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.

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.
Congressmen and Senators have no term
limit. (They can run for re-election as
many times as they want)
The Senate has 4 year terms
The House has 2 year terms
Any amendments (changes) to the
Constitution must be approved by a 2/3 rds
vote in both houses

There are 31 Senatorial districts and 150 house

districts. The voters in each district elect their own
senators and representatives.
Everyones 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 have 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 doesnt spend
more money that it brings in.

OL
only

What is a Constitution?

A Constitution is a set of
rules for a government
It must have three things to be a
constitution:
1) It must list rules on what a Government
can and cannot do
2) It must be divided in articles or sections
(parts)
3) It must be for a Country or a State.
(Not just the U.S. but any country.)

The Executive and

Judicial Branches

Sam Houston was

President, Senator,
and Governor of
Texas

The
Executive
Branch

John Connolly was shot

during the Kennedy
Assassination in 1963.

The governor is the chief executive of the

state. He has the power to call together a
special session of Congress, veto bills, and
send messages to the legislature. He also
appoints people to executive agencies.
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

 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
both political parties as well
oversees the Texas
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 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

TEXAS
SUPREME
COURT

COURT OF
CRIMINAL
APPEALS

Deals with Civil Law

Civil Law: Laws dealing
with disputes between
citizens (when someone
sues someone else) as well
as Juvenile Cases.

Deals with Criminal

Law
Criminal Law: Laws
dealing with criminal
acts and their
punishments

TEXAS SUPREME COURT

TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

The 9 Justices (judges) of each Supreme

Court are elected to 6 year terms with no
term limit.

Mr. Hannon hearing a case at the Texas Supreme Court.

Dallas, Texas

Court of Appeals
Below cases
the Supreme
Involves
heard at
Courts
have the
the
countyyou
or district
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
municipalCourts
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.