Texas Lone Star State

Six Flags? Spain France Mexico Republic of Texas State of Texas Confederacy State again - March 30, 1870

Constitution Texas Long, concise Statutory or detailed wording Over 400+ amendments BR = 1 st article US Short, vague Liberal or broad wording Only 27 amendments BR – added after ratification

Elections Geographic size of state makes $$$ important Closed as to ballot, but open to any registered voter Elect judges, members of boards, Lt Gov’r and other cabinet members More party control than at nat’l level EC vote = 38 now

Local Government Dillon’s Rule –City does NOT have inherent sovereignty to rule its jurisdiction –City receives its authority from the state legislature in the form of its charter TX Municipal League = lobbying arm of city govts’ interest group

Local Govt. cont— County level –Legislative body = commissioner’s court –Executive body = county judge –Judicial = JP, county ct at law, district court City level –Legislative body = city council –Executive body = mayor –Judicial = municipal court

Annexation & ETJs City’s may annex surrounding unincorporated areas into their geographic territory or city limits 3 year formal process (key = inventory and maintenance of present services) ETJ = extraterritorial jurisdiction; authority of city over area next to its city limits –Limited control – mainly regulatory, also taxes prior to eventual annex.

Special districts Areas with specific functions which govern autonomously regardless of county/city govts May overlap geographic areas but supersede jurisdictional authority ex.: school (#1), water and MUDs, hospital, 9-1-1

Texas Executive Plural executive – as governor does not select his Lt Govr nor most of his cabinet Can call 30-day special session for Tx legislature and limits agenda to his topic Has line item veto but no Pocket veto power No pardon power as subject to recommendation of Board of Pardons and Parole

Texas Legislature Meets for 140 days biennially or every other year Speaker of House and Lt Governor – most powerful Terms= 2 yrs for House, 4 for Senate Members –House: 150 members, 21 yrs old, registered voter, Tx resident for 2 yrs, resident of district –Senate: 31 members, 26 yrs old, registered voter, Tx resdient for 5 yrs and district resident for 1 yrs

Texas Judicial Elected in partisan elections Serves only 4 or 6 years depending on court Has 2 supreme cts –Texas Supreme Ct = civil cases –Tx. Ct of Criminal Appeals = criminal cases “ct of last resort” = US Supreme Ct Automatic appeal for death penalty/capital murder cases

Voters 18+, on or before election day Resident of county US citizen Not currently under felony sentence Of sound mind Register to vote 30 days prior to election Photo ID with you when you vote

Jurors 18+ Citizen of state and county Eligible to vote (not nec registered voter) Of sound mind and good moral character Able to read and write Not convicted of, or currently under indictment for, misdemeanor theft or any felony

Misc Sunset laws – require a review or evaluation of agency/program prior to its renewal by the legislature Criminal trials – 2 parts = 1) verdict (guilt/not guilty) and 2) sentencing Entitled to atty at point taken into custody; Appointed an atty at later arraignment Grassroots movement – attempting to influence public officials by gaining support county by county through individual efforts, not party leadership

Test 25 MC [4 pts each] Bring pencil or pen for this section