The Trinity of American Government
• Declaration of Independence
– A document that is used to separate a country from another
country.
EXAMPLE: Texas from Mexico,
the U.S.A. from the U.K.
• Constitution
– A document that lists and divides the powers of
Government.
EXAMPLE: Texas Constitution of 1845, US Constitution
• Bill of Rights
– An addition to the Constitution that list the rights of the
people.
EXAMPLE: First 10 Amendments to the US Constitution
The Constitution
• Sets forth
responsibilities of the
government
• Places limits on the
governments powers
• Explains what a
government can do and
cannot do.
• It divides the federal
government into three
branches (or parts)
•The U.S. Constitution
was written in 1787.
A Constitution is a set of
rules for a government.
It must have three to be a constitution:
• List of rules that government can and
can not do.
• It must be divided into articles and
sections (parts)
• It must be for a country or a state.
Three Branches of Texas Government
• Legislative: makes the laws
• Executive: enforces the laws
• Judicial: interprets the laws and runs the courts
Why Three Branches?????
Separation of powers: Each
Branch of Government has
separate and independent powers
and areas of responsibility.
So the Power
of Government
is divided!!!
• Checks and Balances: Each
branch of government checks the
others so not one branch
becomes too powerful.
• The Legislature (or
Congress) makes the laws
and sets the state budget.
• The legislative branch is
divided into two houses:
• The Senate and the House of
Representatives
• This is called a Bicameral
Legislature.
– Texas Senate: 31 members
– Texas House of Representatives:
150 members
The
Legislative
Branch
• The Legislature meets in Austin for
140 days every other year.
• Any amendments (changes) to the
Constitution must be approved by a
2/3rds vote in both houses
• Congressmen and Senators have no
term limit.
• The Senate has 4 year terms
• The House has 2 year terms
•There are 31 Senatorial districts and 150 house
districts. The voters in each district elect their own
senators and representatives.
•Everyone’s vote counts the same no matter the
size of the district.
Voting Districts
Senate
House
• The Speaker is the leader of
the House of Representatives
is elected by the other
representatives.
• He is from the party
(Democrats or Republicans)
that has the most people in
the House.
• The Senate is overseen by
the Lieutenant Governor of
Texas
Speaker of the
House
Sam Rayburn was one
of the most effective
House Speakers
Differences with the U.S. Legislature
• The legislatures are the same except the state
level makes laws for only the state and the
national makes laws that cover every state and
in number of representatives.
• In the U.S. Senate the Vice President is in
charge.
• US Senators are elected to 6 year terms with no
limits
• The Legislative Branch sets the Texas Budget
for 2 years and the budget must always be
balanced.
• The US Budget is set for one year and does not
necessarily have to be balanced.
A balanced budget means the
Government doesn’t spend
more money that it brings in.
John Connolly was shot
Sam Houston was
during the Kennedy
President, Senator,
Assassination in 1963.
and Governor of
Texas
• The governor is the chief executive of the
state. He has the power to call together a
The
special session of Congress, veto bills, and
Executive
send messages to the legislature. He also
appoints people to executive agencies.
Branch
• The Governor is elected to a 4 year term of
office and there is no term limit. Examples
of Governors:
Ann Richards was
known throughout
the country for her
quick wit and hard
work.
George W. Bush was
the first Texas
Governor to become
President
0
• Although part of the
The
Lieutenant Governor
Executive Branch, the
LT. Governor is the head
of the Texas Senate.
• He enforces the rules
and procedures of the
Senate.
• The Lieutenant Governor
is actually considered the
most powerful position in
The late Bob Bullock was
the state because he
known for working well with
oversees the Texas
both political parties as well
as being a great lover of
Senate
Texas History.
Our Current LT Governor?
David Dewhurst
The Executive Branch is also in
charge of Government agencies.
The agencies carry out the
laws of the State
Executive
Agencies
• 1. Boards and commissions
appointed by the Governor.
Example: Colleges and prisons
And the Governors Cabinet:
• 2. Members of the cabinet
appointed by the Governor.
Example: The Secretary of State
• 3. Members of the cabinet who
are elected by the people.
Example: The Attorney general
(the top lawyer for the state)
Cabinet: Are a group of
officials who work for
and advise the
Governor and control
executive agencies.
Differences with the U.S. Executive
• In Texas the head of the Executive branch
is the Governor,
• In the U.S. the head of the Executive
branch is the President.
• The President has a 2 term limit. The
position of Governor, in Texas, has no
term limit.
• The Vice President has little power
compared to the L.T. Governor
The
Judicial
Branch
• The court system falls under the judicial branch
which interprets the law.
• The Supreme Court is the highest court in
Texas
• Texas has two “Supreme Courts”, with layers of
lower courts
TEXAS
SUPREME
COURT
•Deals with Civil Law
•Civil Law: Laws dealing
with disputes between
citizens (when someone
sues someone else) as
well as Juvenile Cases.
COURT OF
CRIMINAL
APPEALS
• Deals with Criminal
Law
• Criminal Law: Laws
dealing with criminal
acts and their
punishments
Court of Appeals
Below cases
the Supreme
• Involves
heard at
the
countyyou
or district
Courts
have the
court but have not been
Court of Appeals
resolved.
• There are 14 of these
courts in Texas
County Courts
County
•Then
Hearthe
appeals
fromCourts
lower courts and
handle major
misdemeanor and civil
cases.
• Also hear cases
involving wills.
District Court
• Try
most
felony
cases and
Next
is the
District
some major
Courts
misdemeanors.
• Hear divorce cases,
election appeals, and
appeals involving wills.
Municipal Court and
Justice
Peace
Finallyof
thethe
city
or
Courts
municipal courts as well
•asLowest
level of courts
the Justices
of the
• Deal with minor cases
Peace
and minor
misdemeanor
criminal cases
Differences with the U.S. Judicial Branch
• The United States Supreme Court is the final
authority on the interpreting the Constitution for
the entire country. Texas’ Supreme courts can
appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court
The Supreme
Court Judges are
appointed by the
President and
approved by the
Congress. They
have their position
for life.