Texas Secretary of State
| Texas Secretary of State | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| 2013 FY Budget: | $26,214,760 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves concurrent with appointing governor |
| Authority: | Texas Constitution, Article 4, Section 21 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by Governor |
| Current Officeholder | |
 | |
| Name: | John Steen |
| Officeholder Party: | Republican |
| Assumed office: | November 27, 2012 |
| Compensation: | $125,880 |
| Other Texas Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Comptroller • Auditor • Education Commissioner • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Land Commissioner • Workforce Commission • Public Utility Commission • Railroad Commission | |
Contents |
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is John Steen, a Republican, appointed by Gov. Rick Perry on November 27, 2012, one week after former secretary Hope Andrade submitted her letter resignation.[1] Steen's appointment was confirmed by the Texas State Senate on February 20, 2013.[2]
Authority
Article 4, Section 21 of the Texas Constitution establishes an office of Secretary of State:
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There shall be a Secretary of State, who shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall continue in office during the term of service of the Governor. |
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for this office.
Duties
Article 4, Section 21 of the Texas Constitution defines certain duties of the Secretary of State:
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He shall authenticate the publication of the laws, and keep a fair register of all official acts and proceedings of the Governor, and shall, when required, lay the same and all papers, minutes and vouchers relative thereto, before the Legislature, or either House thereof, and shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by law. |
Further, Article 4, Section 19 of the Texas Constitution names the Secretary of State as the keeper of the State Seal:
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There shall be a Seal of the State which shall be kept by the Secretary of State, and used by him officially under the direction of the Governor. |
Divisions
- Elections Division:
The Secretary of State’s Elections Division provides assistance and advice to election officials on the proper conduct of elections.
- Corporations Division:
The Corporations Section is responsible for the receipt, filing and permanent maintenance and retention of documents that create or affect business organizations and non-profit entities.
- Business and Public Filings Division:
The Business and Public Filings Division consists of four different sections that maintain filings and records related to Texas corporations, financial and banking transactions, executive branch commissions, Legislative mandates, and other public organizations. [3]
Appointments
The Secretary of State for Texas is an appointed statewide position chosen by the governor "with the advice and consent of the Senate." The officer selected for this position serves for the same length of time as that of the governor. There are no term limits for this office. (Texas Constitution, Article IV § 21)
Vacancies
The Texas Secretary of State is appointed by the Governor of Texas. In the event of a vacancy, the governor appoints the replacement with the advice of the Senate.
State budget
The budget for the Secretary of State's office in Fiscal Year 2013 was $26,214,760.[4]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
Article 4, Section 21 of the Texas Constitution states that the Secretary of State "shall receive for his services an annual salary in an amount to be fixed by the Legislature."
2012
In 2012, the secretary of state was paid an estimated $125,880. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.
2010
The 2010 annual salary for the Texas Secretary of State was $125,880.[5]
Contact Information
Capitol Address:
Texas Secretary of State
P.O. Box 12887
Austin, Texas 78711-2887
Phone: (512) 463-5600
E-mail: secretary@sos.state.tx.us
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Office of the Governor of Texas, "Press Release: Gov. Perry Names Steen Texas Secretary of State," November 27, 2012
- ↑ The Bay Area Citizen, "Secretary of State John Steen's appointment confirmed by Texas Senate," February 20, 2013
- ↑ Divisions, accessed November 4, 2011.
- ↑ Legislative Reference Library of Texas , "General Appropriations Act for the 2012-2013 Biennium," accessed April 6, 2013
- ↑ Sunshine Review, "Texas state government salary", Accessed May 18, 2011
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