Jonah Patel
Texas has had an unusually high number of constitutional amendments since the current state constitution was adopted in 1876. The Texas Constitution is one of the longest in the nation and is still growing, with over 700 amendments proposed and more than 500 approved by Texas voters. This is because the Texas Constitution is a detailed document that limits the authority of the state and requires voter approval for many legislative actions. While this may seem like a good thing for democracy, some critics argue that it has made the constitution more like a law book than a foundational charter, with amendments often lacking controversy or media attention. This has led to a high success rate for proposed amendments, with roughly three out of four being adopted.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of proposed amendments since 1876 | 706-714 |
| Number of approved amendments | 521-530 |
| Number of rejected amendments | 181-185 |
| Number of amendments proposed in the past 10 years | 58 |
| Number of amendments proposed in 2023 | 14 |
| Number of amendments proposed in 2025 | 1 |
| Topics of amendments | Authorizing tax exemptions, altering administrative procedures, allowing counties to issue bonds, budgetary workarounds, and politically strategic issues |
| Reason for high number of amendments | Rigidity of the Texas Constitution, routine nature of amendments, and legislative process |
| Comparison with other states | California (500+ amendments), Florida (<150 amendments), New York (<250 amendments), Georgia (<100 amendments) |
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What You'll Learn
Texas constitutional amendments are frequent and routine
The frequency of amendments in Texas is due to the restrictive nature of the state's constitution, which limits the authority of the state and requires voter approval for even relatively minor actions. The Texas Constitution locks in specifics about taxation, debt, governance structures, and local authority, meaning that amendments are often required for the Legislature to pass certain policies.
Amendments are proposed every single year, and Texans are accustomed to seeing them on the ballot every two years. This regularity has created a sense that such measures are ordinary, and voters are more likely to approve something that seems routine. The language used to describe amendments can also be vague or framed in ways that emphasize the benefits while downplaying trade-offs, making it difficult for voters to fully understand the implications of their decisions.
The amendment process in Texas is entirely legislative, with every amendment originating in the Texas Legislature and requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers before being submitted to voters. This has resulted in a state constitution that functions more like a super-sized law book than a foundational charter of governing principles.
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Amendments are often non-controversial
Texas voters have approved more than 500 constitutional amendments since the current state constitution was adopted in 1876. This is an unusually high number when compared to other states. For instance, California, known for its extensive ballot initiatives, has had just over 500 amendments since adopting its constitution in 1879. Florida, which ratified a new constitution in 1968, has seen fewer than 150 amendments. New York, with a large population and an old governing document, has passed fewer than 250. Even Georgia, whose current constitution dates to 1983, has amended it fewer than 100 times.
The Texas Constitution is unique in that it is highly detailed and restrictive, locking in specifics about taxation, debt, governance structures, and local authority. This means that the Legislature cannot pass certain policies, particularly those related to local authority, fiscal matters, or government structure, without first amending the Constitution. As a result, Texans see amendments on their ballots nearly every election cycle. However, these amendments are often not about sweeping social change or major rights issues. Instead, they typically involve allowing counties to issue bonds, authorizing tax exemptions, or altering administrative procedures.
The familiarity of Texans with constitutional amendments may also contribute to their perception as non-controversial. Texans are accustomed to seeing constitutional amendments on the ballot every two years, and this regularity has created a sense that such measures are ordinary and routine. The language used to describe amendments can also influence their perception, with summaries often emphasising benefits while downplaying trade-offs or financial implications.
In summary, while the high number of constitutional amendments in Texas may be unusual compared to other states, the amendments themselves are often non-controversial. They are typically focused on specific, practical issues rather than broad social or rights-based changes. The perception of amendments as routine and the use of favourable language in their description may also contribute to their lack of controversy.
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Amendments are proposed by the legislature
Texas has an unusually high number of constitutional amendments compared to other states. The Texas Constitution, in effect since 1876, is one of the longest in the nation and is still growing. The Texas Legislature has proposed 706 amendments since 1876, of which 521 have been approved and 185 rejected by Texas voters. This means that roughly three out of four proposed amendments have been adopted.
The Texas Constitution is a detailed document that limits the authority of the state and requires voter approval even for relatively minor actions. Unlike the U.S. Constitution, which outlines broad principles, the Texas Constitution specifies taxation, debt, governance structures, and local authority. This rigidity means that the Legislature cannot pass certain policies, especially those related to local authority, fiscal matters, or government structure, without first amending the Constitution.
