Three Branches of the Texas Government

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In my analysis of the Texas Constitution I will assess the three branches of our State Government, the Legislative Branch, Executive Branch and finally the Judicial Branch. Our State Government resembles our National Government in various ways but also in very different ways which we will review in this essay. I will identify a handful of criticisms and problems associated with the provisions in each of these branches of our State Government and identify suggested reforms that many feel are needed.

Our Legislative Branch has two chambers or as some will call it bicameral. The chambers consist of the Senate and the House of Representatives just like the National Legislative Branch. In our Senate we currently have a total of 31 members and there are 150 members in the House of Representatives. Senators hold their seat for 4 years and their election years are spread out while the House of Representatives are elected for two-year terms. In our Texas Legislature we have a few authority figures. “The Texas Constitution provides that the lieutenant governor shall serve as president of the senate, the presiding officer of that body. The lieutenant governor is elected statewide by voters of Texas and is the second-highest ranking officer of the executive branch of government”. (Texas Medical Associaton) In the House of Representatives we have a Speaker of the House who is chosen in each time a new legislature starts by its own members. “The speaker maintains order during floor debate, recognizing legislators who wish to speak and ruling on procedural matters.” (Joe Straus Speaker) There are also many committees who act as important gatekeepers and shape the proposed legislation. (University of Texas at Austin). The main pu...

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...son, Chief Justice Wallace B. The State of the Judiciary in Texas. Austin, 20 February 2007.

Joe Straus Speaker, Texas House of Representative. Power & Duties. 27 March 2012 .

Mike Lee, The Forth Worth Star-Telegram. Texas Governor should have term limit. Fort Worth, 01 September 2010.

Tannahill, Neal. American and Texas Government. Houston: Pearson, 2010.

Texas Medical Associaton. Texas Medical Association Physicans caring for Texans. 27 March 2012 .

Texas Politics. 12 May 2008. 29 March 2012 .

The State of Texas. Texas Constitution. 08 11 2011.

University of Texas at Austin. Texas Politics, The legislative Branch. Austin, 2nd Edition-Revision 94 2009, Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services.

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