Texas Constitution and Limited Government Seven Principles of Government

Texas ConstitutionTexas Constitutionandand

Limited Limited GovernmentGovernment

Seven Principles of GovernmentSeven Principles of Government

State of Texas Constitution of State of Texas Constitution of 18761876

Republicanism – a belief Republicanism – a belief that government should be that government should be based on the consent of based on the consent of the people; people the people; people exercise their power by exercise their power by voting for political voting for political representativesrepresentatives Article III. SEC. 4. The Article III. SEC. 4. The

members of the House of members of the House of Representatives shall be Representatives shall be chosen by the qualified chosen by the qualified electors, and their term of electors, and their term of office shall be two years office shall be two years from the day of their from the day of their election.election.


Limited Government – the Limited Government – the principle that requires all U.S. principle that requires all U.S. citizens, including citizens, including government leaders, to obey government leaders, to obey the lawthe law Article III. SEC. 14. Senators and Article III. SEC. 14. Senators and

representatives shall, except in representatives shall, except in cases of treason, felony or cases of treason, felony or breach of peace, be privileged breach of peace, be privileged from arrest during the session of from arrest during the session of the Legislature, and in going to the Legislature, and in going to and returning from the same, and returning from the same, allowing one day for every allowing one day for every twenty miles such member may twenty miles such member may reside from the place at which reside from the place at which the Legislature is convened.the Legislature is convened.


Checks and Balances – the ability of each Checks and Balances – the ability of each branch of government to exercise checks, or branch of government to exercise checks, or controls, over the other branchescontrols, over the other branches

Article IV. SEC. 14. Every bill which shall have Article IV. SEC. 14. Every bill which shall have passed both houses of the Legislature shall be passed both houses of the Legislature shall be presented to the governor for his approval. If presented to the governor for his approval. If he approve he shall sign it; but if he he approve he shall sign it; but if he disapprove it, he shall return it with his disapprove it, he shall return it with his objections, to the house in which it originated, objections, to the house in which it originated, which house shall enter the objections at which house shall enter the objections at large upon its journal, and proceed to large upon its journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present agree to two-thirds of the members present agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, with the pass the bill, it shall be sent, with the objections, in the other house, by which objections, in the other house, by which likewise it shall be reconsidered; and, if likewise it shall be reconsidered; and, if approved by two-thirds of the members of approved by two-thirds of the members of that house, it shall become a law; but in such that house, it shall become a law; but in such cases the votes of both houses shall be cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for and against the bill of the members voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively.respectively.

Article XV. SEC 1. The power of impeachment Article XV. SEC 1. The power of impeachment shall be vested in the House of shall be vested in the House of RepresentativesRepresentatives


Federalism – a system of Federalism – a system of government where power government where power is shared among the is shared among the central (or federal) central (or federal) government and the government and the statesstates Article I SEC. 1. Texas is a Article I SEC. 1. Texas is a

free and independent State, free and independent State, subject only to the subject only to the Constitution of the United Constitution of the United States; and the States; and the maintenance of our free maintenance of our free institutions and the institutions and the perpetuity of the Union perpetuity of the Union depend upon the depend upon the preservation of the right of preservation of the right of local self-government local self-government unimpaired to all the States.unimpaired to all the States.


Separation of Powers – the division of Separation of Powers – the division of basic government roles into branchesbasic government roles into branches Article II. SEC. 1. The powers of the Article II. SEC. 1. The powers of the

government of the State of Texas shall government of the State of Texas shall be divided into three distinct be divided into three distinct departmentsdepartments

Popular Sovereignty – a government in Popular Sovereignty – a government in which the people rule; a system in which the people rule; a system in which the residents vote to decide an which the residents vote to decide an issueissue Article VI. SEC. 3. All qualified electors of Article VI. SEC. 3. All qualified electors of

the State, as herein described, who shall the State, as herein described, who shall have resided for six months immediately have resided for six months immediately preceding an election within the limits of preceding an election within the limits of any city or corporate town, shall have any city or corporate town, shall have the right to vote for mayor and all other the right to vote for mayor and all other elective officerselective officers..


Individual Rights – a personal Individual Rights – a personal liberty and privilege guaranteed to liberty and privilege guaranteed to U.S. citizens by the Bill of RightsU.S. citizens by the Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights – 29 SectionsBill of Rights – 29 Sections SEC. 2. All political power is inherent in SEC. 2. All political power is inherent in

the people and all free governments the people and all free governments are founded on their authority, and are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit. The faith of instituted for their benefit. The faith of the people of Texas stands pledged to the people of Texas stands pledged to the preservation of a republican form the preservation of a republican form of government, and, subject to this of government, and, subject to this limitation only, they have at all times limitation only, they have at all times the inalienable right to alter, reform or the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such abolish their government in such manner as they may think expedient.manner as they may think expedient.

