The Main Functions Of A State s Constitution - 1045 Words

The constitution is a written document by which the state is run or operated. It is extremely significant as it sets the foundation and provides the fundamental instructions on how the local government and the people ought to function. The four functions of a state’s constitution is to state where the power of political institutions originate from, assign powers, construct a system where checks and balance is put in place within the government, and sets the limits of political power. To sum it up, it â€Å"spells out the [state’s] basic political principles and goals, institutional arrangements, modes of selecting public officials, and rights and duties of private citizens.†( Murphy) The Texas constitution echoes certain ideas from the US†¦show more content†¦art.II, sec.1) The functions and responsibilities of each department is further addressed and explained. In order to prevent any chance of tyrannical actions against the people of the state by political institutions it states that â€Å"no person, or collection of persons, being of one of these departments, shall exercise any power properly attached to either of the others, except in the instances herein expressly permitted.†(Texas Const. art.II) Although these principles are shown in the constitution, some are more reflected than others. The principle least reflected is federalism which in the case of a state’s constitution, the federal constitution should take priority over the state’s. In the US Constitution, such idea is known as the Supremacy clause. The Texas constitution does not heavily divulge in this principle. It only states in article 1 section 1 that Texas, as a free and independent state, is â€Å"subject only to the Constitution of the United States.† This could be interpreted as that the federal constitution precedes Texas’s constitution in the case where the state law or legislature is not in accordance to that of the federal. A bill that has been signed by Texas has been a focus of controversies. The abortion bill demands a list of health regulations that abortion clinics are required to adhere to. The demands are that abortion would be prohibited 20 weeks after fertilization, and also