Explain how the current Texas Constitution reflects the strong sentiment that post-Reconstruction Texans had for an independent judiciary. How is the Texas judicial branch different from the judicial system established by the federal government in the U.S. Constitution?

What will be an ideal response?

An ideal response will:
1. Explain that the Texas Constitution of 1876 calls for the election of all members of the judiciary, from justices of the peace with limited jurisdiction at the local level to judges on the highest statewide appellate courts. At the federal level, the president appoints judges to lifetime terms.
2. Explain that, unlike the federal system where the U.S. Supreme Court is the court of last resort, the Texas court system has two courts of last resort, the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
3. Explain that the Texas Supreme Court has jurisdiction over civil matters, while the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has final review of criminal cases.