The Texas Constitution, Adopted In
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The New Republic of Texas
Prior Texas Constitutions Texas Independence The New Republic of Texas • The delegates of Texas met in Washington-on-the-Brazos in 1836 to sign a declaration of independence from Mexico and forge a constitution for the new republic. • The first constitution would outline the core principles of liberty, popular rule, and limited government. 2 Constitutional Government Key Terms Constitution: a document that establishes principles, powers, and responsibilities of government Bill of Rights: a formal declaration of rights of the citizens within government Social Contract: an agreement in which the governed give up freedoms in return for government protection 3 Constitutional Government Two Themes • Early Anglo Texans valued rugged individualism and were not inclined to give up their freedoms to government rule lightly: (1) Individual rights (2) Separation of powers 4 Roots of Rebellion Roots of Rebellion • The spirit of Texas was forged in direct reaction to tyranny from multiple governments and several overbearing rulers. • In 1822, Augustin de Iturbide seized power from the democratically chosen Mexican Congress. • In 1823, Iturbide was forced to abdicate. 5 Roots of Rebellion Roots of Rebellion • Following Iturbide’s departure, the Mexican Constitution of 1824 expanded settlement of the northern Mexico territory. • “Empresarios” were regional land distributors, serving as local recruiters and leaders of fixed areas of land and the people who settled there. • Stephen F. Austin served as an empresario. 6 Roots of Rebellion Key Terms Monarchy: a government run by a single individual, often a king or queen, until death or abdication Republic: a form of government in which people rule indirectly through elected representatives Sovereignty: authority over a political entity, such as a province or a state Separation of Powers: a system that vests political, judicial, and policymaking authority across different branches of government 7 Roots of Rebellion Mexican Constitution of 1824 • Empresarios (like Austin) would be in charge of the colonized territories. -
The Constitution of Texas
LESSON 28 SOCIAL STUDIES TEKS 4 - 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23 TEXAS ALMANAC TEACHERS GUIDE 7 - 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23 8 - 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 29, 30 STAAR The Constitution of Texas 4, 7 - Writing - 1, 2, 3 • Articles, Sections, Amendments 4, 7, 8 - Reading - 1, 2, 3 8 - Social Studies - 3 • Bill of Rights • Qualifications of State Officials • Qualifications of Voters INSTRUCTIONAL SUGGESTIONS 1. TEXAS CONSTITUTION QUESTIONS: Students will answer the questions about the state Constitution on the “Texas Constitution Questions” Student Activity Sheet. NOTE: Activities 2 through 6 require stu- dents to refer to the Texas Constitution, which can be found at this website: http://www.constitution.legis.state.tx.us/ Information on Amendments is included in the Texas Almanac. 2. TEXAS CONSTITUTION CHART: Using the list of articles and sections, students will complete the Texas Constitution Chart on the Student Activity Sheet. This may be done individually, in small groups, or as a whole-class activity. 3. TEXAS BILL OF RIGHTS: Students will match the “Right” to the “Section” on the Texas Bill of Rights Student Activity Sheet. 4. ARTICLES OF TEXAS CONSTITUTION: An 1875 copy of the Constitution of Texas. Students will identify the topic discussed in each Article on the Articles of the Texas Constitution Student Activity Sheet. 5. STATE OFFICIALS: Students will list the qualifications and terms for each official on the State OfficialsStudent Activity Sheet. L28 Copyright © 2014 by TEXAS ALMANAC & Texas State Historical Association; www.TexasAlmanac.com. LESSON 28 — The Constitution of Texas 6. TEXAS VOTERS: Students will determine the qualifications to be a voter in the state of Texas on the Texas Voters Student Activity Sheet. -
The Texas Constitution Part I
THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION PART I Half the ballot items are ridiculous because they deal with doing away with a constable’s position in Erath County or somewhere and the other half no one can understand because they involve bond financing or some arcane part of the Constitution that has to be fixed. Former Texas Senator Bill Ratliff A Texas Tragedy CONSTITUTION OF 1876 The Texas Constitution, adopted in 1876 and amended many times since, is so restrictive that many scholars and politicians believe it is counterproductive to effective, modern governance. They believe the document, which is bogged down with statutory detail, is a textbook example of what a constitution should not be. State government functions despite its constitutional shackles: an institutionally weak chief executive; an outdated, part-time legislature; a poorly organized judiciary; and dedicated funds that limit the state’s budgetary options. But a total rewrite of the constitution has been elusive, thanks to numerous special interests that find security in the present document and from those who hold obsolete public offices in Texas and those who benefit from dedicated funds. Public ignorance and indifference to the problems created by the restrictive constitutional provisions also thwart an overhaul of the document. What is a constitution? o constitution o the fundamental law by which a state or nation is organized and governed o establishes the framework of government, assigns the powers and duties of governmental bodies, and defines the relationship between the people and their government o reflects fundamental political, economic and power relationships as determined by the culture, values and interests of the people who create it and the events of the period in which it was written o The US Constitution is the fundamental law of the United States, and a state constitution is the fundamental law of the state. -
