COLLIN COUNTY

Many ask what a county Judge is. 

The county judge is the most visible official in county government. Often thought of as the county’s chief executive officer, a county judge has broad judicial and administrative powers, including serving as the presiding officer of the county’s policy-making body, the Commissioners' Court. County judges are elected on a countywide basis for four years.

So, what is the Commissioners’ Court? 

Commissioners' courts are the governing bodies of Texas counties, akin to county councils or boards of supervisors in other states. The county commissioners court conducts the general business of the county, including adopting the county’s budget and tax rate, authorizing contracts, filling vacancies, and setting salaries of county employees.

Each commissioners court in Texas has five members: the county judge and four commissioners. The commissioners' court fulfills a mix of legislative and executive functions, and the judge may fulfill judicial functions. Despite the name, Commissioners Courts do not have judicial powers. The County Judge, while presiding at the Commissioners Court, does not render judicial rulings.

County commissioners are elected in local precinct elections and each serve a four-year term. Since each county in Texas has four precincts, each commissioner represents approximately one-fourth of the county's population, although the exact population distribution can vary slightly depending on how the precincts are drawn. Elections are staggered so that the entire commissioners court cannot change in a single election. Instead, two commissioner seats are up for election every two years. To find out more go to: https://texapedia.info/commissioners-court/