In May 1986, John William Cockrum was convicted for murder and sentenced to die for shooting a 69-year-old woman during a grocery store robbery. In this video, Cockrum tells his story as a Texas prison official explains the execution process.
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n criminal law cases, the rules and procedures that must be followed are specifically designed to prevent miscarriages of justice. But does due process always guarantee that justice is served? The growing number of exonerations in Texas is proof that the state convicts scores of innocent people. This video explores the causes of wrongful conviction and the steps taken to fix the flaws in the Texas criminal justice system.
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State governments have increasingly turned to the private sector to provide services ranging from highway construction to administering public schools. Texas has privatized portions of the prison system and has experimented with privatizing social service programs. Is privatization a cost-effective means of limiting the growth of the Texas bureaucracy?
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State governments have increasingly turned to the private sector to provide services ranging from highway construction to administering public schools. Texas has privatized portions of the prison system and has experimented with privatizing social service programs. Is privatization a cost-effective means of limiting the growth of the Texas bureaucracy?
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State governments have increasingly turned to the private sector to provide services ranging from highway construction to administering public schools. Texas has privatized portions of the prison system and has experimented with privatizing social service programs. Is privatization a cost-effective means of limiting the growth of the Texas bureaucracy?
Material Type: Module
State governments have increasingly turned to the private sector to provide services ranging from highway construction to administering public schools. Texas has privatized portions of the prison system and has experimented with privatizing social service programs. Is privatization a cost-effective means of limiting the growth of the Texas bureaucracy?
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While the Texas legislature is responsible for creating laws, administering laws is the responsibility of more than 200 state agencies that are part of the Texas bureaucracy. Each agency exercises considerable political power in interpreting policies. What are the sources of bureaucratic power, and how are agencies held accountable for their actions? This video investigates one of the oldest and most powerful agencies in state government, the Texas Railroad Commission.
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Modeled after the U.S. government, the vast majority of states have a cabinet system of government to coordinate programs and advise the chief executive. If used in Texas, 200-plus independent agencies could be consolidated into a small number of executive departments reporting to the governor. Should Texas adopt a cabinet system of government?
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Modeled after the U.S. government, the vast majority of states have a cabinet system of government to coordinate programs and advise the chief executive. If used in Texas, 200-plus independent agencies could be consolidated into a small number of executive departments reporting to the governor. Should Texas adopt a cabinet system of government?
Material Type: Module
Modeled after the U.S. government, the vast majority of states have a cabinet system of government to coordinate programs and advise the chief executive. If used in Texas, 200-plus independent agencies could be consolidated into a small number of executive departments reporting to the governor. Should Texas adopt a cabinet system of government?
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About half of the states in the U.S. provide citizens with the power of initiative and referendum – the ability to create new laws by overturning legislative acts by popular vote. While the Texas Constitution does not grant its citizens either of these powers at the state level, both are allowed in home-rule cities. Should Texans be granted the right to use the initiative and referendum processes at the state level?Jim Riddlesperger, Professor of Political Science, Texas Christian University provides his view about the Texas initiative and referendum.
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About half of the states in the U.S. provide citizens with the power of initiative and referendum – the ability to create new laws by overturning legislative acts by popular vote. While the Texas Constitution does not grant its citizens either of these powers at the state level, both are allowed in home-rule cities. Should Texans be granted the right to use the initiative and referendum processes at the state level?Bob Ray Sanders, Associate Editor/Senior Columnist, Ft. Worth Star-Telegram talks his opinion about the initiative and referendum processes at the state level.
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About half of the states in the U.S. provide citizens with the power of initiative and referendum – the ability to create new laws by overturning legislative acts by popular vote. While the Texas Constitution does not grant its citizens either of these powers at the state level, both are allowed in home-rule cities. Should Texans be granted the right to use the initiative and referendum processes at the state level?David F. Prindle, Professor of Government, University of Texas at Austin on his views about the right to use the initiative and referendum processes at the state level.
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The Texas Constitution today is still similar to the original 1876 document, despite more than 400 amendments. Its original philosophy reflected the political culture and values of those who created it. Does the Texas Constitution still reflect the origins of Texas political culture?Hon. Bill Meier, Former State Senator (1973-1983), Fort Worth, TX, talks about Texans being independent people and believe in having less government.
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The Texas Constitution today is still similar to the original 1876 document, despite more than 400 amendments. Its original philosophy reflected the political culture and values of those who created it. Does the Texas Constitution still reflect the origins of Texas political culture?Elise Hu, Journalist & Political Reporter, Austin, TX, and her take on the Texas political culture.
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The Texas Constitution today is still similar to the original 1876 document, despite more than 400 amendments. Its original philosophy reflected the political culture and values of those who created it. Does the Texas Constitution still reflect the origins of Texas political culture?Jim Hightower, Populist & Political Commentator, Texas Agricultural Commissioner (1982-1991) talks about how the original framers of the constitution did not like to centralize power and to this day, that culture still exists.
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The Texas Constitution today is still similar to the original 1876 document, despite more than 400 amendments. Its original philosophy reflected the political culture and values of those who created it. Does the Texas Constitution still reflect the origins of Texas political culture?Sonia R. Garcia, Associate Professor of Political Science, St. Mary’s University talks about the Texas constitution reflecting the political culture and the experiences of the framers in 1876.
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Critics believe the Texas Constitution needs reform in order to provide a more efficient state government. Yet all attempts at fundamental constitutional revision by the state legislature have failed. Is the Texas Constitution “dysfunctional” or does it still work?Jim Hightower, Populist & Political Commentator, Texas Agricultural Commissioner (1982-1991) talks about how the Texas constitution being dysfunctional but it works.
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Critics believe the Texas Constitution needs reform in order to provide a more efficient state government. Yet all attempts at fundamental constitutional revision by the state legislature have failed. Is the Texas Constitution “dysfunctional” or does it still work?Jessica Lavariega Monforti, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Texas-Pan American talks about the reason why Texans keep their constitution despite inefficiency.
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Critics believe the Texas Constitution needs reform in order to provide a more efficient state government. Yet all attempts at fundamental constitutional revision by the state legislature have failed. Is the Texas Constitution “dysfunctional” or does it still work?Sen Judith Zaffirini, Texas 21st Senatorial District, Laredo, Tx talks about why the Texas Constitution should be revised.
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