Following annexation, Texas was required to create a new state constitution. With delegates such as Jose Antonio Navarro, Thomas J. Rusk, James Pinckney Henderson, N. H. Darnell, Hiram Runnels, Abner Lipscomb and Isaac Van Zandt, the state�s constitutional convention created a solid framework for its new government. The Constitution of 1845, following the example of the United States Constitution, called for a separation of powers in the state government. It created the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The executive branch of government was headed by the governor. The governor was to serve a two-year term and was prohibited from being elected to more than four years during any six-year period.

The legislative branch consisted of two houses, the house of representatives and the senate. Texas voters elected the members of the legislature branch. State representatives served for two years and senators served for four years. The legislature met once every two years, or in a biennial session. 

The constitution also provided for a judicial branch with a supreme court, district courts and other lesser courts as might be approved by the legislature. The supreme court and district court judges were nominated by the governor, approved by the Senate and served terms of six years.

The first state election was held on December 15, 1845. The voters elected James Pinckney Henderson as the first governor and Albert C. Horton was his lieutenant governor. The state legislature named Thomas Rusk and Sam Houston as Texas� first United States senators. Governor Henderson appointed John Hemphill as the first chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court. These officials, along with others, immediately set out to accomplish their first task as a state government. That task was to transfer the daily operations of the Republic to the new state. The postal system, army posts, public buildings, arms and ammunition and certain other properties were all turned over to the  federal government of the United States.

Texans during their early stages of political development tended to be members of the Democratic political party. In general, the Democratic party represented the views of the yeoman farmers and small business owners. This party also found favor among Texans because nationally its members had supported the annexation of Texas to the United States.

Other early governors of the new state before the Civil War included George T. Woods, Peter Hansborough Bell, Elisha M. Pease, Hardin R. Runnels and Sam Houston. The two main issues confronting the governors during their respective terms in office remained the public debt and land policy. The public debt issue was not resolved until the federal government paid off the state�s debts according to the agreements reached in the Compromise of 1850. The land policy developed by the state was consistent with the policy of the former Republic. Land was given to individuals providing they settled it and made improvements to their claim. This homestead policy usually entitled settlers to approximately 320 acres of free land.

Additional Resources

1. What type of state government did the Constitution of 1845 establish in Texas?
2. Who were the first governor, lieutenant governor and supreme court chief justice of Texas?(7.4:A)
3. What was the first task of the new state government?(7.4:B)
4. Why did the Democratic party dominate the early state government?(7.17:A)
5. What two main issues confronted the early governors of Texas?(7.4:B)