WHAT TYPE OF CONGRESS DID THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION CREATED?
bicameral.
WHAT TYPE OF LEGISLATURE DOES TEXAS HAS?
biannual, Congress meets every two years.
WHO'S TEXAS' LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?
David Dewhurst.
SESSIONS OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE LASTS FOR?
140 days (January-June).
HOW ARE THESE 140 DAYS OF TEXAS' LEGISLATURE CALLED?
regular sessions.
WHAT'S THE NAME THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION GIVES TO A SESSION ALLOWED BY THE GOVERNOR LASTING UP TO 30 DAYS?
special session.
PARTY THAT SUFFERED THE MOST WITH THE LAST REDISTRICTING?
democrats.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
part of both the executive and legislative branch.
highest power after the governor and also presides the Senate in every state.
GOVERNOR TERMS
serve for 4 year terms.
have no limit on the number of terms on office.
WHO'S PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING BOARD AND WHO'S NOT?
composed of the lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, attorney general, comptroller, and land commissioner.
NOT A PART OF: governor.
WHAT CAN AND CANNOT BE USED BY THE GOVERNOR TO CHANGE LEGISLATION?
veto, influence, media, BUT he DOESN'T have any leadership power.
WHAT HAPPENS TO A BILL IF THE GOVERNOR DOESNT' SIGN IT?
it becomes a law.
WHAT PARTY WON THE LAST REDISTRICTING?
republicans.
WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLE IS IN CHARGED OF THE CONGRESS?
business men.
WHAT DOES A PLURAL EXECUTIVE STANDS FOR?
limits the power of the Governor by distributing power usually associated with a chief executive among many elected political leaders.
WHO COMPOSES THE PLURAL EXECUTIVE POWER?
governor.
lieutenant governor.
attorney general.
comptroller of public accounts.
commissioner of the general land office.
railroad commissioners.
WHO AND HOW MANY HAVE TO APPROVE THE PEOPLE THAT THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS?
2/3 of the senate.
WHO CAN BE APPOINTED BY THE TEXAS GOVERNOR?
State officials and members of state boards, commissions and councils that carry out the laws and direct the policies of state government activities.
Members of task forces that advise the Governor or executive agencies on specific issues and policies.
State elected and judicial offices when vacancies occur by resignation or death of the office holder.
WHAT HAPPENED TO PERRY WHEN BUSH LEFT OFFICE?
Perry was lieutenant governor when Bush was serving as governor, so once he resigned to become president of the US; Perry became governor of Texas.
ATTORNEY GENERAL DAN MORALES WON A BILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT WITH WHICH BIG INDUSTRY?
tobacco.
WHO REPRESENTS THE CIVIL LAW IN A COURT?
attorney general.
WHAT LAW DOES THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOESN'T PROSECUTE?
criminal law.
WHO'S IN CHARGED OF TAXES AND BUDGET?
comptroller of public accounts.
WHO ARE IN CHARGED OF THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRIES?
railroad commission.
WHO'S IN CHARGED OF OVERSEEING THE ELECTIONS?
secretary of state.
WHAT IS THE SUNSET REVIEW?
identifies and eliminates waste, duplication, and inefficiencies in government agencies.
STATE ORGANIZATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO SUNSET REVIEW?
false, only organizations created by the legislation.
THE 12-MEMBER COMMISSION THAT REVIEWS THE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS OF OVER 150 GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IS CALLED?
The Sunset Advisory Commission.
WHAT WAS THE GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT OF FORMER TX GOVERNOR ANN RICHARDS?
appointed the most minorities and females for important spots.
WHAT CAN A GOVERNOR DO TO HAVE A CONTROL OVER BUDGET?
line-item veto.
WHAT CAN A GOVERNOR DO TO ENSURE HIS/HER VETO WON'T BE OVERRIDDEN?
the governor need take no action on the legislation for 10 days when the legislature is in session (20 days when it is not in session), so he or she can often wait until the legislature is adjourned, and thereby ensure that a veto will not be overridden.
WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE FATHER'S DAY MASSACRE?
In 2001, Gov. Rick Perry vetoed 78 bills on the eve of father's day.
WHAT'S A FELONY?
A felony is a serious crime punishable by imprisonment or fine.
Examples: aggravated assault and/or battery, arson, burglary, illegal drug use/sales, grand theft, robbery, murder, rape, and vandalism on federal property.
WHAT TYPE OF CASES DOES THE STATE COURTS HANDLE?
civil and criminal cases.
WHAT'S THE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION?
the power to hear a case for the first time.
WHAT'S THE APPELLATE JURISDICTION?
power of a court to review decisions and change outcomes of decisions of lower courts.
WHAT COURT HANDLES WILLS AND THEIR VALIDITY?
probate courts.
WHY DOES THE STATE OFFERS PLEA BARGAINS?
to avoid trying to many cases.
WHAT'S THE GRANDS JURY'S DUTY?
Type of jury that determines whether there is enough evidence for a trial.
Grand juries carry out this duty by examining evidence and issuing indictments.
WHY DOES A GRAND JURY ISSUES AN INDICTMENT FOR?
to avoid a mistrial.
HOW IS CAPITAL MURDER PUNISHED?
death.
or serving life.
WHAT DOES CAPITAL MURDER MEAN?
murder of a child < 6 years old.
murder of a police man or federal worker.
WHAT ARE STATUTORY LAWS?
law passed by legislatures and eventually compiled in law codes.
