1.
Coat of arms of Texas
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Texas is one of eighteen states that have adopted an official coat of arms. The current coat of arms developed from the coat of arms used by the Republic of Texas before its annexation into the United States. With its independence from Mexico in 1836, the new Republic of Texas was in need of its own national emblems. A “lone” star had been a symbol of the independence movement, featuring in various flags such as Captain Scotts Flag, the De Zavala Flag. The new coat of arms of the republic was described as “a white star of five points on an azure ground encircled by olive and live oak branches. ”However, two elements of the arms can be considered as being open to interpretation. The “azure ground” has been interpreted as either a traditional heraldic shield or, more commonly. The placement of the olive and live oak branches was not specified, though commonly depicted as charges along with the star on the azure background, they could also be interpreted as belonging outside of the shield as supporting elements. Upon joining the United States in 1845, the state of Texas retained its national flag and seal as emblems of the new state, but there were no provisions for a state coat of arms. The three main elements of the 1839 act, the five pointed star and olive and live oak branches. However, many different variations of the seal emerged over the years containing incorrect or superfluous items such as stars and diamonds. By 1991, nearly twenty different versions of the seal were being used on state documents. The Texas State Seal Advisory Committee was appointed to develop standards for the state seal based upon a description as opposed to an art design. Recognizing the star, olive and live oak branches as the historic elements representing Texas, the official design of the Texas State Arms was approved as well. In essence, the coat of arms of the state of Texas is the same as the coat of arms of the Republic of Texas without the azure background. The Texas coat of arms is used exclusively as a symbol of the state, coats of arms of the U. S. states
2.
Motto
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A motto is a maxim, a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin has been widely used, especially in the Western world. In heraldry, a motto is depicted below the shield in a banderole, this placement stems from the Middle Ages, in which the vast majority of nobles possessed a coat of arms. In the case of Scottish heraldry it is mandated to appear above the crest, spanish coats of arms may display a motto in the bordure of the shield. In heraldic literature, the rallying cry respectively battle banner are also common, which date back to the battle cry. In English heraldry mottos are not granted with armorial bearings, in Scottish heraldry, mottos can only be changed by re-matriculation, with the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Although very unusual and perhaps outside standard heraldic practice, there are examples of the particular appearance of the motto scroll. Ships and submarines in the Royal Navy each have a badge and motto, Latin has been very common for mottos, but for nation states their official language is generally chosen. A canting motto is one that contains word play, for example, the motto of the Earl of Onslow is Festina lente, punningly interpreting on-slow. In literature, a motto is a sentence, phrase, poem, or word prefixed to an essay, chapter, novel and it is a short, suggestive expression of a guiding principle for the written material that follows. For example, Robert Louis Stevensons Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes uses mottos at the start of each section, epigram Hendiatris Inscription List of Latin phrases List of mottos List of national mottos Slogan Tagline United in diversity United we stand, divided we fall
3.
