Q Introduction In this short answer assignment, the student will demonstrate knowledge of the three branches of the Texas government by answering the questions below. See the instructions below. Directions • Read the readings in Module 3: Texas Institution • Read Separation of Powers in Texas. • Demonstrate knowledge of the three branches of the Texas government by answering the following questions. • Use the charts below to submit the short answers. . The Texas Plural ExecutiveLinks to an external site. Role and ResponsibilityLinks to an external site. Texas fragmented the Governor's power at the end of Reconstruction and dispersed executive power by creating a plural executive. Explain Texas' plural executive and discuss the various offices and powers by defining the roles and responsibilities of each office. Click this linkLinks to an external site. to help you answer the questions. Governor Lt. Governor Attorney General Commissioner of the General Land Office Comptroller of Public Accounts Agriculture Commissioner Railroad Commission Texas School Board of Education Texas Secretary of State . Legislative Branch Role and Responsibility The structure of any institution or organization matters a great deal. The structure can determine how well an institution fulfills its duties and responsibilities. Article 3 of the Texas Constitution describes the legislative department (branch) of Texas. Texas Legislature utilizes a bicameral (two branches or chambers) system with the Texas Senate being the upper house and the Texas House of Representatives the lower house. Outline the function, structure, and responsibilities of the Texas legislature by answering the following questions. Click this linkLinks to an external site. to help you answer these questions. What is Texas House? What is the Texas Senate? How long are the biennial sessions, and when do they meet? The lieutenant governor is the presiding officer of which body? Who are the two most powerful political figures in the Texas Legislature? State legislatures perform which basic functions? The ability of the lieutenant governor and the Speaker of the House to control the final outcome of legislation comes from their power to: Who sets the agenda for a special session of the Texas legislature? . Texas Judicial Branch Role and Responsibility Texas' court system has three levels: trial, appellate, and supreme.Links to an external site. Trial: The trial level, or local, courts are the most numerous, consisting of over 450 state district courts, over 500 county courts, over 800 Justice of the Peace courts, and over 900 municipal courts. These courts handle the vast majority of legal matters in Texas. Appellate: Most cases start out at the trial level, and most end there as well. However, if a party is unhappy with the outcome of their case, they can appeal it to one of the 14 state appellate courts. The appellate court will review the trial court's work and decide whether to consider the appeal. If a party is unhappy with the outcome of the appellate case, they can appeal it further up to one of the courts of last resort. Supreme: Unlike most states, Texas has two courts of last resort, also called supreme courts. Like the appellate courts, these courts consider cases that are appealed from the lower courts. They also hear cases appealed from the federal Fifth Circuit courts. The Texas Supreme Court hears civil appeals, while the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals hears criminal cases, including death penalty appeals. Explain the structure and function of the judicial branch of the Texas government by answering the following questions. Click this linkLinks to an external site. to help you answer the questions. Texas Supreme Court Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Discovery Plea Bargain Miranda v. Arizona Most cases considered on appeal by one of the state's 14 courts of appeals are heard by: Texas Probate Court Indictment Arraignment Common Law Statutory Law En Banc The Texas court system is described as hierarchical, meaning: Nonpartisan judicial elections Links to an external site. Grading Criteria The assignment will be graded using the rubric. How to Submit To submit this assignment, click the Submit Assignment button at the top-right of the page. Copy and paste the chart into the text entry. Helpful Resource: Canvas Student Guide: How to Submit an AssignmentLinks to an external site. ________________________________________ Rubric Texas Institutions Texas Institutions Criteria Ratings Pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTexas Executive Branch Does your response clearly show you have read and understood the lesson content by correctly defining the role and responsibility of the Texas Executive Branch? Governor Lt. Governor Attorney General Commissioner of the General Land Office Comptroller of Public Accounts Agriculture Commissioner Railroad Commission Texas School Board of Education Texas Secretary of State 6 to >5.0 pts Excellent 5 to >4.0 pts Very Good 4 to >0.0 pts Good 0 pts No Marks 6 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTexas Legislative Branch Does your response clearly show you have read and understood the lesson content by correctly defining the role and responsibility of the Texas Legislative Branch? What is Texas House? What is the Texas Senate? How long are the biennial sessions, and when do they meet? The lieutenant governor is the presiding officer of which body? Who are the two most powerful political figures in the Texas Legislature? State legislatures perform which basic functions? The ability of the lieutenant governor and the Speaker of the House to control the final outcome of legislation comes from their power to: Who sets the agenda for a special session of the Texas legislature? 6 to >5.0 pts Excellent 5 to >4.0 pts Very Good 4 to >0.0 pts Good 0 pts Needs Work 6 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTexas Judicial Branch Does your response clearly show you have read and understood the lesson content by correctly defining the role and responsibility of the Texas Judicial Branch? Texas Supreme Court Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Discovery Plea Bargain Miranda v. Arizona Most cases considered on appeal by one of the state's 14 courts of appeals are heard by: Texas Probate Court Indictment Arraignment Common Law Statutory Law En Banc The Texas court system is described as hierarchical, meaning: Nonpartisan judicial elections 6 to >5.0 pts Full Marks 5 to >4.0 pts Very Good 4 to >0.0 pts Good 0 pts No Marks 6 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCollege Level Writing Shows correct basic college-level writing skills, including punctuation, spelling, grammar, and complete sentences. 2 to >1.5 pts Full Marks 1.5 to >1.0 pts Very Good 1 to >0.0 pts Good 0 pts No Marks 2 pts Total Points: 20 PreviousNext