american and texas gov readings

base pay of House and the Senate and their presiding officers

$7,200 per year -one of the lowest legislative pay levels in the country

what are the 2 chambers of bicameral legislature

31 member Senate and 150 member House of Representatives

Senator terms

4 year staggered terms

term limit on lieutenant governor

4 years

Board of Parole and Pardons

7 member board that decides when prisoners can be released early, and its decisions do not require action by the governor.

statutory county court

A court created by the legislature that exercises limited jurisdiction over criminal and/or civil cases. The jurisdiction of these courts varies from county to county.

plural executive

A fragmented system of authority under which most statewide, executive officeholders are elected independently of the governor. This arrangement, which is used in Texas, places severe limitations on the governor's power.

special sessions

A legislative session called by the Texas governor at any time other than regular legislative session. Limited to 30 days and can consider only subjects or issues designated by the governor.

felonies

A serious criminal offense punishable by a prison sentence of more than one year

Commissioner of the General Land Office

An elected official who manages the state's public lands and administers the Veterans Land Program, which provides low-interest loans to veterans for the purchase of land and houses.

appellate jurisdiction

Authority of court to review a decision of a lower court or administrative agency.

who is reffered as the "den mother of the dirty thirty"

Frances Farenthold of Corpus Christi-only women in the house in 1971

constituational county court

the texas constitution provides for 254 courts with limited jusridiction. the county judge who is also the presiding officer of a countys commissioners court which is a policymaking body, performs some limited judicial functions in some counties

why governors staff are hired

they are loyal and share their basic political attitudes -skills in mass communications and public relations -expertise in specific policy areas

texas court of criminal appeals

under presiding judge Sharon Keller has upheld more death sentences than it has reversed

en banc

when all of the judges of an appellate court sit to hear a case

when can the governor moblize his or her commander in chief of the military force of the state powers?

when riots or natural disasters occur within the state to protect lives and property and keep peace

subcommittees

work out compromises, correct technical problems in bills, or draft substitute legislation to accommodate competing interests.

first republican speaker of modern times

Tom Craddick

state board of education

a 15 member body composed of members who are elected by districts that has responsibility over textbook selection, curriculum standards for public schools and permanent school fund investments

ways to scuttle legislation

a bill can be gutted or so drastically amended or weakened that it's sponsor may abandon it, or a bill simply can be ignored

penal code

a body of law that defines most criminal offenses and sets a range of punishments that can be assessed

pay-as-you-go

a constitutional prohibition against state government borrowing money for its operating budget

Municipal Courts

a court of limited jurisdiction that hears cases involving city ordinances and primarily handles traffic tickets

district court

a court with general jurisdiction over criminal felony cases and civil disputes

House Research organization

a key support group supported by funds from the House budget and governed by a steering committee

bicameral legislature

a lawmaking body, such as the texas legislature, that includes 2 chambers

standing committee

a legislative committee that specializes in bills by subject matter or plays a procedural role in law making process. A bill has to win committee approval before the full House or senate can consider it.

justice of the peace court

a low-ranking court with jurisdiction over minor civil disputes and criminal cases

civil lawsuits

a non criminal legal dispute between two or more individuals, businesses, and governmens or other entities.

conference committee

a panel of house members and senators appointed to work out a compromise on a bill if the house and the senate passed different versions of the legislation

plea bargain

a procedure that allows a person charged with a crime to negotiate a guilty plea with prosecutors in exchange for a lighter sentence than he pr she would expect to receive if convicted in a trial

staggered terms

a requirement that members of the state boards and commissions appointed by the governor serve terms that begin on different dates. that means it takes a new governor at least two years to get majorities favoring his or her policies on most boards.

most powerful office in state government

Lieutenant governor: because it offers the opportunity to use a statewide electoral base to develop a dominant legislative role. - get most of their power from rules set by Senate

sunject committee

a special committee- usually appointed by the governor, the Lt governor, and the speaker- that studies a specific issue and makes recommendations to the legislature. Panel usually includes private citizens as well as legislators

Calendars Committee

a special procedural committee in the Texas House of Reps. that schedules bills that already have been approved by other committees for floor debate

Legislative Budget Board (LBB)

a ten member board that includes the Lt. Governor, the speaker, and 8 key lawmakers that makes budgetary recommendations to the legislature.

the governor has the authority to grant executive clemency

acts of leniency or mercy toward convicted criminals

commissioneer of agriculture

an elected state official responsible for administering laws and programs that benefit agriculture

Defendant

an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.

court of appeals

an intermediate level court that reviews civil and criminal cases from the district courts -normally decide cases in panel of three judges, but an entire court can hear some appeals en banc

senatorial courtesy

an unwritten policy that permits a senator to block the confirmation of a gubernatorial appointee who lives in the senators district

President Pro Tempore of the Senate

assisting presiding officer, who is chosen by senators from among their membership on a seniority basis -3rd in line of succession to the governorship

committee system

backbone of the legislative process that is molded by the Lt. Governor and the speaker. -a screening proccess that decides the fate of most legislation

success with the media includes

being accessible to reporters and understanding the deadlines and other constraints under which they work -being honest -offering policies that are credible and demonstrating an ability to enact them

what authority of the Texas governor is weaker than the governor of most states and the president?

budgetary authority

dominant occupations of legislatures

business and law business owners or attorneys

who was the texas legislature dominated by until about 40 years ago?

conservative, primarily rural Democratic lawmakers

plural executive intended to do:

control and constrain the governor

county level courts

created by Texas constitution to serve the needs of the sparsely populated, rural society that existed when the charter was approved in 1876

Texas supreme court

decides civil appeal -is viewed by most texans as the unoffical head of state judiciary and has been given some authority to coordinate the state judicial system

