YOUR CHOICE, YOUR VOICE

CIVICS 101

DECEMBER 5, 2019

U.S. System of GovernmentRepresentative 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 ElectionsSenator 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 LegislatureBicameral Legislature

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)

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

Texas House of Representatives

Texas Senate

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 DemographicsTotal 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 GovernmentLocal 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?

*Source: City of Austin

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)

The Austin City Leadership

*Source: City of Austin

Austin: Current IssuesHomelessness

New land development code

after Code Next was abandoned in 2018

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)

City of Austin Boards and Commissions

Round Rock City Government3-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 GovernmentTexas 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 and administrative branch of county government.

County Commissioners’ CourtNot a judicial court, despite its name!

Setting the tax rate and adopting a County budget, which:

◦ Assists the other elected or appointed officials at Travis County to carry out their statutory duties;

◦ Builds and maintains County roads and bridges;

◦ Develops and maintains open space for use by the public;

◦ Preserves endangered species habitat under the County and City of Austin’s habitat conservation plan, the Balcones Canyonland Conservation Plan;

◦ Builds, maintains and improves County facilities (including jails and court space);

◦ Provides IT infrastructure for all County elected officials to be able to efficiently provide mandated services;

Approving plats for residential development in unincorporated areas;

Monitoring and supporting environmental regulation and enforcement in the County;

Letting contracts and authorizing payment of all County bills;

Establishing voting precincts, appointing precinct judges and calling County elections (including bond elections);

Appointing certain county officials and hiring County Executive personnel;

Appointing County residents to represent Travis County on various Boards and Committees; and

Filling many elective and appointive vacancies

Precinct One - Jeff TravillionPrecinct Two - Brigid SheaPrecinct Three - Gerald DaughertyPrecinct Four - Margaret Gómezlookup your district here: https://www.traviscountytx.gov/maps/gis-comm-pct

County JudgeCounty judge presides over the constitutional county court & county commissioners’ court.

The county judge does not have authority to veto a decision of the commissioners’ court; the judge votes along with the commissioners (being the tie-breaker in close calls).

Administrative powers Administrator only

Judicial powers. Judicial duties are

done by probate judges &

county court judges

Rural Counties Larger Counties

Sarah Eckhardt, Travis County Judge

Law EnforcementThis is another important responsibility of county government.

Chief Law Enforcement Official County Officials

Sheriff ConstablesElected in November 2016,Sally Hernandez is currently The constables serve as a lawserving her first term as enforcement agency for Travis Sheriff of Travis County. County, with county-wide jurisdiction in

civil and criminal matters.

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office has three bureaus:1) Administration & Support 2) Corrections 3 ) Law EnforcementEach bureau consists of many specialized sections designed to support the mission of each section.

Notable local Indian American candidates

Dr. Pritesh Gandhi

Candidate for US House, Texas 10th Congressional District (Austin up to south of Ft.

Worth)

Primary has 2 other candidates

Sri Preston Kulkarni

Candidate for US House, Texas 22nd Congressional District (south and west Houston)

Narrowly lost in 2018, incumbent has announced

retirement

Pooja Sethi

Candidate for Austin City Council District 10 (NW Austin)

Alison Alter is the incumbent

Rish Oberoi

Candidate for Texas State House, District 26 (Houston

area)

More ResourcesWikipedia

League of Women Voters – election guide

Indian American Impact Fund – the latest on Indian American candidates and officeholders

Government websites