Texas History Chapter 30 Full Notes
Name ______________
U.S. Bill of Rights
Influence
THE TEXAS BILL OF RIGHTS
Purpose
Examples
outlines Texans civil
liberties, or individual
rights, that the state
government promises
to protect
• freedom of speech
• freedom of the press
• freedom of worship
• right to a trial by jury
BASIC PRINCIPLES AND THEIR IMPORTANCE
• Popular Sovereignty – all political power comes from
the people
• Limited government – constitution restricts
government
• Separation of Powers – power divided among the
different branches of the government
• Checks and Balances – each branch of government has
the power to restrain or check the other
• Federalism – distributes functions between a central
government and regional governments
• Protection of Individual Rights – a bill of rights
outlines the civil liberties that a government promises
to protect
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WHY THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION CONTAINS
A BILL OF RIGHTS
• To outline the civil liberties of Texans, such as trial by
jury, that the state promises to protect
• The state can never take away these rights
TEXAS LEGISLATURE
Senate
House of Representatives
Leader: Speaker of the House Leader: lieutenant governor
Members: 150 representatives Members: 31 senators
Term of Office: two years
Term of Office: four years
Powers and
• make laws
Duties:
• propose constitutional
amendments
• may bring impeachment
charges against and vote
to impeach judges and
executive officials
Powers and Duties:
• make laws
• propose constitutional
amendments
• must approve all executive
appointments
• may try and convict officials
impeached in the House
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
• Bill is proposed, sent to a committee, voted on by the house
that proposed the bill
• Bill then sent to other chamber where the bill goes through a
similar process
• If the bill is approved, it is sent to the governor
• Governor then either vetoes, ignores, or signs the bill into
law
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TEXAS GOVERNOR
Selection
elected in even-numbered years that do not
have presidential elections
Term of Office
at least 30 years old, U.S. citizen, Texas
resident for at least five years immediately
before the election.
Qualifications
four years, with no term limit
Primary
Powers
and Duties
oversees many state agencies, power to
appoint and remove officials to some state
agencies (with Senate approval), can issue
proclamations, “first citizen” of Texas, state
political leader
Other
Powers
and Duties
makes biennial budget proposal and “State of the
State” address, can veto bills and exercise a lineitem veto in appropriation bills, can call special
sessions of the legislature and set the agenda, can
appoint judges to fill vacancies, and can pardon
criminals, call out the National Guard, and declare
martial law
OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES THAT MAKE UP
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
• Lieutenant Governor – acts as leader of the Texas Senate and
chairs the Legislative Budget Board
• Attorney General – gives legal advice and represents Texas
in certain court case
• Comptroller of Public Accounts – oversees the collection of
taxes
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• Commissioner of Agriculture – enforces agricultural laws
and aids farmers
• Commissioner of the General Land Office – manages the
state’s land and mineral rights
• Over 200 agencies, boards and commissions make up the
state executive. They:
• Enforce state laws
• Provide Texans with various services such as the Texas
Railroad Commission
TEXAS JURY SYSTEM
Importance
fulfills the right of all Texans to a trial by jury,
as guaranteed in the Texas Bill of Rights
Petit Jury
decides the verdict
in a trial
Grand Jury
decides whether a
person accused of a felony
should be indicted
STRUCTURE OF THE TEXAS COURT
SYSTEM
• Texas Supreme Court – highest civil court in the state
• Court of Criminal Appeals – highest criminal court in the
state
• Court of Appeals
• District Courts
• Regular and Special County Courts
• Municipal Courts and Justice of the Peace Courts