Smash and Dash
WE’RE THERE WHEN YOU CAN’T BE TheTUESDAY | JANUARY 29, 2013Baylor Lariatwww.baylorlariat.com SPORTS Page 5 NEWS Page 3 A&E Page 4 Making milestones It all adds up Ready, set, sing Brittney Griner breaks the NCAA Baylor accounting students Don’t miss today’s opening record for total career blocks. Find out land in the top five of a national performance of the Baylor how she affects the court defensively accounting competition Opera’s ‘Dialogues of Carmelites’ Vol. 115 No. 4 © 2013, Baylor University In Print >> HAND OFF Smash Alumni Association Baylor reacts to former Star Wars director George Lucas passing the director’s torch to J.J. and president under fire Abrams By Sierra Baumbach indirectly communicated to the prosecu- Staff Writer tor who was trying the case,” Polk County Page 4 Criminal District Attorney William Lee dash The 258th State District Judge Eliza- Hon wrote In an e-mail to the Lariat. beth E. Coker, who is also president of >> CALL OUT According to the Chronicle article, Local cemetery the Baylor Alumni Association, is under Polk County Investigator David Wells Get one writer’s opinion review by the Texas Commission on Judi- was sitting beside Jones in the gallery. on player safety and cial Conduct for a text message allegedly Jones asked to borrow Wells’ notepad the future of the NFL plagued by sent during court that was thought to aid and it was from this exchange that Wells following remarks by the prosecution in a felony charge of in- discovered the interaction between Cok- President Obama and vandalism jury to a child. -
Texas Office of Lt. Governor Data Sheet As of August 25, 2016
Texas Office of Lt. Governor Data Sheet As of August 25, 2016 History of Office The Office of the Lt. Governor of Texas was created by the State Constitution of 1845 and the office holder is President of the Texas Senate.1 Origins of the Office The Office of the Lt. Governor of Texas was established with statehood and the Constitution of 1845. Qualifications for Office The Council of State Governments (CSG) publishes the Book of the States (BOS) 2015. In chapter 4, Table 4.13 lists the Qualifications and Terms of Office for lieutenant governors: The Book of the States 2015 (CSG) at www.csg.org. Method of Election The National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) maintains a list of the methods of electing gubernatorial successors at: http://www.nlga.us/lt-governors/office-of-lieutenant- governor/methods-of-election/. Duties and Powers A lieutenant governor may derive responsibilities one of four ways: from the Constitution, from the Legislature through statute, from the governor (thru gubernatorial appointment or executive order), thru personal initiative in office, and/or a combination of these. The principal and shared constitutional responsibility of every gubernatorial successor is to be the first official in the line of succession to the governor’s office. Succession to Office of Governor In 1853, Governor Peter Hansborough Bell resigned to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and Lt. Governor James W. Henderson finished the unexpired term.2 In 1861, Governor Sam Houston was removed from office and Lt. Governor Edward Clark finished the unexpired term. In 1865, Governor Pendleton Murrah left office and Lt. -
Report of the Committee on Highway Laws
Report of the Committee on Highway Laws DAVID R. LEVIN, Chief, Land Studies Section Financial and Administrative Research Branch, Bureau of Public Roads #IN 1952, the American Association of State Highway Officials requested the Highway Research Board to make a comprehensive study of the highway laws of the several states. Prior to the time when a technical study staff became available, much work was ac• complished by the Board's Steering Committee on Highway Laws (now Committee on Highway Laws). In July, 1955, a technical staff of five attorneys and three secretaries was employed and located in offices in the DuPont Circle Building, Washington, D.C. The study, planned as a three-year operation, got under way at that time. In January, 1956, the Committee held an all-day session in Washington during the annual meeting of the Highway Research Board. At the session. Committee Chairman Louis R. Morony reported that continued financing of the project had been assured, and G.Donald Kennedy, Highway Research Board Chairman, expressed his deep interest in the work. The Committee Secretary and the technical staff reported to the session on the prog• ress of the study project. The task of gathering all of the constitutional provisions, statutes and judicial deci• sions is a tremendous one. For practical reasons, the field of highway law was broken down into 28 component parts such as system classification, land acquisition, construc• tion, maintenance, etc. Research was begun in the following areas of prime current Interest: (1) Constitutional provisions. Since the constitution is the basic law of a democratic gov• ernment, a study of all the constitutional provisions which relate to highways was one of the first projects undertaken. -
