Simone Lawson
The Texas Constitution, which establishes the structure and purpose of the state's government, has been amended several times since its adoption in 1876. Between 1876 and 2024, the Texas Legislature proposed 714 constitutional amendments, with 530 approved by voters, 181 defeated, and three never making it to the ballot. The Texas Constitution is one of the longest in the US and is the third-most amended state constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current constitution adopted | 15 February 1876 |
| Previous constitutions | 6 |
| Number of amendments | 528-530 |
| Amendments proposed | 714 |
| Amendments defeated | 181 |
| Amendments that didn't make the ballot | 3 |
| Length | Second-longest state constitution in the US |
| Number of articles | 17 |
| Number of sections in Article 1 | 34 |
| Number of sections in Article 7 | 20 |
| Number of sections in Article 16 | 73 |
| Number of sections in Article 17 | 2 |
| Last amended | 7 November 2023 |
| Amended by | Texas Legislature |
| Approved by | Voters |
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What You'll Learn
The Texas Constitution is one of the longest in the US
The Texas Constitution, which was adopted in 1876, is the second-longest state constitution in the United States. It is exceeded only by Alabama's constitution, which had a 2022 recompilation that removed obsolete, duplicative, and overtly racist provisions. The Texas Constitution is also the third-most amended state constitution, with 528 amendments as of 2023. From 1876 to 2024, the Texas Legislature proposed 714 constitutional amendments, of which 530 were approved by voters, 181 were defeated, and three never made it to the ballot.
The Texas Constitution is so long because it is highly restrictive in nature. Unlike the United States Constitution, it stipulates that the state of Texas has only those powers explicitly granted to it. This means there is no counterpart to the federal Necessary and Proper Clause. As with many state constitutions, it provides for the separation of powers and incorporates its bill of rights directly into the text of the constitution (as Article I). The bill of rights in the Texas Constitution is considerably lengthier and more detailed than the federal Bill of Rights and includes some provisions not included in the federal Constitution. For example, it recognizes the writ of habeas corpus as an unqualified right and prohibits its suspension under any circumstances.
Article 1 of the Texas Constitution, also known as the "Bill of Rights," originally contained 29 sections, but five additional sections have been added since its inception, bringing the total to 34 sections. These additional sections outline specific, fundamental limitations on the power of the state government and grant certain rights to citizens that cannot be ignored. Notably, the protections offered by the Texas Bill of Rights apply solely to actions by the Texas government.
The Texas Constitution's length can also be attributed to its comprehensive coverage of various topics. For instance, Article 3, the longest article in the constitution, contains numerous substantive limitations on the power of the legislature and a large number of exceptions to those limitations. It also includes details about the legislative process, such as quorum requirements for conducting business. Article 6, labelled "Impeachments," outlines the impeachment process for public officials, while Article 7, "Education," consists of 20 sections that establish provisions for public schools, asylums, and universities.
Due to the unwieldiness of the Texas Constitution, there have been attempts to draft a new constitution or significantly revise the existing one. The most successful attempt occurred in 1969 when 56 obsolete provisions were repealed. In 1971, an amendment was passed calling for the Legislature to meet in 1974 to draft a new state Constitution. However, this effort ultimately did not result in a new constitution, and the current Texas Constitution remains the second-longest in the nation.
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It has been amended over 500 times
The Texas Constitution is the third-most amended state constitution in the US. Since 1876, there have been 528 to 530 amendments, with the majority of them being approved by voters. The Texas Legislature proposed a total of 714 amendments, with 181 defeated by voters and three never making it to the ballot.
The current Texas Constitution, which came into effect on February 15, 1876, is the seventh in the state's history and the fifth since Texas became a state. It is also one of the longest in the nation and is still growing. The constitution is organised by articles, with the first article setting out a bill of rights, and the following articles establishing the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The Texas Constitution can be amended with a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval. Once an amendment passes, it is compiled into the existing framework, meaning text is either added or deleted. The constitution's highly restrictive nature has resulted in numerous amendments. It stipulates that the state of Texas has only those powers explicitly granted to it, and there is no federal Necessary and Proper Clause counterpart.
The Texas Constitution has been amended for various reasons. For example, Article 7, which addresses education, establishes provisions for public schools, asylums, and universities. It also discusses the creation and maintenance of the Permanent University Fund and mandates the establishment of "a University of the first class", now known as The University of Texas. Article 8 places restrictions on the ability of the Legislature and local governments to impose taxes, particularly local property taxes. In 1993, an amendment was adopted to restrict the ability of the Texas State Legislature to impose a personal income tax.
