We The People...We The People...

The Structure and The Structure and Function of Texas Function of Texas

GovernmentGovernment

BackgroundBackground

The Texas The Texas government is government is very strong today, very strong today, even though it has even though it has gone through gone through several changes several changes and constitutions.and constitutions.

Constitution of Constitution of 18361836

Constitution of Constitution of 18451845

Constitution of Constitution of 18761876

The founding The founding fathers of Texas fathers of Texas had wonderful had wonderful insight that insight that helped form a helped form a government ofgovernment of

strengthstrength stabilitystability

andand

These Texans looked to a These Texans looked to a shining example of shining example of democracy as the basis democracy as the basis for our state constitution for our state constitution and government.and government.

The The Constitution Constitution of the of the United United StatesStates

So the So the structurestructure (what our (what our government looks like) and government looks like) and functionfunction (what our government does) is a (what our government does) is a reflection of the United States reflection of the United States government.government.

Part 1: Part 1:

The Structure of The Structure of Texas GovernmentTexas Government

Structure Structure is the is the framework of our framework of our government. government.

The U.S. government The U.S. government is divided into three is divided into three branches of branches of government, each government, each with different duties.with different duties.

The structure of Texas The structure of Texas government is the same. government is the same. Let’s take a look.Let’s take a look.

Three Branches of GovernmentThree Branches of Government

ExecutivExecutivee

LegislativeLegislative JudicialJudicial

The Executive BranchThe Executive Branch

StructureStructurethe governor, lieutenant-governor, the governor, lieutenant-governor,

and attorney-generaland attorney-generalappointeesappointees

FunctionFunctionsee that laws are carried outsee that laws are carried out

The Executive Branch-The Governor

Governors serve 4 year terms Must be 30 years old to be elected Can serve unlimited terms Appoints members of state agencies with the

consent of the Senate Has the power to approve or veto laws Is the Commander-in-Chief of state’s military

forces

The Executive Branch-The Governor

Has the power to call special sessions of the legislature for emergency state business

The governor has the power to call special The governor has the power to call special sessions of the legislature for emergency sessions of the legislature for emergency state businessstate business

Martial law-the law administered by military Martial law-the law administered by military forces that is invoked by a government in an forces that is invoked by a government in an emergency when the civilian law enforcement emergency when the civilian law enforcement agencies are unable to maintain public order agencies are unable to maintain public order and safetyand safety

The Legislative BranchThe Legislative Branch

StructureStructure““bi-cameral”- made of two houses like the U.S. bi-cameral”- made of two houses like the U.S.

CongressCongressSenateSenateHouse of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

FunctionFunctionmake laws make laws maintain a balanced budgetmaintain a balanced budgetHas the power to raise revenue (a tax law)Has the power to raise revenue (a tax law)

The Legislative Branch

Members of the House of Representatives serve 2 years

Members of the Senate serve 4 year terms The president of the Texas Senate is the

Lieutenant Governor The Texas Legislature has the sole power of

removing someone from office (impeachment) Texas has 150 members of the House of

Representatives and 31 Senate members

The Legislative Branch

The legislative branch is responsible for making laws…however the governor can veto the law

In that case the legislature can still pass the law with a 2/3 vote from the members of the legislature

The legislative branch has the power to propose amendments to the Texas Constitution

The Legislative Branch

A senator must be at least 26 years of age, a citizen of Texas five years prior to election and a resident of the district from which elected one year prior to election

A representative must be at least 21 years of age, a citizen of Texas for two years prior to election and a resident of the district from which elected one year prior to election

The Judicial BranchThe Judicial Branch

StructureStructureTexas Supreme CourtTexas Supreme Courtdistrict courtsdistrict courtscounty and local courtscounty and local courts

FunctionFunctiondecide if laws are fairdecide if laws are fairtry civil and criminal casestry civil and criminal cases

The Judicial Branch

The judges of the higher level state courts serve 6 year terms

The Texas Appeals Court determines whether trials held in trial courts are fair

The highest court in Texas to hear criminal cases is the Texas Supreme Court

There are nine justices that sit on the Texas Supreme Court

Part 2: Part 2:

Function of Texas Function of Texas GovernmentGovernment

FunctionFunction is how is how the government the government works, or what it works, or what it does for the does for the people.people.

