Congress of the Republic of Texas
Encyclopedia
The Congress of the Republic of Texas was the national legislature of the Republic of Texas
established by the Constitution of the Republic of Texas
in 1836. It was a bicameral legislature based on the model of the United States Congress
. It was transformed into the Texas Legislature
upon annexation of Texas by the United States
in 1846.
Members of the House were elected on the first Monday in September, each year and were elected to a one-year term. A member had to be twenty-five or older, a citizen of the republic, and a resident of his district for six months. The House chose its speaker and had sole power of impeachment.
Senate districts were entitled to be represented by no more than one member. A senator had to be thirty or older, a citizen of the republic, and a resident of his district for one year. Senators were elected to three year terms, with one-third of the members being elected each year. The Vice President presided over the Senate, "but shall not vote on any question, unless the senate be equally divided." Beyond that, the Senate chose its own officers, including the President pro tem, and had sole responsibility to try impeachments.
, which convened at Columbia
on October 3, 1836, was made up of thirty Representatives and fourteen Senators. The interim Vice President, Lorenzo de Zavala
served as President of the Senate until October 22, when Mirabeau B. Lamar
was inaugurated as Vice President and Richard Ellis
was elected President pro tem of the Senate. Ira Ingram
was elected Speaker of the House. Throughout its history, the Republic of Texas had nine congresses.
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
established by the Constitution of the Republic of Texas
Constitution of the Republic of Texas
The Constitution of the Republic of Texas was written in 1836 between the fall of the Alamo Mission in San Antonio and Sam Houston's stunning victory at San Jacinto. The constitution was written quickly and while on the run from Santa Anna....
in 1836. It was a bicameral legislature based on the model of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. It was transformed into the Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
upon annexation of Texas by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1846.
House of Representatives
The lower house, or House of Representatives, was to be made up of "not less than twenty-four nor more than forty members," until such time as the population of the republic should exceed 100,000. When the population exceeded this number the house was to be made up of "not less than forty nor more than one hundred pieces provided that each county was entitled to at least one representative."Members of the House were elected on the first Monday in September, each year and were elected to a one-year term. A member had to be twenty-five or older, a citizen of the republic, and a resident of his district for six months. The House chose its speaker and had sole power of impeachment.
Senate
The Senate was chosen by districts that were as nearly equal as possible to the population of free men ("free negroes and Indians excepted") The Senate was to have a membership numbering "not less than one-third nor more than one-half that of the House."Senate districts were entitled to be represented by no more than one member. A senator had to be thirty or older, a citizen of the republic, and a resident of his district for one year. Senators were elected to three year terms, with one-third of the members being elected each year. The Vice President presided over the Senate, "but shall not vote on any question, unless the senate be equally divided." Beyond that, the Senate chose its own officers, including the President pro tem, and had sole responsibility to try impeachments.
General
No person holding an office of profit under the government, or who collected monies on behalf of the government was eligible to serve in the Congress. No minister of the gospel or priest of any denomination whatever shall be eligible to the office of the Executive of the Republic, nor to a seat of either branch of the Congress of the same. Each house was to judge election and qualification of its own members. A quorum in either house was two-thirds of its membership. Members were to receive pay as fixed by law, but no change could be made in salary in the session in which the change was made. Since the terms of House members was one year, each Congress lasted only year.History of the Texas Congress
The 1st Texas CongressFirst Texas Legislature
The First Texas Legislature convened from 16 February to 13 May 1846 in regular session. Members of the House of Representatives and Senate were elected in December 1845, after an election on 13 October 1845 that ratified the proposed state constitution....
, which convened at Columbia
West Columbia, Texas
West Columbia is a city in Brazoria County in the U.S. state of Texas within 50 miles of Eastern Columbia. The population was 4,255 at the 2000 census....
on October 3, 1836, was made up of thirty Representatives and fourteen Senators. The interim Vice President, Lorenzo de Zavala
Lorenzo de Zavala
Manuel Lorenzo Justiniano de Zavala y Saenz was a 19th-century Mexican politician. He served as finance minister under President Vicente Guerrero. A colonizer and statesman, he was also the interim Vice President of the Republic of Texas, serving under interim President David G...
served as President of the Senate until October 22, when Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar was a Texas politician, diplomat and soldier who was a leading Texas political figure during the Texas Republic era. He was the second President of the Republic of Texas, after David G. Burnet and Sam Houston.-Early years:Lamar grew up at Fairfield, his father's...
was inaugurated as Vice President and Richard Ellis
Richard Ellis (politician)
Richard Ellis was an American plantation owner, politician, and judge on the Fourth Circuit Court of Alabama. He was president of the Convention of 1836 that declared Texas' independence from Mexico, signed the Texas Declaration of Independence, and later served in the Republic of Texas...
was elected President pro tem of the Senate. Ira Ingram
Ira Ingram
Ira Ingram was a soldier, legislator, and a land owner. He was a member of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred. Ingram is also noted for being the Republic of Texas's first Speaker of the House.-Early life:...
was elected Speaker of the House. Throughout its history, the Republic of Texas had nine congresses.
Powers of the congress
Article II of the Constitution of the Republic of Texas set forth the following powers:- to levy and collect taxes and imposts, excise and tonnage duties; to borrow money on the faith, credit, and property of the government, to pay the debts and to provide for the common defence and general welfare of the republic.
- to regulate commerce, to coin money, to regulate the value thereof and of foreign coin, to fix the standard of weights and measures, but nothing but gold and silver shall be made a lawful tender.
- to establish post offices and post roads, to grant charters of incorporation, patents and copy rights, and secure to the authors and inventors the exclusive use thereof for a limited time.
- to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and to regulate captures.
- to provide and maintain an army and navy, and to make all laws and regulations necessary for their government.
- to call out the militiaMilitiaThe term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
to execute the law, to suppress insurrections, and repel invasion. - to make all laws which shall be deemed necessary and proper to carry into effect the foregoing express grants of power, and all other powers vested in the government of the republic, or in any officer or department thereof.
See also
- History of TexasHistory of TexasEuropean conquistadors first arrived in the region now known as Texas in 1519, finding the region populated by various Native American tribes...
- Timeline of the Republic of TexasTimeline of the Republic of TexasThis is a timeline of the Republic of Texas, spanning the time from the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836 up to the transfer of power to the State of Texas on February 19, 1846.-1836:Texas Declares Independence...
- President of the Republic of Texas