Texas Government Review Notes
Legislative Sessions and Special Sessions
Regular legislative sessions might not always address all necessary issues.
The governor has the power to call a special session.
Special sessions are limited to 30 days.
Multiple consecutive 30-day special sessions can be called if needed.
During a special session, the legislature can only consider topics specified by the governor.
School Voucher System
A voucher system is being implemented, starting next year.
Low-income individuals (defined as three times the poverty rate) may receive up to for the school of their choice.
Legislator Salaries
Texas legislator salaries are relatively low.
This is intended to prevent legislators from becoming full-time politicians.
Legislators have a retirement system that allows them to accumulate wealth.
Qualifications for Texas Senators and Representatives
Texas Senators must be at least 26 years old.
Texas Representatives have lower age requirements.
Qualifications are set low to allow a wide range of people to get elected.
Federal level (US Senate) requires being 30 years old and US Representative is 25 years old.
Age of Politicians
The average age in the U.S. Senate about 70 years old.
Texas' average age is around 55 years old.
Redistricting
Redistricting occurs every ten years.
Districts must have roughly equal populations.
In Texas, each U.S. district consists of roughly 750,000 people.
Texas is the second-largest state by land area, behind Alaska.
Governor's Power: Line-Item Veto
The governor has the power to veto specific lines in spending bills.
This power is firmly established in Texas law.
In the U.S. federal government, the president does not have line-item veto power but can influence spending within the executive branch.
Governor's Powers
The governor can call special sessions.
The governor can pardon criminals, but this requires approval from the parole board.
The governor appoints members to the parole board
Historical Context: Limiting Tyranny
The Texas government was designed to prevent tyranny, due to experiences during the Civil War with Governor Davis.
Governor's Power: Martial Law
The governor can declare martial law.
During martial law, certain laws are temporarily suspended.
In Texas, the county oversees the run of martial law, providing a check on the governor's power.
The governor's veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in the legislature.
Texas-Born Presidents
Dwight D. Eisenhower was born in Denison, Texas.
Lyndon B. Johnson was a true Texan president.
The Bushes were not born in Texas.
Texas has three presidential libraries: George H.W. Bush (College Station), Lyndon B. Johnson (Austin), and George W. Bush (SMU).
Texas Governors: Demographics and Notable Figures
Most Texas governors have been white males.
Two female governors: Marion Ferguson (1910s) and Ann Richards (last Democrat governor, lost to George W. Bush).
Texas is now a Republican-dominated state.
Longest-serving governor: Rick Perry.
Current governor: Greg Abbott (since 2015), likely to surpass Perry's record.
Succession
If the governor is unable to serve, the lieutenant governor takes over.
Current lieutenant governor: Dan Patrick.
The lieutenant governor is powerful, because they in both the executive and legislative branches.
Key State Positions
Important to know every position.
Upcoming senate race between Kim Paxton and John Cornyn could be competitive.
State Positions and Roles
Ag Commissioner (Agriculture Commissioner): Likely deals with agriculture-related issues.
Comptroller: Handles the state's money and budget, including forecasting revenue and ensuring proper spending.
Secretary of State: Oversees elections and ensures efficiency.
Attorney General: Represents the state in legal matters, enforces laws, and provides legal advice to state agencies.
Land Commissioner: Manages and leases state-owned lands, including mineral rights, for the benefit of the Permanent School Fund.
Civil vs. Criminal laws
It's important to have an attorney available for legal matters.
If someone sues you, you must respond.
In a criminal case, the prosecution must prove guilt, while in a civil case, the defendant must defend themselves.
Civil cases do not result in jail time, while criminal cases can.
Exam Details
The final exam is next Friday at 9AM.
The exam will be on paper using a