Texas county governments
Explore and evaluate Texas county governments. Let's learn
what counties do, what form of government they have, and who represents you at the
county level. There are numerous county officials that we elect. You will learn who
represents you in the offices of county sheriff, county tax collector, district attorney, and
county clerk. In addition, you will learn who represents you on the Commissioners
Court. Of all the positions we elect in the county, you will determine which one you
believe to be the most significant. You will need to research the county in which you
live. It is again time to see what you think.
You may want to first explore the optional documents below to help with your
research. Once you have done the research, answer the following topics within your
paper.
The Questions:
1. In which county do you live? Who serves on the Commissioners Court in your
county? Who represents you on the Commissioners Court?
2. In your own words, explain the duties of the commissioners court, the county
tax collector, the county clerk, the district attorney, and the county sheriff.
Who holds each position in your county?
3. Of all the county officials you have researched and identified, which one do
you believe to be the most significant and why?
Sample Solution
I live in Brazos County, Texas. The Commissioners Court is comprised of the County Judge, who presides over the court and is elected county-wide, and four Commissioners representing each of their respective precincts (1-4). The current Commissioners are Cody Goessling (Precinct 1),
Charles Casteel (Precinct 2), Willie E. Henderson III (Precinct 3) and Steve Aldrich (Precinct 4). They all serve four year terms.
The duties of the Commissioners Court include setting county taxes, levying special assessments for road improvements and other projects, maintaining fiscal records for expenditures, overseeing construction projects for buildings or infrastructure repairs, issuing licenses like marriage contacts or permits to sell alcohol or fireworks, as well as creating regulations dealing with public health hazards.
The County Tax Collector's job is to collect property taxes from citizens in order to fund government services like schools and roads. They also assist with vehicle registration renewal and maintain files on delinquent tax records. The current Tax Collector in my county is Don Milam.
The role of the County Clerk includes keeping permanent records such as birth certificates and death certificates; managing voter registration; issuing business permits; recording deeds and mortgages; administering oaths when necessary; conducting elections within their jurisdiction; certifying documents as authentic copies or verifying signatures on documents; collecting fees associated with various activities such as registering a vehicle or filing an application for a marriage license; providing access to public records such as court documents or land titles; approving ballot initiatives before they can be presented to voters during an election cycle. In Brazos County, Pam Elliott holds this position.
The District Attorney is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases brought by law enforcement agencies against individuals accused of breaking civil laws within his/her jurisdiction including felonies, misdemeanors etc., reviewing police investigations reports regarding criminal allegations in order to determine whether charges should be filed against those charged with crimes following proper procedures under state laws while upholding constitutional rights at all times Respectively Current District Attorney Adam Sibley performs these roles in my area .
Finally ,the most important person would have be the Sheriff because he ensures that everyone has equal protection under our law by enforcing state statutes , protecting life & property , preventing crime & apprehending offenders whenever necessary .In My county i am represented by Sheriff Chris Kirk who has held office since 2017and works closely with local law enforcement departments in order to provide safety & security throughout Brazos country . He also oversees department divisions such as Patrol Division , Criminal Investigation Division & Administrative Support Divisions which are tasked with specific duties . His duty involves defending not only its residents but also visitors coming into our city from different places . In addition he serves its community’s needs through programs like DARE Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program which helps prevent drug use among children & youth ; Community Relations Programs which encourages positive relation between its residents & Law Enforcement Officers ; Victim Assistance Programs which provides emotional support along With Victim Compensation Fund etcetera .
All things considered I believe that sheriff Is one of most significant position because it ultimately determines how safe our communities remain so we should always choose candidates carefully who can fulfill this very important responsibility properly .