American Democracy
Most Powerful Texas Arm of Government
The Texas government is made up of three crucial arms, which are very critical in providing checks and balances for the welfare of the citizens in the state. The first arm of the government is the legislature, which is made up of up of 150 members of people representatives in the Lower House and 31 members who legislate at the Texas senate (Geer, Schiller & Segal, 2013). Under the Texas system, the second arm of government is the executive, which executes the laws made by the legislature. The executive is headed by the governor, who executes the powers as delegated by the legislature in the collection of taxes, law enforcement, and appointment of state officers, among other duties. Roles of the executive as spelled out under the Texas constitution is to run the daily affairs of the state. The governor has the powers to control the state forces and approve or veto bills presented to him from the legislature with reasons and recommendations. The third arm of government is the judicial branch, which is mandated with the interpretation of laws as passed by the legislature. The highest court in the system is the supreme court of Texas, which determines the civil cases. The court of appeal handles criminal cases. The judiciary may arm of government may not be as large as other arms but plays a critical role as the custodian of the federal and state laws. They ensure fairness and justice in the execution of their functions.
The legislature is the most powerful arm of the Texas government based on the analysis of the other arms of government. The legislature is made up of people representatives; hence, their resolutions are abiding by other arms of the government. The social contract demands that the government power must originate from people who may exercise them directly or through representation. It is for this reason that the state legislative body seems to have the sole role of making laws that govern the state. The legislature makes laws that the executive must implement, and the judiciary role is to interpret those laws. The state is governed through the rule of law, meaning no one is above the laws made by the legislature, and all must derive powers and privileges from the laws. The legislature makes laws to govern taxation and the expenditure of the taxes. The budgetary allocation is made in the legislature through a rigorous and consultative process upon which ends up with the approval of the entire state budget. The executive cannot use any money collected from taxes without seeking approval of the money from the legislature. The legislature also provides an oversight role to other arms of government. State officers from other arms of government who behave contrary to the laws and ethical leadership, as outlined in the relevant laws, are removed from the office through impeachment.
The functions and powers given to legislature are, however, not absolute since they are subjected to checks and balances from the executive and judiciary. A case in point is the governor veto powers that allow for the rejection of the bill passed by the legislature. The judiciary might also render certain actions of legislature unconstitutional. It is, therefore, providing the checks and balances according to principles set out by the drafters of the constitution. Despite the checks and balances as provided in the law, the legislature seems to dominate all other branches of government. Its influential role is portrayed by the fact that they have the privileges to change laws governing the state and remove or reorganize some powers from other arms of government. The legislative body also passes resolutions on authorizing the government on which areas they need to spend more, including the limit of borrowing. The executive only executes powers as outlined by the legislature. The judiciary has no powers to make law, and t
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