Texas Constitution THE POWERS OF GOVERNMENT
Certainly! Here’s an overview of “The Powers of Government” as outlined in the Texas Constitution.
Texas Constitution – The Powers of Government
The Texas Constitution distributes and defines the powers of government among its three branches, emphasizing the principles of separation of powers, checks and balances, and limited government. The powers are divided mainly into:
1. Legislative Power
Who holds it: The Texas Legislature (a bicameral body consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives).
Powers include:
Making state laws.
Approving the state budget.
Levying taxes.
Regulating state affairs such as commerce, education, and public safety.
Approving appointments to certain government positions.
Power to impeach and remove officials.
The Legislature meets regularly, but sessions are limited to 140 days every two years (biennial sessions), with special sessions called by the governor.
2. Executive Power
Who holds it: The Governor and other elected executive officials (Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, etc.).
Powers include:
Enforcing laws.
Supervising state agencies.
Commanding the state military forces (Texas National Guard).
Vetoing legislation.
Appointing officials to various boards and commissions.
Granting pardons (in certain cases).
The executive branch is designed to be somewhat pluralistic, with several independently elected officials sharing executive authority.
3. Judicial Power
Who holds it: The state court system, including the Texas Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, appellate courts, district courts, and others.
Powers include:
Interpreting state laws and the constitution.
Resolving disputes.
Administering justice in civil, criminal, and administrative cases.
Ensuring laws conform to the Texas Constitution.
The Texas judiciary is bifurcated: The Supreme Court handles civil cases, and the Court of Criminal Appeals handles criminal cases.
4. Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances
The Texas Constitution ensures that no single branch becomes too powerful.
Each branch has specific checks on the others (e.g., governor’s veto, legislative override, judicial review).
5. Limits on Government Power
The Constitution includes various provisions limiting government authority to protect individual rights.
It emphasizes popular sovereignty, requiring that government powers come from the consent of the governed.
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