Judicial Branch – Texas
-court cases involving criminal and civil cases
-judges preside over the courtroom and sometimes decide cases; lawyers argue cases;
juries decide cases
-criminal trials involve punishing or freeing suspects of criminal activity
-civil cases involve disputes between private individuals, businesses, or organizations
-courts also decide what state laws mean: they interpret and apply the law in court
cases
-City, county and district courts work at the local level
-Texas has two “Supreme Courts”
-Texas Supreme Court deals with appeals in civil cases
-Court of Criminal Appeals deals with appeals in criminal cases
Legislative Branch – Texas
-makes laws; laws start as “bills” which become “laws” when they are passed by the
Senate and the House and signed into law by the Governor
-2 chambers or rooms
-Senate – 31 members – led by Lt. Governor (elected independently)
-House of Representatives - 150 members – led by the Speaker of the
House (elected by other representatives in the House)
-meets every two years
-elections for House and Senate every two years
-committees in both for special areas like education, the environment, public health,
businesses and jobs, and agriculture
-the Senate approves appointments of the Governor to boards and commissions
-2/3 majority vote of both chambers needed to amend (change) the Constitution of
Texas
Executive Branch – Texas
-enforces and carries out the law
-headed by the Governor-elected for 4 years
-Governor appoints people to boards and commissions (e.g. Univ. of Texas
Governing Board)
-Governor removes these people from office at times
-Governor vetoes (rejects bills)
-Governor is Commander-in-Chief of the Texas Guard (military)
-Can call a special (extra) session of the legislature
-Grants pardons (when someone is let go from prison)
-Other elected Executive Branch officials – elected every four years
-Comptroller: collects taxes
-Land Commissioner: manages state owned land and minerals
-Agriculture Commissioner : sets rules for and assists farms and ranches
-Railroad Commissioner: sets rules for (regulates) oil and gas companies
-Secretary of State: sets rules for and oversees elections
-Attorney General: top lawyer for Texas and represents Texas in court cases