GOVT 2306 Lecture 3

Legislative Structure in Texas

  • House of Representatives and Senate

    • Modeled after the U.S. Congress

    • Comprises two chambers: Texas State Senate and Texas House of Representatives

  • Biannual Legislature

    • Texas legislature meets every two years

    • Regular session lasts up to 140 days, after which they adjourn unless called back by the governor

    • Met in odd-numbered years only (e.g., 2023, 2025)

    • Intention to limit legislative sessions to reduce the frequency of new laws being passed

Historical Context

  • Full-time vs. Part-time Legislature

    • Ronald Reagan's regret over California's transition to a full-time legislature highlights concerns about excessive law-making

    • Preference for part-time legislative sessions to minimize law frequency

Texas Constitution

  • Bill of Rights

    • Texas has its own Bill of Rights, established in the first article of the Texas Constitution

    • These rights are fundamental and cannot be taken away

  • Checks and Balances

    • Ensures power is distributed among branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial

    • Concept originated from Montesquieu's philosophy, adopted in U.S. governance

Historical Issues and Governance

  • Confederacy and State Rights

    • Confederate States of America was formed by Southern states seceding from the U.S.

    • Emphasized state rights over centralized federal power, leading to the Civil War

  • Comprehensive Revision

    • Refers to a total rewrite of a constitution, as opposed to piecemeal revisions which change parts of existing documents

Key Historical Events and Terms

  • Compromise of 1850

    • Texas negotiated to adjust its boundaries in exchange for U.S. absorbing state debts

    • Allowed Texas to subdivide into four states if needed in the future

  • Constitutional Law

    • Defines the principles under which government exercises power and its limitations

  • Federalism

    • Power divided between central government and regional (state) governments

  • Grange Movement

    • A late 19th-century movement advocating for farmers' rights and improved conditions

Impeachment Process in Texas

  • Impeachment Basics

    • High-ranking officials, including governors, can be impeached by the House of Representatives

    • The Senate conducts trials to determine consequences

    • Notable impeachment of a Texas governor leads to removal from office

  • Current Events

    • Ongoing impeachment trial of the Texas Attorney General highlights the political landscape and governance issues

Local Governance

  • Ordinances

    • Regulations enacted by city governments, commonly referred to as local laws

  • Permanent University Fund (PUF)

    • Established for funding universities in Texas using proceeds from state-owned land

Revision Types

  • Piecemeal Revision

    • Involves amendments to existing constitutions rather than comprehensive rewrites

  • Plural Executive

    • Describes Texas’ executive branch, emphasizing a weaker governor due to shared power among elected state officials

Core Political Concepts

  • Popular Sovereignty

    • Government derives its power from the consent of the governed

  • Republic

    • Governance through elected representatives rather than direct democracy

  • Statutes vs. Ordinances

    • Statutes: laws passed by state legislatures

    • Ordinances: laws passed by local governments

  • Unicameral vs. Bicameral Legislature

    • Unicameral has one chamber (e.g., Nebraska), while bicameral has two (Texas)

    • Bicameralism enhances checks and balances in legislation

Texas Constitution Overview

  • Constitutional History

    • Texas has operated under multiple constitutions since its establishment: Mexican (1827), Republic of Texas (1836), Confederate (1861), and current state constitution (1876)

  • Key Articles:

    • Article 1: Bill of Rights, ensuring fundamental rights

    • Article 2: Separation of Powers, defining the three branches of governance

    • Article 3-5: delineate the legislative, executive, and judicial branches' roles

    • Article 6: Suffrage rights (voting)

    • Article 7: Education regulation

    • Article 8: Taxation and revenue provisions

    • Article 15: Impeachment process guidelines

    • Article 17: Amending the constitution process

Conclusion and Information for Students

  • Keep an eye on legislative processes and ongoing political events in Texas as they provide practical insights into state governance.

  • Be aware of office hours and ways to engage further with classroom material.