Federalism: Part 3 Principles of GPA. Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved....

Federalism: Part 3Principles of GPA

Copyright © Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

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Texas Government – Structure

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• Structure defined by the state constitution

• Division of power between three branches:

– Legislative

– Executive

– Judicial


Texas Government – Legislative

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• Bicameral• Senate

– 31 members elected to 2-year terms

– One from each senatorial district

• House of Representatives– 150 members elected to 2-year terms

– Number based on county population


Texas Government – Executive

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• Governor– Elected to a 4-year term

– Chief executive officer

– Commander-in-chief of state military forces

– Executes state laws

– Conducts business with other states and the U.S.


Texas Government – Executive(continued)

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• Lieutenant governor– Elected to a 4-year term

– President of the Senate with the power of the casting vote

– Serves in place of the governor if the governor becomes unable to serve

• Secretary of state– Appointed by the governor with the

consent of the Senate


Texas Government – Executive(continued)

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• Comptroller of public accounts (treasurer)

• Commissioner of the general land office

•Attorney general– Represents the state in all suits and

pleas– Verifies charger rights of private

corporations


Texas Government – Judicial

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• Interprets and applies state and local laws– State Supreme Court– Court of Criminal Appeals– Court of Appeals– District courts– County courts– Commissioners courts– Courts of the Justices of the Peace– Other courts as established by the state

legislature


Functions of State Government

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• Regulate corporate practices, interest rates, exams for doctors and other professionals to obtain licenses

• Protect consumers from unfair and deceptive trade practices

• Regulate safety and sanitary conditions of factories, including workers’ compensation and unemployment


Functions of State Government(continued)

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• Business development• Pollution control and conservation

of natural resources• Protect life and property through

laws, police forces, and criminal corrections

• Health, education, and welfare programs


Federal vs. State Government

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• Both have three branches to maintain a balance of power:

– Bicameral legislative branch – (Senate and House) charged with lawmaking

– Executive branch – the chief executive officer (president or governor) charged with executing the law

– Judicial branch – charged with interpreting and applying laws


Local Government

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• Not mentioned in or created by the constitution

• Created by individual states• Can be abolished by the state• Can act only because the state authorizes its

power


Local Government: Structure

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• County government

– More than 3,000 in the U.S.

– Exists to serve administrative needs of the state

– Number and structure varies from none in Connecticut and Rhode Island to more than 250 in Texas


Local Government: Structure (continued)

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• County Government (continued)• Most have four major elements:

– Governing body, usually popularly elected with terms from 2-5 years, holding both executive and legislative powers

– Boards or commissions– Appointed bureaucrats– Variety of elected officials



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• City or Municipal Government• Acts as an agent of the state in providing law

enforcement and public health• Cities must be incorporated by a state and are

usually incorporated for the convenience of the people who live there

• Cities are based on a charter, which– Names the city– Describes its boundaries– Declares the city a corporation, giving

it the rights to sue and be sued, make contracts, and own, manage, and dispose of property



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• City or Municipal Government (continued)• The charter also provides how and for what terms

its officers are to be chosen, outlines their duties, and deals with finances

• Forms of city government• Mayor-council – the elected mayor is the chief

executive with an elected council as his or her legislative body

• Commission – 3 to 9 popularly elected commissioners form the city council

• Council-manager – strong council of 5 to 7 members, with a weak mayor, and a chief administrative officer appointed by the council



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• City or Municipal Government (continued)• Special districts

– Independent units created to provide a service in a wider or smaller area than that covered by a county or city

– Found most often in rural and suburban areas

– Reasons for their creation includeA. Handling pollution in several countiesB. Fire protection in out-of-the-way areasC. Soil conservation or reforestation


Functions of Local Government

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• County government is responsible for the administration of state laws

– Levy taxes, assess property taxes and appropriate funds

– Manage county courthouse, jails, etc.– Administer welfare– Conduct elections– Build and repair roads, bridges, drains, and

schools– Record deeds, mortgages, marriage

licenses, and hunting and fishing licenses


Functions of Local Government(continued)

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• City governments– Fund public education through local

taxes, with aid from state government– Provide water, sewers, waste removal,

streets and traffic regulation, public health services, and recreational facilities

– Provide fire and police protection– Build and maintain hospitals, airports,

sports arenas, etc.– Plan city growth and zoning


Resources• 9780133656329, Macgruder’s American Government, McClenaghan,

W., Pearson, Prentice Hall, 2008.• 9780078799822, United States Government: Democracy in Action,

Remy, R., McGraw Hill, Glencoe, 2010.• Texas Constitution and Statutes website. Retrieved from:

http://www.constitution.legis.state.tx.us/ • http://www.dallasbar.org/sites/default/files/case_summary_2011.pdf• Do an Internet search for the following:

– Texas secession facts– Governor says Texans may want to secede from union– Gov. Rick Perry: Texas could secede, leave union– Texas secession comes to supreme court, in a way blog

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http://www.constitution.legis.state.tx.us/

http://www.dallasbar.org/sites/default/files/case_summary_2011.pdf

Federalism: Part 3 Principles of GPA. Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved....

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