IAPACGH | Indo American Political Action Committee for Greater Houston

Local Government

For most of us, our most direct contact with government occurs at the local level. Government helps fulfill community needs that may not be served otherwise, such as public education, law enforcement, and waste removal. Functions may overlap over geographical boundaries: your home is probably in a city, also in a county, part of a school district, in a certain state district, and yet another federal congressional district.

Sometimes, figuring out who does what can be confusing. Luckily, most of this information is now accessible via the World Wide Web. Familiarizing yourself with the services available will come in handy if you ever need help or have a question.

The FirstGov portal for local government covers a wide-range of information, everything from city and county statistics to the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

The information below covers three aspects of local governance in the Greater Houston area.

City

Click on the links below to access the home page of your city in the Greater Houston area. City eGovernment centers usually provide information on the following, and more:

City services (such as waste removal and fire/police departments)
Local elected officials (like the Mayor and City Council Members)
Boards and Commissions (such as open positions and budgets)
Permits and licenses (for construction)

» City of Alvin
» City of Baytown
» City of Bellaire
» City of Deer Park
» City of Dickinson
» City of Friendswood
» City of Houston
» City of Katy
» League City
» Missouri City
» City of Pasadena
» City of Pearland
» City of Sugar Land
» Texas City
» City of Tomball
»The Woodlands (no official website)

County

County governments traditionally perform state mandated activities such as property appraisal, road maintenance, election and judicial functions, poverty relieve and record keeping. In Texas, county functions have expanded to include community development, public health, and family services. Many county officials are elected. The Greater Houston area is mostly in four counties: Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, and Brazoria. The outlying counties include Waller to the west, Liberty and Chambers to the east, and Galveston to the south. For more information on county government, consult the National Association of Counties.

» Brazoria County
» Chambers County
» Fort Bend County
» Galveston County
» Harris County
» Liberty County
» Montgomery County
» Waller County

School District

The Texas Education Agency oversees state curriculum and accountability programs, such as the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills or TAKST test. The State Board of Education is comprised of 15 elected members who work with the TEA Commissioner of Education to monitor and distribute federal and state funds.

To learn about national developments, such as the No Child Left Behind Act, consult the U.S. Department of Education.

School districts are organized by county (click to see map). For detailed information on any county or district, including school boundary maps, TEA provides the School District Locator on its website.

The Greater Houston area includes around 40 schools in the four major districts, in addition to more than 300 private schools and around 70 charter schools. Contact information, student performance reports and financial records are available for unlisted districts at School District Locator.

» Brazoria County School Districts
» Harris County Department of Education
» Aldine I.S.D.
» Alief I.S.D.
» Clear Creek I.S.D.
» Cypress-Fairbanks I.S.D.
» Goose Creek I.S.D.
» Houston I.S.D.
» Humble I.S.D.
» Katy I.S.D.
» Fort Bend County School Districts
» Fort Bend I.S.D.
» Montgomery County School Districts

Click here for a list of current elected officials in our area.

State Government

The great state of Texas provides a great variety of services through a sizable government bureaucracy, proving the axiom "Everything is Bigger in Texas". Luckily, this large amount of information is well-organized online. Peruse the excellent links below for everything you ever wanted to know about our state resources after a brief description of the differences between state and national government.

State vs. National Government
Texas State Government
Texas Delegation to US Congress

State vs. National Government

In the US federalist system, individual states share power with the national government. States have their own constitutions and legislators, and their powers include conducting elections, regulating local business, and protecting public health and safety. The national government's powers include printing money, establishing an army and navy, and conducting foreign trade and policy. Some powers are shared, such as the ability to collect taxes, build roads, and administer courts.

The FirstGov portal for state government provides links to all state government home pages, in addition to state agencies, state governors, and state legislators.

Texas State Government

The official state government web portal. This site is the single best place to find out about the functions and services of our state government, and much more about Texas. Everything from business licenses and marriage permits to applying to college in Texas.

Citizen Handbook

A Senate publication, this is a great guide to how the Texas Legislature works and how laws are made. The easy to understand handbook also contains guidelines on citizen advocacy for a certain law.

Who Represents Me?

Who Represents Me provides information about current districts, members of the Texas Senate, Texas House of Representatives, the Texas delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives, and the State Board of Education. Senators are elected statewide, rather than from districts.

State Government Resources

This is a comprehensive listing of all the major state agencies with helpful descriptions of their purpose and what can be found on each website. State resources are organized by the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches. A partial list is included below.

From the Executive Branch:

Office of Governor

The Governor, as Chief Executive, suggests policy priorities to the State Congress, proposes a budget yearly, and appoints heads of the various boards and commissions charged with carrying out the laws the legislature enacts. The citizens of Texas elect the Governor every four years. Current Governor Rick Perry was elected on November 5, 2002.

Office of Lieutenant Governor

The position of Lieutenant Governor is unusual in that s/he is both the President of the Senate and a member of the Executive, and is elected separately from the Governor. Since the Texas Senate is empowered to write its own rules, as President, the Lt. Governor has great influence over the policy agenda.

Secretary of State

The Secretary of State is responsible for conducting elections and registering voters (state form found here). (See Voting and Elections section for more details). The office also deals with Border affairs and commercial filing.

Comptroller of Public Accounts

The Comptroller is the state's chief fiscal officer who collects the state's income and monitors and accounts for all state spending.

General Land Office

The General Land Office is charged with the management of state lands and mineral-rights with a balance between development and natural resource preservation.

Attorney General's Office

The Attorney General serves as legal counsel for the State and lawyer for the people of Texas on issues such as consumer protection and child support.

