Overview of Texas Legislative and Judicial Systems

Voting members in the Texas House of Representatives

150 members

Term length for Texas representatives

2-year terms

Voting members in the Texas Senate

31 members

Term length for Texas senators

4-year overlapping terms

Frequency of Texas legislature meetings

They meet every two years when they discuss and pass the legislature

Length of regular session when the legislature meets

140 days

Average salary of a Texas legislator while in session

$38,140

Drawbacks of legislative salaries in Texas

Not very high, they often dip into their campaign funds to pay for other necessities

Legislative turnover in Texas

More people are leaving the legislature than there are joining

Official presiding over the Texas House

The speaker of the house

Official presiding over the Texas Senate

The lieutenant governor

Amendment proposal votes needed in the legislature

Proposals must obtain 2/3rds of both chambers

Authority to set sales tax in Texas

Texas legislature

Purpose of the sunset advisory commission

Designed to review agencies when the legislature isn't in session

Legislative budget board

Controls money in state

Governor's term length in Texas

4 years

Governor's appointment power

Can the governor remove appointed officials? If so how? 2/3rd of the Senate must agree

Special sessions

Forces the legislature to reconvene beyond their 140-day term

Governor's general veto power

There is no pocket veto power

Governor's action timeframe on a bill

within 10 days of receiving it

Line-item veto usage

Governor can reject specific parts of a budgetary bill

Override requirement for line-item veto

Requires a 2/3rd override from both chambers to overcome

Judicial powers of the governor

Grant pardons, clemency, and parole

Informal roles of the governor

Chief legislator, Party chief ceremonial duties, Crisis manager, Intergovernmental coordinator, Staff manager

criminal law

Actions against society of the state, Measure of evidence: Beyond reasonable doubt, Results in acquittal or conviction;

Civil Law

Actions between private individuals, Measure of evidence: preponderance of evidence, Results in 'damages' and punitive fines;

Family Law

Addresses familial functions and problems, Ex. marriage/divorce, adoption, custody, and child welfare

Trial

Responsible for 'trying' cases, Fact-finding court; examines evidence and witness testimony, One judge and a jury to determine the outcome;

Appellate

Reviews the actions of trial courts, Focuses on issues of law, Multiple judges (at least three); no jury

Selection of state judges in Texas

partisan elections

State judges' terms by court level

Trial courts= 4 years, Appellate courts= 6 years

State Commission on Judicial Conduct

Receives complaints about any judge in Texas, Can privately reprimand publicly censure, or recommend removal of judges

Voter registration deadline in Texas

30 days before, no same-day registration

24th Amendment impact on voting in Texas

Abolishes poll taxes

White primary

Democratic party excluded minorities from participating in party primary
One-party dominance and essential exclusion

Voter turnout in constitutional amendment elections

have very low voter turnout

Party caucus

When party members assemble in a convention to hear arguments from candidates and determine who will represent the party in the general election
Only used by third-party

What party dominated Texas politics between the 1870s and early 1990s?

democratic

Redistricting

state legislatures are then responsible for drawing the congressional district
parties can redistrict to give their party an advantage

Reapportionment

states that gained population receive more representatives

constitutional amendment elections

special election
Held in January, may, and august
Low voter turnout

Cracking

Spreading out like minded voters into separate districts thereby diluting their voting power

Packing

cramming like-minded voters into compact districts thereby reducing their competitiveness in other districts