14A: Identify how the Texas Constitution reflects the principles of limited government, republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights

Humbly invoking the blessings of Almighty God, the people of the State of Texas, do

ordain and establish this Constitution.

TEXAS CONSTITUTION

The Texas government is comprised of different departments. Here are the main departments.

TEXAS CONSTITUTION CONCLUSION

The house of representatives, together with the state senate, constitute the Texas Legislature. The duties of the legislature include consideration of proposed laws and resolutions, consideration of proposed constitutional amendments for submission to the voters, and appropriation of all funds for the operation of state government. All bills for raising revenue considered by the legislature must originate in the house of representatives. The house alone can bring impeachment charges against a statewide officer, which charges must be tried by the senate.

The legislative branch decides on laws and arranges voting from the people on amendments.

TEXAS CONSTITUTION CONCLUSION

By statute the Court has administrative control over the State Bar of Texas. The Court is also the sole authority for licensing attorneys in Texas and appoints the members of the Board of Law Examiners which administers the Texas bar examination.

This is the supreme court, they license or allow attorneys to practice law. They also have control over the State Bar of Texas. (FYI, this is probably not the bar your thinking of. :)

TEXAS CONSTITUTION CONCLUSION

Here are some of the governor’s duties-

Signing or vetoing bills passed by the Legislature.Serving as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.Convening special sessions of the Legislature for specific purposes.Delivering a report on the condition of the state to the Legislature at the beginning of each regular session.Estimating of the amounts of money required to be raised by taxation.Accounting for all public monies received and paid out by him and recommending a budget for the next two years.Granting reprieves and commutations of punishment and pardons upon the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles and revoking conditional pardons.Declaring special elections to fill vacancies in certain elected offices.Appointing qualified Texans to state offices that carry out the laws and direct the policies of state government. Some of these offices are filled by appointment only. Others are ordinarily elected by the people, but the governor must occasionally appoint individuals to fill vacancies. The governor also appoints Texans to a wide range of advisory bodies and task forces that assist him with specific issues.

The governor is kind of like the president on a state level.

TEXAS CONSTITUTION CONCLUSION

All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority.

This is stating that people are the source of the government’s power and also concluding that the people elect their officials.

The picture before describes how the three branches of government interact with each other in Texas and displays how one branch can’t overpower the other.

Federalism is the separation of state and federal government. The Texas constitution doesn’t directly state the division but whatever the U.S. government doesn’t do or doesn’t allow states to interfere with is left up to the states.

TEXAS CONSTITUTION CONCLUSION

ARTICLE 2. THE POWERS OF GOVERNMENT

Sec. 1.  DIVISION OF POWERS; THREE SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS; EXERCISE OF POWER PROPERLY ATTACHED TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS. The powers of the Government of the State of Texas shall be divided into three distinct departments, each of which shall be confided to a separate body of magistracy, to wit: Those which are Legislative to one; those which are Executive to another, and those which are Judicial to another; and no person, or collection of persons, being of one of these departments, shall exercise any power properly attached to either of the others, except in the instances herein expressly permitted.

This section states that no person or group of people can make a decision that is not theirs to make or that needs to be made together, there are three groups that have separate powers.

TEXAS CONSTITUTION CONCLUSION

Article 1Sec.2. INHERENT POLITICAL POWER; REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT. All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit. The faith of the people of Texas stands pledged to the preservation of a republican form of government, and, subject to this limitation only, they have at all times the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think expedient.

This states that the government is dependent upon the people. The state must function from the authority of the people.

TEXAS CONSTITUTION CONCLUSION

EQUAL RIGHTSEQUALITY UNDER THE LAWRELIGIOUS TESTSWITNESSES NOT DISQUALIFIED BY RELIGIOUS BELIEFS; OATHS AND AFFIRMATIONS FREEDOM OF WORSHIPAPPROPRIATIONS FOR SECTARIAN PURPOSESFREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PRESS; LIBELSEARCHES AND SEIZURESRIGHTS OF ACCUSED IN CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONSBAILMULTIPLE CONVICTIONS; DENIAL OF BAILVIOLATION OF CONDITION OF RELEASE PENDING TRIAL; DENIAL OF BAILVIOLATION OF AN ORDER FOR EMERGENCY PROTECTION INVOLVING FAMILY VIOLENCEHABEAS CORPUSEXCESSIVE BAIL OR FINES; CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT; REMEDY BY DUE COURSE OF LAW DOUBLE JEOPARDYRIGHT OF TRIAL BY JURY COMMITMENT OF PERSONS OF UNSOUND MINDBILLS OF ATTAINDER; EX POST FACTO OR RETROACTIVE LAWS; IMPAIRING OBLIGATION OF CONTRACTSTAKING, DAMAGING, OR DESTROYING PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC USE; SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES; CONTROL OF PRIVILEGES AND FRANCHISES IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBTDEPRIVATION OF LIFE, LIBERTY, ETC.; DUE COURSE OF LAWOUTLAWRY OR TRANSPORTATION FOR OFFENSECORRUPTION OF BLOOD; FORFEITURE; SUICIDESTREASON RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS MILITARY SUBORDINATE TO CIVIL AUTHORITYQUARTERING SOLDIERS IN HOUSESPERPETUITIES AND MONOPOLIES; PRIMOGENITURE OR ENTAILMENTS RIGHT OF ASSEMBLY; PETITION FOR REDRESS OF GRIEVANCESSUSPENSION OF LAWSPROVISIONS OF BILL OF RIGHTS EXCEPTED FROM POWERS OF GOVERNMENT; TO FOREVER REMAIN INVIOLATERIGHTS OF CRIME VICTIMSCOMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF CRIME FUND; COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF CRIME AUXILIARY FUND; USE OF FUND MONEYMARRIAGEACCESS AND USE OF PUBLIC BEACHES

These are the rights granted from the Texas Constitution Bill of Rights.

The Texas constitution is the 2nd largest/complicated state constitution that provides more details, and addresses more rights that the U.S. constitution does not.

Information provided by- texas.gov –the official website of the state of Texas and-http://www.constitution.legis.state.tx.us/ -the Texas constitution official website of the state of Texas.