Government includes the people and resources—as well as departments, agencies, programs, processes, laws, rules, and regulations—that define the relationship between federal, state, and local governments and their citizens. Some legal principles have a unique application when private citizens or entities interact with their governments.
In Texas, as in other states, the government is structured into three levels: federal, state, and local. Each level has its own departments, agencies, programs, processes, laws, rules, and regulations that govern the interactions between the government and its citizens. The federal government operates under the U.S. Constitution and federal law, while the state government operates under the Texas Constitution and state statutes. Local governments, such as counties and municipalities, operate under charters and ordinances that are often subject to both federal and state law. Legal principles that govern interactions between private citizens or entities and the government include administrative law, which deals with the actions and operations of government agencies, and constitutional law, which addresses issues such as due process, equal protection, and First Amendment rights. In Texas, the Texas Administrative Procedure Act provides the framework for how state agencies create and enforce regulations, and how citizens can challenge agency actions. Additionally, the Texas Public Information Act and the Texas Open Meetings Act ensure transparency and the public's right to participate in government proceedings.
