Secretary of State of Texas

Last updated
Secretary of State of Texas
Seal of Texas Secretary of State.svg
Seal of the Texas secretary of state
Jane Nelson.jpg
Incumbent
Jane Nelson
since January 5, 2023 [1]
AppointerThe governor
with Senate advice and consent
FormationMarch 18, 1836
First holder Samuel Price Carson

The secretary of state of Texas is one of the six members of the executive department of the State of Texas in the United States. Under the Constitution of Texas, the appointment is made by the governor of Texas, with confirmation by the Texas Senate.

Contents

The officeholder is the chief elections officer, the protocol officer for state and international matters, as well as the liaison for the governor on Mexican and border matters. [2]

The secretary of state offices are in the James Earl Rudder State Office Building at 1019 Brazos Street in Austin; the main building handles business and public filings, statutory documents, administrative code open meetings and the UCC. The secretary of state elections office is on the second floor of the James Earl Rudder Building. [3] The executive offices are in Room 1E.8 in the Texas State Capitol. [4] [5] [6]

Duties

The James Earl Rudder State Office Building, housing Secretary of State offices, is a National Registered Historic Place. RudderStateOfficeBuilding.JPG
The James Earl Rudder State Office Building, housing Secretary of State offices, is a National Registered Historic Place.
The Thomas Jefferson Rusk State Office Building has the elections office. RuskStateOfficeBuilding.JPG
The Thomas Jefferson Rusk State Office Building has the elections office.

Under the Texas Constitution the secretary of state is, with the governor, the lieutenant governor, the comptroller of public accounts, the commissioner of the Office of General Land and the attorney general, one of the six members of the Executive Department. Of these offices all are elected by the voters in statewide elections except the secretary of state, who is nominated by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.

The secretary of state administers the Texas Election Code and maintains public filings; the officeholder is the keeper of the Seal of the State of Texas. [8] The Secretary of State also issues appointments for notaries public. [9]

History

The "Father of Texas", Stephen F. Austin, was appointed Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas by President Sam Houston in 1836. [10]

Since then, Texas became a state of the United States in 1845 and there have been 115 Secretaries of State. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor of Texas</span> Head of state and of government of the U.S. state of Texas

The Governor of Texas heads the state government of Texas and is the highest elected official in the state. The governor is the leader of the executive and legislative branches of the state government and is the commander in chief of the Texas Military. The current governor is Greg Abbott, who took office in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Texas

The Texas Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. It is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The state legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin. It is a powerful arm of the Texas government not only because of its power of the purse to control and direct the activities of state government and the strong constitutional connections between it and the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, but also due to Texas's plural executive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State of California</span> Chief elections officer of California, United States

The secretary of state of California is the chief clerk of the U.S. state of California, overseeing a department of 500 people. The secretary of state is elected for four year terms, like the state's other constitutional officers; the officeholder is restricted by term limits to two terms. The current secretary of state is Shirley Weber, who assumed the role in 2021 after Alex Padilla's appointment to the US Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Texas gubernatorial election</span>

The 2006 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006, to elect the governor of Texas. The election was a rare five-way race, with incumbent Republican Governor Rick Perry running for re-election against Democrat Chris Bell and Independents Carole Keeton Strayhorn and Kinky Friedman, as well as Libertarian nominee James Werner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan Secretary of State</span> American political office

The Michigan Department of State is administered by the Secretary of State, who is elected on a partisan ballot for a term of four years in gubernatorial elections. The incumbent secretary of state is Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat elected in 2018 and 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of Texas</span> Government of the U.S. state of Texas

The government of Texas operates under the Constitution of Texas and consists of a unitary democratic state government operating under a presidential system that uses the Dillon Rule, as well as governments at the county and municipal levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kel Seliger</span> American politician

Kelton Gray Seliger, known as Kel Seliger, is a former Republican member of the Texas State Senate for District 31, which stretches from the Panhandle south to the Permian Basin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Secretary of State</span> Elected constitutional officer

The secretary of state of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is first in the line of succession to the governor. The duties of the office are auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, and administrator of public records. Additionally, the secretary of state serves on the Oregon State Land Board and chairs the Oregon Sustainability Board. Following every United States Census, if the Oregon Legislative Assembly cannot come to an agreement over changes to legislative redistricting, the duty falls to the secretary of state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State of Vermont</span>

