United States Texas

The TEXAS Constitution says that our STATE government will also have Three Branches(Have had 7 Constitutions)

EXECUTIVE BRANCHPresident

LEGISLATIVE BRANCHCongress

JUDICIAL BRANCH

Courts

EXECUTIVE BRANCHGovernor

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

State Legislature

JUDICIAL BRANCH

Courts

The U.S. Constitution says that our FEDERAL

government will have Three Branches

(Have had only one Constitution)

EXECUTIVE BRANCHPresident – Vice President

– Other offices

LEGISLATIVE BRANCHCongress

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

TX Legislature

JUDICIAL BRANCHCourts

SENATEU.S. Senators2 senators per state

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

SU.S. Representatives

# based on state population

EXECUTIVE BRANCHGovernor – Lt. Governor –

Other offices

SENATEState Senators

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

SState

Representatives

JUDICIAL BRANCHCourts

SUPREME COURTJustices

TEXAS SUPREME

COURT

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

Appointed by the president for life

Justices are elected for a term of six years

CIV

IL

CA

SE

S

CR

IMIN

AL

CA

SE

S

Executive Branch_____________________ the laws

sees that the laws are carried out

Office

Office

Office

Office

Office

Duties:

Duties:

Duties:Duties

:

Duties:

Who is the current Chief

Executive of Texas?

Qualifications:

Executive Powers:

Legislative Powers:

Office

Office

• Serves as chief tax collector• Makes expenditures according to state regulations• Provides budget estimates to legislature

Office

• Acts as the state’s lawyer• Represents TX or TX agency in court• Advises the legislature• Explains regulations to agencies and local governments

• 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

Lieutenant Governor

Duties:

Executive BranchEXECUTES the laws

(sees that the laws are carried out)

Office

Office

Duties:

Duties:

Duties:

Who is the current Chief

Executive of Texas?

Qualifications:

Executive Powers:

Legislative Powers:

Commissioner of the General Land Office

Manages the land and mineral rights owned by Texas

Commissioner of Agriculture

• Enforces agricultural laws• Provides educational and research services to farmers, ranchers, and consumers• Promotes Texas products• Protects the environment

Attorney General Comptroller of Public Accounts

Rick PerryGovernor

Makes appointments to boards and commissions

Signs or vetoes bills

Calls special sessions of the legislature

Must be at least 30 years old

Must be a U.S.citizenMust be a resident of TX for at least 5 years before election Elected to 4-

year termsNo term limits

Removes officials when necessary

SENATEHOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVESDUTIES:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

MEMBERS: _____TERM: _______

QUALIFICATIONS:

LEADER

_____________________ the laws

Makes the laws of the state

MEMBERS: _____TERM: _______

QUALIFICATIONS:

LEADER

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SENATE

DUTIES:

1. Make the laws that govern TX

2. Discusses how the state money should be spent

3. Approved or reject governor’s appointments

4. Power of oversight over the Executive Branch

5. Listen to citizen concerns

6.Decide what to do about prison overcrowding, taxes, education, etc.

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

LEADERSpeaker of the House

Makes (creates) the laws of the state

LEADERLieutenant Governor

The Texas State Legislature is BICAMERAL… meaning it is divided into two HOUSES: the SENATE and the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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

Court of Criminal Appeals

Highest Criminal Court

CRIMINAL CASES

Appeals CourtsLosers ask to have their trial reviewedNo jury – decided by a group of judgesNo new evidence or witnesses

County CourtsTX Constitution requires that all 254 counties have at least one county courtThe legislature has the power to create additional county courts in fast-growing cities like AustinCivil cases where the disputed amount is between $500 and $5,000Criminal misdemeanor cases where the fine is greater than $200

Justice of the PeaceSmall towns and rural areas without Municipal CourtsTry civil and minor criminal casesJustices perform many roles: Marriages, issuing search warrants, setting bail, and determining the cause of death

Municipal CourtsFound in larger citiesDeal with violations of city ordinances, such as fire safety infractions, traffic offenses, and zoning violationsMisdemeanor cases in which the maximum fine is less than $2000

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Texas Judicial SystemInterprets, or explains the meaning of the laws

(Decides what the laws of the state mean and how they should be enforced)

District CourtsConsidered the most important Trial Court in Texas Judicial SystemCriminal felony cases (murder, arson, etc.)Civil cases involving juveniles or disputes of over $5,000

Texas Supreme Court

Highest Civil CourtCIVIL CASES

Justice of the PeaceSmall towns and rural areas without Municipal CourtsTry civil and minor criminal casesJustices perform many roles: Marriages, issuing search warrants, setting bail, and determining the cause of death

Municipal CourtsFound in larger citiesDeal with violations of city ordinances, such as fire safety infractions, traffic offenses, and zoning violationsMisdemeanor cases in which the maximum fine is less than $2000