Question

1. Describe the structure of the Texas court system and give the primary role and jurisdiction of each court and methods of selections of judges for each court.
2. Explain six formal and two informal powers of the governor of Texas. Make sure to give at least two appropriate examples for each.
3. List and explain all types of elections (primary, general, special) in Texas. What is required to win each election? Who pays for each election? Who administer the elections? What are presidential primaries?
4. Explain the basic forms of local governments (county, municipal, commission, and special district) in Texas, and briefly explain the basic characteristics (structures/forms, duties, finance, problems) of each form.   
5. Discuss the evolution of seven Texas constitution briefly with their dates accordingly. Include the weakness and criticisms of the Constitution of 1876. Discuss the constitutional reform efforts of 1971-1975. Include the amendment procedure for the current constitution.

Answer 1

ANSWER-1)

The structure of the Texas court system consists of three levels: trial, appellate, and supreme which are discussed as below:

Trial: Trial courts handle the vast majority of legal matters in the Texas. It consists nearly over 450 state district courts, over 800 Justice of the Peace courts, over 500 county courts, and over 900 municipal courts. In 1845 when Texas became a state the judges were appointed by the governor with senate consent, however since 1876, at all levels of courts the judges have been elected by the people in partisan elections

Appellate: Majority start out at the trial level, and mostly end there as well. But if a party is unhappy with the judgement of the case, they can appeal it to one of the 14 state appellate courts. It will review the trial court's work and make a decision whether to consider the appeal. The judges are elected by voters in their court of appeals district and maximum to six-year terms

Supreme: Texas has two courts of last resort, also known as supreme courts. Similar to appellate courts, these courts consider cases that are appealed from the lower courts. It also hear cases appealed from the federal Fifth Circuit courts. The judges are elected in a state-wide election and maximum to six-year terms