The secretary of state of Vermont is one of five cabinet-level constitutional officers in the U.S. state of Vermont which are elected every two years. The secretary of state is fourth in the line of succession to the office of Governor of Vermont. The Office of the Secretary of State is located at 128 State St. in Montpelier. Since 2023, the secretary of state has been Sarah Copeland-Hanzas, a Democrat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James E. Rudder State Office Building</span> United States historic place

The James Earl Rudder State Office Building is a historic office building in downtown Austin, Texas, USA. Built in 1918, the five-story structure features 18-foot ceilings and terrazzo and marble flooring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State of Rhode Island</span> United States elected office and administrative division

The secretary of state of Rhode Island is an elected office in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of 2023, the current secretary of state is Gregg Amore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State of Indiana</span> Constitutional office in Indiana, United States

The Secretary of State of Indiana is one of five constitutional officers originally designated in Indiana's state constitution of 1816. Since 1851, it has been an elected position. The secretary of state oversees four divisions, and is the third highest constitutional office of the state government. The secretary serves as the state's chief election officer, enforces state securities regulations, regulates automobile dealerships in Indiana, and manages the state business services division. The current office holder is Diego Morales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State of South Carolina</span> Elected position

The Secretary of State of South Carolina is an elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The secretary of state is the chief clerk of state government in South Carolina and is responsible for registering businesses and trademarks, regulating charities, authorizing cable franchises, commissioning notaries public, and serving as the filing office for municipal records..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State of Washington</span> Elected constitutional office in Washington

The secretary of state of Washington is an independently elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Washington. Fifteen individuals have held the office of Secretary of State since statehood. The incumbent is Steve Hobbs, a Democrat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State of Nebraska</span> Constitutional officer of the U.S. state of Nebraska

The secretary of state of Nebraska is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Nebraska. In Nebraska, the secretary of state is elected for a four-year term. Vacancies are filled by appointment by the governor of Nebraska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State of Nevada</span>

The secretary of state of Nevada is a statewide elected office in the State of Nevada. The secretary of state post is common to many U.S. states. In Nevada, it is a constitutional office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Texas gubernatorial election</span>

The 2014 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of Texas. Incumbent Republican Governor Rick Perry, who had served since the resignation of then-Governor George W. Bush on December 21, 2000, declined to run for an unprecedented fourth full term, making this the first open election for governor of the state since 1990.

In the United States, a notary public is a person appointed by a state government, e.g., the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, or in some cases the state legislature, and whose primary role is to serve the public as an impartial witness when important documents are signed. Since the notary is a state officer, a notary's duties may vary widely from state to state and in most cases, a notary is barred from acting outside his or her home state unless they have a commission there as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Texas gubernatorial election</span>

The 2018 Texas gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the governor of Texas, concurrently with the election of Texas's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as other congressional, state and local elections throughout the United States and Texas. Incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott won re-election to a second term in office defeating Democratic nominee Lupe Valdez, the former sheriff of Dallas County, and Libertarian nominee Mark Tippetts, a former member of the Lago Vista city council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Kentucky elections</span>

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Kentucky on November 7, 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 "Appointment of Secretary Nelson by Governor Abbott" (PDF). www.sos.state.tx.us. January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  2. "About the Office." Secretary of State of Texas. Accessed August 31, 2008.
  3. "Contact Us". www.sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
  4. "SOS Map and Driving Directions to the Texas Secretary of State Office." Secretary of State of Texas. Accessed August 31, 2008.
  5. "Thomas Jefferson Rusk Building." State Office of Risk Management. Accessed August 31, 2008.
  6. "Transmitting Documents to the Secretary of State." Secretary of State of Texas. Accessed October 24, 2008.
  7. "National Register of Historic Places Listings --January 16, 1998". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  8. "Constitutional Duties." Secretary of State of Texas. Accessed August 31, 2008.
  9. "Government Code Chapter 406. Notary Public; Commissioner of Deeds". www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  10. "History of the Office." Secretary of State of Texas. Accessed August 31, 2008.