Texas Legislature, Senate Nominations Committee:

An Inventory of Records at the Texas State Archives, 1981-1990 (bulk 1983-1990)

Agency History

The Texas Senate Committee on Nominations is responsible for confirming or rejecting all of the Governor's appointments to state boards and commissions. As required by Article IV of the Texas Constitution, the Governor must submit nominations for appointments to the Senate for confirmation. The Senate refers these nominations to the Committee on Nominations. The Committee meets once per week during the regular legislative session to confirm or reject nominees appointed during the legislative session, as well as interim nominees. Nominees to major boards and commissions, and high profile nominees are asked to appear before the Committee. Other nominees are considered by the Committee but are not required to be present to testify. Each week, the Committee sends a list of confirmed and rejected nominees to the full Senate. The full Senate then votes on these nominees; a two-thirds vote is required to confirm a nominee.

The Texas Senate Committee on Nominations is a Special Committee. During the 67th (1981-1982) and 68th (1983-1984) Legislative sessions, it was a Subcommittee of the Committee on State Affairs, a Standing Committee. From 1980 through 1991, it was made up of 7 senators.

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Scope and Contents of the Records

Records include correspondence, minutes, agendas, testimony, background information on nominees, Attorney General's opinions, articles and laws, witness cards, call sheets, notes, speeches, memoranda, financial information, biographical data sheets, appointment lists, newspaper clippings and photographs which document the business of the Texas Senate's Committee on Nominations from 1981 through 1990 (bulk 1983-1990). Material covers the 67th through 71st legislative sessions, including interim periods. The bulk of the material represents the 68th through 71st legislative sessions.

Records for each legislative session but the 67th include correspondence between the Committee chairman and nominees, appointment lists submitted by the Governor, lists of confirmed and rejected nominees returned to the full Senate for final decision, biographical and financial information about nominees, minutes and agendas for Committee meetings, and background information pertaining to the more controversial appointments.

Notable Committee business includes the consideration of Louis Beecherl for the University of Texas System Board of Regents during the 70th legislative session; the investigation of the abrupt dismissal of 31 employees from the Texas Department of Community Affairs by Willie L. Scott, a new confirmee to the position of Executive Director of the Texas Department of Community Affairs, during the 70th legislative session; and background information about numerous controversial appointments during the 71st legislative session, including the appointments of Albert Alkek, Othal Brand and Jack L. Hammond.

Committee Chairmen were Peyton McKnight, 67th; Ed Howard, 68th - 69th; and Chet Edwards, 70th - 71st.

To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under the Public Information Act exceptions including violations of the privacy of individuals, these records must be reviewed by an archivist before they can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail, fax, or email including enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information requested. If our review reveals records covered by exceptions to the Public Information Act, we are obligated to seek an Open Records Opinion from the Attorney General before the files can be provided to the researcher. The Public Information Act allows the Archives ten business days after receiving the written request to make this determination.

Restrictions on Use

Where necessary, records will be redacted or restricted to comply with the Public Information Act and the Attorney General's decision.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Records, Nominations Committee, Senate, Texas Legislature. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1999/151, 2002/058

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Secretary of the Senate on May 12, 1999 and October 30, 2001.

Processing Information

Michele Ostrow, June 1999

Nancy Enneking, November 2001

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Detailed Description of the Records

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