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Chapter 20 Section 1. By: Emily Landers . Constitution of 1866 . When the confederacy lost the civil war, Texans wrote this constitution. This constitution states: The president term is 4 years. He/she can not serve more than 8 years in a 12 year period.
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Chapter 20 Section 1 By: Emily Landers
Constitution of 1866 When the confederacy lost the civil war, Texans wrote this constitution. This constitution states: • The president term is 4 years. • He/she can not serve more than 8 years in a 12 year period. • All members of the legislature could only be white men who lived in Texas for at least 5 years. • Five judges serve in the Supreme Court. • Judges had 10 year terms. • The senate had 19-33 members. • The house of representatives had 45-90.
Constitution of 1869 A convention wrote this constitution under pressure of Congress during reconstruction. This new constitution: • Forbid slavery • All people were equal • The governor's salary rose to $5,000 a year. • Set up a poll tax to help fund schools • Kids had to go to school • For the 1st time African Americans were able to vote.
Constitution of 1876 • This is the constitution that governs Texas today. Delegates wrote it in 1875 and it was published in February 1876.
Article 1: The Bill of Rights • The Texas constitution starts with lots of bill of rights. They wanted to be specific about what they wanted so mistreating never happened again. Many of them are the same as the U.S. constitution. Texans are guaranteed freedom of worship, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly. It also makes people equal under the law. In 1989, Texans added a section for the rights of criminals.
Article 2: The power of the government • The 2nd part splits the government into three branches. These are the legislative, executive and judicial. It doesn`t allow one branch to steal another branches' power.
Article 3: The legislative department • This states the power of the legislative branch. That is where the senate and house of representative are. The senate has 31 members and the house has more than 15o members. It outlines the terms of the office. It also set up rules for business in both houses. The legislatures must meet in Austin.