presidency, in Stunning Blow to Latin America’s Right.

- Israeli Jews Across the Spectrum Face an Election of Fears.

- Anthropic Reveals 14-Fold Increase in Growth as It Prepares for Blockbuster I.P.O..

- Who’s winning the race for Congress?

- On Trump’s Order, Justice Dept. Seeks to Block Alaska Vote if Republican Loses.

A few questions regarding polling . . .

- Explain how election polls work. How reliable are they? What problems do pollsters encounter?

- What are polls telling us about the races for political office in Texas?

- What are polls telling us about the race to control the 120th U.S. Congress? How about the 90th Texas Legislature?

- What do polls in Texas tell us about the possible results of races for the Texas Judiciary?

- United States Courts. 

- Court Website Links.

In the New York Times - 10.20.2026

- Trump’s Super PAC Unleashes Deluge of Ads on Facebook and Instagram.

- - What is MAGA Inc.?

- - What laws govern SuperPACs?

- - How has the rise of social media impacted campaigns? How is it being used in the 2026 campaign?

- Trump Pushes to Evict the Press From the White House.

- - Do journalists have a constitional right to access to elected officials? to the President?

- - Has Congress ever passed laws related to journalists of journalism?

- Trump’s Attacks on Voting Raise Fears He Will Try to Challenge Midterm Results.

- - How often are election results challenged in the United States? How often are they successful?

- - What are the most common types of election fraud?

From the Texas Tribune: Federal judge to weigh Texas bid to dismiss 15-year-old suit seeking foster care system reform

- Click here for the article.  

For 10.20.2026

- Outline the process by which states eliminated property requirements for voting. Do any still exist?

- Discuss the struggle over the implementation of the 15th Amendment.

- Outline efforts to undermine the intent of the 15th Amendment.

- Discuss conflicts in Texas over the placement of voting centers on college campuses.

- From the Texas Legislature Online: Registration and Suffrage Bills introduced in 89R. 

- Ad Fontes Media.

From the New York Times: I Teach at a Business School. It’s Time to Shut Them Down.

- Click here for the article.  

For GOVT 2305 UH - 10.19.2026

- The Fiscal Size-Up. 

- What relationship exists between campaign contributions and government contracts?

What is the public mood?

To kick of our discussion of the political institutions. 

- What is the public mood?

- What factors help determine the public mood?

- What factors are helping determine the public mood prior to the election of 2026?

From the New York Times: 3 Charts That Explain the Economy as Voters Head to the Polls.