New & Noteworthy

A bibliography of recently received books, reports, and other documents available for circulation to the Texas legislative community.

April 2012 List

Church & State
1. The Bible, the School, and the Constitution
By Steven K. Green
Presents the legal questions of prayer in public schools and the public funding of religious schools within the context of nineteenth century events. Explores the development of the School Question from 1869 through 1876 and the factors which led Congress to consider the Blaine Amendment to the US Constitution. Argues this nineteenth century controversy forms the foundation of the current approach to church-state issues. 2012. 294 pages.
370.114 G826B 2012

Constitutional Law
2. Framed
By Sanford Levinson
Considers the US Constitution and the constitutions of the 50 states from the perspective of structure rather than rights. Suggests that the failures of the current political system can be explained by these constitutional structures. Argues that state constitutions are amended regularly and have even been replaced and that the US Constitution may need fundamental change. 2012. 437 pages.
342.73 L578F 2012

Courts
3. The Litigation State
By Sean Farhang
Considers why private plaintiff-driven litigation has become the major method used to enforce federal regulations in the US, rather than bureaucracy-centered enforcement under the president's influence. Discusses why the statutory design of federal legislation encourages private lawsuits as the means of implementing federal statutes. 2010. 302 pages.
347.73 F225L 2010

4. The People's Courts
By Jed Handelsman Shugerman
Presents a legal and political history of the development in the US of partisan judicial elections. Points out that 90 percent of state judges are elected by voters. Considers an elected judiciary within the context of the desire for an independent judiciary. 2012. 381 pages.
347.73 SH92P 2012

Criminal Justice
5. Flagrant Conduct
By Dale Carpenter
Chronicles Lawrence v. Texas, the landmark 2003 US Supreme Court case that invalidated the nation's sodomy laws. Draws on interviews with the defendants, arresting officers, and attorneys to present the history of this case which redefined the status of gays and lesbians in the US. Reenacts the arguments before the court and the questions posed by the justices. 2012. 345 pages.
342.7308 C597F 2012

Demographics
6. Coming Apart
By Charles Murray
Considers the changes in the US since 1963 using the demographic of white America. Finds that the upper class and lower class no longer share similar core behaviors or values. Argues this wide divergence will dramatically change the American cultural landscape. 2012. 407 pages.
305.8 M961C 2012

Economic Development
7. Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program
By James E. Jarrett and Bruce Kellison
Analyzes the economic benefits of the $80 million moving image industry incentive program created to bring film, television, commercial, and video game productions to the state. Compares programs in other states with the Texas program and presents interviews and case studies. Makes recommendations for policymakers. Prepared for Texas Association of Business by Bureau of Business Research, IC2 Institute, University of Texas at Austin, 2011. 82 pages.
Z UA215.8 M869 2011

Education
8. The State of State Science Standards, 2012
By Lawrence S. Lerner, et al.
Evaluates K-12 science standards for the 50 states and the District of Columbia for clarity, completeness, and scientific accuracy. Assigns a letter grade to states and reviews the content and rigor of their standards. Identifies four problems common to many states. Thomas B. Fordham Institute, 2012. 217 pages.
Online at: http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/scanned/archive/2012/17439.pdf
375.5 G914S 2012

Education - Higher
9. Beyond Admissions
By Mark C. Long and Marta Tienda, editors
Discusses factors that influence postsecondary outcomes, from college attendance to college completion. Uses data from the Texas Higher Education Opportunity Project to consider college intentions, college choice, and college performance. Makes recommendations for policymakers. 2010. 225 pages.
378.161 B468A 2010

Electronic Government Information
10. Following the Money, 2012
By Benjamin Davis, Phineas Baxandall, and Ryan Pierannunzi
Presents the third annual progress report on the provision of "comprehensive, one-stop, one-click" online availability of government expenditures by the 50 states. Ranks Texas first in this 2012 report. US PIRG Education Fund, 2012. 73 pages.
Online at: http://www.uspirg.org/sites/pirg/files/reports/Following%20the%20Money%20vUS%20WEB.pdf
352.38 B33F 2012