Texas Legislative Medal of Honor
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The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration that may be awarded to a member of the Texas Military Forces. This includes Texas Air National Guard, Texas Army National Guard and this medal may only be awarded to federal military personnel, or state military personnel who serve in the Armed Forces of the State of Texas. This medal takes precedence over the Lone Star Medal of Valor, the Texas legislative Medal of Honor was created for those individuals who served in the Texas National Guard and who received the Medal of Honor. The following is an excerpt from the Texas Government Code, Title 4, Subtitle C, Chapter 431, Subchapter J. Awards, awarding of the medal shall be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit. The medal may be awarded only on incontestable proof of performance of the deed, initially, the law permitted one person to be selected from various nominees for the award by a 5-member nominating committee every two years since 1997. The committee chairs serving on the committee shall jointly prepare a concurrent resolution directing the governor to award the medal to a person nominated. The legislature may direct the medal to be awarded only during a regular session, the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor recipients,1997, United States Army Technical Sergeant James M. Logan, 36th Infantry Division, World War II, presented posthumously. 1999, United States Army First Lieutenant Jack L. Knight, 124th Cavalry Regiment/Mars Task Force, KIA-World War II,2001, United States Army Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez, 5th Special Forces Group, Vietnam, presented posthumously. 2003, United States Army Colonel M B Etheredge, 3rd Infantry Division,2005, United States Army Captain Robert Thomas Edlin, 2nd Ranger Battalion, World War II, presented posthumously. 2007, United States Marine Corps, Sergeant Alfredo Cantu Freddy Gonzalez, 1st Marine Division, KIA-Vietnam,2009, United States Army Private Pedro Cano, 4th Infantry Division, World War II, presented posthumously. 2011, United States Marine Corps Corporal Roy Cisneros, 3rd Marine Division, KIA-Vietnam,2013, United States Army 2nd Lt. Darryn Deen Andrews, 501st Parachute Regiment, KIA-Afghanistan, presented posthumously. 2013, United States Army Major Audie Leon Murphy, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, World War II,2015, United States Navy Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle, Naval Special Warfare Group 1, SEAL Team 3, Iraq War, awarded posthumously. 2015, United States Army Air Forces Lieutenant Colonel William Edwin Dyess, 21st Pursuit Squadron, World War II, Logan, Benavidez, Knight, Gonzalez, and Murphy were also prior recipients of the Medal of Honor. Edlin, Cano and Dyess were recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross, cisnernos was recipient of the Navy Cross. Etheredge was the recipient of 3 Silver Stars and Andrews one Silver Star, recipients by war, World War II -7 Korean War -0 Vietnam War -3 Gulf War -0 Iraq War -1 Afghanistan War -1 Photo of Medal
4.
Texas
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Texas is the second largest state in the United States by both area and population. Other major cities include Austin, the second most populous state capital in the U. S. Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State to signify its former status as an independent republic, and as a reminder of the states struggle for independence from Mexico. The Lone Star can be found on the Texan state flag, the origin of Texass name is from the word Tejas, which means friends in the Caddo language. Due to its size and geologic features such as the Balcones Fault, although Texas is popularly associated with the U. S. southwestern deserts, less than 10 percent of Texas land area is desert. Most of the centers are located in areas of former prairies, grasslands, forests. Traveling from east to west, one can observe terrain that ranges from coastal swamps and piney woods, to rolling plains and rugged hills, the term six flags over Texas refers to several nations that have ruled over the territory. Spain was the first European country to claim the area of Texas, Mexico controlled the territory until 1836 when Texas won its independence, becoming an independent Republic. In 1845, Texas joined the United States as the 28th state, the states annexation set off a chain of events that caused the Mexican–American War in 1846. A slave state before the American Civil War, Texas declared its secession from the U. S. in early 1861, after the Civil War and the restoration of its representation in the federal government, Texas entered a long period of economic stagnation. One Texan industry that thrived after the Civil War was cattle, due to its long history as a center of the industry, Texas is associated with the image of the cowboy. The states economic fortunes changed in the early 20th century, when oil discoveries initiated a boom in the state. With strong investments in universities, Texas developed a diversified economy, as of 2010 it shares the top of the list of the most Fortune 500 companies with California at 57. With a growing base of industry, the leads in many industries, including agriculture, petrochemicals, energy, computers and electronics, aerospace. Texas has led the nation in export revenue since 2002 and has the second-highest gross state product. The name Texas, based on the Caddo word tejas meaning friends or allies, was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves, during Spanish colonial rule, the area was officially known as the Nuevo Reino de Filipinas, La Provincia de Texas. Texas is the second largest U. S. state, behind Alaska, though 10 percent larger than France and almost twice as large as Germany or Japan, it ranks only 27th worldwide amongst country subdivisions by size. If it were an independent country, Texas would be the 40th largest behind Chile, Texas is in the south central part of the United States of America. Three of its borders are defined by rivers, the Rio Grande forms a natural border with the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the south
5.
