Isabella Carter
The current Texas Constitution, which was ratified in 1876, is the fourth constitution in Texas history. It is one of the longest state constitutions in the US and has been amended several hundred times. The large number of amendments is due to the document's restrictive nature and the ease with which it can be amended.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times the current Texas Constitution has been amended | 528 times |
| Date of the current Texas Constitution | February 15, 1876 |
| Number of proposed amendments since 1876 | 656 |
| Number of approved amendments since 1876 | 467 |
| Number of approved amendments since 1876 (per the Texas Legislative Reference Library) | 498 |
| Number of proposed amendments from 1876 to 2024 | 714 |
| Number of approved amendments from 1876 to 2024 | 530 |
| Number of defeated amendments from 1876 to 2024 | 181 |
| Number of amendments that never made it to the ballot from 1876 to 2024 | 3 |
| Number of sections in the original document | 289 |
| Number of sections in the current document | 388 |
| Ranking of the Texas Constitution in terms of length | Second-longest state constitution in the United States |
| Ranking of the Texas Constitution in terms of amendments | Third-most amended state constitution |
| Ease of amending the Texas Constitution compared to the US Constitution | Easier |
| Number of sections in Article 1 ("Bill of Rights") | 34 |
| Number of sections added to Article 1 since 1876 | 5 |
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What You'll Learn
The Texas Constitution is easy to amend
The Texas Constitution, currently the second-longest state constitution in the US, has been amended over 500 times since its ratification in 1876. It is also the third-most amended state constitution, with only Alabama and California having amended theirs more frequently.
The process of amending the Texas Constitution is relatively straightforward. An amendment must be passed by the state Legislature and then approved by voters in a referendum. This differs from the US Constitution, which has a more challenging amendment process requiring a two-thirds vote by both houses of Congress and the approval of three-fourths of the states. The US Constitution has only been amended 27 times, whereas Texas has had over 500 amendments since 1876.
The ease of amending the Texas Constitution has led to frequent changes, with Texans voting on numerous proposed amendments over the years. The document has grown significantly, with the addition of new sections and the repeal of obsolete ones. While there have been attempts to draft a new constitution or significantly revise the existing one, none have been successful. The current Texas Constitution remains the foundation of Texas government, with its frequent amendments addressing emerging state needs and reflecting the changing nature of governance in the state.
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It's been amended 500+ times
The current Texas Constitution, which was ratified in 1876, has been amended over 500 times. It is the second-longest state constitution in the US and is also the third-most amended. The Texas Constitution is highly restrictive in the powers it grants, and this has been a key reason for the frequent amendments.
The Texas Constitution stipulates that the state has only those powers explicitly granted to it, and it imposes numerous limitations on state authority. This restrictive design has meant that emerging state needs often require an amendment to address them. For example, Article 7, which covers "Education", establishes provisions for public schools, asylums, and universities. It also mandates the establishment of "a University of the first class", which became The University of Texas. Amendments have been proposed to make changes to the educational institutions outlined in this article, such as in 1915 and 1919, when Constitutional Amendments were proposed to separate the University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems, although both failed.
Article 1, entitled the "Bill of Rights", has also been amended several times. It originally contained 29 sections, and since 1876, five sections have been added, bringing the total to 34. This article includes provisions that concern specific fundamental limitations on the power of the state government and grants certain rights to citizens.
The process of amending the Texas Constitution is relatively straightforward compared to other states. An amendment must be passed by the state Legislature and then approved by voters in a referendum. This ease of amendment has contributed to the high number of changes to the Texas Constitution.
There have been several attempts to draft a new constitution or significantly revise the existing one due to its unwieldiness. The most successful attempt was in 1969, when 56 obsolete provisions were repealed. In 1974, a constitutional convention was called by the Legislature to draft a new constitution, but it ended in gridlock. More recently, in 2023, voters approved 13 out of 14 amendments on the ballot.
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Amendments are compiled into the existing framework
The current Texas Constitution, which was ratified in 1876, is the fourth constitution since Texas became a state in 1845. It is the second-longest state constitution in the US and the third-most amended.
