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
History of the Republic of Texas (1836–1845)
The Republic of Texas existed as an independent nation for nearly a decade until its annexation by the United States in 1845.
Arrest and Booking Procedures in Texas
An in-depth guide to arrest and booking under Texas law, including statutory requirements, magistrate hearings, and constitutional protections for the accused.
editorMay 28, 2025
Business Taxes in Texas
The Franchise Tax is Texas’s primary statewide business tax. Many small businesses are exempt.
editorMay 23, 2025
Constitution of 1845: Foundations of Statehood
The 1845 Constitution gave Texas its first stable framework of government as a U.S. state—melding republican principles, fiscal restraint, and frontier legal pragmatism into a durable institutional design.
editorMay 22, 2025
The Road to Annexation: Why Texas Joined the United States in 1845
In 1845, Texas became the 28th state. This in-depth article explores the diplomacy and political intrigue behind annexation.
editorMay 17, 2025
Texas Government in the Post-Frontier Generation, 1880s–1890s
Examining how government operated in Texas in the post-Reconstruction period and comparing it to the present.
editorMay 13, 2025
Constitution of Texas
Summary of key provisions of the state constitution of Texas
editorApril 18, 2025
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
The Sharpstown Bribery Scandal That Shook Texas Politics
The 1971 scandal toppled Texas political leaders and prompted sweeping ethics reforms.
editorMay 8, 2025
Can Texas Secede from the United States?
Legal precedent clashes with popular imagination in the only state that was once a sovereign nation.
editorMay 15, 2025
The Impact of the ‘New Deal’ on Texas Politics and Society
The New Deal helped modernize Texas infrastructure and government—but not without sparking fierce debates over federal control and local autonomy.
editorMay 27, 2025
Legislative Walkouts in Texas: Legal Basis and Political History
From the 1979 "Killer Bees" to the 2021 "Washington Walkout," explore how Texas lawmakers have used this rare tactic—and how state leaders have responded.
editorMay 30, 2025
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
The Laziest Legislature in America?
A closer look at Texas’s part-time lawmakers and the case for a biennial legislature
editorMay 12, 2025
Constitutional Spending Limits in Texas
Constitutional spending limits in Texas reflect a strong preference for fiscal restraint and limited growth of state government.
editorMay 12, 2025
High School Graduation Requirements in Texas
A clear guide to Texas high school graduation rules, from core credits to STAAR exam requirements
editorMay 12, 2025
Texas Open Meetings Act
Government bodies in Texas like city councils and school boards must open their meetings to the public
editorNovember 14, 2022
The Confederate Constitution of Texas (1861)
Drafted in a wartime climate, the 1861 constitution enshrined slavery as permanent and untouchable law.
editorMay 22, 2025
The 1869 Texas Constitution and Reconstruction Rule
History of the 1869 constitution and the fierce resistance that followed it.
editorMay 4, 2025