Texas voters are accustomed to seeing constitutional amendments on the ballot every two years, and this regularity has created a sense that such measures are ordinary. The Texas Legislative Council is responsible for writing the ballot language, which is meant to be clear and nonpartisan. However, these summaries are often vague or framed to emphasize the benefits while downplaying trade-offs. For instance, a proposal to "authorize a political subdivision to issue bonds for infrastructure improvements" may sound helpful, but it may not communicate the financial implications.
The legislature has substantial control over how proposed amendments are submitted to voters. The legislature may call a special election and supply the ballot language. The Secretary of State, with the approval of the Attorney General, prepares a statement explaining the nature of the proposed amendment, which is published in newspapers. The Secretary of State must also send the text of each proposed amendment to county clerks, who must post it in a public place at least 30 days before the election.
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Amendments are often about local issues
Texas voters have approved more than 500 constitutional amendments since the current state constitution was adopted in 1876. This is an unusually high number when compared to other states. The Texas Constitution is one of the longest in the nation and is still growing.
The Texas Constitution was born out of post-Reconstruction distrust in government power. Its framers deliberately drafted a restrictive, detailed document that limited the authority of the state and required voter approval for even relatively minor actions. Unlike the U.S. Constitution, which outlines broad principles, the Texas Constitution locks in specifics about taxation, debt, governance structures, and local authority. Due to this rigidity, the Legislature cannot pass certain policies, especially those related to local authority, fiscal matters, or government structure, without first amending the Constitution.
As a result, Texans see amendments on their ballots nearly every election cycle. These amendments are often about local issues, such as allowing counties to issue bonds, authorizing tax exemptions, or altering administrative procedures. For example, two of the propositions on the ballot in November 2023 were aimed at specific locales: abolishing the Galveston county treasurer and allowing El Paso county to issue bonds for park funding. Nearly half of the proposed amendments in 2023 were budgetary workarounds to help lawmakers avoid hitting the state spending cap.
The familiarity of seeing constitutional amendments on the ballot every two years has also contributed to the high number of approved amendments in Texas. Voters are more likely to approve something that seems routine, especially when it lacks controversy or media attention.
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Amendments are often about budgetary issues
Texas voters have approved more than 500 constitutional amendments since the current state constitution was adopted in 1876. The Texas Constitution was written as a restrictive document that limited the authority of the state and required voter approval for legislative actions. This is why Texans see amendments on their ballots nearly every election cycle.
Amendments are often required for budgetary issues. The Texas Constitution demands a balanced budget, meaning Texas cannot spend more than its collected revenue. Any increase in spending must be matched by an increase in revenue or cuts from other areas. This ensures the state remains fiscally responsible and does not incur debt. This is enshrined in the Texas Constitution, specifically in Article 3, Section 49, which clearly outlines the state's obligation to maintain a balanced budget without incurring debt.
Nearly half of the proposed amendments in a given year fall into the budgetary category. These amendments are often budgetary workarounds to help lawmakers avoid hitting the state spending cap. Voter-approved spending measures do not count toward the state spending cap, so voters are asked to approve propositions such as a cost-of-living increase for retired teachers or the creation of a state centennial park fund using Texas' surplus funds.
Other budgetary amendments include allowing counties to issue bonds, authorizing tax exemptions, or altering administrative procedures. For example, an amendment was proposed to ensure the state does not create a wealth tax. This was a politically strategic move by the conservative majority in the state legislature to make it harder for a potential Democrat majority to pass such a tax in the future.
The frequency of these budgetary amendments contributes to the length of the Texas Constitution, which is the second-longest in the country, trailing only Alabama.
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Frequently asked questions
The Texas Constitution was written in 1876 as a restrictive document that limits the authority of the state and requires voter approval for many legislative actions. Amendments are needed to give power to the legislature, governor, or local authorities.
Texans are used to seeing constitutional amendments on their ballots every election cycle, or every two years. Voters are more likely to approve something that seems routine, and this regularity has created a sense that such measures are ordinary.
The amendments are often about allowing counties to issue bonds, authorizing tax exemptions, altering administrative procedures, or making changes to the tax code. They are rarely about sweeping social change or major rights issues.