There have been attempts to draft a new constitution or significantly revise the existing one due to its unwieldiness. In 1969, 56 obsolete provisions were repealed, and in 1971, an amendment was passed for the Legislature to meet and draft a new state Constitution. However, the process of amending the Texas Constitution can be challenging, as it is the only state constitution with no mechanism or unclear processes for calling a constitutional convention.
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Amendments are compiled into the existing framework
The Texas Constitution is the third-most amended state constitution in the US. The current constitution, which came into effect on February 15, 1876, has been amended 528 times. The Texas Legislature can propose amendments, which are then put to a vote. Between 1876 and 2024, 714 amendments were proposed, of which 530 were approved by voters, 181 were defeated, and three did not make it to the ballot.
Once an amendment is passed, it is compiled into the existing framework, with text being added or deleted. This is in contrast to the US Constitution, where amendments are not compiled into the existing document. Due to the unwieldiness of the Texas Constitution, there have been attempts to draft a new constitution or significantly revise the existing one. The most successful attempt was in 1969, when 56 obsolete provisions, including 22 entire sections, were repealed.
In 1971, an amendment was passed for the Legislature to meet in 1974 for 90 days to draft a new constitution. The Legislature met, but it is unclear whether a new constitution was drafted. In 1972, Texas voters approved a revision of the Texas Constitution. Voters most recently approved amendments to the Texas Constitution on November 7, 2023, when 13 out of 14 amendments on the ballot were approved.
The Texas Constitution is one of the longest in the US and is still growing. It is organised by articles, with the first article setting out a bill of rights, and the following articles establishing the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The remaining articles cover various topics, such as education, taxation, and general provisions.
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Texas voters decide whether to adopt proposed amendments
The Texas Constitution is the third-most amended state constitution in the US. Since 1876, the Texas Legislature has proposed 714 amendments, 530 of which have been approved by voters, 181 defeated, and three that never made it to the ballot.
The Texas Constitution establishes the structure and purpose of the Texas government. It is the governing document for the state, organised by articles. The first article, entitled the "Bill of Rights", sets out a bill of rights. The following articles establish the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The remaining articles cover many other topics.
The Texas Constitution can be amended with a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval. The constitution stipulates that the state of Texas has only those powers explicitly granted to it. It explicitly provides for the separation of powers and incorporates its bill of rights directly into the text of the constitution (as Article I). The bill of rights includes some provisions not included in the federal Constitution.
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The constitution was amended in 1861 to join the Confederacy
The Texas Constitution is the state constitution of Texas. The current Texas Constitution, adopted in 1876, is the seventh in Texas history and has been amended 528 times. Texas has had six previous constitutions, including the Mexican constitution. The previous six were adopted in 1827, 1836, 1845, 1861, 1866, and 1869.
The Texas Constitution was amended in 1861 to join the Confederacy. At the time, Texas was undergoing a significant political change, and the state's connection with the Confederacy required modifications to its Constitution to conform to the new relationship. The Confederate Constitution was approved on March 11, 1861, by delegates from the newly formed Confederate States of America. It mirrored the US Constitution but had notable differences regarding slavery and states' rights.
The Confederate Constitution included a Bill of Rights, with rules about Congress, and a preamble that emphasised the independence of each state. It also allowed Confederate states to impeach federal officials, collect taxes, make treaties, and create lines of credit. The Confederate president was limited to one six-year term, and the vice president had no term limits.
The Texas Constitution's amendments in 1861 reflected the state's alignment with the Confederacy and the need for legislative power to raise funds and navigate the political changes. Texas's Constitution has been amended numerous times to address various issues and adapt to changing circumstances.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Texas State Constitution has been amended several times. The current constitution, adopted in 1876, is the seventh in Texas history. Since 1876, the Texas Legislature has proposed 714 amendments, of which 530 have been adopted.
The Texas State Constitution is one of the most frequently amended state constitutions in the US. It has been amended 528 times since 1876. The most recent amendments were approved by voters on November 7, 2023, with 13 out of 14 amendments passing.
The Texas Legislature proposes amendments, and Texas voters decide whether to adopt them. The Texas Constitution can be amended through a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval.
