Art. 5 sec. 1 Judicial Power Vested in Courts; Legislative Power Regarding Courts
Art. 5 sec. 1-a Retirement, Compensation, Discipline, and Removal of Justices and Judges; State Commission On Judicial Conduct
Art. 5 sec. 2 Supreme Court; Justices
Art. 5 sec. 3 Jurisdiction of Supreme Court
Art. 5 sec. 3a (Repealed Nov
Art. 5 sec. 3-b Direct Appeal From Order Granting or Denying Injunction
Art. 5 sec. 3-c Questions of State Law Certified From Federal Appellate Court
Art. 5 sec. 4 Court of Criminal Appeals; Judges
Art. 5 sec. 5 Jurisdiction of Court of Criminal Appeals
Art. 5 sec. 5a Clerks of Appellate Courts
Art. 5 sec. 5b Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals: Location and Term
Art. 5 sec. 6 Courts of Appeals; Justices; Jurisdiction
Art. 5 sec. 7 Judicial Districts; District Judges; Terms or Sessions; Absence, Disability, or Disqualification of District Judge
Art. 5 sec. 7a Judicial Districts Board; Reapportionment of Judicial Districts
Art. 5 sec. 8 Jurisdiction of District Courts
Art. 5 sec. 9 Clerk of District Court
Art. 5 sec. 10 Trial by Jury in Civil Cases
Art. 5 sec. 11 Disqualification of Judges; Exchange of Districts; Holding Court for Other Judges
Art. 5 sec. 12 Judges to Be Conservators of the Peace; Indictments and Information
Art. 5 sec. 13 Grand and Petit Juries in District Courts: Composition and Verdict
Art. 5 sec. 14 Juror Qualifications
Art. 5 sec. 15 County Court; County Judge
Art. 5 sec. 16 County Courts: Jurisdiction; County Judge Powers; Disqualification of County Judge
Art. 5 sec. 16a (Repealed Nov
Art. 5 sec. 17 County Court: Terms, Prosecutions, and Juries
Art. 5 sec. 18 Division of Counties Into Precincts; Justices of the Peace and Constables; County Commissioners and County Commissioners Court
Art. 5 sec. 19 Jurisdiction of Justice of the Peace Courts; Ex Officio Notaries Public
Art. 5 sec. 20 County Clerk
Art. 5 sec. 21 County Attorneys; District Attorneys
Art. 5 sec. 22 (Repealed Nov
Art. 5 sec. 23 Sheriffs
Art. 5 sec. 24 Removal of County Officers
Art. 5 sec. 25 (Repealed Nov
Art. 5 sec. 26 Appeal by State in Criminal Cases
Art. 5 sec. 27 (Repealed Nov
Art. 5 sec. 28 Vacancy in Judicial Office
Art. 5 sec. 29 County Courts: Terms of Court; Probate Business
Art. 5 sec. 30 Term of Office of Judges of County-Wide Courts and of Criminal District Attorneys
Art. 5 sec. 31 Court Administration and Rule-Making Authority
Art. 5 sec. 32 Legal Challenges to Constitutionality of State Statutes

Terms Used In Texas Constitution > Article 5 - Judicial Department

  • Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Chambers: A judge's office.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • En banc: In the bench or "full bench." Refers to court sessions with the entire membership of a court participating rather than the usual quorum. U.S. courts of appeals usually sit in panels of three judges, but may expand to a larger number in certain cases. They are then said to be sitting en banc.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
  • Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Petit jury: A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of six persons.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.