Constitution of Texas
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The Constitution of the State of Texas is the document that describes the structure and function of the government of the U. S. state of Texas. The current document took effect on February 15,1876, and is the constitution in Texas history. The previous six were adopted in 1827,1836,1845,1861,1866 and 1869, the current constitution is among the longest of state constitutions in the United States. Most of the amendments are due to the highly restrictive nature. However, despite its length, it is not nearly as long as the Alabama Constitution nor the California Constitution, as with many state constitutions, it explicitly provides for the separation of powers and incorporates its bill of rights directly into the text of the constitution. The bill of rights is considerably lengthier and more detailed than the federal Bill of Rights, Article 1 is the Texas Constitutions bill of rights. The article originally contained 29 sections, four sections have since been added, some of the articles provisions concern specific fundamental limitations on the power of the state. The provisions of the Texas Constitution apply only against the government of Texas, however, a number of the provisions of the U. S. Constitution are held to apply to the states as well, under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution. Section 4 purports to prohibit office holders from the requirements of any religious test, Section 32 denies state recognition to same-sex unions, a practice which was invalidated as a consequence of Obergefell v. Hodges. Article 2 provides for the separation of powers of the legislative, executive, Article 3 vests the legislative power of the state in the Legislature of the State of Texas, consisting of the states Senate and House of Representatives. It also lists the qualifications required of senators and representatives, as with the United States Constitution, either house may originate bills, but bills to raise revenue must originate in the House of Representatives. Section 39 allows a bill to take effect immediately upon the Governors signature if the bill passes both chambers by a vote, unless otherwise specified in the bill. If the bill does not pass by this majority it takes effect on the first day of the fiscal year. Section 66 created the states Rainy Day Fund, the article contains many substantive limitations on the power of the legislature and a large number of exceptions to those limitations. This is especially true within Section 49, Article 4 describes the powers and duties of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Commissioner of the General Land Office, and Attorney General. With the exception of the Secretary of State the above officials are elected in what is known as a plural executive system. Under Section 16 of this article, the Lieutenant Governor automatically assumes the power of Governor if, Article 6 denies voting rights to minors, felons, and people who are deemed mentally incompetent by a court
6.
Republic of Texas
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The Republic of Texas was an independent sovereign country in North America that existed from March 2,1836, to February 19,1846. The citizens of the republic were known as Texians, the Mexican province of Tejas declared its independence from Mexico during the Texas Revolution in 1836. The United States recognized the Republic of Texas in March 1837, the Republic-claimed borders were based upon the Treaties of Velasco between the newly created Texas Republic and Antonio López de Santa Anna of Mexico. The republics southern and western boundary with Mexico continued to be disputed throughout the republics existence, Texas claimed the Rio Grande as its southern boundary, while Mexico insisted that the Nueces River was the boundary. However, the United States again inherited the southern and western border dispute with Mexico, Texas had been one of the Provincias Internas of New Spain, a region known historiographically as Spanish Texas. Though claimed by Spain, it was not formally colonized by them until competing French interests at Fort St. Louis encouraged Spain to establish permanent settlements in the area. Sporadic missionary incursions occurred into the area during the period from the 1690s–1710s, in 1762, France ceded to Spain most of its claims to the interior of North America, including its claim to Texas, as well as the vast interior that became Spanish Louisiana. During the years 1799 to 1803, the height of the Napoleonic Empire, Spain returned Louisiana back to France, starting in 1810, the territories of New Spain north of the Isthmus of Panama sought independence in the Mexican War of Independence. Many Americans fought on the side of Mexico against Spain in filibustering expeditions, one of these, the Gutiérrez–Magee Expedition consisted of a group of about 130 Americans under the leadership of Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara. Gutierrez de Lara initiated Mexicos secession from Spain with efforts contributed by Magee, bolstered by new recruits, and led Samuel Kemper, the expedition gained a series of victories against soldiers led by the Spanish governor, Manuel María de Salcedo. Their victory at the Battle of Rosillo Creek convinced Salcedo to surrender on April 1,1813, on April 6,1813, the victorious Republican Army of the North drafted a constitution and declared the independent Republic of Texas, with Gutiérrez as its president. Soon disillusioned with the Mexican leadership, the Americans under Kemper returned to the United States, the ephemeral Republic of Texas came to an end following the August 18,1813 Battle of Medina, where the Spanish Army crushed the Republican Army of the North. Since Mexican independence had been ratified by Spain shortly thereafter, Austin would later travel to Mexico City to secure the support of the new country in his right to settle. The establishment of Mexican Texas coincided with the Austin-led settlement, leading to animosity between Mexican authorities and ongoing American settlement of Texas, the First Mexican Empire was short lived, being replaced by a republican form of government in 1823. Following Austins lead, additional groups of settlers, known as Empresarios, in 1830, Mexican President Anastasio Bustamante outlawed American immigration to Texas, following several conflicts with the Empresarios over the status of slavery in the region. Angered at the interference of the Mexican government, the Empresarios held the Convention of 1832, on the eve of war, the American settlers in the area outnumbered Mexicans by a considerable margin. Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna revoked the 1824 Constitution of Mexico, the Texian leadership under Austin began to organize its own military, and hostilities broke out on October 2,1835 at the Battle of Gonzales, the first engagement of the Texas Revolution. In November,1835 a provisional government known as the Consultation was established to oppose the Santa Anna regime, on March 1,1836 the Convention of 1836 came to order, and the next day declared independence from Mexico, establishing the Republic of Texas
7.
