Changes

**As with the national structure, the powers are separated into the three, co-equal branches of Legislative, Executive and Judicial.

**As with the national structure, the powers are separated into the three, co-equal branches of Legislative, Executive and Judicial.

*'''Article III: Legislative Department'''

*'''Article III: Legislative Department'''

**Establishes a bicameral legislature consisting of a 150-member House of Representatives and a 31-member Senate, and qualifications for the same.  Also states when the Legislature shall meet (140 days every other year, in years ending with an odd number); notably, the Legislature lacks the power to call itself into special session.

**Establishes a bicameral legislature consisting of a 150-member House of Representatives and a 31-member Senate, and qualifications for the same.  Also states when the Legislature shall meet (a maximum of 140 days every other year, in years ending with an odd number); notably, the Legislature lacks the power to call itself into special session except for impeachment hearings.

**Section 10 requires that 2/3 of a chamber's membership be present to constitute a [[quorum]] (this differs from Congress which requires only a simple majority).  Democrats have (both when they were in power and when they were not) used (or misused) this requirement to literally leave the state so as to prevent a quorum (in recent years, New Mexico -- a reliably Democrat state -- has been the destination of choice).

**Section 10 requires that 2/3 of a chamber's membership be present to constitute a [[quorum]] (this differs from Congress which requires only a simple majority, one of only four states to require such a high percentage).  Democrats have (both when they were in power and when they were not) used (or misused) this requirement to literally leave the state so as to prevent a quorum.

**Sections 49 through 51 heavily restrict the Legislature's ability to take on debt, pledge the state's credit against obligations, or spend in excess of projected revenue.  As such, numerous sub-sections (which are titled Sections) have been added (after voter approval) to issue bonds for various projects.

**Sections 49 through 51 heavily restrict the Legislature's ability to take on debt, pledge the state's credit against obligations, or spend in excess of projected revenue.  As such, numerous sub-sections (which are titled Sections) have been added (after voter approval) to issue bonds for various projects.

***Section 49a requires the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to prepare and certify, prior to the start of each regular session, the amount of revenue estimated for the next biennium (beginning September 1 after the Legislature adjourns and ending August 31 in the second year following).  Absent a public emergency and then only with 4/5 vote of both chambers can this estimate be exceeded; should the Legislature pass appropriations in excess of the estimate the Comptroller has the authority to return it to the originating chamber.

***Section 49a requires the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to prepare and certify, prior to the start of each regular session, the amount of revenue estimated for the next biennium (beginning September 1 after the Legislature adjourns and ending August 31 in the second year following).  Absent a public emergency and then only with 4/5 vote of both chambers can this estimate be exceeded; should the Legislature pass appropriations in excess of the estimate the Comptroller has the authority to return it to the originating chamber.