Texas Freedoms Before and After Independence

Vocabulary flashcards covering the structural differences, government branches, civil rights, and legal policies between the Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas (1827) and the Republic of Texas Constitution (1836).

Mexican Constitution of 1824

The governing document that established Mexico as a federal republic, allowing each state to create and write its own constitution.

Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas, 1827

The state constitution adopted when Texas and Coahuila were combined into a single state, creating a unicameral legislature and designating Catholicism as the required state religion.

Unicameral Legislature (Coahuila y Tejas, 1827)

A one-house lawmaking body composed of twelve representatives, including two members elected from Texas by popular vote.

Executive Power (Coahuila y Tejas, 1827)

Authority granted to a governor and vice governor elected to four-year terms by popular vote, with powers to recommend legislation, grant pardons, command the state militia, and execute laws.

Judicial Authority (Coahuila y Tejas, 1827)

A system of state courts that oversaw minor criminal trials and civil cases, could not interpret the law, and heard misdemeanor cases before a judge without a jury.

State Religion Requirement (Coahuila y Tejas, 1827)

A legal mandate requiring all citizens to accept Catholicism as the official state religion.

Policy on Slavery (Coahuila y Tejas, 1827)

A legal provision establishing that slavery was not an acceptable practice in the state.

The Republic of Texas Constitution, 1836

The governing document adopted in 1836 that drew heavily from the U.S. Constitution, separating powers into three branches with checks and balances, recognizing slavery, and reserving voting rights for males.

Bicameral Legislature (Republic of Texas, 1836)

A two-house legislative branch consisting of a House of Representatives and a Senate, whose members served terms of one and three years, respectively.

Executive Branch (Republic of Texas, 1836)

The branch modeled after the American presidency, headed by a chief executive elected by popular vote.

Four-Tiered Judiciary (Republic of Texas, 1836)

A judicial branch consisting of four court levels: justice, county, district, and supreme courts.

Voting Qualifications (Republic of Texas, 1836)

Constitutional rules that provided voting rights strictly to males only.

Citizenship Exclusions (Republic of Texas, 1836)

Constitutional provisions that explicitly denied citizenship to African Americans and Native Americans.

Policy on Slavery (Republic of Texas, 1836)

A constitutional provision that officially recognized and legalized the institution of slavery throughout the republic.