Texas Government: Legislature and Executive Branch

The Texas Legislature

• Bicameral legislature includes a House of Representatives with 150 members serving 2-year terms
• Bicameral legislature includes a Senate with 31 members serving 4-year terms
• Regular sessions occur every two years for 140 days
• The governor can call special sessions lasting 30 days each
• The Speaker of the House is elected by House members
• The Lieutenant Governor presides over the Senate and is elected statewide
• Bills must pass both chambers and be signed by the governor to become law
• A governor's veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses
• Redistricting occurs every 10 years after the census and often leads to gerrymandering

The Executive Branch

• Governor’s powers are weak because of the plural executive system
• Can veto legislation and call special sessions
• Appointment power is limited, but the governor can appoint members of state boards and commissions
• Governor shares power with independently elected officials through the plural executive system
• The Lieutenant Governor, elected independently, controls the Senate
• The Attorney General, elected independently, is the chief legal officer
• The Comptroller of Public Accounts, elected independently, manages state funds
• The Commissioner of Agriculture, elected independently, regulates agriculture policy
• The Land Commissioner, elected independently, oversees public land and oil revenues
• A large state bureaucracy operates independently due to the plural executive system

The Judiciary

• A dual Supreme Court system exists, with the Texas Supreme Court handling civil cases
• The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals handles criminal cases, including death penalty appeals
• Judges in Texas are elected in partisan elections
• The partisan elections lead to concerns about political influence in the courts
• District courts handle major civil and criminal cases
• County courts and justice of the peace courts handle minor civil cases and misdemeanors
• Courts of Appeals review trial court decisions
• Partisan elections lead to campaign financing concerns in the judiciary
• Death penalty cases frequently face controversy in Texas

Local Government in Texas

• Texas has 254 counties which are responsible for law enforcement, roads, and public records
• Municipalities (cities) are governed by mayor-council or council-manager systems
• Special districts are created for specific purposes, examples being school districts and water districts
• In a Mayor-Council System the Mayor has strong executive power
• In a Council-Manager System the City council appoints a city manager to run operations
• County government is run by a Commissioners Court
• The Commissioners Court includes a county judge and four commissioners
• County governments provide law enforcement, public health services, and maintain roads
• Annexation issues arise when expanding city boundaries
• Unfunded mandates from the state government create challenges

Political Parties and Elections in Texas

• Texas is heavily Republican, but historically was Democratic until the late 20th century
• Primary elections select party candidates; Texas has an open primary system
• General elections are held in November of even-numbered years
• Local elections are often nonpartisan and include city and school board races
• Voter ID laws are strict, requiring photo ID
• Low voter turnout is a major issue, especially among young and minority voters
• Super PACs and interest groups play a large role in funding campaigns
• There is no limit on individual contributions in state elections

Public Policy in Texas

• Education is funded primarily through property taxes, leading to funding disparities
• The Robin Hood Plan redistributes funds from wealthier to poorer school districts
• Standardized testing is a major part of the education system
• Texas has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act
• Texas has a high percentage of uninsured residents compared to other states
• High incarceration rates and frequent use of the death penalty
• Recent efforts to implement criminal justice reforms, such as drug courts and reduced sentencing for nonviolent crimes
• Texas is a leader in wind energy, but still relies heavily on oil and gas
• Environmental regulations are weak compared to other states
• There is a heavy reliance on highways and toll roads, with limited public transit options