The office of County Clerk has been in existence in Texas since 1836, superseding the “escribano” (secretary) of Spanish-Mexican rule. Section 20, Article 5 of the Texas Constitution provides for the office.
“There shall be elected for each county, by qualified voters, a County Clerk, who shall hold his office for four years, who shall be clerk of the County and Commissioners Courts and recorde
r of the county, whose duties, perquisites and fees of office shall be prescribed by the Legislature and a vacancy in whose office shall be filled by the County Commissioners Court until the next general election; provided that in counties having a population of less than 8,000 there may be an election of a single Clerk who shall perform the duties of District and County Clerks.”
The county clerk is the record keeper and Registrar for the county, Commissioners Court, County Court, and County Courts at Law.
