YOUR CHOICE, YOUR VOICE CIVICS 101 DECEMBER 5, 2019 U.S. System of Government Representative Democracy Power is distributed and shared - Co-equal branches of government - Federalism Constitution (1787) sets up system of government Federal Government Federal Government Structure Congress (Article I) Bicameral Legislature House of Reps: - Members represent districts (states determine based on census) - Elected to 2 year terms Senate: - Members represent states (2 from each state) - Elected to 6 year terms (staggered) Congress has authority to: - Make laws - Declare war - Raise and spend moneys - Impeach and Try Federal Officers - Approve presidential appointments and treaties (Senate only) - Oversight and Investigations How a Bill Becomes a Law Leadership (Left to Right) Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R- KY) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Texas Senate Delegation (Left to Right) Senators John Cornyn (R) and Ted Cruz (R) Austin-Area Congressional Delegation (Clockwise starting on Top Left) Representatives Roger Williams (R-TX 25), John Carter (R-TX 31); Bill Flores (R-TX 17); Michael McCaul (R-TX 10); Michael Cloud (R-TX 27); Lloyd Doggett (D-TX 35); Chip Roy (R-TX 21) Texas Congressional Elections Senator Cornyn running for re- election - Large Democratic Primary “Texodus” – wave of GOP retirements 8 Battleground Districts: 7, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 32 Election Dates: - Primary: Mar. 3 - Primary Runoffs May 26 - General Election Nov. 22 President (Article II) Powers - Sign/Veto Legislation (can work with Congress to introduce/modify legislation, but can’t legislate) - Commander-in-Chief; Chief Diplomat - Head of Executive Branch (which issues rules and regulations) - Nominate judges, cabinet secretaries, etc. - Pardon Power President Donald Trump & Vice President Mike Pence Presidential Elections (Primaries) National Conventions select nominees Primaries and caucuses determine pledged delgates to a convention Unpledged Delegates: - RNC has 3 from each state and territory (168 total) - DNC has Superdelegates (>700)– elected officials and other key party figures; may not be able to vote on first ballot If no candidate has majority, pledged delegates released, free to vote for anyone. Primaries are Open/Closed Caucuses (held at precinct/district/county level) - Groups formed; debates ensue Democrats allocates delegates on a proportional basis; must receive 15% of vote to win earn delegates GOP allocates delegates on winner-take-all, proportional, statewide+district winner-take-all basis Presidential Elections (General) Determined by whoever wins majority of electoral college votes (538 total) Each state assigned votes based on # of senators and representatives Voters choose electors who vote for President Federal Judiciary (Article III) Article III: creation of Supreme Court and other courts as Congress sees fit Courts interpret the law; generally deal with cases involving Constitution or federal law Justices appointed by President, confirmed by Senate; generally lifetime tenures Trial courts determine facts; appellate courts determine whether law was applied correctly Highest Court in land (Supreme Court) is court of last appeal Supreme Court can have large impact Supreme Court Justices (Clockwise starting on Top Left) Justices Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Chief Justice John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer Texas State Government Texas Legislature Bicameral Legislature Texas Senate House of Reps: - Members represent districts of ~170K people (states determine based on census) - Elected to 2 year terms Senate: - Members represent districts of ~800K people (states determine based on census) - Elected to 4 year terms (staggered) Texas House of Representatives Legislature meets in odd number years for 140 days; Governor can call special session (30 days) Speaker is presiding officer of House; Lieutenant Governor is presiding officer of Senate - Decide committee chairs, membership Speaker and Lieutenant Governor (Left to Right) Speaker Dennis Bonnen (R-TX 25) and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (R) Note: Speaker Bonnen has decided not to seek re-election How a bill becomes a law (Texas) Texas Executive Branch (Cont.) Plural Executive – members of executive branch elected independent of governor Governor - Sign/Veto bills - Pardon power - Commander-in-Chief of state military forces - Appointments Lt. Governor Attorney General - Defends laws/constitution of state - Approves bond issues - Issues legal opinions on laws/regs/agency actions Comptroller - Collects tax revenue, chief accountant, chief treasurer (Clockwise starting on Top Left) Governor Greg Abbott (R), Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (R), AG Ken Paxton (R), Comptroller Glenn Hegar (R) Texas