Texas Constitution of 1876Texas Constitution of 1876andand

U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitution Similarities and Similarities and

differencesdifferences Based on the principles Based on the principles

of governments of governments Can you name them (7)Can you name them (7)

Three branches of Three branches of governmentgovernment

Can you name them Can you name them Bill of Rights that list Bill of Rights that list

rights given to all citizensrights given to all citizens

Structure and Functions of Structure and Functions of Government Government

Municipal levelMunicipal level Structure – city limits, Mayor-Council-City Manager Structure – city limits, Mayor-Council-City Manager

governmentgovernment Function – provide government services, police and fire Function – provide government services, police and fire

protection, emergency medical services (ambulances), protection, emergency medical services (ambulances), sewers and water lines, inspection of health and sewers and water lines, inspection of health and sanitation rules, and zoning rules that govern what kinds sanitation rules, and zoning rules that govern what kinds of buildings may be placed in certain parts of the city.of buildings may be placed in certain parts of the city.

Structure and Functions of Structure and Functions of GovernmentGovernment

County (254 Counties)County (254 Counties) Structure – precincts: Structure – precincts:

each precinct has a each precinct has a county commissioner, county commissioner, headed by a county headed by a county judge.judge.

Function – Help the Function – Help the state collect taxes, state collect taxes, oversee and administer oversee and administer law enforcement, and law enforcement, and provide services to the provide services to the rural populationrural population

Structure and Functions of Structure and Functions of GovernmentGovernment

StateState Structure – Representative Structure – Representative

and Senate districtsand Senate districts Executive Branch – GovernorExecutive Branch – Governor Legislative Branch – Legislative Branch –

Representatives and SenatorsRepresentatives and Senators Judicial Branch – JudgesJudicial Branch – Judges

Function – maintain highways Function – maintain highways and state law enforcement, and state law enforcement, interpret and enforce laws, a interpret and enforce laws, a prison system, and a National prison system, and a National Guard, supports public Guard, supports public schools, colleges, universities, schools, colleges, universities, and public healthand public health

Sources of Revenue for State Sources of Revenue for State and Local Governmentand Local Government

State and local government are funded by State and local government are funded by taxestaxes Property tax – property is taxed and funds educationProperty tax – property is taxed and funds education Sales tax – largest source of tax revenueSales tax – largest source of tax revenue

State and local governments receive federal State and local governments receive federal funds for projectsfunds for projects

Federal funds – second largest source of tax Federal funds – second largest source of tax revenue – state and local governments collect revenue – state and local governments collect feesfees Licenses and permits, utilities, etc.Licenses and permits, utilities, etc. Interest on investments, state lottery, and money Interest on investments, state lottery, and money

earned from public landsearned from public lands

Structure, Funding, and Structure, Funding, and Governance of Texas Public Governance of Texas Public

EducationEducation Approximately 1,050 school districtsApproximately 1,050 school districts Structure – divided into independent Structure – divided into independent

school districtsschool districts Governance – the local Board of Governance – the local Board of

Trustees (School Board) is elected by Trustees (School Board) is elected by residents in the school district. They residents in the school district. They hire a Superintendent, administrators, hire a Superintendent, administrators, and teachers. They make financial and and teachers. They make financial and educational decisions for the district.educational decisions for the district.

State Board of Education is elected to State Board of Education is elected to provide standards and policies as well provide standards and policies as well as approving materials.as approving materials.

Texas Education Agency – oversees Texas Education Agency – oversees the implementation of State Board of the implementation of State Board of Education policies and other Education policies and other regulatory functions and local school regulatory functions and local school districtsdistricts

Funded by property tax bond issues, as Funded by property tax bond issues, as well as by state and federal funding well as by state and federal funding supported by state and federal supported by state and federal taxpayerstaxpayers

Rights of Texas CitizensRights of Texas Citizens

Rights defined in the Texas Rights defined in the Texas Constitution and Texas Bill of Rights Constitution and Texas Bill of Rights (many of these rights are also in the (many of these rights are also in the U.S. Bill of Rights)U.S. Bill of Rights)

Article One of the Texas Constitution Article One of the Texas Constitution (Texas Bill of Rights)(Texas Bill of Rights)

Freedom of worshipFreedom of worship Freedom of speech and pressFreedom of speech and press Freedom of assemblyFreedom of assembly Protection from unreasonable searches Protection from unreasonable searches

and seizuresand seizures Equality under the lawEquality under the law Fair trial and rights of the accused in Fair trial and rights of the accused in

criminal prosecutionscriminal prosecutions Rights of crime victimsRights of crime victims

There are thirty three listed in the There are thirty three listed in the Texas Constitution Texas Constitution

Documents

Texas Constitution and Limited Government Seven Principles of Government