Isabella Carter
The Texas Constitution is the foundational governing document of the State of Texas, second only to the U.S. Constitution. Since Texas' independence from Mexico in 1836, the state has been governed by six constitutions, with the current iteration coming into effect on February 15, 1876. This version of the constitution was framed by the Constitutional Convention of 1875 and remains the basic organic law of Texas. Since 1876, the Texas Legislature has proposed hundreds of amendments, with 498 amendments made as of 2019.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Last Constitution | 1876 |
| Previous Constitutions | 1827 Constitution of the State of Coahuila and Tejas; 1836 Constitution of the Republic of Texas; 1845 Constitution of the State of Texas; 1861, 1866, and 1869 Constitutions |
| Current Number of Amendments | 498 (as of 2019) |
| Notable Sections | 37 (Mechanic's Lien), 49 ("State Debts"), 50 (Protection of Homestead) |
| Legislative Branch | Bicameral: Senate and House of Representatives |
| Executive Branch | Governor of Texas |
| Judicial Branch | N/A |
| Unique Provisions | Land titles and law, debtor relief, judicial procedures, marital relations and adoption, water and mineral rights |
| Voter Role | Voters decide whether to adopt proposed amendments |
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What You'll Learn
Texas' constitution is one of the US's largest
The Texas Constitution is one of the largest in the US, with only Alabama's and California's being longer. It is the foundational governing document of the State of Texas, second only to the US Constitution. All laws and regulations in Texas must comply with the Constitution, or they risk being invalidated by the state courts.
The Texas Constitution has a unique history, having been influenced by Texas' unusual past. Between 1824 and 1876, Texas was at times a part of the United States of Mexico, an independent republic, a state within the Confederate States of America, and a state within the United States of America. This meant that Texas had to redraft its constitution several times to reflect its changing status. The current Texas Constitution, which came into effect on 15 February 1876, is the seventh in Texas history.
The Texas Constitution is notable for its level of detail and the inclusion of very specific topics, such as local government, taxes, and private property rights. These topics are protected by the Constitution in a way that many other states leave to their legislatures. The drafters of the Texas Constitution recognized that this high level of detail could lead to the document becoming outdated, and so it has been amended hundreds of times since 1876. As of 2019, the current constitution has been amended 498 times.
The Texas Constitution is organized by articles, with the first article setting out a bill of rights. The following articles establish the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch is defined as a Senate and House of Representatives, also known as The Congress of the Republic of Texas. The executive branch is led by the Governor of Texas, who must be at least thirty years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the state for at least five years before their election. The Governor is prohibited from holding any other office during their tenure and is the "Chief Executive Officer of the State" and the "Commander in Chief of the military forces of the State".
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It's been amended 498 times since 1876
The current Texas Constitution, which came into effect on February 15, 1876, is the seventh in the state's history. It is the sixth constitution since Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836. The current constitution has been amended 498 times since 1876.
The Texas Constitution is the foundational governing document of the State of Texas, second only to the U.S. Constitution. All laws and regulations in Texas must comply with the Constitution or risk being invalidated by the state courts. Texas' constitution is one of the largest state constitutions in the U.S. It is notable for including a lot of very specific topics, including local government, taxes, and private property rights, that many other states leave to their legislatures.
The Texas Constitution establishes the structure and purpose of the Texas government. It is organised by articles, with the first article setting 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 such as the creation and maintenance of the Permanent University Fund, and the establishment of "a University of the first class" (The University of Texas), as well as Texas A&M University.
Amendments to the Texas Constitution originate as joint resolutions in the Texas Legislature and then go to the voters for approval. The majority of the hundreds of amendments proposed since 1876 have been adopted by voters.
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Texas has had seven constitutions since 1827
Texas has had a unique history, passing through many iterations since 1824. Between 1824 and 1876, Texas was part of the United States of Mexico, an independent republic, a state within the Confederate States of America, and a state within the United States of America. The state's unusual history is reflected in its constitutions, of which there have been seven since 1827.