Round Rock, Texas
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Round Rock is a city in the U. S. state of Texas, located in Williamson County, which is a part of the Greater Austin, Texas metropolitan area. The population was 99,887 at the 2010 census, located about 20 miles north of downtown Austin, Round Rock shares a common border with Austin at Texas State Highway 45. In August 2008, Money magazine named Round Rock as the seventh-best American small city in which to live, Round Rock was the only Texas city to make the Top 10. In a CNN article dated July 1,2009, Round Rock was listed as the second fastest-growing city in the country, Round Rock has a strong public education system. According to the 2008 ratings from the Texas Education Agency, the Round Rock Independent School District ranks among the best in the state, of 42 schools within it, twelve were rated exemplary and eleven are recognized. Round Rock is perhaps best known as the headquarters of Dell. Round Rock and Williamson County have been the site of habitation since at least 9,200 BC. One of the most important discoveries in recent times is that of the ancient skeletal remains dubbed The Leanderthal Lady because of its age and proximity to Leander, Texas. The site is 4 miles west of Round Rock and was discovered by accident by Texas Department of Transportation workers while drilling core samples for a new highway. The site has been studied for many years and samples carbon date to this particular Pleistocene period at approximately 10,500 years ago. These archeology dig sites show a greater volume United Sates of America evidence of Archaic Period inhabitants based on relics. During the 18th century they made the transition to a horse culture, there also appear to have been small numbers of Kiowa, Yojuane, Tawakoni, and Mayeye Native-Americans living in the county at the time of the earliest Anglo settlements. After they were crowded out by white settlement, the Comanches continued to raid settlements in the county until the 1860s, in the late 19th century, Native Americans were being pushed out of Central Texas. As the area developed into a rural Anglo community, some of the paved roads actually followed the original Native-American pathways. One famous immigration route passed through Round Rock and is called the Double File Trail because the path was wide enough for two horsemen to ride side-by-side. It is part of a trail from north Texas that crossed the San Gabriel River in Georgetown, Brushy Creek in Round Rock. An elementary school in the Round Rock school district is named for the trail, in 1851, a small community was formed on the banks of Brushy Creek, near a large round and anvil-shaped rock located in the middle of the creek. This round rock marked a convenient low-water crossing for wagons, horses, the first postmaster called the community Brushy, and the creek was called Brushy Creek
8.
Secretary of State of Texas
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The Texas Secretary of State is one of the six members of the executive department of the state of Texas, in the United States. Under the Texas Constitution, the appointment is made by the Governor, rolando Pablos is the 111th person to hold the office. He was appointed by Greg Abbott, and sworn in on January 6,2017, the Secretary of State is the chief elections officer, the protocol officer for state and international matters, and the liaison for the governor on Mexican and border matters. The SOS elections office is on the floor of the Thomas Jefferson Rusk State Office Building at 208 East 10th Street. The executive offices are in Room 1E.8 in the Texas State Capitol, 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, maintains public filings, the first Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas, Stephen F. Austin, was appointed by Texas President Sam Houston in 1836. Since then, Texas became a state of the United States in 1845, list of company registers Secretary of State of Texas
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