June 2025 | Texapedia

Political History

Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836)

Read the full text of the 1836 Constitution of the Republic of Texas, adopted during the Texas Revolution, with historical context and drafting details.

editorJune 13, 2025

Political History

Santa Anna: The Villain of the Texas Revolution

In Texas, Mexican ruler Antonio López de Santa Anna is remembered as an archetypal enemy of freedom, a cautionary symbol of tyranny.

editorJune 12, 2025

Political History

Judiciary of the Republic of Texas (1836–1845)

History of the structure and traditions of the judiciary during the years that Texas was an independent nation.

editorJune 10, 2025

Political History

The Texas Declaration of Independence (1836)

Signed by sixty delegates representing communities across Texas—including three native-born Hispanics and 57 U.S.-born Anglo settlers—the declaration formally severed political ties with Mexico and proclaimed the creation of a sovereign republic.

editorJune 13, 2025

Texas Heritage

Military Memorials and Battlefields in Texas

Learn about the battlefields of San Jacinto, the Alamo, and Sabine Pass, as well as monuments to overseas wars.

editorJune 9, 2025

Political History Texas Law and Statutes

The 10th Amendment in Texas Politics and Federal Jurisprudence

The Tenth Amendment is a foundational principle of American government that shapes how power is distributed between the national and state levels.

editorJune 7, 2025

Geography & Demographics Political History

Map of the Republic of Texas (1844)

Map showing the borders, rivers, and major towns of Texas in 1844 during its time as an independent republic.

editorJune 2, 2025

Judiciary Texas Law and Statutes

Texas Civil Procedure: Core Doctrines Explained

An overview of the core civil procedure doctrines that shape how lawsuits unfold in Texas. Rooted in English common law but shaped by local priorities, Texas's procedural rules reflect a distinctive legal culture.

editorJune 13, 2025

Texas Law and Statutes

Deceptive Trade Practices Act

Learn how the DTPA protects consumers against fraud, misrepresentation, and unfair business practices. This article explains the law’s history, scope, procedures, and real-world impact.

editorJune 2, 2025

Political History

Major Political and Governance Trends in Texas in the 1980s

A closer look at how Texas overhauled its political institutions in the 1980s, responding to economic pressure, social change, and a rising conservative movement.

editorJune 1, 2025

Elections

Voting Machines and Election Security in Texas

Concerns about election integrity have grown in recent years, with particular attention given to the role of voting machines and electronic systems. In Texas, where counties are responsible for conducting elections under state oversight, a combination of legal requirements, procedural safeguards, and technology choices aims to protect the security, accuracy,…

editorJune 13, 2025

Political History

The Civil War in Texas: Battles, Blockades, and Borderlands

Though not a primary theater, Texas played a crucial role in the Civil War—supplying troops, blockade running, and shaping the war’s westernmost frontier.

editorJune 7, 2025

Political History

Stephen F. Austin: The Father of Texas

Stephen F. Austin is known as the “Father of Texas” because he helped bring the first American settlers to the region. He worked hard to build peaceful relations between settlers, the Mexican government, and Native groups. Through a combination of vision, diplomacy, and administrative discipline, he laid the groundwork for the…

editorJune 13, 2025

Political History

Slavery in the Texas Republic and Early Statehood

Understanding the social, legal, and economic history of slavery in Texas, and the impact it had on Texas' independence struggle and the outbreak of the U.S. Civil War.

editorJune 11, 2025

Education

Compulsory Attendance and Truancy Laws in Texas

Texas law requires children to attend school, but the state’s enforcement system is designed to support families and respect parental decision-making.

editorJune 4, 2025

Texas Law and Statutes

Texas Citizens Participation Act

The Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA) is the state’s anti-SLAPP statute, allowing early dismissal of lawsuits filed to silence free speech or public advocacy. This article covers the law’s origins, reforms, and how it works in practice.

editorJune 3, 2025

Elections

Mayoral Elections in Texas

While Texas municipal ballots omit party labels, the campaigns themselves are rarely free from ideological signals.

editorJune 7, 2025

Elections

Charter Amendment Elections in Texas

Home-rule cities in Texas may revise their charters through voter approval.

editorJune 5, 2025

Criminal Justice Judiciary

Plea Bargaining in Texas Criminal Courts

Plea bargaining dominates criminal justice in Texas, resolving most cases without trial. This article explains the process, legal framework, and historical evolution of plea bargaining.

editorJune 9, 2025

Judiciary

How Texas Courts Review Trial Court Decisions on Appeal

Appellate courts do not simply rehear cases from scratch. Instead, they apply carefully defined standards of review—legal frameworks that determine how much deference to give the decisions made by trial judges or juries.

editorJune 7, 2025