Texas state and local
government
Texas is governed by a
constitution written in 1876 as a
reaction to Reconstruction.
• Our legislature is
• members serve the
similar to the U.S.
same function
Congress in that:
• members’ terms are
• each is bicameral
the same for each
House of
• members are elected
Representatives
directly
• most work is done in
committees
The Tx. legislature is different
from Congress in…
• size
• pay – Texans are
paid far less
• Texas’ senators
terms are shorter
than U.S. senators
• Texas legislature
meets only every
other year (approx.
140 days)
Texas House of Representatives
• 150 members (our district is #15: Ruben
Hope)
• term: 2 yrs. (no limits)
• salary: $7,200/yr. + $124. per diem while leg.
in session, $10,750/mo. for offices
• qualifications:
– age: 21 yrs.
– resident of state for 2 yrs., district for 1
– U.S. citizen
Texas Senate
• 31 members - our district is #3: Todd
Staples
• term: 4 yrs. (no limits)
• salary: $7,200/yr. + $124. per diem while leg.
in session + $25,000/ mo. for offices
• qualifications:
– 26 yrs.
– resident of state for 5 yrs./district for 1
– U.S. citizen
Our representatives:
State representative
Brandon Creighton
State senator
Robert Nichols
Texas governor – Rick Perry
• term: 4 yrs. (no
limit)
• qualifications:
– 30 yrs.
– state resident for
5 yrs.
– U.S. citizen
Salary and “perks” of the office
• salary:
$115,345/yr.
• home – Governor’s
mansion
• limousine
• aircraft
• All but two have
been men:
– Miriam A. (“Ma”)
Ferguson (192527 and 1933-35)
– Ann Richards
(1991-1995)
Lieutenant Governor:
David Dewhurst
• serves as
president of the
state Senate
• qualifications:
– same as for
governor
Speaker of the Texas House of
Representatives: Tom Craddick
• qualifications same
as members of the
House
• native of Midland
• elected from within
House
• serves a district
just as the other
149 members
Texas court system
• Texas has two
highest appellate
courts
– Supreme Court (9
Justices), hears
only civil cases
– elected to
staggered 6 yr.
terms
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
• Texas’ highest court
for criminal cases
• consists of a
Presiding Judge and
8 Judges (9 total)
• elected to 6-yr.
terms
Intermediate appellate courts
• 14 Courts of Appeals
• 80 justices total, all
elected
• appeals usually heard
by 3 justices
• hear both civil and
criminal appeals
State trial courts –
district courts
• hear all felony criminal
cases
• divorce cases
• land title cases
• cases involving at least
$200
• in densely populated
counties, may specialize
in civil, criminal, and
family law matters
District courts located in
Montgomery County:
• 9th – Fred Edwards
• 221st – Suzanne Stovall
• 284th – Olen Underwood
• 359th – Kathleen
Hamilton
• 410th – Michael Mayes
County and local trial courts of limited
jurisdiction – all trial courts
• County courts – 1 in
each county (civil &
criminal jurisdiction)class A and B
misdemeanor cases
• County courts at law –
located in more
populated counties
• municipal courts –
limited criminal
jurisdiction (fine only)
• Justice of the Peace
courts – limited civil and
criminal jurisdiction
(class C misdemeanors)
• Small claims courts –
limited civil and criminal
jurisdiction
Montgomery County
County courts in Montgomery
County
• County Court at Law
1 – Dennis Watson
• County Court at Law
2 – Jerry Winfree
• County Court at Law
3 – Mason Martin
• County Court at Law
4 – Mary Ann
Turner
Conroe’s Municipal Ct.James Cates:
handles mostly
traffic-related
offenses, but also
school-related
offenses + Conroe
city ordinance
offenses
Montgomery County’s Justices of
the Peace (5)
Pct. 1: Lanny
Moriarty
Pct. 2: Trey Spikes
Pct. 3: Edie Connelly
Pct. 4: James Metts
Pct. 5: Carolyn Cox
• handle cases like…
– alcohol-related
offenses
– truancy
– curfew violations
– bad checks
– civil cases involving
$5,000 or less
– eviction cases
County governing body:
Commissioners Court
• Counties are divided
into 4 precincts,
each of which elects
a commissioner to
the court
• The Commissioners
Court is not a lawinterpreting body,
rather a law-making
body
• Montgomery
County’s county
judge is Alan (Barb)
Sadler (elected by
the whole county);
commissioners are:
–
–
–
–
Pct. 1 – Mike Meador
Pct. 2 – Craig Doyal
Pct. 3 – Ed Chance
Pct. 4 – Ed Rinehart
Most counties elect 5 other
county officers:
1. sheriff: Tommy Gage
2. county clerk – Mark
Turnbull registers &
records documents,
birth/death
certificates, marriage
licenses
3. tax assessor/collector –
J. R. Moore appraises
property and collects
taxes
4. treasurer – Martha
Gustavsen keeps
county funds and
makes authorized
payments
5. county attorney – David
Walker carries out
criminal investigations,
prosecutes
City of Conroe government
Mayor:
Tommy Metcalf – elected
at large, 4 yr. term,
limited to 2 terms, only
votes in case of a tie, …
and 5 council members:
Place 1: Pat George (term
expires 5/2008)
Place 2: Webb Melder,
(5/2008)
Place 3: Jim Gentry
(5/2010)
Place 4: Jerry Streater
(5/2010)
Place 5: Jay Ross Martin
(5/2010)
City Council hires and oversees a
management staff consisting of…
1.
city administrator:
Jerry McGuire
2. city attorney: Marc
Winberry
3. city secretary: Marla
Porter
plus… directors of 8
departments that
make up the city
workforce
•
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community development
capital projects
finance
public works
parks & recreation
human resources
police
fire
director of downtown