Bifurcated Court System in Texas

existence of 2 courts at the highest level of the state judiciary. the texas supreme court is the court of last resort in civil cases and the court of criminal appeals has the final authority to review criminal cases. Texas and Oklahoma are only states that use this system

Texas Legislature turn over

generally low during most election cycles due to low pay and personal costs involved in running for public office. -14.7 years in senate and 8 years in the house

Members of the Executive Branch

governor, lt. governor, secretary of state, comptroller of public accounts, treasurer, commissioner of the general land office, attorney general, agriculture commissioner, the 3 member railroad commission, and the 15member state board of education

secretary of state

grants chaters to corporations and processing the extraditions of prisoners to other states. -administers state election laws

texas court of criminal appeals term limits and qualifications

includes a presiding judge and 8 other judges elected state wide to staggered six year terms -qualifications are the same as Supreme court

how many terms can an individual serve in the legislature

infinte, no limit

influence is determined by:

leaders personality and leadership capabilities

who is the house leader and speaker selected by

members of the house and the senates presiding officer

Misdemeanor

minor crime

veto

one of the governors formal power to reject, or kill, a bill passed by the legislature

line item veto

one of the governors formal powers to reject certain parts of an appropriate, or spending, bill without killing the entire thing

term limits on speaker

originally, no more than one 2 year term recently, multiple terms are the norm

smith vs allwright (1944)

part of fight to end political discrimination against African american voters during the segregation era

what powers did the new constitutions including current reduce?

powers of the office, reflecting apprehension of strong executive and political authority

Rules and Resolutions Committee

procedural- handle many routine congratulatory resolutions, such as congratulating an high school football team on a state championship or a prominent constituent on her 100th birthday

governor

states top executive officeholder

new charter called for the election of

that state treasurer and the comptroller of public accounts

who has one of the strongest veto powers of any governor

the Texas governor

importance of a committee is determined by

the area of public policy over which it has jurisdiction or by its role in the Houses's operating procedure

the governor offices 2 major constitutional powers over the legislature

the authority to call and set the agenda for special sessions and the ability to veto proposed legislation

original jurisdiction

the authority to hear cases for the first time

the us and texas constitutions provide

the basic legal framework for the texas court system

individualization

the complex process of institutional change and adoption in the organization and operations of the legislature

with the approval of two thirds of the senate

the governor can only fire his or her own appointees

Lieutenant governor

the presiding officer of the Senate. becomes governor if the governor dies, resigns, becomes incapacitated, or is removed from the office.

speaker

the presiding officer of the house of representatives

if a staff member makes a serious mistake

the public will perceive it as the governors error

what floor of the texas state capitol has restrictions

the second floor has restrictions for only lawmakers, certain state officials, some staff members, and accredited media representatives when legislature is in session

only executive officer that governor appoints with new constitution

the secretary of state

attorney general

the states chief legal officer. represents the state in lawsuits; is responsible fo enforcing the states antitrust, consumer protection, and and other civil laws, and issues advisory opinions on legal questions to state and local officeholders. has little responsibility for criminal law enforcement.

controller of public accounts

the states primary tax administrator and revenue estimator. it is an elective position

how can a veto be overridden?

2/3 vote of both the House and the Senate

arguments for keeping low pay

- they know the pay level before they run for office. -have one of the best retirement plans in the country, they can increase their benefits without voter approval.

informal powers of the governor

-200+ staff members working for him -mass media shapes the governors political and policy options

compare and contrast Lt. Governor and Speaker

-Lt. Gov has more direct control over senate's agenda than the speaker has over the House -Lt. Gov has more formal control over the membership of Senate committees then the speaker has over the house panels -Lt. Gov can only vote to break ties vs the speaker who can vote on any issue in the house -Both do not participate on house or senate debate on bills

Other states that don't meet every year

-Montana -Nevada -North Dakota

Representative qualifications

-a qualified voter -at least 21 years old -Texas resident for 2 years -a resident of the district represented for one year

Senator qualifications

-a qualified voter -at least 26 years old -a resident of Texas for 5 years -a resident of the district from which elected for at least one year

term limits and qualifications of texas supreme court

-includes a chief justice, 8 justices who serve staggered six year terms -must be at least 35 years old and must have been a practicing attorney, a judge of a court of record, or a combination of both for the last ten years.

arguments for higher legislative pay in Texas

-necessary because legislative has become more than a part time job for many lawmakers, specifically during special sessions. -the low compensation level now restricts legislative service to wealthy individuals, retirees, or people who have law practices or own businesses in which partners or employees can take up the slack when they are in Austin. -higher pay would broaden potential legislators pool making it more representative of public/lower, middle class.

two of the speakers most important formal powers

1. appointing committees 2. assigning legislation, or proposed laws, to the committees for initial review

what are the 5 functions of the Texas Legislature?

1.enacting laws 2.budgeting and taxes 3.overseeing state agencies 4.educating the public 4.representing the public

Senator Election Cycle

16 senators are in one cycle and the other 15 senators are in the cycle 2 years later

Representative terms

2 years

only state to have a unicameral legislature

Nebraska

plaintiff

One who begins a lawsuit

Texas Railroad Commission

Originally set up to regulate railroads in Texas -now is a 3 member, elected body that regulates oil and natural gas production and lignite mining in texas

Governor Rick perry

Texas chief executive from 2000-2015 who vetoed 301 bills. -one veto, which struck down a bill that would have banned the execution of mentally retarded convicts received international attention

who is the lieutenant governor elected by

Texas voters

regular legislative session

The 140-day period in odd-numbered years in which the legislature meets and can consider laws on any issue or subject.