United States Texas LEGISLATIVE BRANCH State Legislature LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Congress JUDICIAL BRANCH Courts JUDICIAL BRANCH Courts EXECUTIVE BRANCH Governor EXECUTIVE BRANCH President The U.S. Constitution says that our FEDERAL government will have Three Branches (Have had only one Constitution) The TEXAS Constitution says that our STATE government will also have Three Branches (Have had 7 Constitutions)

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS EXECUTIVE BRANCH President – Vice President – Other offices EXECUTIVE BRANCH Governor – Lt. Governor – Other offices LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Congress LEGISLATIVE BRANCH TX Legislature SENATE U.S. Senators 2 senators per state HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES U.S. Representatives # based on state population SENATE State Senators HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES State Representatives JUDICIAL BRANCH Courts JUDICIAL BRANCH Courts SUPREME COURT Justices TEXAS SUPREME COURT COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS CIVIL CASES Appointed by the president for life CRIMINAL CASES Justices are elected for a term of six years

Commissioner of the General Land Office Executive Branch EXECUTES the laws (sees that the laws are carried out) Commissioner of Agriculture Lieutenant Governor Duties: Duties: When the governor is out of state he takes over (acts as chief executive) Carries out duties requested by the governor Serves as president of the TX Senate Enforces agricultural laws Provides educational and research services to farmers, ranchers, and consumers Promotes Texas products Protects the environment Who is the current Chief Executive of Texas? Greg Abbott Governor Signs or vetoes bills , Commander and Chief of National Guard Calls special sessions of the legislature Represents Texas Legislative Powers: Office Office Attorney General Executive Powers: Nominates cabinet; must be approved by the Senate Grants Pardons Comptroller of Public Accounts Duties: Makes Appointments Proposes State Budget Acts as the state’s lawyer Represents TX or TX agency in court Advises the legislature Explains regulations to agencies and local governments Duties: Qualifications: Must be a U.S.citizen Serves as chief tax collector Makes expenditures according to state regulations Provides budget estimates to legislature Must be a resident of TX for at least 5 years before election Elected to 4-year terms Must be at least 30 years old Office No term limits Commissioner of the General Land Office Manages the land and mineral rights owned by Texas

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Texas Legislature Makes (creates) the laws of the state The Texas State Legislature is BICAMERAL… meaning it is divided into two HOUSES: the SENATE and the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SENATE DUTIES: 1. Make the laws that govern TX 2. Discusses how the state money should be spent or sets Budget 3. Approved or reject governor’s appointments 4. Power of oversight over the Executive Branch 5. Listen to citizen concerns 6. Max Secession is 140 days. MEMBERS: 150 TERM: 2 years QUALIFICATIONS: 21 years old must be a citizen of TX for two years prior to election must be a resident of the district they are elected from for one year prior to election MEMBERS: 31 TERM: 4 years QUALIFICATIONS: 26 years old must be a citizen of TX for five years prior to election must be a resident of the district they are elected from for one year prior to election LEADER Speaker of the House LEADER Lieutenant Governor

Texas Judicial System Court of Criminal Appeals Texas Supreme Court Interprets, or explains the meaning of the laws (Decides what the laws of the state mean and how they should be enforced) Appeals Courts Reviews Cases that have already been tried Final appeals courts are the Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals Court of Criminal Appeals Highest Criminal Court CRIMINAL CASES Safety of society, murder, robbery, etc. Texas Supreme Court Highest Civil Court CIVIL CASES: property Money, divorce, etc. Trial District Courts Decides whether a person is guilty or not guilty Level 3 County Courts TX Constitution requires that all 254 counties have at least one county court The legislature has the power to create additional county courts in fast-growing cities like Austin Civil cases where the disputed amount is between $500 and $5,000 Criminal misdemeanor cases where the fine is greater than $200 Level 2 Justice of the Peace Small towns and rural areas without Municipal Courts Try civil and minor criminal cases Justices perform many roles: Marriages, issuing search warrants, setting bail, and determining the cause of death Municipal Courts Found in larger cities Deal with violations of city ordinances, such as fire safety infractions, traffic offenses, and zoning violations Misdemeanor cases in which the maximum fine is less than $2000 Level 1