Texas Executive Branch, Judiciary, and Criminal Justice

Vocabulary flashcards covering executive positions, judicial structures, key court cases, legal principles, and criminal justice topics from the Texas lecture notes.

Plural Executive

A system in Texas where executive power is fragmented across multiple independently elected officials, limiting the governor's direct administrative control.

Lieutenant Governor

An executive officer who presides over the Texas Senate, assumes acting governor duties when the governor leaves the state, and exercises significant executive and legislative power.

Attorney General (AG)

Serves as legal counsel to the governor, legislature, and state agencies, and represents Texas in civil litigation.

Comptroller of Public Accounts

The chief fiscal officer and revenue forecaster in Texas who collects state taxes, invests public funds, and certifies the state budget.

Commissioner of the General Land Office

An official who manages and leases millions of acres of state-owned land, generating revenue through oil, gas, and mineral production.

Commissioner of Agriculture

Head of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) who promotes and regulates agricultural industries, inspects weights and measures, and ensures consumer safety.

Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC)

A three-member board with staggered six-year terms that regulates the state's oil, natural gas, and gas utility industries.

State Board of Education (SBOE)

A $15$-member elected board overseeing public primary and secondary education policies and nominating the commissioner of education.

Secretary of State (SOS)

An official appointed by the governor who acts as chief election officer, maintains official public records, and handles international protocol.

Executive Director of Health and Human Services

An official appointed by the governor who oversees eight health and welfare programs.

Executive Director of the Office of State-Federal Relations

An official who coordinates policy and funding between Texas and federal officials.

Adjutant General

The official who heads the Texas National Guard and state military forces during natural disasters or civil disturbance.

Sunset Advisory Commission

A commission that periodically reviews state administrative agencies on a $12$\text{-year} cycle to evaluate efficiency and necessity; agencies automatically expire unless reauthorized by the legislature.

Formal Qualifications for Texas Governor

Requirements specifying that a candidate must be at least $30$ years old, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Texas for at least $5$ years preceding the election.

Special Sessions

$30$\text{-day} legislative sessions that only the governor has the exclusive power to call and set the agenda for.

Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson

The first female governor of Texas, elected in $1924$.

Ann Richards

The second female governor of Texas, serving from $1991$ to $1994$.

James "Pa" Ferguson

The only Texas governor in history to be impeached and removed from office ($1917$).

Rick Perry

The longest-serving Texas governor, holding office from $2001$ to $2014$.

Greg Abbott

Current Governor of Texas who has served since $2015$ and was formerly Attorney General and a Texas Supreme Court jurist.

Tony Sanchez

The first Hispanic candidate to run for Texas governor in a statewide general election ($2002$).

Raul A. Gonzalez Jr.

The first Hispanic justice on the Texas Supreme Court, appointed in $1984$.

Eva A. Guzman

The first Hispanic female appointed to the Texas Supreme Court ($2009$).

Michael Morton

A victim of wrongful conviction resulting from prosecutorial misconduct involving withheld exculpatory evidence.

Timothy Cole

A posthumously exonerated victim of a false criminal conviction.

Texas Supreme Court

A court consisting of a chief justice and $8$ justices ($9$ total) with final state appellate jurisdiction over civil and juvenile cases.

Court of Criminal Appeals

A court consisting of a presiding judge and $8$ judges ($9$ total) with final state appellate jurisdiction over criminal cases and mandatory direct review of capital death penalty cases.

District Courts

The $487$ trial courts in Texas with general jurisdiction over major civil cases ($> 200\text{ dollars}$) and felony criminal matters.

Constitutional County Courts

The $254$ courts ($1$ per county) in Texas handling intermediate misdemeanors, civil suits ($200\text{ to }20,000\text{ dollars}$), probate, and trial de novo appeals.

Statutory County Courts

Also known as County Courts at Law; $256$ courts that handle civil cases ($200\text{ to }250,000\text{ dollars}$) and criminal misdemeanor dockets.

Statutory Probate Courts

The $19$ specialized courts in Texas handling probate, mental health, and guardianship.

Justice Courts (JP)

The $800$ local courts of limited jurisdiction handling fine-only misdemeanors, small claims ($\le 20,000\text{ dollars}$), and magistrate functions.

Municipal Courts

The $947$ local courts handling municipal ordinance violations and fine-only misdemeanors.

Appointive-Elective System

A process through which many Texas judges initially gain office via gubernatorial or county commission appointments to fill interim vacancies before running for election as incumbents.

Civil Law

Branch of law dealing with legal disputes between private individuals, corporations, or government entities regarding responsibilities, property, contracts, or family law.

Preponderance of Evidence

The burden of proof in civil law cases requiring that claims are more likely true than not.

Criminal Law

Branch of law involving violations of state statutory criminal codes (Texas Penal Code) brought by government prosecutors seeking punitive sanctions.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

The burden of proof required in criminal law to convict a defendant.

Exculpatory Evidence

Evidence favorable to the defense that prosecutors are legally obligated to disclose.

Grand Jury

A panel of $12$ citizens selected to screen major felony charges to determine if sufficient evidence exists to issue an indictment ("true bill").

Petit Jury

A trial jury that evaluates facts and delivers verdicts in civil and criminal trials.

Capital Felony

A crime under the Texas Penal Code involving the murder of a first responder, murder of a child under age $10$, or mass murder; punishable by life imprisonment without parole or execution.

First-Degree Felony

A crime category including murder and aggravated sexual assault, punishable by $5\text{ to }99$ years imprisonment.

State Jail Felony

A crime category including auto theft and forgery, punishable by $180\text{ days to }2\text{ years}$ in state jail.

Ruiz v. Estelle (1980)

A landmark federal court ruling that Texas prison conditions constituted "cruel and unusual punishment," forcing state facility expansions and structural reforms.

Furman v. Georgia (1972)

A U.S. Supreme Court decision that suspended capital punishment nationwide due to arbitrary and discriminatory application.

Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

A U.S. Supreme Court decision that reinstated capital punishment under structured sentencing guidelines.

Overcriminalization

The expansion of statutory codes to over $1,700$ state crimes and thousands of federal laws, frequently removing requirements for mens rea.

Mens Rea

The element of guilty intent required in criminal law offenses.

Civil Asset Forfeiture

The seizure of cash and property by law enforcement without requiring a criminal trial or conviction.

Indigent Defense

The system surrounding low-income criminal defendants who rely on pro bono representation or represent themselves.