Policy Report Texas Fact Book 2008
Texas Fact Book 2 0 0 8 L e g i s l a t i v e B u d g e t B o a r d LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD EIGHTIETH TEXAS LEGISLATURE 2007 – 2008 DAVID DEWHURST, JOINT CHAIR Lieutenant Governor TOM CRADDICK, JOINT CHAIR Representative District 82, Midland Speaker of the House of Representatives STEVE OGDEN Senatorial District 5, Bryan Chair, Senate Committee on Finance ROBERT DUNCAN Senatorial District 28, Lubbock JOHN WHITMIRE Senatorial District 15, Houston JUDITH ZAFFIRINI Senatorial District 21, Laredo WARREN CHISUM Representative District 88, Pampa Chair, House Committee on Appropriations JAMES KEFFER Representative District 60, Eastland Chair, House Committee on Ways and Means FRED HILL Representative District 112, Richardson SYLVESTER TURNER Representative District 139, Houston JOHN O’Brien, Director COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF SENATE MEDIA CONTENTS STATE GOVERNMENT STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS . 1 MEMBERS OF THE EIGHTIETH TEXAS LEGISLATURE . 3 The Senate . 3 The House of Representatives . 4 SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES . 8 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STANDING COMMITTEES . 10 BASIC STEPS IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE PROCESS . 14 TEXAS AT A GLANCE GOVERNORS OF TEXAS . 15 HOW TEXAS RANKS Agriculture . 17 Crime and Law Enforcement . 17 Defense . 18 Economy . 18 Education . 18 Employment and Labor . 19 Environment and Energy . 19 Federal Government Finance . 20 Geography . 20 Health . 20 Housing . 21 Population . 21 Social Welfare . 22 State and Local Government Finance . 22 Technology . 23 Transportation . 23 Border Facts . 24 STATE HOLIDAYS, 2008 . 25 STATE SYMBOLS . 25 POPULATION Texas Population Compared with the U .s . 26 Texas and the U .s . Annual Population Growth Rates . 27 Resident Population, 15 Most Populous States . -
CHAIRMEN of SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES [Table 5-3] 1789–Present
CHAIRMEN OF SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES [Table 5-3] 1789–present INTRODUCTION The following is a list of chairmen of all standing Senate committees, as well as the chairmen of select and joint committees that were precursors to Senate committees. (Other special and select committees of the twentieth century appear in Table 5-4.) Current standing committees are highlighted in yellow. The names of chairmen were taken from the Congressional Directory from 1816–1991. Four standing committees were founded before 1816. They were the Joint Committee on ENROLLED BILLS (established 1789), the joint Committee on the LIBRARY (established 1806), the Committee to AUDIT AND CONTROL THE CONTINGENT EXPENSES OF THE SENATE (established 1807), and the Committee on ENGROSSED BILLS (established 1810). The names of the chairmen of these committees for the years before 1816 were taken from the Annals of Congress. This list also enumerates the dates of establishment and termination of each committee. These dates were taken from Walter Stubbs, Congressional Committees, 1789–1982: A Checklist (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1985). There were eleven committees for which the dates of existence listed in Congressional Committees, 1789–1982 did not match the dates the committees were listed in the Congressional Directory. The committees are: ENGROSSED BILLS, ENROLLED BILLS, EXAMINE THE SEVERAL BRANCHES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, Joint Committee on the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, LIBRARY, PENSIONS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, RETRENCHMENT, REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS, ROADS AND CANALS, and the Select Committee to Revise the RULES of the Senate. For these committees, the dates are listed according to Congressional Committees, 1789– 1982, with a note next to the dates detailing the discrepancy. -
Veto, Power of Governor. Appropriations, Right of Gov- Ernor
86 OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Veto, Power of Governor. Appropriations, Right of Gov ernor to Veto. Items of Appropriation Bill, Right to Veto. "{>art of Item, Right of Governor to Veto. The authority of the Governor to veto an item, or part of an item in an appropriation bill considered and discussed. March 17, 1915. Bon. S. V. Stewart, Governor, Helena, Montana. Dear Sir: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your communication concerning the authorities relating to the power of the Governor to express dis approval of an item of a Bill making appropriations of money. The provisions of our state constitution relating to the veto power of the q.overnor, are contained in Sections 12 and 13, Article VII thereof. tn Section 12, it is provided that all Bills before they become laws <!hall be presented to the Governor; if not returned by him to the House in which it originated, within five days, Sundays excepted, it shall be a law unless its return is prevented by adjournment, in which case it shall not become a law without the approval of the Governor witnin fifteen .days after such adjournment. In Section \ 13 it is pro vided: "The Governor shall have power to disapprove of any item .or items of any Bill making appropriations of money embracing distinct items, and the part or parts approved shall become a law, and the item or items disapproved shall be void." Unless passed over his veto in the manner provided in the Constitu· tion. Whether the exercise of the veto power is legislative or executive tn character is immaterial, for it is a power vested ~n him, and a duty tmposed upon him by the positive mandates of the constitution, and not 'lny Bill can become a law without first being presented to, him for his consideration; and not any Bill can become a law after adjourn ment without his approval thereof. -
