Integrity & Efficiency in Texas Government | Texapedia

Texas Capitol Dark c p

Integrity & Efficiency Legislative Branch

Impeachment in Texas

Process for removing senior officials in cases of corruption or misconduct

Texapedia StaffNovember 21, 2022

City Council Meeting C

Integrity & Efficiency Texas Law and Statutes

Texas Open Meetings Act

Citizens have a right to attend meetings of school boards, city councils, and other government bodies, both state and local.

Texapedia StaffNovember 14, 2022

meeting texas sunset advisory commission

Integrity & Efficiency Legislative Branch

Sunset Advisory Commission

The Sunset Commission is a mechanism for improving the efficiency of state government in Texas, eliminating waste, and preventing fraud and abuse.

Texapedia StaffNovember 21, 2023

Integrity & Efficiency 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.

Texapedia StaffMay 26, 2025

BudgetTexas

Integrity & Efficiency Legislative Branch

The Role of Fiscal Notes in Texas Legislation

Nearly every bill that affects the state budget requires a fiscal note—an official estimate of its financial impact.

Texapedia StaffMay 26, 2025

Row of voting machines in Texas with election officials in background.

Elections Integrity & Efficiency

Voting Machines and Election Security in Texas

Texas election law imposes multiple layers of election security. Learn how voting machines in Texas actually work.

Texapedia StaffJune 13, 2025

Integrity & Efficiency Texas Law and Statutes

Texas Public Information Act

Which Texas government records are public? Learn how to request documents like budgets, contracts, and meeting minutes—and what exceptions may apply.

Texapedia StaffNovember 20, 2022

Texas Flag Dollar Canva 800x500 1 2

Integrity & Efficiency Legislative Branch Taxes & Finance

Legislative Budget Board

Overview of the structure and functions of the Legislative Budget Board, an agency that plays a key role in the State of Texas’s budget cycle.

Texapedia StaffNovember 19, 2022

Integrity & Efficiency Local Government

How to Remove a County Official in Texas

Understanding different methods for removing local officials

Texapedia StaffNovember 19, 2022

seal texas state auditor

Integrity & Efficiency Legislative Branch State Agencies

Texas State Auditor’s Office

The State Auditor's Office is an agency within the legislative branch that investigates financial waste, fraud, and mismanagement

Texapedia StaffNovember 19, 2022

Visit the Texapedia gift shop! All proceeds benefit this encyclopedia. Shop

The basic nature of humanity is unchanging through the ages. Politics changes, technology, the economy, the environment, culture—all change. Yet humankind tends to repeat the same follies and to forget hard-learned lessons, age after age. For this reason, the ancient book of wisdom known as Ecclesiastes observed, "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, 'See, this is new'? It has been already in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after” (Eccl. 1:9-11, ESV).

The study of history reminds us of the pitfalls, challenges, and triumphs of our forebears. It is not always a happy story (“All things are full of weariness," Eccles. 1:8), but it is a worthy pursuit for those seeking wisdom. History gives us not only knowledge of the past but also understanding of the present age: how it came to be, the forces that have shaped it, and insights into the nature of humanity itself.

As you explore Texas history, we invite you to imagine yourself living in another age. Try to picture yourself in the shoes of different people—leaders and common folks alike. This is how history becomes more than a ledger of events; its telling and retelling invite us to reflect, imagine, and grow.

There is no single “correct” way to read or write history. Yet beware of idealized versions of the past—simplistic, black-and-white narratives with distinct ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys,’ often crafted for political ends. Such histories are easy to grasp and may feel morally compelling. But wisdom doesn’t necessarily come from reading history in a simple, idealized way. Instead, try grappling with nuance, search out details, ask probing questions, and consider perspectives that may not align with your own.

History need not be boring. At its best, it is a discipline that sharpens the mind, cultivates empathy, and helps us to know ourselves more deeply.

— Texapedia Staff

Texapedia is not affiliated with any political party, and the articles on this site are written in an encyclopedic tone. Yet a project like this is inherently political in a broader sense: it deals with government and civic life, and our stated mission is to equip citizens with knowledge to “reform what is lacking in their government while conserving what is good about it.”

This sounds simple enough, since we live in an age of abundant knowledge: search engines, AI chatbots, and digital repositories can provide us with reams of information on almost any topic in an instant. Yet many Americans are too distracted to take in any of it. Ours is also an age of addictive social media, viral outrage, and “bingeworthy” entertainment.

There is also a crisis of authority. Americans no longer know who to trust, what information is reliable, and how to separate noise from substance in public discourse. The information environment is chaotic and disputatious. Information is rarely presented in coherent, organized ways that provide context and detail. Instead, many Americans learn about the world around them through TikTok, Instagram reels, 100-word tweets, or cable news sound bites. The nation is more politicized than ever—yet less connected, less communal, less trusting.

Here at Texapedia, we look on these developments with concern. You can read more of our perspective in the essay Toward Civic Renewal: Recovering Sobriety in a Frivolous Age.

© Texapedia 2025 | contact@texapedia.info