TXGov Ch2 Summaries
Recent Attempts to Rewrite the Texas Constitution: Describe modern efforts to change the Texas Constitution (pp. 71-79)
Recent attempts to rewrite the Texas Constitution have been unsuccessful. Amendments continue to be the easiest way to modify the document. A new constitution for Texas has a very small chance of being written and ratified in the near future. Voter turnout for constitutional amendment elections could be improved if they were held at the same time as presidential elections, if there were more voter awareness of the proposed amendments, and if the amendments involved significant issues for voters.
The Texas Constitutions: 1836-1876: Describe the six Texas constitutions and their role in Texas political life (pp. 47-62)
Texas has had six constitutions reflecting the concerns of the historical periods in which they were written. The Civil War and Reconstruction played a major role in shaping Texans' attitudes toward the dangers of strong state government. The Constitution of 1876 sought to limit the powers that had been wielded under previous constitution by Republican governor Edmund Davis. It remains, though much amended, the existing state constitution of Texas. The Constitution of 1861 generally accepted the existing constitutional framework, guided Texas's entry into the Confederate States of America, supported slavery, and defended states' rights. A unique feature of the Constitution of 1869 was that it was published before being submitted to the voters. A new Texas Constitution was written during the Reconstruction period. The present Texas Constitution severely limits the power of the governor and other state officials. The Constitution of 1876 was a reaction to the Reconstruction Constitution of 1869 because the 1869 Constitution was seen as giving the governor too much power. When the framers of the Constitution of 1876 wrote of "the people," they meant all adult male citizens of Texas.
The Role of a State Constitution: Identify the main functions of state constitutions (pp. 45-47)
The state constitution is the governing document of the state much in the same way the U.S. Constitution sets up the framework for the nation as a whole. Many of the ideas found in the U.S. Constitution are also found in Texas's constitutions, including republican government, separation of powers, checks and balances, and individual rights. The idea of separation of powers is contained in both the U.S. and Texas constitutions. Important functions of a state constitution include the following: prevents the concentration of political power, delegates power to individuals and institutions, prevents government from intruding in the lives of businesses and individuals, and legitimizes political institutions. Limiting the application of the U.S. Constitution is NOT an important function of a state constitution. The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reserves power to the states. Under the U.S. Constitution, the government of Texas is most limited by the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The Constitution of Texas Today: Analyze the major provisions of the Texas Constitution today (pp. 62-71)
Today's Texas Constitution is lengthy and includes over 400 amendments. It limits the power of state government and tries to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one person. Article 1 of the Texas Constitution contains the Texas Bill of Rights. The Texas Bill of Rights guarantees some rights not found in the U.S. Bill of Rights. The Texas Constitution requires that Texas judges be elected by the people.