the weaker party

This builds on the post below about dark money in Texas campaigns. Legislators are already nervous about the next biennial budget. - Lawmak...

An early indication of what might be on the legislative agenda come January; - Click here for the article . AUSTIN — A top House lawmaker w...

That's term the authors of the Monkey Cage use to describe the Trump phenomenon. They think it is a growing trend. - It’s not just Trum...

The case is V.L. v. E.L. Here is the question presented to the court: Does the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution require th...

Since conventional wisdom seems to be that Trump's success indicates a shift is underway between the political parties - one that might ...

This is the subject of the written assignment I'll be giving students as they come back from spring break. Garland's appointment is ...

The author sees evidence that he wants the US to adopt mercantilism - the economic system that Britain used way back in colonial days. This ...

In 2306 we discuss - briefly - the process the nation went through as it acquired territory to the west and then converted it into governing...

I asked both 2305 and 2306 students whether it was their responsibility vote - yes or no. There was no reason to give a knee-jerk yes answer...

Click here for results from each state: - NYT: March 15 Primary Results . And for commentary: 538: It’s Still Not Clear That Donald Tr...

- Click here for the article . President Obama on Wednesday will nominate Merrick B. Garland as the nation’s 113th justice, according to W...

The high costs of college make that a possibility. - Tuition hikes have state leaders looking to regulate college costs . By the time the ...

You take a risk if you endorse a challenger to a sittign member of the legislature - if you are also a legislator. They might win. -  Analys...

Another issue that might end up on the agenda next session. - Click here for the article . With billions of dollars at stake, the Texas Su...

It's standard fare. We beat Louisiana! - Click here for the article . Texas saw record turnout numbers in last week’s presidential pri...

A probable agenda item when the legislature meets next January for its 85th session. This is a look at the issue from a national perspective...

Thst's what Civis Analytics claims anyway. I'd say this is the future - but it's really the present. And its a reason you might ...

We call then special taxing districts. - Click here for the article . For those who thought John Oliver’s recent Donald Trump takedown ...

A look at the demographic future of the country. - Click here for the report . And for a look at interactive maps showing how this future pl...

Apparently whites in states with high populations of minority groups are more responsive to Trumps message. The author speculates about why ...

From the Rand Corporation. - Click here for the source .

For dual credit this week - a look at some of the laws at issue in the court cases I assigned. -  Voting Rights Act of 1965 : - The Fam...

Scalia's death is having an impact. - Click here for the article . During Wednesday’s hearing on Texas’s abortion restrictions, it was...

For 1010 Lumpkin Congressional District 2: Ted Poe . Texas State Senate District 7: Paul Bettencourt . Texas State House District 138: Dwayn...

This might be what sets off the authoritarian minded part of the electorate. - Click here for the article . The U.S. electorate this year ...

This is the case from Texas about whether restrictions on abortion clinics create an "undue burden"to women. The author walks thro...

Trump is a quarter of the way there - Clinton is almost halfway there. - Click here for the article . Senator Ted Cruz scored decisive wi...

An emerging and significant split within the party: - Click here for the article . And a couple graphs from it:

Some researchers think this is the key to understanding Trump supporters. Until recently each party contained supporters with authoritarian ...

Dual credit 2305's might find this worth a look. Not only does it discuss Robert's decision making process as chief justice - but it...

One reason the public becomes disappointed with the performance of presidents is that we over estimate what they can accomplish. People tend...

26.1% turnout in Harris County 27.8% turnout in Brazoria County. - Click here for the article . Voting turnout in Texas surged on Tuesday w...

We never really throw the bums out. - Click here for the article . The status quo in Texas politics had a super Super Tuesday. U.S. Sen....

The process was set up to quickly find an establishment candidate. It found Mr. Trump instead. - Click here for the article . Memo to Repu...

This is pretty fun - and coarse. - Click here for the article . For a cleaner version of events: - Travis County Republican Party Split Ov...

I'm not sure how this did yet - I'll add that soon. In addition to determining who will be the candidates for the general elections...

A few writers think this might happen. - Click here for the article . . . . here's my prediction: Over the next decade or so, the R...

From the Texas Tribune: 2016 Texas Primary Election Results . 538: What Happened on Super Tuesday . NYT: 2016 Primary Results and Calendar .

This is new to me. The list of things that are alleged to fall under the heading of free speech seems limitless. - Click here for the arti...

A point we've been making repeatedly in class. - Click here for the article - and video ! We live in a country with a two-party system...

David Brooks seems to have his of anti-politics. I've asked 2305 and 2306 students to use this as the basis of this week's written a...

You are in luck. - Ballotpedia: Super Tuesday presidential primaries, 2016 . - 538: Super Guide to Super Tuesday - Republican Edition . -...

More on Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt . How does the court make those decisions anyway, and how might the level of protection some rig...

Commentary on the court's upcoming look at Texas; abortion laws - Whole Woman's Health v. Hemmerstedt. Here is the issue presented i...

The case was Voisine v. United States - click here for Scotusblog's page on it . Here is the issue before the court: Issue: (1) Whethe...

The Tea Party looks to take out high profile Republicans - powerful ones. - Click here for the article . Expectations of a record turnout ...

For out look in 2306 at the relationship between the state of Texas and the national government - federalism they call it. - Click here for ...

It's been a while since we have had a party realignment. Here's an argument that we have one coming up. - Click here for the article...

Some Texas Races Decided Before Voters Hit Polls . We are just one week away from Super Tuesday but before a single ballot is counted in ...

It's what primaries are all about. Texas isn't conservative enough for some people apparently. Rep. Dan Flynn Faces Challenger Fro...