Texas state and local government

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Texas state and local government
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Texas is governed by a constitution written in
1876 as a reaction to Reconstruction.

• Our legislature is similar to the U.S. Congress
  in that
• each is bicameral
• members are elected directly

• members serve the same function
• members terms are the same for each House of
  Representatives
• most work is done in committees

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The Tx. legislature is different from Congress in

• size
• pay Texans are paid far less
• Texas senators terms are shorter than U.S.
  senators
• Texas legislature meets only every other year
  (approx. 140 days)

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Texas House of Representatives

• 150 members (our district is 15 Ruben Hope)
• term 2 yrs. (no limits)
• salary 7,200/yr. 124. per diem while leg.
  in session, 10,750/mo. for offices
• qualifications
• age 21 yrs.
• resident of state for 2 yrs., district for 1
• U.S. citizen

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Texas Senate

• 31 members - our district is 3 Todd Staples
• term 4 yrs. (no limits)
• salary 7,200/yr. 124. per diem while leg. in
  session 25,000/ mo. for offices
• qualifications
• 26 yrs.
• resident of state for 5 yrs./district for 1
• U.S. citizen

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Our representatives
State representative Brandon Creighton
State senator Robert Nichols
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Texas governor Rick Perry

• term 4 yrs. (no limit)
• qualifications
• 30 yrs.
• state resident for 5 yrs.
• U.S. citizen

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Salary and perks of the office

• salary 115,345/yr.
• home Governors mansion
• limousine
• aircraft

• All but two have been men
• Miriam A. (Ma) Ferguson (1925-27 and 1933-35)
• Ann Richards (1991-1995)

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Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst

• serves as president of the state Senate
• qualifications
• same as for governor

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Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
Tom Craddick

• qualifications same as members of the House
• native of Midland
• elected from within House
• serves a district just as the other 149 members

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Texas court system

• Texas has two highest appellate courts
• Supreme Court (9 Justices), hears only civil
  cases
• elected to staggered 6 yr. terms

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Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

• Texas highest court for criminal cases
• consists of a Presiding Judge and 8 Judges (9
  total)
• elected to 6-yr. terms

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Intermediate appellate courts

• 14 Courts of Appeals
• 80 justices total, all elected
• appeals usually heard by 3 justices
• hear both civil and criminal appeals

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State trial courts district courts

• hear all felony criminal cases
• divorce cases
• land title cases
• cases involving at least 200
• in densely populated counties, may specialize in
  civil, criminal, and family law matters

• District courts located in Montgomery County
• 9th Fred Edwards
• 221st Suzanne Stovall
• 284th Olen Underwood
• 359th Kathleen Hamilton
• 410th Michael Mayes

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County and local trial courts of limited
jurisdiction all trial courts

• municipal courts limited criminal jurisdiction
  (fine only)
• Justice of the Peace courts limited civil and
  criminal jurisdiction (class C misdemeanors)
• Small claims courts limited civil and criminal
  jurisdiction

• County courts 1 in each county (civil
  criminal jurisdiction)- class A and B misdemeanor
  cases
• County courts at law located in more populated
  counties

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Montgomery County
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County courts in Montgomery County

• County Court at Law 1 Dennis Watson
• County Court at Law 2 Jerry Winfree
• County Court at Law 3 Mason Martin
• County Court at Law 4 Mary Ann Turner

• Conroes Municipal Ct.- James Cates handles
  mostly traffic-related offenses, but also
  school-related offenses Conroe city ordinance
  offenses

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Montgomery Countys Justices of the Peace (5)

• Pct. 1 Lanny Moriarty
• Pct. 2 Trey Spikes
• Pct. 3 Edie Connelly
• Pct. 4 James Metts
• Pct. 5 Carolyn Cox

• handle cases like
• alcohol-related offenses
• truancy
• curfew violations
• bad checks
• civil cases involving 5,000 or less
• eviction cases

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County governing body Commissioners Court

• Counties are divided into 4 precincts, each of
  which elects a commissioner to the court
• The Commissioners Court is not a law-interpreting
  body, rather a law-making
• body

• Montgomery Countys county judge is Alan (Barb)
  Sadler (elected by the whole county)
  commissioners are
• Pct. 1 Mike Meador
• Pct. 2 Craig Doyal
• Pct. 3 Ed Chance
• Pct. 4 Ed Rinehart

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Most counties elect 5 other county officers

1. sheriff Tommy Gage
2. county clerk Mark Turnbull registers records
   documents, birth/death certificates, marriage
   licenses

• 3. tax assessor/collector J. R. Moore appraises
  property and collects taxes
• 4. treasurer Martha Gustavsen keeps county
  funds and makes authorized payments
• 5. county attorney David Walker carries out
  criminal investigations, prosecutes

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City of Conroe government

• Mayor
• Tommy Metcalf elected at large, 4 yr. term,
  limited to 2 terms, only votes in case of a tie,
  
• and 5 council members

• Place 1 Pat George (term expires 5/2008)
• Place 2 Webb Melder, (5/2008)
• Place 3 Jim Gentry (5/2010)
• Place 4 Jerry Streater (5/2010)
• Place 5 Jay Ross Martin (5/2010)

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City Council hires and oversees a management
staff consisting of

• city administrator Jerry McGuire
• city attorney Marc Winberry
• city secretary Marla Porter
• plus directors of 8 departments that make up the
  city workforce

• community development
• capital projects
• finance
• public works
• parks recreation
• human resources
• police
• fire
• director of downtown