Isabella Carter
The Texas Constitution, which was adopted in 1876, has been amended 528 times as of 2023. The process of amending the Texas Constitution involves two steps. The first step is similar to the process for amending the United States Constitution, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The second step differs substantially, as Texas only requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of amendments | 528 |
| Ratification rate | 74% |
| Number of amendments approved by the legislature | 687 |
| Number of amendments rejected | 180 |
| Number of original sections removed | 66 |
| Number of new sections added | 223 |
| Number of new sections later removed | 52 |
| Minimum votes required in the Texas House of Representatives | 100 |
| Minimum votes required in the Texas State Senate | 21 |
| Voter approval required | Simple majority (50% + 1) |
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What You'll Learn
Texas Constitution amendment proposals
The Texas Constitution can be amended through a two-step process. The first step is similar to the process for amending the United States Constitution, but the second step is different.
The Texas Legislature can propose amendments revising the Constitution, to be voted upon by qualified voters for statewide offices and propositions. A two-thirds vote is required during one legislative session for the Texas State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 100 votes in the Texas House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Texas State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot. The date of the elections is specified by the Legislature.
The second step involves the voters of Texas. The Texas secretary of state is required to widely publicize proposed amendments ahead of the election, including a brief explanatory statement of the nature of each proposed amendment, the date of the election, and the wording of the proposition as it will appear on the ballot. Voters are presented with one or more "propositions"—the proposed amendments—and given the choice to vote for or against each one. If it appears that a majority of the votes cast have been cast in favor of an amendment, it shall become part of the Constitution, and a proclamation thereof shall be made by the Governor. Texas requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
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Voter approval required
The Texas Constitution can be amended with a simple majority of voter approval (50% plus 1). This is in contrast to the process of amending the U.S. Constitution, which requires three-fourths of states to ratify a proposed amendment.
The Texas Constitution has been amended 507 times between 1876 and 2019, and 528 times overall as of 2023. The first step in the process of amending the Texas Constitution is similar to that of the U.S. Constitution: the proposal for submission must be approved by a two-thirds vote of all members of each House, entered by yeas and nays on the journals. This amounts to a minimum of 100 votes in the Texas House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Texas State Senate. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Constitutional amendment elections, also called ratification elections, normally take place in odd-numbered years after regular sessions of the legislature. 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.
Ahead of the election, the secretary of state is required to widely publicize proposed amendments, including a brief explanatory statement of the nature of each proposed amendment, the date of the election, and the wording of the proposition as it will appear on the ballot. This statement must be published twice in each newspaper in the state that meets the requirements set by the Legislature.
The election shall be held in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Legislature, and the returning officer in each county shall make returns to the Secretary of State of the number of legal votes cast at the election for and against each amendment. If a majority of the votes cast have been cast in favor of an amendment, it shall become part of the Constitution, and a proclamation thereof shall be made by the Governor.
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Simple majority vote
The Texas Constitution can be amended with a simple majority vote, which requires 50% plus one vote for approval. This is in contrast to the process of amending the U.S. Constitution, which requires a three-fourths majority. The first step in the process of amending the Texas Constitution is similar to that of the U.S. Constitution. The Texas State Legislature can propose amendments to the Constitution during any regular session or special session. For an amendment to be placed on the ballot, it must be approved by a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each House. This amounts to a minimum of 100 votes in the Texas House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Texas State Senate.
Once an amendment has been approved by the Legislature, it is then referred to the voters for approval. The Texas Constitution requires a simple majority vote for voters to approve constitutional amendments. This means that if it appears that more than half of the votes cast are in favor of an amendment, it shall become part of the Constitution. The governor then makes a proclamation declaring the amendment as part of the Constitution.
Constitutional amendment elections, also known as ratification elections, typically occur in odd-numbered years after regular sessions of the Legislature. On the ballot, voters are presented with one or more "propositions," which are the proposed amendments, and they can choose to vote for or against each one. The Texas secretary of state is responsible for widely publicizing the proposed amendments ahead of the election, including a brief explanatory statement about the nature of each amendment.
The Texas Constitution has been amended numerous times since its adoption in 1876. From 1876 to 2019, it was amended 507 times, and as of 2023, the total number of amendments reached 528. Voters most recently approved amendments on November 7, 2023, when 13 out of 14 proposed amendments were approved.
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Ballot proposition format
The Texas Constitution can be amended with a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval. The process for amending the Texas Constitution is a two-step process.
The first step in the process of amending the Texas Constitution is similar to the process for amending the United States Constitution. A proposal for a constitutional amendment may be put forward by the Legislature at any regular session or at any special session when the matter is included within the purposes for which the session is convened. This proposal must be approved by a two-thirds supermajority vote in both the Texas House of Representatives and the State Senate. This amounts to a minimum of 100 votes in the Texas House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Texas State Senate, assuming no vacancies.
The second step in the process differs substantially from the process for amending the United States Constitution. If a proposal for a constitutional amendment passes the Legislature, it is referred to the ballot for voters to decide. On the ballot, voters are presented with one or more "propositions" — the proposed amendments — and given the choice to vote for or against each one. A simple majority (50% plus 1) of votes cast in favor of a proposed amendment is required for it to become part of the Constitution.
Constitutional amendment elections, also called ratification elections, normally take place in odd-numbered years after regular sessions of the Legislature. 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. Ahead of the election, the Secretary of State is required to widely publicize proposed amendments, including the date of the election and the wording of the proposition as it will appear on the ballot.
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Ratification elections
The first step in the process of amending the Texas Constitution is similar to that of amending the United States Constitution. A proposed amendment must be approved by a two-thirds supermajority vote in both the Texas House of Representatives and the State Senate. This requirement ensures that any amendment has substantial bipartisan support before being put forward to the voters.
During ratification elections, Texas voters are presented with one or more "propositions" on the ballot—these are the proposed amendments. Voters have the choice to vote for or against each proposition, allowing them to have a direct say in shaping the state's constitution. The Texas Constitution requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for the approval of constitutional amendments, demonstrating the importance of citizen engagement in the ratification process.
Ahead of a ratification election, the Texas secretary of state is responsible for widely publicizing the proposed amendments. This includes publishing a brief explanatory statement about each amendment, along with the date of the election and the exact wording of the proposition as it will appear on the ballot. This information is disseminated to ensure that voters are well-informed and understand the potential impact of each proposed amendment.
The process of amending the Texas Constitution through ratification elections has been utilized numerous times. Between 1876 and 2019, the Texas Constitution was amended 507 times, with voters approving 74% of the amendments placed on the ballot. This high ratification rate underscores the importance of these elections in shaping the state's governance, powers, and limitations.
In summary, ratification elections in Texas offer a direct avenue for citizens to participate in constitutional reform. By voting on proposed amendments, Texans can influence the direction of their state's fundamental laws and ensure that the Texas Constitution remains a living document that reflects the values and needs of its citizens.
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Frequently asked questions
The Texas Constitution can be amended through a two-step process. The first step is similar to the process for amending the United States Constitution, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The second step differs substantially, with Texas requiring only a simple majority of voters to approve an amendment.
The Texas State Legislature can propose amendments to the Texas Constitution, which are then referred to the ballot for voters to decide.
Constitutional amendment elections, also called ratification elections, typically occur in odd-numbered years after regular sessions of the legislature.
From 1876 to 2019, voters approved 507 amendments out of 687 proposed, resulting in a ratification rate of 74%. The Texas Constitution has been amended 528 times in total as of 2023.
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