the weaker party

- Click here for the text of the bill . - Click here for the summary of the bill . For more detail: Democrats Release Legislation To Overhau...

Now that police reform seems to be on the policy agenda, it goes to the legislature for the policy formation stage. This allows you to take ...

When we get into public policy, we will discuss the policy process which includes agenda setting. The recent protests can be considered such...

These are topical considering recent events. And they bridge one of the topics of this week - interest groups, specifically labor unions. - ...

County chairs are mentioned in the 2306 textbook. Both 2305 and 2306 discuss the decentralized nature of political parties, and the difficul...

For 2306 primarily, but the concepts apply to 2305 as well. A great example of federalism in the courts. - Click here for the article . The ...

A look  at the complex world of law enforcement during the recent troubles. Note that this just refers to federal law enforcement. There are...

A look at the conflict between  originalism  and pragmatism. - Click here for the article . Most government activity in the United States re...

Here's some checking and balancing - Click here for the article . President Donald Trump has a message for the federal judge who blocked...

Here's some terrific history, including mention of deliberate efforts to use race to drive groups apart for political purposes. - Click ...

For next week's look at political institutions. This touches on both the public opinion  and parties chapters. - Click here for the arti...

John Dickinson - Click here for the article . Dickinson was born [note 1] at Croisadore, his family's tobacco plantation near the villa...

An inside look at how the court interprets the Constitution. Hint: There is no  one way. Each justice has their own approach. Remember the t...

Article 3 1. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this constitution, the laws of the United States...

Chapter 3: Federalism - Dual Federalism: McCullough v Maryland . -  Cooperative Federalism: NLRB v Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp . - New Fed...

I'd like to walk through some of the court cases mentioned in Chapters 3 and 4. Supreme Court opinions are important ways of determining...

This organization does for cities what The TAC doe for counties. - Click here for it . The League exists solely to provide services to Texa...

This is the interest group that lobbies the state legislature on behalf of counties in the state. They also provide resources to county offi...

- Click here  for counties in Texas .

-  Click here for their website .

- Click here for more .

More debate on the rules. John Dickerson and Elbridge Gerry (of gerrymander fame) joined the convention. Opening statement by Edmund Randolp...

A look at  the extent of presidential power. The answer seems to be a qualified yes. - Click here for the article . The president cannot inv...

For today - The original constitution . - The Bill of Rights . -  The amendment 11 - 27 . Select key terms Chapter 2: The Constitution - fed...

- Texas Code of Criminal Procedure . - Texas Penal Code .

A highly relevant state agency - Click here for their website . - Click here for their Wikipedia entry . The Texas Commission on Law Enforc...

All from the Texas Tribune -  As coronavirus hits Texas, the state's top health official is spending 30 hours a week on a second job — t...

Seems pertinent - Click here for the entry . With the beginning of the nuclear arms race in the late 1940s, national and state civil defens...

After perusing through a few news items on the blog I'd like to review the following key terms Chapter Two: Texas Constitution - constit...

Also in the news, this act draws a line between the military and police. - Click here for the entry . The Posse Comitatus Act is a United S...

This is suddenly topical - Click here for the entry . The Insurrection Act of 1807 is a United States federal law ( 10 U.S.C. §§ 251 – 25...

The response to the current protests provides another test of the limits of executive power. - Click here for the article . President Donal...

Also known as the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 - Click here for it . It clarifies what the governor can do during an emergency.

For 2306, an example of the emergency powers of the governor. - Click here for the article . Gov. Greg Abbott announced Sunday afternoon ...

2306 students take note. - Click here for the article . Texas collected about $2.6 billion in state sales tax revenue in May, leading to th...

This is a terrific look at federalism during coronavirus. The answer seems to be, no. - Click here for the article . 2. No, the president...

Considering recent events, I'll post a variety of stories related to policing and the establishment of police forces at the local level....

For 2305 - Click here for the article . Relevant terms - executive order - social  media - legal immunity - coalition - federal  agencies - ...

For both 2305 and 2306 - but mostly 2306. - Click here for the article . Relevant terms - Super PAC - voter registration - political...

- Click here . The rules governing the convention were determined. Click on the link  to go over them. These stuck out to me: “Every membe...