May 2025 | Page 2 of 2

Political History

The Failed 1999 School Finance Constitutional Amendment

In 1999, Texas lawmakers proposed a sweeping constitutional amendment to fix the state’s deeply flawed school finance system.

editorMay 4, 2025

Featured Texas Heritage

A Brief Guide to Distinctive Features of Texas Culture

A closer look at the speech, customs, food, and everyday rhythms that make Texas culture uniquely its own

editorMay 3, 2025

Political History Texas Heritage

Key Figures in the Texas Revolution

Quick biographies of Sam Houston, William Travis, Davy Crockett, Juan Seguin, Jim Bowie, Susanna Dickinson, and Lorenzo de Zavala.

editorMay 24, 2025

Featured Texas Civics 101

10 Myths and Misconceptions About Texas Government

Understanding how Texas government actually works means separating political folklore from legal fact.

editorMay 2, 2025

Education

Commissioner of Education

The Commissioner of Education heads the Texas Education Agency, the state’s primary authority on public education policy.

editorMay 19, 2025

Education Political History

The Edgewood v. Kirby Case and School Finance Reform

How a 1989 Texas Supreme Court decision forced the state to confront deep funding disparities between wealthy and impoverished school districts.

editorMay 15, 2025

Education Geography & Demographics

Map of Colleges and Universities in Texas

Interactive map of accredited colleges and universities in Texas

editorMay 12, 2025

Geography & Demographics

State Demographer of Texas

The state demographer provides official demographic data, forecasts, and analysis used in legislative redistricting, long-range infrastructure planning, and public policy development.

editorMay 19, 2025

Structure & Constitution

Checks and Balances in Texas Government

Texas’s system mirrors the checks and balances found at the federal level. However, Texas often goes further, dispersing power even more broadly.

editorMay 26, 2025

Integrity & Efficiency Legislative Branch

The Role of Fiscal Notes in Texas Legislation

In Texas, nearly every bill that affects the state budget requires a fiscal note—an official estimate of its financial impact. These documents, prepared by the Legislative Budget Board, play a decisive role in shaping which proposals advance through the legislative process.

editorMay 26, 2025

Education

Regulation of Private Schools in Texas

Texas law gives private schools and homeschoolers wide latitude with limited state oversight. Understand key rules on curriculum, teacher credentials, and more.

editorMay 22, 2025

Judiciary Texas Law and Statutes

Protective Orders in Texas: Family Violence and Stalking Cases

Protective orders in Texas are legal tools used to prevent future harm in cases of family violence, stalking, or abuse.

editorMay 24, 2025

Judiciary

Texas Indigent Defense Commission

Agency tasked with improving public defense systems across Texas

editorMay 24, 2025

Local Government

City Charters in Texas: Local Constitutions Explained

Explore the legal framework behind Texas city charters, including how they’re adopted, amended, and limited by state law.

editorMay 24, 2025

Judiciary Texas Law and Statutes

Guardianship Laws in Texas

Guardianship in Texas is a court-supervised legal relationship designed to protect individuals who cannot manage their personal or financial affairs.

editorMay 24, 2025

Executive Branch

Adjutant General of Texas

The Adjutant General of Texas is the state’s highest-ranking military officer, commanding the Texas Military Department and leading Guard operations for disaster relief, homeland security, and immigration enforcement.

editorMay 19, 2025

Political History Texas Heritage

The First Capital of Texas: Washington-on-the-Brazos

For a brief but pivotal period, Washington-on-the-Brazos served as the first capital of the Republic of Texas.

editorMay 30, 2025

Education Elections

School Board Elections in Texas

School districts in Texas may conduct trustee elections using at-large voting, single-member districts, or a hybrid system combining both.

editorMay 30, 2025

Texas Heritage

State Historian of Texas

Honorary appointee who promotes historical education and public understanding of Texas’s past

editorMay 19, 2025

State Agencies

State Climatologist of Texas

Based at Texas A&M, the state climatologist provides drought data, climate projections, and historical weather analysis to support disaster response, water planning, and infrastructure policy.

editorMay 19, 2025