From the Legislative Branch:

House of Representatives

The Texas Legislature is bicameral like the national Congress. The Texas House of Representatives is composed of 150 members, each elected for a two-year term. The Texas Legislature meets in Regular Session for about five months every other year. Special Sessions may be called by the Governor and can last up to 30 days.

Speaker of the House

The Speaker is elected by the members of the House of Representatives each time Congress convenes. Like the Senate President, the Speaker rules on procedural issues, and may be granted power to create committees and appoint members to standing committees, if this power is agreed to by a majority of the House.

Senate

The upper house is composed of 31 members, each elected to four-year terms. The Senate holds the power of advice and consent on gubernatorial appointments to state boards and commissions.

State Auditor's Office

This site provides the text of reports released by the auditor; an electronic hotline for reporting fraud, waste, or abuse at a Texas agency or college, and; manuals and guides relating to financial statements and performance reviews.

Sunset Advisory Commission

The Sunset is the regular assessment by the Legislature of the continuing need for a state agency to exist. Public participation is encouraged for testimony on an agency's performance. The Sunset process works by setting a date on which an agency will be abolished unless legislation is passed to continue its functions. Agencies are typically reviewed every 12 years.

From the Judicial Branch:

Texas Supreme Court

Composed of nine justices, all elected to staggered six-year terms, the Texas Supreme Court has final authority in all civil and juvenile delinquency cases in the state.

Court of Criminal Appeals

The Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest state court for appeals resulting from criminal cases, also with nine judges.

A-Z of Texas State Agency Records

The Texas Records and Information Locator (TRAIL) is a service of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. This is a full A-Z listing of ALL state agencies from every branch, with links to a "contacts" page, the agency website, and online publications.

State Agency Toll Free Numbers

This valuable site provides a comprehensive listing of all hotlines (toll free numbers) and links to state agencies that relate to Health and Human Services. Everything from the Texas Abuse Hotline (800-252-5400) to the Citizen Opinion's Hotline (800-252-9600).

Voter Registration Application

A direct link to a printable voter registration application.

Texas State Constitution

Ours is one of the longest state constitutions, with amendments being submitted to voters on even-numbered years after the last session of the Legislature.

Texas Delegation to US Congress

US House of Representatives

The State of Texas has 32 representatives in the US House of Representatives. To find out who your Congressman is, consult Who Represents Me?

Redistricting

Three different entities, the 77th Texas Legislature, the Legislative Redistricting Board, and the courts, took action on redistricting in Texas in 2001. The Texas Constitution requires the legislature to redraw the state senate and house districts during the first regular legislative session following publication of US Census data. The current U.S. representatives in the 108th Congress will continue to represent their current districts until the 109th Congress convenes in January, 2005. Candidates for the 109th Congress will run in the newly enacted districts in the 2004 primary and general elections.

The current composition of the Texas Delegation is as follows. The alphabetical list below links to the official webpage for each Congressman.

US Senate

Texas, like all states, is represented by two Senators in the US Congress. Each is elected for a six-year term. Senator Hutchison faces elections in 2006 and Senator Cornyn is up for reelection in 2008.

Senator John Cornyn

517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2934

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5922

Federal Government

The framers of the Constitution created three equal branches to prevent any one branch from having too much power. Our country's system of government rests on a separation of powers. The legislative branch -- Congress -- makes the laws. The President and other executive branch departments execute and enforce the laws. It is the job of the judicial branch to apply and interpret the laws and to resolve disputes that arise under them. No branch may perform functions reserved for the other branches. Federal courts may exercise only judicial powers and perform only judicial functions, and judges can decide only cases that are before them.

The Constitution also creates a system of "checks and balances" among the three branches of government. This means that each branch has some powers over the other branches. For example, the President can veto legislation passed by Congress, which can, in turn, override the veto. The President appoints most federal judges, but the Senate must approve them. The courts interpret the laws that Congress enacts and may declare them unconstitutional.

Executive
Legislative
Judiciary

Executive

When the delegates to the Constitutional Convention created the executive branch of government, they gave the president a limited term of office to lead the government. This was very different from any form of government in Europe and caused much debate. The delegates were afraid of what too much power in the hands of one person might lead to. In the end, with a system of checks and balances included in the Constitution, a single president to manage the executive branch of government was adopted.

The executive branch of the Government is responsible for enforcing the laws of the land. When George Washington was president, people recognized that one person could not carry out the duties of the President without advice and assistance. The Vice President, department heads (Cabinet members), and heads of independent agencies assist in this capacity. Unlike the powers of the President, their responsibilities are not defined in the Constitution but each has special powers and functions.

President: Leader of the country and Commander in Chief of the military.
Vice President: President of the Senate and becomes President if the President is unable to serve.
Departments: Department heads advise the President on policy issues and help execute those policies.
Independent Agencies: Help execute policy or provide special services.

Legislative

Judiciary

HOW IT WORKS AND WHAT THEY DO

What is the difference between the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives?

The United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives are the two bodies of the Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government. The U.S. Senate is composed of 100 members, 2 from each State, who are elected to serve for a term of 6 years. Senators were originally chosen by the State legislatures. This procedure was changed in 1913 by the 17th Amendment to the Constitution which mandated that Senators be elected by the people. There are 3 classes of Senators, and a new class is elected every 2 years. A Senator must be at least 30 years old, must have been a citizen of the United States for at least 9 years, and must be a resident of the State from which they are elected.

The United States House of Representatives is the other body of the Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government and is made up of 435 Representatives. The number representing each State is determined by population, but every State is entitled to at least one Representative. Members are elected by the people for 2-year terms, all terms running for the same period. A Representative must be at least 25 years old, must have been a citizen of the United States for at least 7 years, and must be a resident of the State from which they are elected.

Executive Office of the President

Executive Departments