EXECUTIVE BRANCH
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH
LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH
President – Vice President –
Other offices
Governor – Lt. Governor –
Other offices
Congress
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. Representatives
SENATE
U.S. Senators
TX Legislature
SENATE
JUDICIAL BRANCH
JUDICIAL BRANCH
Justices
TEXAS
SUPREME
COURT
COURT OF
CRIMINAL
APPEALS
Justices are elected for a term of six years
CRIMINAL
CASES
Appointed by the
president for life
Courts
CIVIL
CASES
Courts
SUPREME
COURT
State
Representatives
State Senators
# based on state
population
2 senators per state
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Office
Office
Executive Branch
Lieutenant Governor
Duties:
EXECUTES the laws
(sees that the laws are carried out)
Commissioner of
Agriculture
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
Who is the
current Chief
Executive of
Texas?
Rick Perry
Governor
• Enforces agricultural laws
• Provides educational and research
services to farmers, ranchers, and
consumers
• Promotes Texas products
• Protects the environment
Legislative Powers: Signs or vetoes bills
Office
Attorney General
Duties:
• Acts as the state’s
lawyer
• Represents TX or TX
agency in court
• Advises the legislature
• Explains regulations to
agencies and local
governments
Calls special sessions of the legislature
Executive Powers:
Makes appointments to boards and
commissions
Removes officials when necessary
Office
Comptroller of
Public Accounts
Duties:
Qualifications: Must be a U.S.citizen
Must be a resident of TX for at least 5
years before election
Elected to 4Must be at
year terms
least 30
No term
years old Commissioner of the limits
Office
General Land Office
Manages the land and mineral rights owned
by Texas
• Serves as chief tax
collector
• Makes expenditures
according to state
regulations
• Provides budget
estimates to legislature
John Connolly was shot
Sam Houston was
during the Kennedy
President, Senator,
Assassination in 1963.
and Governor of
Texas
• The governor is the chief executive of the state.
He has the power to call together a special
The
session of Congress, veto bills, and send messages
Executive
to the legislature. He also appoints people to
executive agencies.
Branch
• The Governor is elected to a 4 year term of office
and there is no term limit. Examples of
Governors:
Ann Richards was
known throughout
the country for her
quick wit and hard
work.
George W. Bush was
the first Texas
Governor to become
President
• Although part of the
Executive Branch, the LT.
Governor is the head of the
Texas Senate.
• He enforces the rules and
procedures of the Senate.
• The Lieutenant Governor is
actually considered the
most powerful position in
the state because he
oversees the Texas Senate
The
Lieutenant Governor
The late Bob Bullock was
known for working well with
both political parties as well
as being a great lover of
Texas History.
Differences with the U.S. Executive
• In Texas the head of the Executive branch is
the Governor,
• In the U.S. the head of the Executive branch
is the President.
• The President has a 2 term limit.
• The Vice President has little power
compared to the L.T. Governor
The Texas State Legislature is
BICAMERAL… meaning it is divided
into two HOUSES: the SENATE and the
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Makes (creates)
the laws of the state
Texas Senate: 31 members
Texas House of Representative:
150 members
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
SENATE
DUTIES:
1. Make the laws that govern TX
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
LEADER
Speaker of the House
2. Discusses how the state money
should be spent
MEMBERS: 31 TERM: 4 years
3. Approved or reject governor’s
appointments
• 26 years old
4. Power of oversight over the
Executive Branch
5. Listen to citizen concerns
6.Decide what to do about prison
overcrowding, taxes, education,
etc.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• 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
Lieutenant Governor
Differences with the U.S. Legislature
• The legislatures are the same except the state level
makes laws for only the state and the national makes
laws that cover every state and in number of
representatives.
• In the U.S. Senate the Vice President is in charge.
• US Senators are elected to 6 year terms with no limits
Texas Judicial System
Interprets, or explains the meaning of the laws
(Decides what the laws of the state mean and how they should be enforced)
Appeals Courts
Texas Supreme Court
Highest Civil Court
CIVIL CASES
Losers ask to have their trial reviewed
No jury – decided by a group of judges
No new evidence or witnesses
District Courts
Level
3
Level
2
Highest Criminal
Court
Considered the most important Trial Court in
Texas Judicial System
Criminal felony cases (murder, arson, etc.)
Civil cases involving juveniles or disputes of over
$5,000
CRIMINAL CASES
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
Justice of the Peace
Level
1
Court of Criminal
Appeals
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
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
Differences with the U.S. Judicial Branch
• The United States Supreme Court is the final
authority on the interpreting the Constitution for the
entire country. Texas’ Supreme courts can appeal to
the U.S. Supreme Court
The Supreme
Court Judges are
appointed by the
President and
approved by the
Congress. They
have their position
for life.