Changes

==Government==

==Government==

As with the Federal government and all other state governments, Texas government has three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. The governing document for the state is the [[Texas Constitution]], which is one of the longest such documents in the world since it severely restricts the power of government (the government only has the specific powers granted therein -- there is no equivalent of the Federal "Necessary and Proper Clause" -- and has severe restrictions on the power to issue debt and pledge the state's credit, thus necessitating numerous amendments to allow for such).

As with the Federal government and all other state governments, Texas government has three branches: legislative, executive and judicial.

 

The governing documents for the state are the [[Texas Constitution]], the Texas Statutes and the Texas Administrative Code.

 

The Texas Constitution is one of the longest such documents in the world as it severely restricts the power of government (the government only has the specific powers granted therein -- there is no equivalent of the Federal "Necessary and Proper Clause" -- and has severe restrictions on the power to issue debt and pledge the state's credit, thus necessitating numerous amendments to allow for such).

===Legislative===

===Legislative===

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected on separate ballots, which has occasionally resulted in the officeholders being of different political parties.  The other positions which are popularly elected statewide are the Attorney General, the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Agriculture Commissioner (this is the only position where the popular vote is based on statute as opposed to state Constitutional requirement), the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and the three members of the Railroad Commission (which, despite its name, no longer handles railroad matters; its main function is the regulation of fossil fuel production and transport).  In addition, the members of the State Board of Education are elected from 15 single-member districts.

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected on separate ballots, which has occasionally resulted in the officeholders being of different political parties.  The other positions which are popularly elected statewide are the Attorney General, the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Agriculture Commissioner (this is the only position where the popular vote is based on statute as opposed to state Constitutional requirement), the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and the three members of the Railroad Commission (which, despite its name, no longer handles railroad matters; its main function is the regulation of fossil fuel production and transport).  In addition, the members of the State Board of Education are elected from 15 single-member districts.

In terms of real power, the Comptroller of Public Accounts may have the most of any executive branch member, due to a statutory role contained within the state's constitution: the Comptroller is required (prior to the start of each regular legislative session) to provide an estimate of funds that will be available (from all sources, whether available for general revenue or restricted to specific uses) for the next "biennium" (two year period beginning on September 1 following the end of the session, and ending on August 31 two years afterwards).  The state's constitution restricts spending more than the certified amount except by 4/5ths vote in both chambers of the Texas Legislature.  In addition, nearly all revenue is received through the Comptroller's office, nearly all expenses are paid through the office as well, and the office handles most statewide contracts which other agencies must use.

In terms of real power, the Comptroller of Public Accounts may have the most of any executive branch member, due to a statutory role contained within the state's constitution: the Comptroller is required (prior to the start of each regular legislative session) to provide an estimate of funds that will be available (from all sources including Federal funds, whether available for general revenue or restricted to specific uses) for the next "biennium" (two year period beginning on September 1 following the end of the session, and ending on August 31 two years afterwards).  The state's constitution restricts spending more than the certified amount except by 4/5ths vote in both chambers of the Texas Legislature.  In addition, nearly all revenue is received through the Comptroller's office, nearly all expenses are paid through the office as well, and the office handles most statewide contracts which other agencies must use.

===Judicial===

===Judicial===

*County Courts, which handle "Class A/B" misdemeanors (these offenses carry jail time), medium-sized civil matters, and probate cases; in addition, these courts also hear appeals from municipal and justice of the peace courts and are the final appellate level barring a constitutional issue (the term "County Court at Law" is used to designate County Courts which do not hear appeals), and

*County Courts, which handle "Class A/B" misdemeanors (these offenses carry jail time), medium-sized civil matters, and probate cases; in addition, these courts also hear appeals from municipal and justice of the peace courts and are the final appellate level barring a constitutional issue (the term "County Court at Law" is used to designate County Courts which do not hear appeals), and

*District Courts, which handle all level of felony cases, divorce cases, civil matters (and can hear cases with an amount in controversy as low as $200), probate cases, and in a catch-all provision all other cases where jurisdiction doesn't lie in another court.

*District Courts, which handle all level of felony cases, divorce cases, civil matters (and can hear cases with an amount in controversy as low as $200), probate cases, and in a catch-all provision all other cases where jurisdiction doesn't lie in another court.

**In some of the larger counties, the Legislature has established separate Probate Courts which hear these cases exclusively (and where more than one Probate Court exists, will designate a specific one to hear certain issues such as mental illness). The Legislature has also designated some District Courts to hear certain cases such as criminal ones.

**In some of the larger counties, the Legislature has established separate Probate Courts to hear [[probate]] matters, eminent domain cases, and mental illness commitments.

**The Legislature may designate a specific County or District Court to hear specific issues, either exclusively or preferentially over other matters.

The three levels of appellate courts are:

The three levels of appellate courts are: