Omar Bennett
The current Texas Constitution, which is the seventh in Texas history, was first drafted in 1876 and approved on February 15 of the same year. It is the basic organic law of Texas and has been regularly amended since its adoption. The constitution establishes the structure and function of the Texas government and outlines the basic rights of its citizens. It is one of the most verbose state constitutions and contains provisions that are uniquely Texan, influenced by the state's history, including periods of Spanish and Mexican rule.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of drafting | February 15, 1876 |
| Previous Constitutions | 1827, 1836, 1845, 1861, 1866, 1869 |
| Amendments | 653 proposed amendments have gone before Texas voters, with 474 approved and 179 defeated |
| Length | Over 63,000 words |
| Topics Covered | Land titles and land law, debtor relief, judicial procedures, marital relations and adoption, mineral rights, education, state finances, suffrage requirements, local government powers |
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What You'll Learn
The current Texas Constitution was adopted on February 15, 1876
The current Texas Constitution, which is the seventh in the state's history, was adopted on February 15, 1876. It is the basic organic law of Texas and has been regularly amended since. It is one of the most verbose state constitutions, with over 63,000 words. The constitution was framed by the Constitutional Convention of 1875 and was approved by a vote of 136,606 to 56,652.
The 1876 Constitution includes a lengthy bill of rights, which declares Texas a free and independent state, subject only to the Constitution of the United States. It also guarantees equal rights for all free men, protects against unreasonable searches and imprisonment for debt, and ensures freedom of speech and press. The legislative article defines the powers and limitations of the legislature, which is composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
The Constitution of 1876 is the latest in a long line of Texas constitutions dating back to 1824, when Texas was part of Mexico. The state has a rich and varied history, having been part of Spain, France, Mexico, the Confederacy, and the United States of America. It has also been an independent republic. Each change in Texas's political status has been accompanied by the drafting of a new constitution.
The Texas Constitution has been amended numerous times since 1876, with the legislature proposing 656 constitutional amendments, 653 of which have been put to a vote. Of those, 474 have been approved by Texas voters and 179 have been defeated. Amendments have covered a range of issues, including public education, the state's financial system, and the powers of the governor.
Despite its frequent amendments and occasional obscurity, Texans have retained the Constitution of 1876. It remains the foundational document of the state, defining the rights of its citizens and the powers of its government.
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It is the seventh constitution in Texas history
The current Texas Constitution, which was first drafted in 1876, is the seventh constitution in the state's history. Texas has had a rich constitutional history, with the state being part of various nations and entities since the 1500s, including Spain, France, Mexico, the Confederacy, and the United States of America. It was also an independent republic for a period.
The first constitution of Texas was drafted in 1827 when Texas was still part of Mexico and was known as Coahuila y Tejas. This was followed by the Constitution of the Republic of Texas in 1836, which was hastily drafted during the Texas Revolution. This constitution incorporated large sections of the United States Constitution, along with Mexican law. In 1845, just before annexation to the United States, Texas adopted another constitution, which set forth the state's laws in a straightforward manner.
Texas adopted a new constitution in 1866, after being accepted back into the Union following the American Civil War. This was followed by another constitution in 1869, which aimed to protect the rights of former slaves and centralize state power. The current constitution, adopted in 1876, is the result of the Constitutional Convention of 1875 and remains the basic organic law of Texas. It is one of the most verbose state constitutions and includes a lengthy bill of rights, along with provisions that are uniquely Texan.
Since 1876, there have been numerous proposals to amend the constitution, with hundreds of amendments being put before Texas voters. The constitution has been modified to address various issues, such as public education, the state's financial system, and the powers of the governor's office. Texans have continued to uphold the 1876 constitution, despite its need for frequent amendments and occasional obscurity.
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It is the second-longest state constitution in the US
The current Texas Constitution, which came into effect on February 15, 1876, is the seventh in the state's history. It is the second-longest state constitution in the US, with over 63,000 words. The constitution is also the third-most amended, with 530 amendments adopted out of 714 proposed as of 2024. The lengthy bill of rights in the constitution is more detailed than the federal Bill of Rights and includes some provisions not included in the federal Constitution.
