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TEXAS STATE and LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Chapter 28 – Democracy and Constitutions
Chapter 28 (Section 1) – Texas Constitutions
Vocabulary Terms/Word Bank: In the daily class Warm-Up activity, write each word and its
definition on a sheet of notebook paper. Keep the paper in your notebook. This will be turned in
with the WORKBOOK for a vocabulary grade. Any word definitions not completed during the
Warm-Up will be homework.
Section 1:
constitution
federalism
executive
checks and balances
amendment
separation of powers
judiciary
bill of rights
legislature
bond
Fill in the Blanks. Use the information in your textbook (Pgs. 622-625) to fill in the blanks.
The Texas Constitution in Early Government.
A (1) __________________ outlines fundamental laws and principles of law. Texas has
had (2) _______________ constitutions. The present one was written following (3)
__________________.
The Role of the Constitution.
Constitutions can be changed by adding (4) _______________. A list of individual
freedoms is called a (5) ______________________.
Three Branches of Government.
Having three branches of government provides a system of (6) ____________________.
The governor’s check is in the use of the (7) ____________.
The Senate is limited to (8) ______________ members.
(10) ______________________ officials make up the executive department.
Two of Texas’s courts are the Supreme Court and the Court of (11) _________________.
Complete the chart below in the graphic organizer.
Three Branches of Government.
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
What they do:
Who they are:
(list names/types of
government branches)
Number of
members/offices:
Specific powers:
(example)
The Bill of Rights Protects Citizens.
The Texas Constitution begins with a bill of rights, just as the (12) _________________
Constitution does.
The Constitution of 1876.
The 1876 constitution was designed to keep the (13) ___________________ from
controlling all branches of government. To reduce costs, the legislature does not meet
(14)_____________________. Many argue that the constitution is outdated because many
changes have been made to address (15) _______________________. Texans update the
existing constitution by (16) on amendments.
Amending the Constitution.
(18) _______________ are formal additions to a constitution. During every state
legislative session, amendments are considered to keep the state (19) ___________________
____________________.
Amendments have been passed to authorize the issuing of (21) ___________, which are
(22) ______________ by the government to (23) ___________ the money it borrows.
Amendments have also been passed to abolish (26) ____________________, to exempt
school districts/other entities from (27) ___________, and to deal with other issues.
Adopting an amendment requires approval by (28) __________________ of both (29)
_________________________________. The governor cannot (30) ________ amendments to
the Texas constitution.
Chapter 28 (Section 1) – The Texas Constitution – PowerPoint Notes.
1. The first Texas constitution was written when it was still part of ____________________.
2. The current Texas constitution dates back to _________ and was written by the Texas
_______________ party after __________________ ended.
3. Using the Venn Diagram below, compare and contrast the ways in which the US and Texas
constitutions are both similar and different.
US Constitution
Texas Constitution
Both
4. What four ways can Texas and other states be protected from control by the Federal
government?
a) ____________________________________________
b) ____________________________________________
c) ____________________________________________
d) ____________________________________________
5. Separation of Powers. There are _______ branches of government. Each has _________
powers that the others do not have. Some of those powers are ___________.
6. Checks and Balances. The Texas Constitution lets each branch of government _____________
of the other two in different ways.
7. Popular Sovereignty. The government exists with the ___________ of the people (those who
are governed). Government exists because ______________________________ to exist.
8. Individual Rights. Individual rights are listed in the _______________________.
“Inalienable rights” means that people’s individual rights cannot be __________,
___________, or _____________.
9. The ___________ have the right to __________ or _________ government when, or if, it
abuses our rights.
10. Name one way that people can remove or change government (Hint: it usually happens in
November). ______________________________________________________________.
Remember, you can revisit or review this PowerPoint by going to our class
website and downloading the PowerPoint slide show. It is listed in the Class PowerPoints link and is
labeled: Chapter 28-1 Texas Constitution
***********************
Vocabulary Terms/Word Bank: In the daily class Warm-Up activity, write each word and its
definition on a sheet of notebook paper. Keep the paper in your notebook. This will be turned in
with the WORKBOOK for a vocabulary grade. Any word definitions not completed during the
Warm-Up will be homework.
Section 2:
civil law
misdemeanor
no bill
juror
criminal law
grand jury
petit jury
mediate
felony
indictment
plea bargain
Fill in the Blanks. Use the information in your textbook (Pgs. 627-631) to fill in the blanks.
The Judicial System.
The judicial branch is made up of (1) ______________ throughout the state and serves
three purposes. Those purposes are: it supports a system by which those (2) ______________
_________________________________; it provides a system in which (3) ______________
_____________________________; and it decides what the laws of the state (4) _________
_____________________________.
Texas has two general areas of law – (5) ____________ and (6) ______________. In
most cases, Texas judges are (7) ____________ by voters.
Complete the chart below in the graphic organizer.
Texas Civil Law.
Civil Law
Criminal Law
Areas of law they cover
Who can file the lawsuit
Examples/types of
lawsuits
Who decides the
lawsuits?
Possible outcomes for:
- case settlement
- a guilty verdict
- a not guilty verdict
Justice for Juveniles.
The juvenile justice system is mainly directed at (8) ___________ child and adolescent
legal problems. Sometimes the state must intervene for the (9) ___________ of both the youth
and the public.
The (10) _____________________________ is the state’s juvenile correction agency.
Young people between the ages of (11) ______________ who have committed serious offenses
are the responsibility of the TYC. If the crimes are serious enough, the youth may be transferred
to the (12) ____________________ to complete the sentence.
The Jury System.
Whenever a person is accused of a felony, a group of people called the (13) ____________
considers the case. If (14) ____ or more of the _____ members believe there is evidence that a
person might have committed the crime, an (15) ___________ called a “true bill” is issued.
If the jury decides there is not enough evidence to justify a trial, it can issue a (16)
__________.
A (17) ______________ decides the criminal cases that go to court. After the attorneys
(18) _______________________, all members of the jury must agree on a decision of (19) ____
or _____________.
Working for Justice.
The (20) _________________________ conducts criminal investigations, supervises
highway traffic, and licenses drivers. County (21) _____________ and ________________
conduct local law enforcement. The (22) ___________________________________
administers the state prisons for adults.
One key individual who works on behalf of justice is the (23) ___________________,
considered to be the state’s lawyer. If a case goes to court, the attorney general’s office
represents the (24) ___________.
When a case comes to court, (25) _________ have a great responsibility to (26) ______
______________. They may also have to decide the (27) ___________ for a person found
guilty. To serve on a jury, one must be a Texas (28) ________, be at least _____ years of age,
and be able to ______ and _________. Jurors must also be of (29) ___________, and they
cannot have any (30) ________________ or be under indictment for committing any felony.
The Court System of Texas.
There are two kinds of courts in Texas – (31) ______ and (32) ________. Trial courts
hear cases and reach a decision called a (33) _________.
Appeals courts decide if trials held in trial courts were (34) ______. They can order a (35)
if proper procedures were not followed.
Complete the chart below in the graphic organizer.
Texas Court Systems.
Trial Courts
What they do:
Who they are and types
of cases heard:
Appeals Courts