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.