Legislative Branch Legislative Branch Senate House of Representatives 1. List the two parts of the Texas legislature (answer is also in your textbook)   a. b. 2. How many senators does Texas have in it’s state legislature? (and in text) 3. How many representatives does Texas have in it’s state legislature? (and in text) 4. The House and the Senate make the ___________ and approve the state ________________. 5. What is a quorum? 6. Who presides (is the President) over the Senate and makes Senate committee assignments? Legislative Branch Senate House of Representatives Legislative Branch 31 150 laws budget At least 2/3 of the members are present to conduct business in each house Lieutenant Governor

Legislative Branch Legislative Branch 7. Members of the House of Representatives must meet the following qualifications: citizens of U.S., qualified voters, residents of their state for 2 years and residents of their districts for 1 year. Minimum age: 21 They serve a 2 year term. Members of the Senate must meet the following qualifications: citizens of U.S. residents of their state for 5 years and residents of their districts for 1 year. Minimum age: 26 They serve a 4 year term.   9. As of 2014, senators and representatives are paid $7,200 annually. Legislative Branch

Legislative Branch Legislative Branch 10. A special session of the legislature can last no longer than 30 days.   11. The legislature meets regularly in odd numbered years for sessions not to exceed 140 days. 12. The leader of the House of Representatives is called the Speaker and is elected by the members of the House. Legislative Branch Legislative Branch

Legislative Branch Legislative Branch Makes Laws 13. The main duty of the legislature is to make the laws that govern Texas.   14. These laws set taxes, create traffic regulations, and establish qualifications for teachers. 15. Only legislators can propose constitutional amendments. 16. The legislature also has the power to impeach, or bring charges against judges and executive officials. 17. What is a bill? a potential (proposed laws 18. A bill is first read before the entire House or Senate and then it is assigned to a committee. 19. If the committee rejects a bill, the bill dies. Legislative Branch Legislative Branch Makes Laws

Legislative Branch Legislative Branch Makes Laws 20. If a committee approves a bill, it goes before the House or the Senate for debate and voting.   21. If a bill is approved by the House and the Senate, the bill is then sent to the governor. 22. The governor has three choices with a bill: he/she can sign it, and it becomes law he/she can ignore the bill, and an ignored bill automatically becomes law after 10 days he/she can veto it. 23. If 2/3 of the members of each house vote to override a veto, the bill becomes law. Legislative Branch Legislative Branch Makes Laws

Two duties of the Speaker of the House Leader of the Texas House of Representatives Signs all bills and joint resolutions passed by the legislature Two duties of the Speaker of the House Leader of the Texas Senate Chairs the Legislative Budget Board Serves as acting governor when the governor is out of Texas Identify three duties of the Lieutenant Governor

Enforces/Carries out Laws Executive Branch Executive Branch Enforces/Carries out Laws 1. The main duties of the chief executive (the governor) of Texas includes carrying out the carry out the laws of Texas and to manage the day-to-day business of the state.   2. List four requirements one must meet to run for the position of Governor in Texas? a. Be at least 30 years old b. U.S. citizen c. Resident of Texas for 5 years d. Qualified Voter 3. What is the yearly salary, as of 2010, of the Governor of Texas? $150,000 4. What has been the average age of Texas Governors at the time they were elected? 47 Legislative Branch Makes Laws

Enforces/Carries out Laws Executive Branch 5. Who has been the youngest Texas Governor and how old was he when elected? Dan Moody - 33   6. How many women have served as Governor in Texas? 2 7. Who was the first Governor to have been born in Texas? James Hogg 8. How much did it cost to build the Governor’s Mansion in 1856? $14,500 Executive Branch Enforces/Carries out Laws Legislative Branch Makes Laws

Enforces/Carries out Laws Executive Branch 9. Who is the head of the executive branch? Governor Executive Branch Enforces/Carries out Laws Legislative Branch Makes Laws

Executive Branch Attorney General Lieutenant Governor 10. Executive Branch Attorney General Comptroller of Public Accounts Commissioner of the General Land Office Commissioner of Agriculture Secretary of State Lieutenant Governor 11. Which of the officials in the above graphic organizer is appointed by the governor? Secretary of State

Texas Governor Selection Term of Office Elected in even-numbered years that do not have presidential elections Term of Office  4 year term No term limit(s)   Qualifications At least 30 years old Citizen of the United States Texas resident for at least 5 years before the election Executive Powers Oversees state agencies Appoints and removes officials to state agencies (with Senate approval) Proposes the state budget

