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| Need to Know Information About Houston and the Region |
— Mayor
The Mayor serves as the Executive Officer of the city. As the city's chief administrator and official representative, the Mayor is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing that all laws and ordinances are enforced. Administrative duties include the appointments, with Council approval, of department heads and persons serving on advisory boards. As Executive Officer, the Mayor administers oaths and signs all motions, resolutions and ordinances passed by City Council. The Mayor also serves a legislative function, presiding over City Council with voting privileges. The Mayor is responsible for advising Council of the city's financial condition and presents to Council and annual budget for approval. Annise Parker is the current Mayor of Houston.
— City Controller
The City Controller serves as the city's chief financial officer. The Office of the City Controller certifies the availability of funds prior to City Council approval of city commitments, processes and monitors disbursements exceeding one billion dollars annually, invests the city's funds, conducts internal audits of the city's departments and federal grant programs, operates and maintains its financial management system, conducts the sale of public improvement and revenue bonds and produces a comprehensive annual report of city finances.
— City Council
The City Council is the city's legislative body, with the power to enact and enforce all ordinances and resolutions. Nine Council Members are elected from districts and five are elected at-large, by all voters of the city. The fourteen members of Council, along with the Mayor, act only by ordinance, resolution or motion. They adopt and may alter the annual budget and confirm the Mayor's appointments. Council is responsible for the appropriation and issuance of bonds, the awarding of contracts and the approval of city expenditures over $15,000. Council may lease or dispose of the city's real estate and may levy assessments against property. Council determines its own rules of procedure, and its meetings are open to the public.
Member of Houston City COuncil
Fourteen Council Members are elected every two years, in odd-numbered years. Council Members are limited to serving three terms of two years each, with each term beginning on January 2 of the even-numbered year. Five Council Members are elected At-Large, or city-wide, while the other nine are elected to geographic districts of roughly the same proportion of population.
You can write to your Council Member at: 900 Bagby, City Hall Annex, First Floor, Houston, TX 77002.
County Government
County government structure is described in the Texas Constitution, which makes counties functional agents of the state. Thus, counties, unlike cities, are limited in their actions to areas of responsibility specifically spelled out in laws passed by the Legislature. For more information about Harris County, visit www.co.harris.tx.us.
At the heart of each county is the commissioner’s court. Each Texas county has four precinct commissioners and a county judge who serve on this court. Although this body conducts the general business of the county and oversees financial matters, the Texas Consitution established a strong system of checks and balances by creating other elective offices in each county. The major elective offices found in most counties include county attorneys, county and district clerks, county treasurers, sheriffs, tax assessor-collectors, justices of the peace and constables. As a part of the checks and balances system, counties have an auditor appointed by the district courts.
While many county functions are administered by elected officials, others are run by individuals employed by the commissioner’s court. They include such departments as public health and human services, personnel and budget, and in some counties, public transportation and emergency medical services.
courts
The Mayor serves as the Executive Officer of the city. As the city's chief administrator and official representative, the Mayor is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing that all laws and ordinances are enforced. Administrative duties include the appointments, with Council approval, of department heads and persons serving on advisory boards. As Executive Officer, the Mayor administers oaths and signs all motions, resolutions and ordinances passed by City Council. The Mayor also serves a legislative function, presiding over City Council with voting privileges. The Mayor is responsible for advising Council of the city's financial condition and presents to Council and annual budget for approval. Annise Parker is the current Mayor of Houston.
— City Controller
The City Controller serves as the city's chief financial officer. The Office of the City Controller certifies the availability of funds prior to City Council approval of city commitments, processes and monitors disbursements exceeding one billion dollars annually, invests the city's funds, conducts internal audits of the city's departments and federal grant programs, operates and maintains its financial management system, conducts the sale of public improvement and revenue bonds and produces a comprehensive annual report of city finances.
— City Council
The City Council is the city's legislative body, with the power to enact and enforce all ordinances and resolutions. Nine Council Members are elected from districts and five are elected at-large, by all voters of the city. The fourteen members of Council, along with the Mayor, act only by ordinance, resolution or motion. They adopt and may alter the annual budget and confirm the Mayor's appointments. Council is responsible for the appropriation and issuance of bonds, the awarding of contracts and the approval of city expenditures over $15,000. Council may lease or dispose of the city's real estate and may levy assessments against property. Council determines its own rules of procedure, and its meetings are open to the public.
Member of Houston City COuncil
Fourteen Council Members are elected every two years, in odd-numbered years. Council Members are limited to serving three terms of two years each, with each term beginning on January 2 of the even-numbered year. Five Council Members are elected At-Large, or city-wide, while the other nine are elected to geographic districts of roughly the same proportion of population.
You can write to your Council Member at: 900 Bagby, City Hall Annex, First Floor, Houston, TX 77002.
County Government
County government structure is described in the Texas Constitution, which makes counties functional agents of the state. Thus, counties, unlike cities, are limited in their actions to areas of responsibility specifically spelled out in laws passed by the Legislature. For more information about Harris County, visit www.co.harris.tx.us.
At the heart of each county is the commissioner’s court. Each Texas county has four precinct commissioners and a county judge who serve on this court. Although this body conducts the general business of the county and oversees financial matters, the Texas Consitution established a strong system of checks and balances by creating other elective offices in each county. The major elective offices found in most counties include county attorneys, county and district clerks, county treasurers, sheriffs, tax assessor-collectors, justices of the peace and constables. As a part of the checks and balances system, counties have an auditor appointed by the district courts.
While many county functions are administered by elected officials, others are run by individuals employed by the commissioner’s court. They include such departments as public health and human services, personnel and budget, and in some counties, public transportation and emergency medical services.
courts
- County Civil Courts at Law
- County Criminal Courts at Law
- Courts of Appeal
- District Civil Courts
- District Criminal Courts
- District Family Courts
- District Juvenile Courts
- Justice of the Peace Courts
- Probate Courts
Texas – The State of Texas joined the United States in 1845 as the 28th state. With the state capital in Austin, the state government has executive, legislative and judicial branches. The Texas legislature has two houses that meet once in odd-numbered years and as needed in special sessions called by the governor. Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms, while members of the Senate serve four-year terms. To learn more about the Texas House of Representatives, including who your local representatives are, visit www.house.state.tx.us.
The Texas judicial system operates under the Supreme Court and the State Court of Criminal Appeals. Judges are elected to the State’s 411 district courts.
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