The Green Papers: Texas State and Local Government

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Governor:1
Senators: 2 (Electoral Classes 1 and 2)
2020 Census: 29,183,290 (8.80% of 331,797,979
- 2024, 2028 Electors: 40 (7.43% of 538)
- 2022-2030 Representatives: 38 (8.74% of 435)
2010 Census: 25,268,418 (8.16% of 309,785,186)
- 2012, 2016, 2020 Electors: 38 (7.06% of 538)
- 2012-2020 Representatives: 36 (8.28% of 435)
Capital: Austin

Current Texas Statewide Office Holders

Official Name/Status All States

The STATE of Texas
Status: STATE of the Union
Texas was an independent Republic prior to Statehood (independence from Mexico declared, 2 March 1836) and, thus, never constituted a U.S. Territory
Admitted to the Union as a State: 29 December 1845 by a Joint Resolution of Congress (9 Stat. 108)
[NOTE: The Texas Annexation Resolution (5 Stat. 797) contained a provision specifically permitting Texas to divide itself into up to 5 new States of the Union; this provision, however, would unconstitutionally place Texas on other than the "equal footing" with its sister States declared upon its Admission (in 9 Stat. 108)-- see the essay May Texas *really* split itself into up to five States on its own? for further information]
The 28th state.

Traditional Sections and Regions All States

Section: SOUTH
Region: Lower ["Deep"] South
Survey: Metes & Bounds

Constitutions All States Links to State Constitutions

Enabling Act (of the Congress of the United States): 1 March 1845 [The resolution of this date annexing the Republic of Texas to the United States (5 Stat. 797) functioned as an equivalent to an Enabling Act authorizing formation of a State government and Admission thereafter; this annexation was formally accepted by the Republic of Texas (via a Consent Resolution adopted by the Congress of the Republic) on 23 June 1845 (and the State Constitutional Convention- upon first convening on 4 July 1845- formally made both the American and Texan Congressional Resolutions aforementioned the legal basis on which said Convention was thereafter entitled to act)]
- 1st (1836-1845) [Adopted: 17 March 1836 This was the Constitution of the REPUBLIC of Texas, framed by a Convention which convened on 1 March 1836, formally declared independence from Mexico on 2 March, adopted an "Executive Ordinance" to provide for a provisional government for the Republic and then drafted this Constitution, Ratified: 17 March 1836 not submitted to the People]
- 2nd (1845-1866) [Adopted: 27 August 1845 Convention convened, 4 July 1845, Ratified: 13 October 1845 ratified by a vote of 4,174 to 312; effective upon Admission, 29 December 1845]
- 3rd (1866-1869) [Adopted: 2 April 1866 Convention convened, March 1866, Ratified: 25 June 1866 ratified by a vote of 34,794 to 11,235]
- 4th (1869-1876) [Adopted: December 1868 Convention convened, 1 June 1868, Ratified: 3 December 1869 ratified by a vote of 72,395 to 4,924]
- 5th (1876-) [Adopted: 24 November 1875 Convention convened, 6 September 1875, Ratified: 17 February 1876]

Executive Branch All States

Chief Executive
- GOVERNOR
Successor to a Vacancy
- Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]

Major Executive Officers Elected Statewide All States
- Governor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
- Lieutenant Governor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026
- Attorney General: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026
- Comptroller of Public Accounts: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026
- Commissioner of Agriculture: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026
- Commissioner of General Land Office: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026
- Railroad Commissioner 1: 6 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2028
- Railroad Commissioner 2: 6 year term, Election Cycle: 2024, 2030
- Railroad Commissioner 3: 6 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2026

Legislative Branch All States

Legislature
- LEGISLATURE

Upper House
- Senate
Lower House
- House of Representatives

Judicial Branch All States

Court of Last Resort
- Supreme Court
- Court of Criminal Appeals
Intermediate Appellate Court
- Courts of Appeals [IN: district FOR: State/County]

Local Government All States

PRIMARY CIVIL DIVISION All States
- County [Type: Strong, Executive: Judge, Legislative: COMMISSIONERS' COURT]
  - MINOR CIVIL DIVISION
    - precinct [Type: None, Executive and Legislative: no associated governmental structure]

Statutory Election Information All States

Presidential Primary All States
- 1st Tuesday in March of Presidential Election years
  [TX Election Code 41.007(c)]
State Primary All States
- (--2011) "General Primary": 1st Tuesday in March of even-numbered years [TX Election Code 41.007(a)]
  "Runoff Primary" (re: races in which no candidate has received a majority of the vote in the "General Primary"): 2d Tuesday in April of even-numbered years [TX Election Code 41.007(b)]
- (2012--) "General Primary": 1st Tuesday in March of even-numbered years [TX Election Code 41.007(a)]
  "Runoff Primary" (re: races in which no candidate has received a majority of the vote in the "General Primary"): 4th Tuesday in May following the general primary election. [TX Election Code 41.007(b)]
Polling times All States
- Polls open: 7 AM local time
  Polls close: 7 PM local time.
  [41.031(a) Voting Hours]

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State and Local Government Outline

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