Energy
11. The Long-Term Energy Efficiency Potential
By John A. Laitner, et al.
Uses three highly technical, long-term scenarios to consider the possible contributions that more energy-efficient behaviors and investment might have on the nation's overall energy use by 2050. Points out that the US economy is about 14 percent energy efficient, with Japan and several European countries at about 20 percent. American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, 2012. 88 pages.
343.0929 L146L 2012

Financial Institutions
12. Texas Financial Services Industry Report
By Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism
Reviews the state of the Texas financial services industry — commercial and investment banks, credit unions, credit card issuers, consumer lenders, mortgage companies, money transfer providers, insurance carriers, venture capital firms, investment funds, financial advisers, stock and security brokerages, and accounting firms. Discusses employment growth, average wages, and major companies in each sector, using data from the second quarter of 2011. 2012. 28 pages.
Online at: http://www.governor.state.tx.us/files/ecodev/Financial_Report.pdf
G825.8 F49S 2012

Foster Care
13. Foster Children
By US Government Accountability Office
Analyzes state Medicaid fee-for-service and foster care data from 2008 in Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, and Texas to examine the rate of psychotropic prescriptions for foster and non-foster children and state oversight of foster children. Makes recommendations for policymakers. 2011. 110 pages.
Online at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/586906.pdf
362.733 UN3FH 2011

Funeral Service
14. Death Services
By US Government Accountability Office
Reviews how federal and state governments regulate the death care industry and state regulators' views on the need for additional regulation. Discusses pre-need contracts. Profiles regulations in Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. 2011. 102 pages.
Online at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/586972.pdf
363.75 D349S 2011

Juvenile Justice
15. Youth Experiences at Giddings State School
By Texas Criminal Justice Coalition
Presents results of a survey of 115 youth residing in the Giddings State School concerning security of the facility and opportunities for improvement. Makes recommendations for policymakers and for the new Texas Juvenile Justice Department. 2012. 17 pages.
365.42 Y88 2012

Minority Affairs
16. The New Jim Crow
By Michelle Alexander
Argues that the Jim Crow laws and legal racial segregation have been replaced by mass incarceration as a system of social control. Points out that convicted felons are denied equal access to employment, housing, education, and public benefits which creates a permanent underclass based largely on race. 2012. 312 pages.
364.973 AL27N 2012

Politics
17. Lone Star Tarnished
By Cal Jillson
Compares Texas public policy choices and results with those of other states and the nation in general. Addresses jobs, income and wealth, public education, health and human services, criminal justice, highways and transportation, and energy and the environment. 2012. 285 pages.
320.9764 J563L 2012

Public Policy
18. Horizontal Federalism
By Joseph F. Zimmerman
Considers interstate relations in the areas of commerce, full faith and credit, extradition of fugitives, and privileges and immunities. Points out that the US Constitution authorizes states to engage in compacts or agreements to promote interstate cooperation. Demonstrates that the legal and political questions concerning interstate relations are crucial to understanding recent political developments and controversies. 2011. 292 pages.
320.473 Z65H 2011

Tax Policy
19. The Benefit and the Burden
By Bruce Bartlett
Explains the current federal tax system, including the definition of income and the effective tax rate. Identifies problems with the current tax system, including tax preferences for housing, charitable contributions, capital gains, and how federal taxes affect the states. Discusses the value-added tax and current tax reform proposals. 2012. 271 pages.
336.2 B284B 2012

Texas History
20. Lone Star Law
By Michael Ariens
Presents a history of Texas law from the state's origins as a Spanish colony. Discusses the development of Texas law in the areas of land, oil, water, corporations, family, criminal law, civil rights, and the courts. 2011. 366 pages.
349.764 AR41L 2011

Traffic Safety
21. Dangerous by Design
By Michelle Ernst
Ranks the largest metropolitan areas according to their relative risk to pedestrians. Provides state-by-state statistics on pedestrian safety. Makes recommendations for policymakers. Transportation for America, 2011. 36 pages.
Online at: http://t4america.org/docs/dbd2011/Dangerous-by-Design-2011.pdf
388.41 ER67D 2011