Texas Government In a Nutshell

1. Texas Government In a Nutshell 2009

2. US 1787, 2,000 words Articles = 7 Amendments = 27 BR added last Broad lang est liberal const Form of govt = federal, republic, rep dem Texas 1876, over 100,000 words Articles = 17 Amendments = over 460 BR = 1st Art Detailed lang est statutory const Form of govt = unitary Texas Constitution

3. Six Flags • Spain • France • Mexico • Republic • US • Confederacy • US -- again

4. Texas Legislature • Bicameral, meets 140 days biennially • House of Representatives • 150 members • 2 year term • Presiding ofcr = Speaker of House • Senate • 31 members • 4 year term (staggered) • Presiding ofcr = Lt Gov’r (power to appt to com’tee and set agenda in Sen, also on Legis budget com’tee = more power than Gov’r • Makes laws • Conference com’tee: nec 3/5 HR, 3/5 S vote to pass from com’tee to floors

5. Texas Executive • 4 year term • Statewide election; Dem  Rep • Plural exec = most of his cabinet including the Lt. Gov’r elected by the people, NOT the Gov’r • Can call special session of legis, lmt to 30 days but sets specific agenda for the session • No power to pardon or give parole, can give only 1 stay per defendant; can commute a sentence

6. Bureaucracy • Larger than fed • Sunset laws = agencies and programs must do evaluation prior to being renwed by legis • Sunshine = all govt’l entities MUST have public meetings open to all and must give notification of meetings • Ex. HOA, MUD, school board

7. Texas Judiciary • Selected in partisan elections by voters • Serve 2-6 years depending on ct • 2 supremes • Civil = Tx S. Ct. • Criminal = Tx Ct of Crim Appeals • Can appeal from Tx system to US SCt (“last resort”) • Trials 2 parts:1) guilt 2) sentencing or damages • Rt to atty – begins when placed in custody, but apptd at arraignment • Death penalty – auto appeal to Ct of Crim App • Petit jury = trial jury Grand jury = indict • Qualifications?

8. Qualifications US citizen & Tx resident Over 18 Resident of county Able to read and write Be of sound mind NOT convicted of felony or any type of theft Not on probation or indicted for above Exemptions – must claim on form; subject to perjury Full time student Over 70 Sole Care of person under 10 or adult Not of sound mind Inability to comprehend English Active military service Jury Duty in Texas • Randomly Selected through list of voter registrations and TDL • Then, Voir dire preceding trial (a deselection process?)

9. Local Govt • Cities, counties and special districts • Dillon’s Rule – a city has no inherent sovereignty; its auth to govern is delegated by the st legis • Cities given power to • Annex territory surrounding the city • ETJ – extraterritorial jurisdiction, outside city limits but can use lmtd control over (ex. Sign codes, sales tax) • Lobbying group = Tx Municipal League • Very powerful at getting feds to take lg cities into consideration, bypasses state legis

10. Local (cont.) • County govt – • Executive = county judge • Legislature = county commissioners’ court • Law enforcement = sheriff • Special districts – spec function, makes regs and assessments (taxes) • Most common type = school districts; then hospital, MUDs, 911, etc

11. Voting • Low! • State legis set qualifications • US citizen • Texas resident • 18 or older ON election day • Registered 30 days prior to election

12. Elections • Turnout – pres best turnout, then gov’r, least turnout for local school bonds • Geographic size makes $$$$ important as needed to cover larger and more diverse pop • Primaries – deter by party, method of selecting number of delegates to nat’l convention per candidate • CLOSED, must select which party prior to picking up ballot and voting

13. Lobbying • Methods • Grassroots – raising momentum on issue county by county • Direct – meetings, dinners etc with legislators and bureaucrats • Courts – amicus curiae briefs and direct suits