Simone Lawson
The Texas Constitution is the foundational legal document of the State of Texas, outlining the structure and functions of the state government, the rights of citizens, and the limits of state power. The Texas Constitution has been amended 528 times, with 467 of these amendments being approved. The process for amending the constitution was established in 1876 and is described in Article 17 of the constitution. There are several steps to this process, including the proposal of amendments by the Legislature, the approval of these proposals by a two-thirds majority vote, and the submission of these proposals to voters in a special election. The Texas Constitution can also be amended through a convention of states, although this process has never been used.
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What You'll Learn
Texas Constitution amendments require a simple majority vote
The Texas Constitution is the foundational legal document of the State of Texas, outlining the structure and functions of the state government, the rights of citizens, and the limits of state power. Amending the Texas Constitution requires a simple majority vote, meaning more than 50% of voters must approve the changes. This process is outlined in Article 17 of the Texas Constitution, which was established in 1876.
The process of amending the Texas Constitution typically begins with the Texas Legislature, which can propose amendments to be voted on by the citizens of Texas. Any member of either chamber of the Texas Legislature can introduce a joint resolution proposing an amendment. This resolution must then be approved by a two-thirds majority in both houses of the Legislature before it can be placed on the ballot for a statewide vote. The Texas Constitution has been amended over 500 times since its adoption, with voters approving amendments in 2023 that addressed issues such as the creation of an energy fund and the prohibition of wealth taxes.
The Texas Constitution can also be amended through a ""convention of states," which bypasses the Legislature. However, this process has never been used. Instead, the typical process involves the Legislature proposing amendments, which are then voted on by citizens in what are called ratification elections or constitutional amendment elections. These elections usually take place in odd-numbered years after regular sessions of the Legislature.
The Texas Constitution's relatively simple amendment process has led to frequent changes and a high number of amendments compared to other states. The document's restrictive view of state government powers necessitates frequent and often highly specific amendments. This has resulted in a lengthy constitution that is often criticised for its confusing language, which can lead to affirmation bias among voters who are unsure of the proposal's details.
In summary, amending the Texas Constitution requires a simple majority vote of Texas citizens. This process, established in 1876, has resulted in a Texas Constitution that is frequently amended to address specific issues and clarify the state's powers.
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Amendments are proposed by the Texas Legislature
The Texas Constitution is the foundational legal document of the State of Texas, outlining the structure and functions of the state government, the rights of citizens, and the limits of state power. It is not meant to be changed without substantial political and public support.
Any member of either chamber of the Texas Legislature can propose a constitutional amendment by introducing a joint resolution. Two-thirds of the members must then approve the joint resolution for it to be placed on the ballot. That means a minimum of 100 members of the Texas House and 21 members of the Texas Senate. The amendment may add to, remove from, or modify the text of the constitution. Proposed amendments are styled as SJR 1, HJR 1, etc., short for House Joint Resolution or Senate Joint Resolution.
If more than one constitutional amendment passes the legislature in a given year, the Texas secretary of state conducts a random drawing to determine the order in which the proposed amendments will appear on the ballot. Constitutional amendment elections, also called ratification elections, typically occur in odd-numbered years after regular legislative sessions.
The election is held in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Legislature, in the same manner as other types of elections. Voters are presented with "propositions" (the proposed amendments) and can vote for or against each one. After the votes are cast, the returning officer in each county submits the returns to the Secretary of State. If a majority of the votes cast were in favour of an amendment, the governor must issue a proclamation, and the amendment becomes part of the Constitution.
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The Texas Constitution is foundational for the state's legal framework
The Texas Constitution is the foundational legal document of the State of Texas. It outlines the structure and functions of the state government, the rights of citizens, and the limits of state power. The Texas Constitution is meant to be a stable framework for the state's legal system, but it can be amended through a defined process.
The Texas Constitution has been amended numerous times since its adoption in 1876, with over 500 amendments approved by voters. This frequency of amendments is due to the relatively low bar for changing the constitution, in contrast to the more challenging process of amending the federal Constitution. The Texas Constitution's restrictive view of state government powers necessitates frequent and specific changes.
The process of amending the Texas Constitution is outlined in Article 17 of the constitution. It begins with the Texas Legislature, which can propose a joint resolution for a constitutional amendment. This resolution must be approved by a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the Legislature to be placed on the ballot. The proposed amendment can add to, remove from, or modify the text of the constitution.
