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Texas Constitutions and the Seven Principles of Government

Texas Constitutions and the Seven Principles of Government. Essential Questions: Explain the significance of 1876 Identify the seven principles of government Compare the principles and concepts of the Texas Constitution and U.S. Constitution, including the Texas and U.S. Bill of Rights.

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Texas Constitutions and the Seven Principles of Government

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  1. Texas Constitutions and the Seven Principles of Government • Essential Questions: • Explain the significance of 1876 • Identify the seven principles of government • Compare the principles and concepts of the Texas Constitution and U.S. Constitution, including the Texas and U.S. Bill of Rights

  2. The Texas Constitution • Overall, there have been 7 Texas constitutions. • The first, the Constitution of the State of Coahuila y Tejas, was written when Texas was part of Mexico in 1827. • Our current state constitution is from 1876. • Democrats wrote it after Reconstruction ended. • The majority party in the South from 1860s to 1980s.

  3. The Role of Constitutions • Each Texas constitution specified parts of the government and the duties of each, gave government bodies various powers, described the rights of citizens, provided a way to make changes through amendments, and reflected the time in which it was written. • Most Texas constitutions are modeled after the U.S. Constitution and reflects the seven principles of government.

  4. Principle #1: Limited Government • Government has only the powers granted by the constitution • Requires all U.S. citizens, including government leaders, to obey the law

  5. Principle #2: Republicanism • A system in which voters elect people to represent them in government • All government leaders are citizens who share the same rights and follow the same laws as the people they govern

  6. Principle #3: Checks and Balances • The ability of each branch of government to exercise checks, or controls, over the other branches • The Texas Constitution lets each branch limit the power of the other two.

  7. Principle #4: Federalism • A system of government where power is shared among the central (or federal) government and the states • Texas is part of a federal system (the U.S.A.) • It is no longer a separate entity (a republic) • Texas is legally equal to all other states

  8. Federalism (Continued) • What each state CANdo: • Create laws (ex: marriage and property) • Create school districts and curriculum • Set minimum agesfor: • Drivers licenses • Getting married

  9. Federalism (Continued) • What each state CANNOTdo: • Coin or create its own money • Create state laws that violate constitutionally protected civil rights • Create international tradeagreements • Declare war(only U.S. congress can do that) • However, the USA has final legal authority over all of the states.

  10. Principle #5: Separation of Powers • The division of basic government roles into branches • Texas and U.S. government have 3 branches • Each branch has specific powersthat the others do not have • Some powers are shared (federalism)

  11. Principle #6: Popular Sovereignty • All political power comes from the people • The idea that government exists with the consent of the governed (people) • Government has no right to exist…but it does exist because the people allow it to.

  12. Principle #7: Individual Rights • Civil liberties and personal privileges guaranteed to citizens and protected by the Texas Bill of Rights • Ex: freedom of speech, press, religion, etc. • Rights are inalienable, meaning they cannot be: • revoked, removed, or violated • Rights may be: • violated or abused…if we aren’t careful

  13. Free Speech and the Press • The Bill of Rights grants Texans rights of free speech and press meaning….freedom to express opinions verbally or in writing • This is important because in a democracy (like ours), it is essential that people and the press be able to express opinions without fear of government limitations. • The people have the right to remove or change government when, or if, it abuses our rights.

  14. Differences in Constitutions • U.S. Constitution • Bill of Rights added as amendments • Bill of Rights = First 10 amendments • Constitution amended 27 times • Texas Constitution • Bill of Rights are listed in the first article of 17 • Bill of Rights arranged in different order • 31 rights contained in the Bill of Rights • Constitution amended more than 470 times

  15. Amending the Texas Constitution • Requires three steps: • Member of legislature proposes an amendment • 2/3 of both houses of the legislature must vote in favor of a proposed amendment • Then, the amendment must win support from a majority of voters.

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