In my analysis of the Texas Constitution I will evaluate the three branches of our state government, the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and finally the Judicial Branch. Our state government resembles our national government in various ways, but also in very different ways that we will examine in this essay. I will identify a handful of criticisms and problems associated with the provisions of each of these branches of our state government and identify suggested reforms that many believe are necessary. Our legislative branch has two houses or as some would call it bicameral. The chambers consist of the Senate and the House of Representatives, just like the national legislative branch. In our Senate we currently have a total of 31 members and in the House of Representatives there are 150. Senators serve 4-year terms and their election years are staggered while the House of Representatives is elected to a two-year term. We have some authority figures in our Texas Legislature. “The Texas Constitution provides that the lieutenant governor serves as president of the senate, the presiding officer of that body. The lieutenant governor is elected statewide by Texas voters and is the second-highest ranking official in the executive branch of government.” (Texas Medical Associaton) In the House of Representatives we have a Speaker of the House who is chosen every time a new legislature begins by its own members. “The speaker maintains order during floor debate, recognizing legislators who wish to speak and ruling on procedural matters.” (Speaker Joe Straus) There are also many committees that act as important gatekeepers and shape proposed legislation. (University of Texas at Austin). The principal pu......middle of paper......son, Chief Justice Wallace B. The State of the Judiciary in Texas. Austin, February 20, 2007. Joe Straus Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. Power and duties. March 27, 2012 .Mike Lee, The Forth Worth Star-Telegram. The governor of Texas should have a term limit. Fort Worth, September 01, 2010. Tannahill, Neal. American and Texas government. Houston: Pearson, 2010.Texas Medical Association. Texas Medical Association doctors who care for Texans. March 27, 2012 .Texas Politics. May 12, 2008. March 29, 2012 .The state of Texas. Constitution of Texas. 08 11 2011.University of Texas at Austin. Politics of Texas, the legislative branch. Austin, 2nd edition-revision 94 2009, Educational Technology Services for the Liberal Arts.