the weaker party

2305: - review the constitutional principles we covered this semester - republicanism - separated powers - federalism - individual liberty ...

I like pulling questions out of basic documents, and you can;t get more basic than the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The...

Aside from reviewing all the assessments questions, start paying special attention to the slides in the section labelled -  Texas and the St...

This is the last week we will introduce new substantive topics in 2305 and 2306. In 2305 this will be the free speech, public opinion and po...

Didn't get picked for a big meaty trial, so tomorrow's classes will meet as scheduled. Sorry

More for 2306 and our recent walk through the criminal justice system. The link takes to you a story about the unique "status offenses...

Something to add to our material on ideology, partisanship and political behavior: - Click here for the article . With the help of my Mart...

For 2306 - a look at transportation policy in the city of Houston, specially efforts to provide residents with additional choices in how to ...

Just in time for tax day, a story that points out how interests groups can try to influence public opinion. - Click here for the full stor...

I'll open the place to input the assignment on blackboard later today. Send this to me by next Monday and I'll give you feedback as ...

The Pew Research Organization studies and ranks the states on how easy they make it to vote in 2008 and 2012. North Dakota did best in both ...

In 2305's section on ideology I briefly touch on research that suggests that ideology in innate - meaning it is part of our nature. We a...

For 2306 as we conclude our look at at criminal justice policy, and wind out way toward health and human service policy. This is also an exa...

More fallout from McCutcheon: - Click here for the article . Despite the hype, the impact of the Supreme Court's decision striking ...

He is one of the attorneys leading the charge to get the courts to overturn campaign finance laws - generally based on the idea that they v...

We're discussing interest groups in 2305 and facing the harsh reality that smaller, cohesive, well funded groups are often able to have...

This applies to a few items we cover in 2306: the legislature, committees, interest groups, lobbying and gun policy/rights. It also applies ...

Something to add to our look at the rationality of the American public. - Click here for the article . - Blog posts listed under Is the Amer...

I've posted a few things on the problem the innocence of a convicted felon poses for the Texas criminal justice system. Here's anot...

Sometimes the Supreme Court acts by not acting. - Click here for the article . The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear closely wa...

This fits our discussion of economic policy making and civil rights and executive power - probably a few others as well. - Click here for th...

This week I opened the assessment for public policy in 2305. I'll post a few items related to each subject - foreign, economic and socia...

source .

For my 16 week classes - though the 8 week classes will have to answer this soon enough. In 150 words - at least: In early lectures we menti...

Its not just that lobbyists and the wealthy can contribute more, its that incumbents know they can and will now demand more funding from the...

During the 83rd Texas Legislative Session I made it a point to post stories that mentioned changes in laws related to beer and breweries, sp...

In 2306 we've recently looked at the governor's constitutionally defined appointment powers and will soon look at the criminal justi...

One of the questions posed in the Hobby Lobby case - and one answered in the affirmative in Citizens United - is whether a corporate entity...

A special investigator has been assigned to find out - and it highlights some of the issues associated with the line item veto. The governor...

Andrew Sullivan looks at evidence that it is. - Click here for the post . Law enforcement agencies get additional revenue from forfeitures r...

Interesting result from a poll commissioned by the Texas Tribune. - Click here for the story . In the February 2014 University of Texas/T...

More conflict between the US and Texas governments. - Click here for the article . More than a decade after the Prison Rape Elimination Ac...

This looks like charts showing attitudes about same sex marriage. - Click here for the source .

This is real cutting edge political science in action. - Click here for a link to the paper . (actually a link to a link). The authors argue...

The article linked to in the previous post ( click here for it ) makes an interesting reference to teh election of 1800. We mentioned this e...

Some critics argue that we have been one all along and that any pretense that we are a viable democracy - rules by the people and all that -...

Public opinion does not matter, which is a consequence of the appointed judiciary. - From the NYT : Even as the Supreme Court moved on Wed...

The Tribune reports that yesterday's Supreme Court ruling make national campaign laws similar to this in Texas. - Click here for the art...

A look at the courts decision in McCutcheon. - Click here for the post . The Supreme Court pressed ahead on Wednesday with the majority’s ...

Not good according to the Community College Journal. Supporters must advocate more effectively for funding. - Click here for the article . ...

No reason - just couldn't get a decent subject together. Next week's will be the personal responsibility assessment And yes I see th...

This came just in time for today's discussion of campaign finance rules. The case is McCutcheon v FEC . - Click here for the article . ...

This comes via the Dish . - Click here for the report . They issued a report showing declining support for the death penalty - as well as th...

Here's a more current story - and one that fits within the context of economic development. It also illustrates the revolving door that ...