Texas Government

Front 1

A legislative authorization to spend money for particular purposes

Back 1

Appropriation Bill

Front 2

A legislative body with two chambers

Back 2

Bicameral Legislature

Front 3

A special committee created to negotiate differences on similar peices of legislation passed by the house and senate

Back 3

Conference Committee

Front 4

An formal accusation against and executive or judicial officer

Back 4

Impeachment

Front 5

Current officeholder

Back 5

Incumbants

Front 6

A procedure available in some states and cities wherby citizens can propose the adoption of a policy measure by gathering a prerequisite number of signatures. Voters must then approve the measures before it can take effect

Back 6

Initiative Process

Front 7

Committee established to study a particular policy issue between legislative sessions

Back 7

Interim Committee

Front 8

A resolution that must be passed by a two thirds vote of each chamber

Back 8

Joint Resolution

Front 9

An agency created by the legislature to study state revenue and budgetary needs between legislative sessions and prepare budget and appropriations bills to submit to the legislature

Back 9

Legislative Budget Board (LBB)

Front 10

An agency composed of the Speaker, lieutenant govenor, comptroller, land commissioner, and attorney general that is responsible for redrawing the boundaries of Texas house and senate seats when the legislature is unable to agree on a redistricting plan

Back 10

Legislative Redistricting Board (LRB)

Front 11

The power of the governor to veto sanctions or items of an appropriation bill while signing the remainder of the bill into law

Back 11

Line-Item Veto

Front 12

The process in which legislatures go over a peice of legislation line-by-line, revising, amending, and rewriting it

Back 12

Mark up

Front 13

Election contests in which the names of the candidates appear on the ballot but not their party affiliations

Back 13

Nonpartisan election

Front 14

A legislative statement of opinion in a certain matter

Back 14

Resolution

Front 15

A committee that is established for a limited period of time to address a specific problem

Back 15

Select or special committee

Front 16

A permanent committee established to handle legislation in a certain field

Back 16

Standing Committee

Front 17

A legislative body with one chamber

Back 17

Unicameral legislature

Front 18

An action by the chief executive of a state or nation refusing to approve a bill passed by the legislature

Back 18

Veto

Front 19

The view (associated with President Andrew Jackson) that the right to vote should be extended to all adult male citizens and that all government offices of any importance should be filled by election

Back 19

Jacksonian Democracy

Front 20

The exemption from punishment for a criminal offense

Back 20

Pardon

Front 21

The division of executive power among several elected officials

Back 21

Plural Executive

Front 22

The postponement of the implementation of punishment for a criminal defense

Back 22

Reprieve

Front 23

To uphold a lower court ruling

Back 23

Affirm

Front 24

A written judicial statement that agree's with the majority opinion's ruling but disagrees with its reasoning

Back 24

Concurring Opinion

Front 25

A civil suit dealing with disputes over written or implied legal agreements, such as a suit over a faulty roof repair job.

Back 25

Contract Case

Front 26

A written judicial statement that diagrees with the decision of the court's majority

Back 26

Dissenting opinion

Front 27

A court order requiring a government official to show cause why a person is being held in custody

Back 27

Writ of habeas corpus

Front 28

The official written statment of a court that explains and justifies its ruling and serves as a guideline for lower courts when similar legal issues arise in the future

Back 28

Majority or deciding opinion

Front 29

A court order directing a public official to perform a specific act or duty

Back 29

Writ of mandamus

Front 30

A provision in the Texas Constitution that states the following: "Equality under the law shall be denied or abridged because of sex, race, color, creed, or national origin

Back 30

Texas Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

Front 31

A relatively minor criminal offense, such as a traffic violation

Back 31

Misdemeanor

Front 32

Election contests in which the names of the candidates appear on the ballot but not their party affiliations

Back 32

Nonparisan election

Front 33

An election contest in which both the candidates' names and their party affiliation appear on the ballot

Back 33

Partisan election

Front 34

A financial claim against property for a payment of debt

Back 34

Property lien

Front 35

The postponement of the implemtation of punishment for a criminal defense

Back 35

Repreive

Front 36

A custom of the Texas senate that allows individual senators a veto over nominees who live in their districts. By tradition, senators will vote against a nominee if the senator from the district in which the nominee lives declares opposition to the nomination

Back 36

Senatorial Courtesy

Front 37

The periodic of evaluation of state agencies by the legislature to determine whether they should be reauthorized

Back 37

Sunset Review

Front 38

Attorney General

Back 38

Gregg Abbott

Front 39

Carole Keetan Strayhorn

Back 39

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Front 40

Secretary of State

Back 40

Roger Williams

Front 41

Commissioner of Agriculture

Back 41

Susan Combs

Front 42

Jerry Patterson

Back 42

Commissioner of General Land Office

Front 43

Railroad Commissioner

Back 43

Elizabeth Jones

Front 44

15 members

Back 44

Stateboard of Education