Legislative Powers of Governor Judicial Powers of Governor   Can make recommendations for new laws Delivers State of the State address at the beginning of each legislative session (outlines governor’s policy goals) Can veto any opposed proposed new law Can call the legislature into special session Judicial Powers of Governor Can appoint judges when vacancies occur Can pardon people convicted of crimes Can grant 30-day reprieve to a person facing the death penalty Other Powers & Duties of the Serves as commander in chief of the state’s military (Texas Guard) Can declare martial law, putting an area under military control Represents Texas at state functions and presents awards Can declare a site a disaster area after a flood, hurricane, or tornado

Enforces/Carries out Laws Executive Branch Executive Branch Enforces/Carries out Laws Excluding the ability to veto, which of the governor’s powers do you believe is the most important and why? Legislative Branch Makes Laws

5-5-16 History BEE ## History Bee Answer Check Principles Worksheet Today History BEE ## History Bee Answer Check You Need Principles Worksheet Legislative Branch Notes History BEE Packet Legislative Branch Judicial Branch

Enforces/Carries out Laws Judicial Branch The main duty of the Texas Court System is to interpret the laws. 2. What are the two types of law in Texas? a. civil b. Criminal 3. Give the definitions (from your textbook p. 653) for the two types of Texas law. Civil law pertains to legal disputes between individuals Criminal law is the set that deals with people accused of committing crimes 4. List the two types of courts in Texas. a. Trial b. Appellate Executive Branch Enforces/Carries out Laws Legislative Branch Makes Laws Judicial Branch Interprets Laws

Enforces/Carries out Laws Judicial Branch 5. What is the main duty of each of the two types of courts? a. Trial – hears cases & reaches a decision b. Appellate – decides if trials held were fair 6. The Supreme Court hears final appeals of civil cases and the Court of Criminal Appeals hears final appeals of criminal cases. 7. The Department of Criminal Justice runs the state prison system for adults. 8. The Texas Youth Commission runs detention facilities for juveniles. Executive Branch Enforces/Carries out Laws Legislative Branch Makes Laws Judicial Branch Interprets Laws

Structure of Texas Courts Trial Courts Municipal Courts & Justice of the Peace Courts Hears misdemeanor, or minor crime, cases punishable by fines List 2 examples of misdemeanors: littering and speeding County Courts Hears more serious misdemeanor cases and civil cases involving amounts between $200 and $5,000 District Courts Hears all civil cases involving sums greater than $5,000, divorce cases, and some misdemeanor cases. Hears all felony, or major crime, cases List 2 examples of felonies: murder and robbery Appellate 14 Courts of Appeals Reviews cases from District and county courts Supreme Court & Court of Criminal Appeals Reviews hearings from the courts of appeals Supreme Court only reviews civil cases Court of Criminal Appeals reviews criminal cases and all cases involving the death penalty

Enforces/Carries out Laws Judicial Branch 9. Juries are groups of 6 or 12 citizens who hear trial cases and make decisions.   10. Texans must meet several requirements to serve on a jury: You must be qualified to vote You must be able to read and write English You cannot have been convicted of a felony Executive Branch Enforces/Carries out Laws Legislative Branch Makes Laws Judicial Branch Interprets Laws

Enforces/Carries out Laws Judicial Branch Executive Branch Enforces/Carries out Laws 1. Texas uses a biennial, or two-year, budget. Legislative Branch Makes Laws Judicial Branch Interprets Laws

List the major sources of state revenue in the graphic organizer. State Budget largest source of the state's income: 1. Federal grants 2. Sales tax 3. Fees for licenses and permits 4. Fines charged to people who break state laws

Enforces/Carries out Laws Judicial Branch Executive Branch Enforces/Carries out Laws 2. What two areas receive the most funding from the state of Texas? Health and Human Services, Education Legislative Branch Makes Laws Judicial Branch Interprets Laws

3. Fill in the chart outlining how Texas public education is governed. Texas Legislature passes laws governing public schools Texas Board of Education sets education policy and reviews textbooks Texas Education Agency puts education policy into effect Independent school districts run schools locally Boards of trustees or school boards govern the school districts Superintendents run the day-to-day business of the school district Texas Public Schools