Part I: Constitutional Principles. Constitutional Democracy. The Living Constitution. American Federalism. Part II: Rights and Liberties. First Amendment Rights. Equal Rights Under the Law. Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property. Part III: The Political Process. Political Culture and Ideology. The American Political Landscape. Interest Groups: The Politics of Influence. Political Parties: Essential to Democracy. Public Opinion, Participation, and Voting. Campaigns and Elections: Democracy in Action. The Media and American Politics. Part IV: Policy-Making Institutions. Congress: The People's Branch. The Presidency: The Leadership Branch. The Judiciary: The Balancing Branch. The Bureaucracy: The Real Power? Part V: The Politics of National Policy. Making Economic Policy. Making Regulatory Policy. Making Social Policy. Making Foreign and Defence Policy. Part VI: Texas State and Local Government. The Social and Economic Milieu of Texas Politics. The Texas Constitution. Interest Groups, Parties, and Elections in Texas. The Texas Legislature. The Texas Executive and Bureaucracy. The Texas Judiciary. Local Governments in Texas. State and Local Policy in Texas. The Democratic Faith.
