Texas constitution is one of the longest constitutions in the country. The constitution had modified seven times and presently 1876 constitution is effectively adopted by state. The documents only provide information related to explicit power permitted to Texas hence it work like a limited document.
Texas constitution contains total 17 articles. Small brief about all the articles are as follow:
Article 1: Bill of Rights – the article is having total 29 sections and talk about power of Texas government and some un-avoidable rights provided to citizens.
Article 2: Power of Government – As per article two, all the governments have separate powers and one government can not rule other government. This article talks about equal distribution of power among different governments.
Article 3: Legislative Department – Article three define the legislative power, legislature structure and qualification of legislature. As per this article legislature structure have State Senate and House of Representatives.
Article 4: Executive Department – this article define power of administrative bodies like State secretary, governor, lpt. Governor, account comptroller, land office commissioner and attorney general. Article also provides detail about the election process for all the above posts.
Article 5: Judicial Department – this article contain total 31 sections. All the sections provide detail about functioning of legal system like power of different courts, justices selection processes and qualifications, jurisdiction of various courts, jury trial, district courts, county courts, criminal appeals courts and other related aspects.
Article 6: Suffrage – this article provide detail about election process and rules. It talk about voting rights of major and people who can not vote like minor, criminal and mentally challenged people as declared by court. Article gives information about the eligibility criteria’s of voters and also talk about municipal elections, election by ballot and voting process for president and vice president candidates.
Article 7: Education – the article contain total 20 sections, which provides detail about various aspects related with educational bodies like schools, colleges and universities. The Article provide detail about public free schools maintenance system, perpetual fund, selling and purchasing of land, tax benefits, independent schools, state board of education etc.
Article 8: Taxation and Revenue – total 24 sections talks about different form of taxes, exemptions, reliefs, government limitations, general laws, personal income tax etc. Article described exemptions related with agriculture, farming, husbandry, residential property and property used for social benefits.
Article 9: Counties – this article provide detail about creation of county, selection of location, hospital district, municipal and private corporations, Airport authority. The article also covers formation of hospital district, its operation, management, and maintenance.
Article 10: Railroads – this article is having one section which talks about railroad as public highways, common carriers and their tariff. It also deals with various abuses, their correction and prevention methods.
Article 11: Municipal Corporations – All the recognized counties are considered as political subdivisions hence their legislatures have some power like school district formation. The power has given on the basis of population of the county. A detailed classification of municipalities functions has been given.
Article 12: Private Corporations – this article contain two sections which provide detail related with creation of private corporations and general laws to protect interest of public and stakeholders. As per article formation of private corporations by special law is not permitted. In the year 1969 four sections of the article were repealed and fifth was repealed in year 1993.
Article 13: Spanish and Mexican Land Titles – this article was formed to provide land titles for Spanish and Mexicans. The article was completely repealed in the year 1969.
Article 14: Public Lands and Land Offices - the article is having only one section general land offices which provide detail about formation of land office and its commissioner. The other seven sections of this article were repealed in the year 1969.
Article 15: Impeachment – this article provide detail about impeachment process and talk about the criteria’s to impeach judges. Power of impeachment is given to House of Representatives. As per article Supreme Court has the power to remove judges from district courts. The article also detailed out removal of officers in absence of mode in constitution, removal of judges and public officers by governors. The public officer can be removed with permission of senate.
Article 16: General Provisions – this article cover wide range of miscellaneous provisioning and have 73 sections. The article defines penalties for various crimes and bribery, funding for mentally challenged people, salary deduction in case of irresponsible behavior on duty. The article also cover public offices and residences, community property, regulations related with alcoholic beverages, banking, contracts related with public printing and furnishing. Other regulations covered under the article are; wage rates, mechanics, historical memorials, county treasurers and surveyor, protection of property and home loan rate etc.
Article 17: Mode of Amending the Constitution of this State – Texas constitution has made seven times changes in its constitution. The proper method to bring changes is provided in Article 17. The changes can only be made by legislature with proper approval of voters.
Work Cited
Steffen W. Schmidt, Mack C. Shelley, Barbara A. Bardes and William Earl Maxwel. American Government and Politics Today. United States of America: Cengage Learning, 2010.