The Texas Constitution has a complex and lengthy history of amendments. Since 1876, the legislature has proposed 656 constitutional amendments, with 474 approved by voters, 179 defeated, and three that never made it to the ballot. The high number of amendments is due to the constitution's restrictive nature, which stipulates that Texas only has the powers explicitly granted to it. The constitution's wealth of detail causes it to resemble a code of laws rather than a constitution, and its many requirements and limitations on state and local governments make it highly restrictive.
The Texas Constitution establishes the structure and purpose of the Texas government, 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 legislative article defines the powers and limitations of the legislature in great detail, specifying that it should be composed of a Senate with 31 members and a House of Representatives with no more than 150 members. The constitution also includes provisions that are uniquely Texan, influenced by the state's history, such as sections dealing with land titles, land law, debtor relief, judicial procedures, marital relations and adoption, and water and mineral rights.
The Texas Constitution has undergone significant changes over time. For example, the article on the judiciary has been almost entirely rewritten, and alterations in provisions relating to public education have allowed for the expansion of the public school system. Despite the challenges posed by its length and frequent amendments, Texans have retained the Constitution of 1876. In 1995, an attempt was made to draft a streamlined constitution, but the initiative died when Senator John Montford, who led the effort, resigned.
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It has been regularly amended since 1876
The current Texas Constitution, which came into effect on February 15, 1876, is the seventh in the state's history. Since then, it has been regularly amended.
The Texas Constitution establishes the structure and function of the government of the US state of Texas and enumerates the basic rights of its citizens. The 1876 Constitution was the second-longest state constitution in the US, and its many details caused it to resemble a legal code more than a constitution. Its provisions placed several requirements and limitations on state and local governments, making it one of the most restrictive among state constitutions.
Since 1876, the Texas Legislature has proposed hundreds of amendments, and 653 of these have gone before Texas voters. Of the amendments put to a vote, 474 have been approved by the electorate, and 179 have been defeated. The amendments have covered a wide range of topics, including the judiciary, public education, the state's financial system, suffrage requirements, and the chartering of municipal corporations.
In 1995, Senator John Montford drafted a streamlined constitution similar to the 1974 version, but the initiative died when he resigned his seat. Later that year, voters approved an amendment abolishing the office of State Treasurer and transferring its duties to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts office. In 1998, a bipartisan effort produced a rewritten constitution with the help of students from Angelo State University, but this draft failed to gain support in committee.
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It is over 63,000 words long
The Texas Constitution, which came into effect on February 15, 1876, is over 63,000 words long. This makes it one of the longest state constitutions in the United States, with an average state constitution containing around 39,000 words. The Texas Constitution has been amended numerous times since its inception, with hundreds of amendments proposed and voted on. The lengthy document is a comprehensive framework that establishes the structure and purpose of the Texas government.
The constitution is organised by articles, with the first article being a bill of rights. This bill of rights includes guarantees of freedom of speech and press, the right to keep and bear arms, and the right to a trial by jury, among others. The following articles establish the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative article, in particular, defines the powers and limitations of the legislature in great detail. It specifies a bicameral legislature, with a Senate of thirty-one members and a House of Representatives with a maximum of 150 members.
The Texas Constitution's wealth of detail and extensive provisions set it apart. It includes sections on a wide range of topics, some of which are unique to Texas due to its historical influences. For example, it covers land titles and land law, debtor relief, judicial procedures, marital relations and adoption, and water and mineral rights. These specific provisions reflect the state's history and the influences of Spanish and Mexican rule, Jacksonian agrarianism, and frontier radicalism.
The Texas Constitution's length and complexity have had consequences. Some sections have required clarification or interpretation by the Texas Supreme Court due to their obscure or poorly drafted nature. Additionally, the document's cumbersomeness has led to frequent amendments and revisions to keep it up-to-date and relevant. Despite this, Texans have retained the Constitution of 1876, demonstrating its resilience and adaptability to the changing needs of the state.
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Frequently asked questions
The current Texas Constitution was first drafted in 1876 and is the seventh in Texas history.
The Texas Constitution is one of the most verbose of state constitutions with over 63,000 words.
The Texas Constitution establishes the structure and function of the government of Texas and enumerates the basic rights of its citizens.
Since 1876, the legislature has proposed 656 constitutional amendments, with 474 being approved by Texas voters.
The Texas Constitution contains a bill of rights, which guarantees liberties such as freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. It also includes provisions on land law, debtor relief, judicial procedures, marital relations, and mineral rights.