The U.S. The U.S. Constitution is Constitution is based on seven based on seven principles, or principles, or rules and goals.rules and goals.

Therefore, the Texas Therefore, the Texas Constitution is Constitution is based on the same based on the same seven principles.seven principles.

1. Popular Sovereignty1. Popular Sovereignty

The principle of The principle of popular sovereignty is popular sovereignty is expressed in the first expressed in the first three words of the three words of the Constitution...Constitution...

It means that the It means that the people are the final people are the final authority.authority.

How is Popular Sovereignty How is Popular Sovereignty achieved?achieved?

The people vote on The people vote on individuals to represent individuals to represent them in the various them in the various branches of branches of government.government.

The people vote The people vote on proposed laws.on proposed laws.

2. Limited Power of Government2. Limited Power of Government

Limited government means that we Limited government means that we give the government power, but not give the government power, but not too much power.too much power.

The key word in the above statement The key word in the above statement is “we”. The government has only is “we”. The government has only the powers the people have given it.the powers the people have given it.

How do we limit the How do we limit the government’s power?government’s power?

We outline the We outline the government’s power on government’s power on paper in a constitution. paper in a constitution.

Citizens are Citizens are guaranteed guaranteed fundamental rights fundamental rights in the Bill of Rights.in the Bill of Rights.

3. Federalism3. Federalism

Federalism is the sharing of powers Federalism is the sharing of powers between the state and national between the state and national government.government.

Some powers are state powers, Some powers are state powers, some national, some are shared.some national, some are shared.

National State

What are some examples of What are some examples of federalism?federalism?

National Powers

•maintain armed forces

•coin money

•declare war

•establish foreign policy

State Powers

•maintain schools

•marriage and divorce laws

•conduct elections

•regulate trade within the state

Shared powers

•raise taxes-which are used to provide services to citizens

•charter banks

•provide for the public welfare

•administer criminal justice

What are some examples of What are some examples of federalism?federalism?

4. Separation of Powers4. Separation of Powers

Separating powers guards against Separating powers guards against putting too much power in the hands putting too much power in the hands of a few people.of a few people.

We limit power by creating the We limit power by creating the three branches of government, three branches of government, each with separate duties.each with separate duties.

LegislativeLegislative- makes laws- makes laws

ExecutiveExecutive- sees that - sees that laws are carriedlaws are carried outout

JudicialJudicial- decides if laws - decides if laws are fairare fair

5. Checks and Balances5. Checks and BalancesEach branch of government can check, or Each branch of government can check, or control, the power of the other two branches. control, the power of the other two branches. The power is split among the three branches.

Feeling powerful. Feeling powerful.

Feeling strong.Feeling strong.

Feeling invincible.Feeling invincible.

government without checks

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Check yourself or Check yourself or talk to the claw.talk to the claw.

Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.Sorry.

Examples of checks and Examples of checks and balancesbalances

Congress has the power to pass Congress has the power to pass laws, but the president can veto laws, but the president can veto laws.laws.

Congress can check the president’s Congress can check the president’s power by overriding the veto.power by overriding the veto.

Examples of checks and Examples of checks and balancesbalances

Treaties and appointments the Treaties and appointments the presidents makes must be approved presidents makes must be approved by congress.by congress.

The president can be impeached by The president can be impeached by Congress and the trial is heard by Congress and the trial is heard by the Supreme Court.the Supreme Court.

6. Republicanism

stresses liberty and rights as central values, makes the people as a whole sovereign, rejects inherited political power, expects citizens to be independent in their performance of civic duties, and looks down on corruption.

7. Individual Rights

Individuals have to the right to act with liberty and determine their own destinies without unreasonable interference from the government.