Texas has been settled since 10,000 B.C., but it wasn't until 1519 that Europeans discovered this area. Spain was the first government that ruled over this land. Since the Spanish explorer made a map of the Texas coast in 1519 the state has had eight changes of government. "Texas is the second-largest state in the United States with 261,914 square miles."1 It is also the second most populated state in the United States with over twenty million residents.
             The Spanish ruled over Texas from 1519 to 1685. In 1685 La Salle claimed Texas in the name of France. In 1690, because of Indians and disease the small French force was destroyed, and the Spanish gained the control over Texas once again. "In 1821, the year Mexico gained independence from Spain, Stephen F. Austin received permission from the Mexican government to settle a colony of 300 families, now known as the "Old Three Hundred," in southeast Texas."2 Following the battle at Gonzales and the battle of the Alamo, The Texas Declaration of Independence was enacted on March 2, 1836. The Battle of San Jacinto was fought on April 21, 1836 and resulted in Texas' independence from Mexico. On December 29th, 1945 the Republic of Texas was annexed to the United States as the 28th state. Texas seceded from the United States and joined the Confederate States of America on Jan. 28, 1861. After the Civil War Texas was officially readmitted to the United States. It is still a part of the Un!
             The Texas government is set up a lot like the United States government. It has its own constitution, which includes the bill of rights. The Texas Senate has 31 members who represent 31 different geographical districts in the state. Each of these geographical districts has an average of 547,952 residents. The Texas House of Representatives is composed of 150 members. The House, according to the most recent census figures, has 113,243 residents per geographic
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