Texas Constitution:Article II, Section 1: Difference between revisions

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This fundamental section informs the operation of the entire state government. The Republic of Texas constitution (1836) and each of the state's first four constitutions (1845, 1861, 1866, & 1869) contained a section with the same substantive language as this section. Note that the federal constitution and roughly twenty-percent of state constitutions do not contain an express separation-of-powers provision.
This fundamental section informs the operation of each part of Texas government. The Republic of Texas constitution (1836) and each of the state's first four constitutions (1845, 1861, 1866, & 1869) contained a section with the same substantive language as this section. Note that the federal constitution and roughly twenty-percent of state constitutions do not contain an express separation-of-powers provision.


The opening paragraph of a 1990 law review article written by a University of Texas law professor accurately states: "The constitutional law of Texas, mirroring the state's history, is rich, unique, and sometimes perplexing. A strong separation-of-powers tradition is a prominent feature of this law. In both the state and the federal contexts, everyone favors separation of powers as an abstract principle, but few understand its application to modern government. In particular, the 'fourth branch' of government—administrative agencies—rests uncomfortably in the classical tripartite scheme. Texas courts, like those elsewhere, have struggled with separation-of-powers issues and have produced a body of case law that resists confident application to new controversies." Harold Bruff, ''Separation of Powers Under the Texas Constitution'', 68 Tex. L. Rev. 1337, [https://lawweb.colorado.edu/profiles/pubpdfs/bruff/BruffTLR.pdf 1337] (1990) (footnote omitted).
The opening paragraph of a 1990 law review article written by a University of Texas law professor accurately states: "The constitutional law of Texas, mirroring the state's history, is rich, unique, and sometimes perplexing. A strong separation-of-powers tradition is a prominent feature of this law. In both the state and the federal contexts, everyone favors separation of powers as an abstract principle, but few understand its application to modern government. In particular, the 'fourth branch' of government—administrative agencies—rests uncomfortably in the classical tripartite scheme. Texas courts, like those elsewhere, have struggled with separation-of-powers issues and have produced a body of case law that resists confident application to new controversies." Harold Bruff, ''Separation of Powers Under the Texas Constitution'', 68 Tex. L. Rev. 1337, [https://lawweb.colorado.edu/profiles/pubpdfs/bruff/BruffTLR.pdf 1337] (1990) (footnote omitted).