LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES
Many services are offered to the citizens of North Texas through their cities, counties and the State of Texas. For more information on how you local and state government can assist you, please utilize the links below.
Local Government
I proudly represent 4 counties from the North Texas region in the United States Congress - Cooke, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant. Each of these counties and their governments, which include elected and appointed officials, provide many resources to the citizens of these counties. The links below should provide you with a starting point to learn who your local government officials are and what they can do for you.
Dallas County
In Dallas County, I represent the city Irving.
Denton County
I represent the cities of Argyle, Aubrey, Bartonville, Celina, Copper Canyon, Corinth, Corral City, Cross Roads, Denton, DISH, Double Oak, Flower Mound, Frisco, Hackberry, Haslet, Hickory Creek, Highland Village, Justin, Krugerville, Krum, Lake Dallas, Lakewood Village,Lewisville, Lincoln Park, Little Elm, Northlake, Oak Point, Pilot Point, Ponder, Roanoke, Sanger, Shady Shores, The Colony, and Trophy Club.
Tarrant County
I represent the cities of Haltom City, Haslet, Keller, North Richland Hills, Watauga, Westlake, and Fort Worth.
Texas State Government
The Texas State government, just like the Federal government, is divided into 3 branches - Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Each branch has its own responsibilies, and checks and balances are in place to ensure that each branch is working together for the common good of the people. Please use the links below to learn more about each branch, their officials, and what they do to better serve the citizens of the great state of Texas.
Executive Branch
Texas Governor
The Governor of Texas is the chief executive of the state and is elected by the citizens every four years. The Governor must be at least 30 years old and a resident of Texas for the five years immediately before the election.
Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor in Texas is unique in that he is part of both the Executive and Legislative branches. As in most states, the Lieutenant Governor in Texas assumes the powers and duties of the Governor when the Governor is unable to serve or is absent from the state. But in Texas, the Lieutenant Governor is elected separately from the Governor, and each can be members of different political parties. The Lieutenant Governor is the Constitutional President of the Texas Senate.
Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is one of six state officials named by the Texas Constitution to form the Executive Department of the State. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with confirmation by the Senate, and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.
Comptroller of Public Accounts
The Comptroller is the chief steward of the state’s finances, acting as tax collector, chief accountant, chief revenue estimator and chief treasurer for all of state government.
General Land Office Commissioner
The Texas General Land Office serves the schoolchildren, veterans, and all people of Texas by preserving their history, protecting their environment, expanding economic opportunity, and maximizing state revenue through innovative administration and prudent stewardship of state lands and resources.
Attorney General
The Attorney General is the lawyer for the State of Texas and is charged by the Texas Constitution to: defend the laws and Constitution of the State of Texas, represent the State in litigation, and approve public bond issues.
Agriculture Commissioner
This is the state agency with agricultural marketing and regulatory responsibilities. Includes program, marketing information, farmers' markets, food stamps, and producer services.
Legislative Branch
The Texas State Legislature
The Texas State Legislature is a bicameral body made up of the upper Texas Senate and the lower House of Representatives. The Texas State Legislature meets every two years for 140 days of Regular Session, and will convene for the 81st Regular Session on January 13, 2009. This website provides legislative information including bill information, committee information, journals and more.
Texas State Senate
The Texas Senate is made up of 31 members, with each senator serving a four-year term and one-half of the Senate membership up for re-election every two years in even-numbered years, with the exception that all 31 Senate seats are up for election for the first legislature following the decennial census in order to reflect the newly redrawn districts. After the initial election, the Senate is divided by lot into two classes, with one class having a re-election after two years and the other having a re-election after four years.
President of the Senate
The position of President of the Senate is filled by the Lieutenant Governor in Texas, in accordance with the Texas State Constitution.
Texas State House of Representatives
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. Regular Sessions begin at noon on the second Tuesday in January of odd numbered years and can last no more than 140 days, ending during the last week of May or the first week of June. Special Sessions may be called by the Governor and can last up to 30 days.
Speaker of the House
The speaker is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives. The Texas Constitution requires the house of representatives, each time a new legislature convenes, to choose one of its own members to serve as speaker.
Legislative Budget Board
The Legislative Budget Board (LBB) is a permanent joint committee of the Texas Legislature that develops budget and policy recommendations for legislative appropriations for all agencies of state government, as well as completes fiscal analyses for proposed legislation.
Legislative Reference Library
The primary purpose of the Legislative Reference Library is to satisfy the reference and research needs of the Legislature, its staff, and its committees. Whenever possible within this framework, the library will assist the public and other state agencies with legislative research.
State Auditor's Office
The State Auditor's Office (SAO) is the independent auditor for Texas state government. Its work focuses on the highest financial, business, and service risk areas. Risk in this context means the likelihood that something adverse could occur. Their risk assessment process includes an ongoing statewide analysis of data collected from a variety of sources.
State Preservation Board
The State Preservation Board preserves and maintains the Texas Capitol, the Capitol Extension, the 1857 General Land Office Building, other designated buildings, their contents and their grounds and operates the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. The board provides educational programs centered on Texas history. These services benefit the citizens of Texas and its visitors.
Sunset Advisory Commission
The Sunset Advisory Commission was established by the Texas Legislature to identify and eliminate waste, duplication, and inefficiency in government agencies. The 12-member Commission is a legislative body that reviews the policies and programs of more than 150 government agencies every 12 years.
Texas Legislative Council
The Texas Legislative Council provides bill drafting, computing, research, publishing, and document distribution services to the Texas Legislature and legislative agencies. The council also serves as an information resource for state agencies, the citizens of Texas, and others as time and resources allow.
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court of Texas
Composed of the Chief Justice and eight Justices, the Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for civil matters in the State of Texas. The Supreme Court is located in Austin, next to the State Capitol.
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
The Court of Criminal Appeals is Texas' highest court for criminal cases. The Court consists of a Presiding Judge and eight Judges. They are elected by the voters of the entire state, and they hold their offices for terms of six years.
Texas Judiciary Online
The Texas Judiciary Online is a comprehensive site that provides information about the Texas Supreme Court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and the appellate and district courts.
