Texas goverment exam 3

How many representatives and senates are in the texas legislature?

150 representatives and 31 senates

How many sessions?

2 years for 140 days

If not passed at the end of 140 days what happens?

it’s dead !!

How much do state legislator’s make?

7,200 / year

190/ day

What committee is the most powerful?

House Calendar commititee

who decides what bills get voted on by full house?

Gatekeepers

How is the house of speaker chosen?

House members choose at the the beginning of the regular session

How is the senate choseen?

independently elected by voters statewide elections

How long does a regular session last in the special legislative session?

Janaury - may (140 days) only in odd years

How long do Special sessions last?

just 30 days

What does a governor do during special sessions?

Sets agenda for special sessions only his items can be considered

What can legislators do at special sessions?

can end session at any time

How do the house of speaker & LT governor pass power to legislation?

It’s passed through the comitte assignment

Is the LT governor part of the 31 state governors?

No! It is only apart of the plural executive and elicted by the state

The difference between federal excutive and texas executive?

When is a conference committee created

once a bill has passes both the house and senate because the bill must have the EXACT SAME wording as the governor

All 150 tx house members are

up for election every TWO YEARS

What is plural executive?

Power that us fragmented and is independent of the election of govenor

Who calls the special session?

The governor

What fragmented the plural executive?

because the election of statewide officeholders is independent of the election of the governor

When do plural executives get elected,

During mid - term years and by texans state wide

What are the first 3 plural executives ?

Governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general

what are the 2nd 3 plural executives?

Secretary of State, Comptroller of Public Accounts, land conmmisoners

the last 3 plural executive?

Commissioner of Agriculture, Railroad commission , Board of Education

Are the other state governors weaker than the texas governor?

No, tx are weak in terms of power

Who calls the special legislative sessions and makes the agendas?

Govenor session

What is the bureaucracy made up of?

Excutive agencies, comissions & departments

Lieutenant governor what do they do?

legislative responsibilities= pres of senate

appoints senate committee members

Legislative Budget Board MONEY 

How have Texas governors increased theit powerr and who does it effect?

They create appointed boards and commissions and it weaknes the power of the plural excutive

Attorney General 

chief lawyer for the state 

issue  opinion on constitutionality of state laws

legal counsel to all boards and afencies’ of the stage

Why was the Texas court system established?

By an amendment of the 1876 Constitution

secretary of state

ONLY APPOINTED EXECUTIVE (by governor so they close)

oversees elections and campaign finance records

makes sure elections are free and fair

Comptroller of Public Accounts

tax collection, revenue estimates, and custodian of state funds and investments

budgets

Jurisdiction

Refers to the court’s authority to hear a particular case

Land commissioner of the general land office

administers the use of all state-owned lands 

commissioner of Agriculture 

enforces all agriculture laws in Texas

food inspection, licensing, disease etc

Executive Boards

ex state board of education

Texas Railroad commision(oi and gas)

What are the two types of law?

Criminal and Civil

What is the difference between Criminal and civil? Criminal

legal punishments injuries to the public, crimes against the state , theft, assult robbery

Civil version

Individuals determine obligations, property rights and responsibility, landlord- tenant, divorce and personal injury

What do Grand juries do?

Decide weather the prosecution has protable cause to bring criminal charges ,(indictments) & prosecution is always state

Jurisdiction?

refers to court’s authority to hear a particular case

what does partisan mean?

affiliated with political parties

What is the judicial Campaign Fairness Act

Passed by 2014 by the texas legislature, it limits 5k for individuals and 30k for any law firm and PAC

Municipal?

Misdemeanor criminal matters with only fines; no jail time

District?

Major trial courts in texas

No trial courts

!

Who in the supreme court serve terms and how many?

All nine and server 6 years