Chapter 2 Quiz
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ______________ 1. A document that lays out the principles and responsibilities of government and specifies the powers of the branches of government and elected officials is usually referred to as a A) bill of rights B) law brief C) constitution D) platform 2. A formal declaration of the rights of the citizens within government is usually referred to as a A) statement of separation B) bill of rights C) policy D) constitution 3. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, political thinkers rejected the idea of a “divine right” of kings and instead argued that government should depend on A) “liberty and faith” B) “consent of the ruling class” C) “parties in power” D) “consent of the governed” 4. An agreement in which the governed give up freedoms in return for government protection is referred to as a A) social contract B) declaration of rights C) constitution D) political power 5. Two themes that are woven into the many constitutions that have governed Texas have been A) safety and equality B) individual rights and separation of powers C) individual rights and judicial power D) executive authority and separation of powers 6. The “Father of Texas” who traveled to Mexico City to request the continuation of his father's colony in Mexico and served as an empresario for the Anglo settlers was named A) Moses Austin B) Sam Houston C) Stephen F. Austin D) James Polk 7. A government run by a single individual, often a king or queen, until death or abdication is called a A) democracy B) republic C) oligarchy D) monarchy 8. -
Texas and the Union 1865–1877
322-323_COTXSE_4_15_p 11/18/02 9:47 AM Page 322 Texas and the Union 1865–1877 SECTION 1 Presidential Reconstruction SECTION 2 Congressional Reconstruction SECTION 3 A New Constitution VIEW THE Texas on Tape CHAPTER 15 VIDEO LESSON. all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free. Emancipation Proclamation John Biggers, Shotguns, Fourth Ward 1865 1868 1871 1874 1877 1866 Constitution of 1866 1870 Texas is readmitted into 1876 Constitution of is adopted the United States 1876 is adopted 1865 Slaves are emancipated in Texas 1869 Constitution of 1869 is adopted 1874 Reconstruction ends in Texas 1869 Edmund Davis is elected as first 1873 Democrat Richard Coke is elected Republican governor of Texas governor of Texas 322 ✯ Chapter 15 322-323_COTXSE_4_15_p 11/18/02 9:47 AM Page 323 Before You Read Think about a time when you believed you or someone you knew was not being treated fairly. Perhaps you saw people who had opportunities or privileges that others did not have. How did you handle the situation? Did you find a way to persuade people to listen to you? Did you help find a way to make sure that everyone was treated equally? Think about • situations at home or at school that you believed were unfair • effects of unfairness on the people involved • effective ways to address injustice “The First Vote,” Harper’s Weekly As You Read Organizing Information After the Civil War the U.S. -
July 31, 1948 the Board of Directors the Texas
AUSTIN. TEXAS PRICE DANIEL A--o-- July 31, 1948 The Board of Directors The Texas State University for Negroes 2007 Petroleum Building Houston 2, Texas Attention: Fir.John H. Robertson, Executive Assistant Opinion No. V-645 Re: ,Whethera white appli- cant may be admitted to The Texas State Univer- sity for~Ne,groes. Gentlemen: You'write that Mr. Jack Coffman, a white cit- izen of Houston, who.representsthat he isa social science major from Penn College, Oscaloosa Iowa, de- sires to be admitted to The Texas State University for Negroes for the purpose of taking courses in sociB1~ science. You request an opinion as to whether he may legally be admitted. Section 7 of Article VII and related Arti- cles of the Texas Constitution provide that separate schools shall be provided for the white and colored stu- ;;;thsand that impartial provision shall-be made for . The.legislativeact creating The~Texas 'State University for Negroes1 provides that: "It is the purpose of~thPs Act to ds- tablish an entire1 separate and equivalent university +.o the first class for Negroes . ." f Section 1, Senate Bill 140, Acts,SOth Leg., Ch. 29, PO 36, carried as Art. 2643b, V.A.C.S. I . The Texas State University for Negroes, Page 2 (V-645) With regard to which persons would be eligible for enrollment, the Act further provides in Section 12: "The term lqualifiedapplicant' as used in this Act shall mean any colored person who meets the educationalrequirements . The term 'colored person' (means) . a ne- gro or person of African descent." The Act is plain and unambiguous.