Executive Branch (Cont.) Land Commissioner ◦ Heads Texas General Land Office, which manages land & mineral rights Agriculture Commissioner ◦ Manages agriculture/rural affairs Railroad Commissioners—3 Statewide Commissioners, staggered 6 year terms ◦ Manages oil/gas industry and safety, pipelines State Board of Education—15 members (district basis), staggered 4 year terms ◦ Sets education policies and standards (e.g. curriculum, textbooks, graduation requirements) (Clockwise starting on Top Left) Land Commissioner George P. Bush (R), Ag. Commissioner Sid Miller (R), Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton (R), SBOE member Ken Mercer (R-District 5); SBOE member Tom Maynard (R-District 10) Greg Abbott (R), Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (R), AG Ken Paxton (R), Comptroller Glenn Hegar (R) Texas Judiciary 4 Texas Supreme Court Justices and 4 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Justices up for election in 2020, 1 Judge on 3rd District Court of Appeals Austin/Round Rock Demographics Total population as of 2017: 2,115,827 134,807 are Asian, of which ~40,000 are Indian American Asian Americans comprise 8% of Austin’s population – we can swing elections! Doubling roughly every 12 years Asian Americans have higher median income in both Travis and Williamson counties Asian Americans also have higher rates of undergraduate and graduate degrees, as compared to the overall average *Source: Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce The Role of City Government Local law enforcement Enacting and managing permitting and city regulations, for the betterment of the city, as determined by the elected city council City budget management, bond issuance (subject to voter approval) Economic development Park and common area management Transportation management (shared with state and federal entities) Elected mayor and city council focuses on political issues such as policy and budget, City Manager is a hired executive tasked with administering the city and the council’s direction Austin’s City Government (cont.) 10+1 system, meaning 10 city council members plus one mayor Each council member represents a geographic district The mayor presides over the council, acts as the de-facto head of city government, but has no veto powers Mayoral elections are held every 4 years in even numbered years (next one is in 2022) City council elections are every two years, on a staggered basis Districts 2, 4, 6, 7, and 10 are up in 2020 The mayor and city council are all limited to two (2) four (4) year terms *Source: City of Austin Who is My City Council Member? Mayor: Steve Adler District 1: Natasha Harper Madison District 2 (Mayor Pro Tem): Delia Garza District 3: Sabino (“Pio”) Renteria District 4: Greg Casar District 5: Ann Kitchen District 6: Jimmy Flannigan District 7: Leslie Poole District 8: Paige Ellis District 9: Kathie Tovo District 10: Alison Alter (Pooja Sethi running in 2020) *Source: City of Austin The Austin City Leadership *Source: City of Austin Austin: Current Issues Homelessness New land development code after Code Next was abandoned in 2018 City of Austin Boards and Commissions Structure to enable citizens to shape and influence public policy in Austin city government Members appointed by City Council, one appointee / B & C / Council Member Total of over 80 commissions How can one get involved in B & C? Volunteer and earn experience in civic / public activities Possess skills that align with goals of the B & C one wishes to join Check for vacancies and apply in B & C online: (http://www.austintexas.gov/department/boards-and-commissions) Round Rock City Government 3-year terms Each council member serves at large, representing the whole city (not a particular area) Mayor Pro Tem appointed by the council City Council positions are NOT full-time jobs Place 1 and Place 4 are up for election in 2020 Elections are held every year Texas County Government Texas has a total of 254 counties, by far the largest number of counties of any state. WHAT IS A COUNTY It is an administrative or political subdivision of a state. A county has specific boundaries and usually some level of governmental authority. Counties were among the earliest units of local government in U.S. Texas does not have townships. Areas within a county are either Incorporated Unincorporated They are part of a city. These are not part of a city. The city may contract with the county The county has authority for law for needed services enforcement and road maintenance Texas County Government County government in Texas is primarily a way of governing rural areas, because Texas is so vast with areas sparsely populated A county judge & Four commissioners elected from a precinct or electoral district that is ¼ of the population of the county. The commissioners & county judge are the chief policy-making