Bill of Rights for the U.S. Constitution

Sample Solution

Equal Rights

• Texas Constitution: All freemen, when they form a social compact, have equal rights, and no man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive separate public emoluments, or privileges, but in consideration of public services.
• U.S. Constitution: No state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

The Texas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution both guarantee equal rights to all citizens. However, the Texas Constitution uses the term "freemen," which is a historical term that is no longer used in the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Constitution also prohibits states from denying equal protection of the laws to any person, while the Texas Constitution only prohibits the denial of equal rights to "freemen."

Full Answer Section

Religious Tests

• Texas Constitution: No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.
• U.S. Constitution: No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

Both the Texas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution prohibit religious tests for public office. This means that no one can be excluded from holding office because of their religious beliefs. However, the Texas Constitution goes a step further by requiring all public officials to acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.

Section 18: Imprisonment for Debt

• Texas Constitution: No person shall ever be imprisoned for debt.
• U.S. Constitution: The Constitution does not explicitly prohibit imprisonment for debt. However, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment prohibits the imprisonment of debtors.

The Texas Constitution explicitly prohibits imprisonment for debt. This means that no one can be sent to jail simply because they cannot pay their debts. The U.S. Constitution does not explicitly prohibit imprisonment for debt, but the Supreme Court has ruled that it is unconstitutional to imprison debtors.

In addition to these three sections, there are many other similarities between the Texas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution. Both constitutions guarantee the right to free speech, the right to bear arms, and the right to a fair trial. They also both protect the right to privacy and the right to due process of law.

The Texas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution are both important documents that protect the rights of all citizens. They are also both living documents that have been amended over time to reflect the changing needs of society.