1. Warm-Up Tues 5/24 Take out a sheet of notebook paper
Title- Notes: Constitution and Legislative Branch
In your planner:
Unit 12 Vocab due TOMORROW
7 Principles Web Organizer due Thursday
PreAP: Textbook turn-in TOMORROW
OL: Textbook turn-in THURSDAY

2. Notes: Constitution and Legislative Branch

3. The Texas Constitution
Overall, there have been 7 TX constitutions.
The first, the Constitution of the State of Coahuila y Tejas, was written when TX was part of Mexico in 1827.
Our current state constitution written in 1876.
Democrats wrote it after Reconstruction ended.
The majority party in the South from 1860s to 1980s.

4. The Role of Constitutions
Each TX constitution specified parts of the govt. and duties of each, gave govt. bodies various powers, described the rights of citizens, provided a way to make changes through amendments, and reflected the time in which it was written.
Most TX constitutions are modeled after the U.S. Constitution and reflects the 7 principles of govt.

5. Differences in Constitutions
U.S. Constitution
Bill of Rights added as amendments
Bill of Rights = First 10 amendments
Constitution amended 27 times
Texas Constitution
Bill of Rights arranged in different order
31 rights contained in the Bill of Rights
Constitution amended more than 470+ times

6. Amending the Texas Constitution
Requires 3 steps:
Member of legislature proposes an amendment
2/3 of both houses of the legislature must vote in favor of a proposed amendment
Then, the amendment must win support from a majority of voters.

7. TX Legislative Branch Essential Questions:
Compare the principles and concepts of the Texas Constitution and U.S. Constitution
Describe the structure and function of government at the state level

8. The Function of the Legislative Branch
Bicameral- A Senate and House of Representatives
Senate committees oversee education, criminal justice, health and human services
House committees oversee agriculture and livestock, economic development, environmental regulation, natural resources

9. Duties of the Legislature
Make laws!
Approve or reject governor’s appointments
Use the power of oversight to review actions of other government branches
Discuss how state monies should be spent
Listen to voters’ concerns about current issues

10. TX Senate 31 members, 4-year term & at least 26 years old
Ted Cruz and John Cornyn are our two U.S. Senators from Texas

11. TX House of Representatives
150 members, 2-year term & at least 21 years old
Ted Poe represents our area in the U.S. House

12. Running the State Legislature
The legislature meets in regular session every 2 years; but the governor may call a special session.
The Lieutenant Governor, Dan Patrick, is elected by voters of the state and serves as Senate president.
The Speaker of the House, Joe Straus, is elected by House members to lead the House.

13. Running the State Legislature (Continued)
The speaker and lieutenant governor appoint legislators to committees
Committees help the legislature carry out tasks, examine issues, and listen to citizens’ concerns
They’re also very powerful in that they can “kill” any proposed law they don’t agree with.

14. Famous Legislator: Bob Bullock
Democrat politician and former Lieutenant Governor of Texas ( ).
Known for trademark line “God bless Texas”
The Texas State History Museum is named in his honor.

15. Unique Power of the Legislature
The legislature has the sole power of impeachment (removing from office).
Only one governor, James “Pa” Ferguson ( ), has been impeached.

16. How a Bill Becomes a Law… 6 Steps
1) Proposed laws called bills are introduced in the House or Senate. 2) Then, after being sent to committee for consensus 3) house members hold a vote for approval. 4) If approved, the bill is sent to the other house to repeat the process for approval. 5) If approved by both houses, the bill is sent to the governor for approval.

17. How A Bill Becomes A Law (Continued)
6) If the bill is signed by the governor, the bill becomes Law
If the bill is not signed, it is vetoed and returned to the legislature for reconsideration.
Then, the legislature can override the veto with 2/3 vote of both the House and Senate to become Law.

18. Checks and Balances Executive Power Legislative Power Judicial Power
Veto power
Legislative Power
Override a veto
Judicial Power
Declare a law unconstitutional

19. Example-
School Board (legislative) -Makes a new school rule RMS.
Mr. Bodron (executive) -Doesn’t agree with the rule and says no…vetoes rule.
School Board- They get a 2/3 vote and override the veto.
Dr. Sconzo (judicial) -Then takes the district handbook to see if the rule follows the handbook (constitutional or unconstitutional)