The Texas Constitution takes a restrictive view of the powers of the state government. This means that even small legislative changes can require a constitutional amendment. For example, an amendment was required to allow El Paso County to finance its own parks with local taxes.
Amendments to the Texas Constitution are compiled into the existing framework, with text added or deleted. This is in contrast to the US Constitution, which has a different process for making amendments. The Texas Constitution has been amended over 500 times since its adoption in 1876. From 1876 to 2024, the Texas Legislature proposed 714 constitutional amendments, of which 530 were approved by the electorate, 181 were defeated, and three never made it onto the ballot.
The large number of amendments is due to the document's restrictive nature and the ease with which it can be amended. The constitution stipulates that the state of Texas has only those powers explicitly granted to it. It also lacks a counterpart to the federal Necessary and Proper Clause. As a result, the constitution has been amended frequently to address emerging state needs.
There have been several attempts to draft a new constitution or significantly revise the existing one. In 1969, 56 obsolete provisions were repealed. In 1971, the Texas Legislature voted to add a section to the constitution calling for a constitutional convention to draft a new constitution. However, these attempts have largely been unsuccessful, and the current constitution remains the foundation of Texas government today.
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The Constitution is highly restrictive
The Texas Constitution has been amended several hundred times since its adoption in 1876. The exact number of amendments varies depending on the source, with figures ranging from 467 to 530. The Texas Constitution is the second-longest state constitution in the United States and is also one of the most amended.
The large number of amendments can be attributed to the document's highly restrictive nature. The constitution takes a restrictive view of the powers of the state government, limiting the legislature and governor's powers to only those specifically outlined in the constitution. This means that even small legislative changes can require a constitutional amendment and a referendum. For example, a measure to allow El Paso County to finance its own parks with local taxes required an amendment to the constitution.
The Texas Constitution also includes a lengthy and detailed bill of rights, which further restricts the powers of the state government and guarantees certain rights to citizens. The bill of rights consists of 34 sections, 5 of which have been added since 1876. Many of the article's provisions concern specific limitations on the power of the state government and certain rights granted to citizens that cannot be ignored under any circumstances.
In addition to the restrictive nature of the document, the ease of amending the Texas Constitution compared to other state constitutions has also contributed to the high number of amendments. The Texas Constitution can be amended through a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval in a referendum. This process is much simpler than amending the United States Constitution, which requires a two-thirds vote by both houses of Congress and the approval of three-fourths of the states.
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Amendments require voter approval
The current Texas Constitution, which was ratified in 1876, is the fourth constitution since Texas declared its independence in 1836. It is the second-longest state constitution in the US and the third-most amended. It has been amended over 500 times, with sources giving varying figures of 528, 530, and 498 amendments.
The Texas Constitution is unique in that it takes a highly restrictive view of the powers of the state government. This means that the Legislature and governor's powers are limited to only those specifically outlined in the constitution. As a result, even small legislative changes can require a constitutional amendment. For example, an amendment was required to allow El Paso County to finance its own parks with local taxes.
The Texas Constitution can be amended with a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval. This is in contrast to the US Constitution, which has a more rigorous amendment process requiring a two-thirds vote by both houses of Congress and the approval of three-fourths of the states. The ease of amending the Texas Constitution has led to a lengthy and ever-growing document, with attempts made to draft a new constitution or significantly revise the existing one.
Amending the Texas Constitution requires an amendment to be passed by the state Legislature and approved by voters in a referendum. This process has been in place since Texas first declared its independence in 1836, and Texans have been voting on constitutional amendments ever since. Since 1876, Texans have voted on approximately 680 proposed amendments, with 498 approved, and the constitution has expanded from 289 sections to 388. This frequent amendment process has led to Texas having the second-longest constitution in the nation.
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Frequently asked questions
The current Texas Constitution has been amended 528 times.
Amendments to the Texas Constitution come up for a vote frequently. Since 1876, Texans have voted on roughly 656 to 680 proposed amendments.
Of the proposed amendments, Texans have approved 467 to 498.
The Texas Constitution was last amended in 2019.
