Essay on Constitutional Governments: A Written Constitution Basis

Introduction

According to Jillson (1), constitutional governments are founded on a written constitution basis. Legal frameworks offer basics under which governments operate, thus limiting its operational powers and protecting people's rights. Therefore, a constitution can be considered or termed as a document drafted to offer broad guidelines on how the prevailing government should operate. In its place, the government undertakes its everyday operations within the confinements of the constitution. Laws passed by the legislature are not to go against the basic philosophies sighted in the constitution. A constitution that offers fundamental provisions is less likely to be amended with time. For instance, the U.S. Constitution has been in use for over 200 years, with changes by Congress only getting undertaken to reflect the changing times. Thus, the ideal constitution should protect the rights of its people yet stay flexible enough to ensure it is applicable even as the society evolves, creating a conducive environment for both republicans and democrats to coexist.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Constitutional Provisions Supporting the Republic Model

The Texas Constitution has numerous provisions intended to protect the people from government interference. According to Champagne, Edward, and Jason (39), Texans have lived a hard life; nonetheless, their life has primarily gotten characterized by making their own destine and creating their defense. Some rights guaranteed for Texans supporting the republic model, include establishing Texas as a republican form of government, where the people make decisions affecting their state. Texans are protected from the government from unreasonable searches and seizures, with the restriction on the government extending to cover individuals, houses, paper, and possessions, thus restricting the government from issuing warrants without reasonable cause. Offenses under the Texas Constitution can all be granted bail automatically with bail only getting denied in case of a murder case. Besides, no one is to get tried twice for the same offense once they are acquitted. Governments get restricted from taking and using the public properties without offering fair compensation, thus further protecting the public from intrusion by the Texas Government and thus protecting the republic (Champagne, Edward, and Jason. 42).

Constitutional Provisions Supporting the Democracy Model

Some Texas Constitution provisions that seem to lean towards a democratic model of the state include ensuring that equality shall not be denied based on sex, race, creed, the color of the individual, or their national origin. The constitution also protects citizens from religion-based discrimination. As such, no religious test shall get undertaken to any Texan for any public office, and individuals get protected from getting disqualified from holding public office following their religious sentiments. The constitutions provide for every person's right to speak, write, and publish their opinion on any subject that they may please. The constitution provides citizens with protection against deprivation of life, liberty, property, or their right to vote denied, expected following the law of the land. Citizens get offered freedom of assembly, and they can ask the government to listen to their grievances (Walsh, Frank, and Laurie. 8).

Individual's Understanding of the Constitution and Influence to their Political Orientation

Various factors shape political attitudes on whether an individual is to consider themselves democrat or republican. Most people will think alike, conservative citizens will be Republican, while those viewing the constitution from a liberal point of view will likely turn democratic. Individual attitudes influence political orientation, negative attitudes towards public officials will like to turn republicans and thus support Republican political parties. From a racial standpoint, African Americans will tend to be democrats since the constitution protects against their discrimination. Therefore, political orientations are likely to get influenced by numerous factors, including religion, race, gender, and region.

Works Cited

Champagne, Anthony, Edward J. Harpham, and Jason P. Casellas. Governing Texas. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2019. Print.

Jillson, Cal. "The Texas Constitution And American Federalism." Texas Politics. Routledge, 2011. 35-50. Retrieved from: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9780203829417/chapters/10.4324/9780203829417-6.

Walsh, Jim, Frank Kemerer, and Laurie Maniotis. The educator's guide to Texas school law. University of Texas Press, 2014.