The first constitution, the 1827 Constitution of the State of Coahuila and Tejas, was followed by the 1836 Constitution of the Republic of Texas. This was the first governing document of the Republic of Texas after it gained independence from Mexico. It was a short document, modelled on the U.S. Constitution, and was never amended. The 1845 Constitution was drafted when Texas became a state within the United States of America. The changes from the 1845 Constitution were minimal, mainly revising terminology to reflect Texas' membership in the Confederacy.
The Constitution of 1861 was enacted when Texas seceded from the Union, followed by the 1866 Constitution, and then the 1869 Constitution. The current Texas Constitution, which came into effect on February 15, 1876, is the seventh in the state's history. It was framed by the Constitutional Convention of 1875 and adopted by popular vote. It contains provisions that are uniquely Texan, influenced by the state's history, including Spanish and Mexican influence.
Since 1876, the Texas Legislature has proposed hundreds of amendments to the constitution, the majority of which have been adopted by voters. As of 2019, the current constitution has been amended 498 times.
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The 1876 constitution was framed in 1875
Texas has had a unique history, with several constitutions since its independence from Mexico in 1836. The current Texas Constitution, which came into effect on February 15, 1876, is the seventh in the state's history. It was framed in 1875 by the Constitutional Convention of 1875 and adopted by a vote of 136,606 to 56,652.
The 1876 Constitution is a detailed document that outlines the structure and purpose of the Texas government. It establishes the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch is defined as a Senate and a House of Representatives, with senators serving four-year terms and representatives serving two-year terms. The Constitution also includes provisions for voting procedures, such as precinct voting, and sets out a bill of rights, guaranteeing freedom of speech and press, as well as the right to keep and bear arms.
The Constitution also contains some provisions that are uniquely Texan, influenced by the state's history and the ideologies prevalent when Texas became a state. These include sections on land titles, land law, debtor relief, judicial procedures, marital relations, adoption, and water and mineral rights.
The 1876 Constitution has been amended numerous times since its adoption. In 1974, an attempt was made to modernize and streamline it, but the proposed revision failed by just three votes. Despite this, the Texas Legislature has proposed hundreds of amendments, the majority of which have been adopted by voters. As of 2019, the current constitution has been amended 498 times.
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Texas' first constitution was short-lived
Texas has had seven constitutions in its history. The first constitution of the Republic of Texas was drafted in 1836 and was short-lived, lasting only until 1845.
Texas declared itself an independent republic on March 2, 1836, due to a lack of support in the United States for the Texas Revolution. The declaration of independence was written by George Childress and modelled after the United States Constitution. The Constitution of the Republic of Texas was the supreme law of Texas from 1836 to 1845. It established the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch was defined as a Senate and House of Representatives, to be called The Congress of the Republic of Texas. The President of the Republic of Texas had a three-year term and could not serve consecutive terms, based on provisions in the Mexican Constitution.
The first Texas constitution was short-lived because Texas was admitted to the Union as a state on December 29, 1845. The annexation of Texas to the United States was proposed by a congressional joint resolution on March 1, 1845. On June 23, the Texan Congress accepted the proposal, and a convention was held on July 4 to debate the annexation. The convention adopted a new constitution on August 27, 1845, which was approved by the citizens of Texas on October 13, along with an annexation ordinance.
Since the first Texas constitution, there have been several other constitutions and amendments. The current Texas Constitution, which took effect on February 15, 1876, is the seventh in the state's history. The Texas Legislature has proposed hundreds of amendments to the constitution since 1876, and Texas voters decide whether to adopt the proposed changes.
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Frequently asked questions
The last Texas Constitution was written in 1876.
The 1876 Texas Constitution is the seventh in Texas history and the sixth since Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836.
The 1876 Texas Constitution is notable for being very lengthy and detailed, containing provisions that are uniquely Texan, such as sections dealing with land titles and land law, debtor relief, judicial procedures, marital relations and adoption, and water and other mineral rights.