The next step is a special election, where Texas voters decide on the proposed amendment. The election follows procedures prescribed by the Legislature, similar to other types of elections. If a majority of votes cast are in favor of the amendment, it becomes part of the constitution, and the governor issues a proclamation. The Secretary of State plays a crucial role in this process, receiving returns from each county and providing public notice of the proposed amendment before the election.
The Texas Constitution's amendment process ensures that any changes to the foundational legal framework of the state are made through a democratic and deliberative process, requiring substantial political and public support. While the constitution has been amended frequently, each change undergoes this rigorous procedure, maintaining the integrity of the state's governance.
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Amendments are approved by the Attorney General and Secretary of State
The Texas Constitution is the foundational legal document of the State of Texas, outlining the structure and functions of the state government, the rights of citizens, and the limits of state power. It is not meant to be changed without substantial political and public support. The Texas Constitution can be amended with a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval.
The process of amending the Texas Constitution is outlined in Article 17 of the constitution. Firstly, the Texas Legislature passes a joint resolution proposing the constitutional amendment. This joint resolution must be approved by a two-thirds majority in both houses of the Texas Legislature to be placed on the ballot. The joint resolution is then filed directly with the Secretary of State.
If more than one constitutional amendment passes the legislature in a given year, the Texas Secretary of State conducts a random drawing to determine the order in which the proposed amendments will appear on the ballot. The Secretary of State is responsible for preparing an explanatory statement for each proposed amendment, which must be approved by the Attorney General. This explanatory statement, along with the date of the election and the wording of the proposition, must be published twice in each qualifying newspaper in the state, with the first notice published 50-60 days before the election and the second notice published the following week.
The Secretary of State also sends a copy of the proposed amendment to each county clerk, who must post it in a public place in the courthouse at least 30 days before the election. After the election, the returning officer in each county submits the returns to the Secretary of State, who receives the number of legal votes cast for and against each amendment. If a majority of the votes cast were in favour of an amendment, it becomes part of the Constitution, and the governor must issue a proclamation to that effect.
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Texas voters are often asked to approve amendments
Texas voters are frequently asked to approve amendments to the state constitution. The Texas Constitution is the foundational legal document of the State of Texas, outlining the structure and functions of the state government, the rights of citizens, and the limits of state power. It is not meant to be changed without substantial political and public support.
The Texas Constitution can be amended through a legislatively referred constitutional amendment process. This process involves the following steps:
- Any member of either chamber of the Texas Legislature can introduce a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment.
- Two-thirds of the members of both the Texas House and Senate must approve the joint resolution for it to be placed on the ballot.
- The proposed amendment is then assigned a designation, such as HJR 1 or SJR 1, indicating whether it originated in the House or Senate.
- The amendment may add to, remove from, or modify the text of the constitution.
- If more than one amendment passes the legislature in a given year, the Texas Secretary of State conducts a random drawing to determine the order of the proposed amendments on the ballot.
- Voters are presented with "propositions" on the ballot, which are the proposed amendments, and they can vote for or against each one.
- A simple majority (50% plus 1) of voter approval is required for a constitutional amendment to be adopted.
- After the votes are cast, the returning officer in each county submits the returns to the Secretary of State.
- If a majority of the votes cast were in favor of the amendment, the governor must issue a proclamation, and the amendment becomes part of the constitution.
From 1876 to 2019, the Texas Constitution was amended 507 times, with voters approving 507 and rejecting 180 of the 687 amendments placed on the ballot. More recently, in 2023, Texas voters approved 13 out of 14 amendments on the ballot. The frequent amendments to the Texas Constitution can be attributed to the relatively low bar for amending it and its highly restrictive view of the powers of state government.
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Frequently asked questions
The Texas Legislature first passes a joint resolution proposing the constitutional amendment. A majority of Texas voters then approve the amendment in a special election. The Texas Constitution is the foundational legal document of the State of Texas, outlining the structure and functions of the state government, citizens' rights, and the limits of state power.
The Texas Constitution has been amended 528 times. Of those, 467 amendments have been approved. From 1876 through 2019, the Texas Constitution was amended 507 times.
Texas requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
