Like other states, Texas has operated under several Constitutions and each of this has played a significant role on the state’s constitutional history. Additionally, it was controlled and governed by different nations namely Spain, France and Mexico (Levinson and William, 211). Each one of this is acknowledged and recognized from the framework from which it was embraced. The existing constitution was formulated and written in 1876 after the Reconstruction policies ceased (Coleman, n.p.). Since the reconstruction policies were harsh, the constitution was structured in a way it would put pressure to the government to safeguard the imminent misuse of power. However, all the succeeding constitution maintained components of its forerunners, establishing a collective constitutional value and beliefs.
The Constitution acts as a source of ideas and history that present components of the ancient times to the present. The different constitution that have been used to govern Texas to a significant extent give rise to elementary values, norms and policies (Levinson and William, 211). For example, Texas has upheld the values and norms of representative body and popular management of the government achieved through election (Coleman, n.p.). Additionally, all the Texas constitutions subdivided the governmental powers into three namely the legislature, judiciary and the executive, what is referred to as separation of powers and check and balances. Even though the 1961 Confederate Constitution was against other components of the Federal Constitution, it did retain these values.
The citizens of Texas played a significant role the creation in the Mexican constitution designed in the 1824 (Bashir and Phillip, 310-330). In the Mexican Constitution, every state had its own executive, legislative and judicial branch. Under this constitution, the legislature was unicameral in structure made up of deputies voted in through popular vote (Coleman, n.p.). Like its national constitution, the state constitution had components that were directly retrieved from the Spanish tradition. In line with the continental legal tradition, the judiciary had the authority to try cases but couldn’t interpret the law.
The Coahuilla y Tejas constitution gave power to the Legislature to promote and support education (Coleman, n.p.). This was highly acknowledged and was immediately put in the state’s gazette. Even though the nationwide education and school system was not created, the succeeding constitutions viewed this was an area of focus.
The resilience of the elementary ideals and formal structures in Texas are retrieved from either national or regional point. Federalism play a significant role in the design of the Texas constitution (Bashir and Phillip, 310-330). The different Texas constitutions presents the political requirement to uphold to the state constitution of either Mexico, Confederacy or the United States (Levinson and William, 211). The major aim of every nation was to create democratic government for the Texas citizens and their leaders.
Second, the local values and norms also play a significant role in the design of the Texas constitution. Each constitution aimed at preserving, supporting and maintaining the domestic freedom across the state and federal authority (Coleman, n.p.). Additionally, the components that that do not directly elaborate the political system but show and supports the traditional views and the rapport of the people within the society among other interests also present in the constitution and more so played a significant role in its gradual changes and design (Bashir and Phillip, 310-330). The political norms and values of Texas are supported and depicted by such constitutional provisions as community property and restrictions on private companies.
In conclusion, interlinking of essential components of the Spanish Anglo constitutional norms and values while at the same time focusing on major current issues, the 1827 constitution was challenged (Bashir and Phillip, 310-330). As discussed above, federal and local component played a significant role in the formation and change of the constitution. The dissatisfaction with the poor governance in Texas and political conflict in Mexico led to resolution in 1833 that created a constitution for Texas, a self-governing state from Coahuila.
- Bashir, Hassan, and Phillip W. Gray. “Arms of the republic: Republicanism and militia reforms during the us Constitutional Convention and the first Federal Congress 1787-91.” History of Political Thought 36.2 (2015): 310-330.
- Coleman, Michael. “Texas Constitutional History”. Dlc.dcccd.edu. N.p., 2017. Web. 24 May 2017.
- Levinson, Sanford, and William D. Blake. “When Americans Think About Constitutional Reform: Some Data and Reflections.” Ohio St. LJ 77 (2016): 211.
