if term exists

[Rjfec]

I am calling a template part if a term is not null, if it is, it does not call the template part. It does function for everything after the loop, but the <h3>Shows up no matter if the term is null or not. How could I do this without including the <h3> in the loop.

The Call for template

$term = term_exists('the cat', 'category');
        if ($term !== null) {
        get_template_part('/_/inc/template'); 

The Template

<h3>Head Line</h3>
    <ul id="clearfix">
        <?php
        $theloops = new WP_Query(array(
        'category__in' => array(1),
		'showposts' => '12',
		'post_type' => array(
		'post',
		'custom1',
		'custom2',
		'custom2'
		)
		));
        ?>
        <?php while ($theloops->have_posts()) : $theloops->the_post(); ?>
        <li>
           <a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>" title="<?php the_title(); ?>"><?php echo get_the_post_thumbnail($id, 'thumbnail'); ?></a>
        </li>
        <?php endwhile; wp_reset_postdata(); ?>
    </ul>

[cpradio]

It has been a while since I've done WordPress customizations, but I would think the following would work

        <?php
        $theloops = new WP_Query(array(
        'category__in' => array(1),
        'showposts' => '12',
        'post_type' => array(
        'post',
        'custom1',
        'custom2',
        'custom2'
        )
        ));
        ?>
    <?php if ($thisloops->have_posts()) : ?>
    <h3>Head Line</h3>
    <ul id="clearfix">
        <?php while ($theloops->have_posts()) : $theloops->the_post(); ?>
        <li>
           <a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>" title="<?php the_title(); ?>"><?php echo get_the_post_thumbnail($id, 'thumbnail'); ?></a>
        </li>
        <?php endwhile; wp_reset_postdata(); ?>
    </ul>
    <?php endif; ?>

[Rjfec]

ha.. the if... Your are the hero of the day .. Thanks so much.