1. Texas Constitution

2. HISTORY OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION
Texas has had 7 constitutions so far!
1827 The Constitution of 1824 of the Republic of Mexico provided that each state in the republic should frame its own constitution. The state of Coahuila and the former Spanish province of Texas were combined as the state of Coahuila and Texas.
1836 The constitution of the Republic of Texas was created and modeled after the US constitution.
1846 Texas was annexed by the US, thus a new state constitution was made
1861 Texas joined the Confederacy, and created a new constitution to align with the Confederacy
1866 Texas rejoined the Union and had to make a new constitution to make slavery illegal.
1869 The Confederacy states were divided into 5 military districts, and forced to create a new constitution
1876 The reconstruction constitution was created to limit government power. This is the current constitution.

3. BASICS OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION
—The Texas Constitution is the basis of the state’s government and provided the fundamental, or basic law of the state.
—The current Texas constitution was approved in 1876 and is the fifth constitution Texas has had as a US state.
—It is modeled after the Constitution of which itself was patterned after the U.S. Constitution.

4. CHANGING THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION
—Article XVII of the Texas Constitution provides the method for changing the document.
—A member of the Texas legislature can propose an amendment.
—Next two thirds of the members of each chamber must approve the amendment.
—Last a majority of Texans must vote to pass the amendment.
—Since 1876, The Texas Constitution has been amended about 400 times.
—In comparison, the U.S. Constitution has only been amended only 27 times.

5. 7 PRINCIPLES IN THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION
Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Separation of Power
Checks and Balances
Federalism
Republicanism
Individual rights

6. POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
—This principle asserts that all political power comes from the people.
—Its purpose is to serve Texans, protect individual rights, and promote the common good.
Article 1 Section 2: “ All political power is inherent in the people, and all free government is founded on their authority, and instituted on their behalf”.

7. REPUBLICANISM
The people get to vote on who they want to represent them in Austin
State Representative, state senator, Governor, Lt Governor , Railroad Commissioner
—These officials are then responsible to the voters.
—Both Texas and the U.S. have a republican form of government.
Article 1 Section 2: “The faith of the people of Texas pledged to the preservation of a republican form of government”.

8. FEDERALISM Power in Government is separated by levels NATIONAL STATE
Texas Constitution
LOCAL
City council school board
Article I SEC. 1. Texas is a free and independent State, subject only to the Constitution of the United States; and the maintenance of our free institutions and the perpetuity of the Union depend upon the preservation of the right of local self- government unimpaired to all the States.

9. SEPARATION OF POWERS
—The separation of powers divides power among different government branches.
—This principle helps prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
—Article II of the Texas Constitution divides state government into three branches – judicial, legislative and executive.
—This structure matches the U.S.government.
—Each branch has different powers and duties.

10. 3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
EXECUTIVE
LEGISLATURE
JUDICIAL
The executive branch consists of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller of Public Accounts, Land Commissioner, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, the three- member Texas Railroad Commission, the State Board of Education, and the Secretary of State.
Voted not appointed
Very limited power
Makes the laws
Senate vs House of Representatives
Meets every 2 years in odd years or in special sessions
Separated in committees
—Decides legal cases and interprets the laws.
SUPREME COURT VS CRIMINAL COURT OF APPEALS
Voted not appointed
6 year terms

11. CHECKS AND BALANCES
EXAMPLES
—Under this system, each branch has ways to check, or restrain, the other two.
—These checks help prevent one branch from controlling the government.
—These checks and balances are patterned on those found in the U.S. Constitution.
Every bill which shall have passed both houses of the Legislature shall be presented to the governor for his approval.
If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members of both houses present agree to pass the bill it shall become a law
The power of impeachment shall be vested in the House of Representatives
The governor can nominate judges
Judicial branch can declare a Texas law unconstitutional

12. LIMITED GOVERNMENT
—The Texas Constitution restricts or limits, government power.
—Most limits protect Texans’ individual rights.
—For example, the state cannot take away Texans’ right to free speech.
The principle that requires all U.S./ Texas citizens, including government leaders, to obey the law Article III. SEC. 14.
The Governor's power is limited, as he can not appoint a cabinet or create laws
The Legislative power is limited, as the only meet once every 2 years for only 140 days
The Judicial power is limited, as there is 2 highest courts, one for civil cases and one for criminal
The powers of all three branches are limited by the Texas Constitution and the Texas Bill of Rights

13. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
To protect Texans’ rights, Article I of the state constitution provides a bill of rights.
A bill of rights outlines the civil liberties, or individual rights, that a government promises to protect.

14. TEXAS BILL OF RIGHTS
Provides Freedom of Press, Assembly, Religion, Bear and Keep Arms
Section 3A provides that equality under the law shall not be denied based on or abridged because of sex, race, creed, national origin or color
34 total sections
Some rights that are in the Texas Bill of Rights are NOT in the US Bill of Rights
No person shall be imprisoned for debt
Rights of Crime victims
Right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife