The 3 Branches of Government

Texas Executive Branch Essential Questions: Compare the principles and concepts of the Texas Constitution and U.S. Constitution Describe the structure and function of government at the state level

The Function of the Executive Branch Enforce/Execute or carry out the laws and policies established by the legislature Executive power is shared by those elected and those appointed by the governor

The Governor of TX 4-year term with no term limits 48 TX governors Greg Abbott is the current governor Rick Perry is the previous governor and longest serving governor in TX history Miriam Ferguson (1924, 1932) and Ann Richards (1990) are the only women to serve as Texas governor

Executive Powers of the Governor Makes appointments to boards and commissions. Can remove officials that have engaged in misconduct from their positions The Senate must approve the governor’s decision to remove anyone he or she has appointed to a board or commission

Legislative Powers of the Governor Three of importance: Address the legislature Power of veto The line-item veto Allowed by the Texas Constitution Gives governor power to reject particular items in appropriations bills (spending) Calls special sessions

Other Powers of the Governor Appoints members to Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Board of Criminal Justice, the Texas Youth Commission, and other law enforcement commissions Can delay execution of prisoners Can appoint judges to fill vacancies until regular elections are held Represents Texas at meetings, celebrations, and ceremonies Serves as commander in chief of Texas State Guard Can declare martial law in case of a state emergency

The State Board of Education The State Board of Education manages and invests in the $20 billion Permanent School Fund used to finance education in TX public schools. Barbara Cargill is the current Chair of SBOE. She represents Houston and Southeast Texas.

TX Legislative Branch Essential Questions: Compare the principles and concepts of the Texas Constitution and U.S. Constitution Describe the structure and function of government at the state level

The Function of the Legislative Branch Bicameral- A Senate and House of Representatives Senate committees oversee education, criminal justice, health and human services House committees oversee agriculture and livestock, economic development, environmental regulation, natural resources

Duties of the Legislature Make laws! Approve or reject governor’s appointments Use the power of oversight to review actions of other government branches Discuss how state monies should be spent Listen to voters’ concerns about current issues

TX Senate 31 members, 4-year term & at least 26 years old Ted Cruz and John Cornyn are our two U.S. Senators from Texas

TX House of Representatives 150 members, 2-year term & at least 21 years old Ted Poe represents our area in the U.S. House

Running the State Legislature The legislature meets in regular session every 2 years; but the governor may call a special session. The Lieutenant Governor, Dan Patrick, is elected by voters of the state and serves as Senate president. The Speaker of the House, Joe Straus, is elected by House members to lead the House.

Running the State Legislature (Continued) The speaker and lieutenant governor appoint legislators to committees Committees help the legislature carry out tasks, examine issues, and listen to citizens’ concerns They’re also very powerful in that they can “kill” any proposed law they don’t agree with.

Famous Legislator: Bob Bullock Democrat politician and former Lieutenant Governor of Texas (1991-1999). Known for trademark line “God bless Texas” The Texas State History Museum is named in his honor.

Unique Power of the Legislature The legislature has the sole power of impeachment (removing from office). Only one governor, James “Pa” Ferguson (1915-1917), has been impeached.

Checks and Balances Executive Power Legislative Power Judicial Power Veto power Legislative Power Override a veto Judicial Power Declare a law unconstitutional

How a Bill Becomes a Law… 6 Steps 1) Proposed laws called bills are introduced in the House or Senate. 2) Then, after being sent to committee for consensus 3) house members hold a vote for approval. 4) If approved, the bill is sent to the other house to repeat the process for approval. 5) If approved by both houses, the bill is sent to the governor for approval.

How A Bill Becomes A Law (Continued) 6) If the bill is signed by the governor, the bill becomes Law If the bill is not signed, it is vetoed and returned to the legislature for reconsideration. Then, the legislature can override the veto with 2/3 vote of both the House and Senate to become Law.

Example- School Board (legislative) -Makes a new school rule RMS. Mr. Bodron (executive) -Doesn’t agree with the rule and says no…vetoes rule. School Board- They get a 2/3 vote and override the veto. Dr. Sconzo (judicial) -Then takes the district handbook to see if the rule follows the handbook (constitutional or unconstitutional)

Texas Judicial Branch and Courts Systems

TX Judicial System *** Interprets the laws!!! Consists of : Courts Judges Law enforcement agencies Serves the purposes of: Supporting a system for the trial and punishment of criminals Providing a system to arbitrate (resolve) legal disputes

Texas’s Judicial System Determine if a law is constitutional or unconstitutional passed by Legislative branch and Executive branch of Texas government

Civil Law pertains to legal disputes between: Texas Civil Law Civil Law pertains to legal disputes between: Private citizens Businesses Govts. Most civil cases concern disputes about: 1) Money 2) Property 3) Insurance claims 4) Child custody and support

Criminal Law: describe what people can and cannot do. It deals with crime and the legal punishment of criminal offenses. There are 2 types of offenses: A felony is a "very serious" crime. (murder, arson, etc…) A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act. (public intoxication, vandalism, trespassing)

Felony Felons can receive punishments which range in severity from probation, imprisonment, and execution. Loss of voting rights, exclusion from certain jobs Restricted from: Obtaining certain licenses Purchase/possession of firearms Running for public office

Misdemeanors Misdemeanors are less severe than felonies. In general, misdemeanors are crimes with a maximum punishment of 12 months or less of incarceration, typically in a local jail. Often punished with probation, community service or part-time imprisonment, served on the weekends. Misdemeanors never result in the loss of civil rights, but may result in loss of privileges, such as professional licenses, public offices, or public employment

The Jury System 1. Grand Jury: Decides whether a trial is warranted (legally necessary) Consists of 12 citizens called jurors At least 9 out of 12 jurors must agree on whether decision of trial

Petit Jury: Decides on a verdict. Verdict must be unanimous: guilty or not guilty. Depending on case, either the judge or jury decides sentence.

Famous Texan Judges In 1978 Raul A. González became the first Hispanic appointed or elected to statewide office in 1978. He later served as TX State Judge for the Court of Appeals and TX Supreme Court.

Famous Texan Judges The current and 48th governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, is a former Attorney General of Texas. He was also a former justice on the Texas Supreme Court. He was appointed in 1995 by then-Governor George W. Bush.

The Texas Constitution Overall, there have been 7 TX constitutions. The first, the Constitution of the State of Coahuila y Tejas, was written when TX was part of Mexico in 1827. Our current state constitution written in 1876. Democrats wrote it after Reconstruction ended. The majority party in the South from 1860s to 1980s.

The Role of Constitutions Each TX constitution specified parts of the govt. and duties of each, gave govt. bodies various powers, described the rights of citizens, provided a way to make changes through amendments, and reflected the time in which it was written. Most TX constitutions are modeled after the U.S. Constitution and reflects the 7 principles of govt.

Differences in Constitutions Texas Constitution Bill of Rights arranged in different order 31 rights contained in the Bill of Rights Constitution amended more than 470+ times U.S. Constitution Bill of Rights added as amendments Bill of Rights = First 10 amendments Constitution amended 27 times