Malcolm Rivera
The Texas Constitution is the second-longest state constitution in the United States and is also the third-most amended. The Texas Constitution can be amended with a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval. Since 1876, the Texas Legislature has proposed 714 constitutional amendments, of which 530 were approved by voters. Amendments can be proposed by two-thirds of all members of each house of the Texas Legislature at any regular biennial session, with the proposed amendment being published in all newspapers that print official notices.
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What You'll Learn
Amendments require voter approval
The Texas Constitution is one of 11 state constitutions with no clear mechanism for calling a constitutional convention. It is the third-most amended state constitution, and the process of amending it requires voter approval.
The Texas Constitution has been in effect since 1876 and was designed to limit the legislature's centralized power and give a voice to citizens. It is highly restrictive, and as a result, many legislative actions require a constitutional amendment and voter approval.
Amendments to the Texas Constitution can be proposed by two-thirds of all members of each house of the Texas legislature at any regular biennial session, or at special sessions if the subject is included among the session's purposes for convening. The proposed amendment must be published in all newspapers that print official notices, with the first printing appearing between 60 and 50 days before an election, and the second the following week. A copy of the complete text of each amendment must also be posted in every county courthouse at least 30 days before the election.
The Texas Constitution requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments. Voters last approved amendments to the Texas Constitution on November 7, 2023, when 13 of the 14 amendments on the ballot were approved.
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The Legislature proposes amendments
The Texas Constitution is the second-longest state constitution in the US and the third-most amended. From 1876 to 2024, the Texas Legislature proposed 714 constitutional amendments, of which 530 were approved by voters.
Article 17 of the Texas Constitution, entitled "Mode of Amending the Constitution of This State", prescribes the procedure for amending the constitution. It requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments. According to Article 17, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide.
Article XVII, Section 1, of the Constitution of 1876 provides that two-thirds of all members of each house of the Texas legislature may propose amendments at any regular biennial session and specify the date on which proposed amendments will be submitted to the voters. Members of the legislature may also propose amendments at special sessions, as long as the subject is included among the session's purposes for convening.
The Texas Constitution can be amended with a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval. The proposed amendment must be published in all newspapers that print official notices, with the first printing appearing no sooner than 60 and no later than 50 days before an election. A copy of the complete text of each amendment is also posted in every county courthouse at least 30 days before the election. Amendments are usually voted on in the November general election or in a special election called by the legislature.
The Texas Constitution was designed to limit the legislature's centralized power and give a voice to citizens, requiring voter approval to carry out many legislative actions.
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Amendments limit state powers
The Texas Constitution is the third-most amended state constitution in the US. From 1876 to 2024, the Texas Legislature proposed 714 constitutional amendments, of which 530 were approved by voters. The Texas Constitution can be amended with a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval. A simple majority (50% plus 1) of voters is needed to approve constitutional amendments.
The Texas Constitution is designed to limit the legislature's centralized power and give a voice to citizens. It stipulates that the state of Texas has only those powers explicitly granted to it. Several of its provisions outline specific, fundamental limitations on the power of the state government. For example, Article 8 of the Texas Constitution places restrictions on the ability of the Legislature and local governments to impose taxes, including local property taxes, and prohibits the imposition of a statewide property tax.
Article 49 ("State Debts") limits the power of the Legislature to incur debt only for specific purposes stated in the Constitution. To allow the Legislature to incur debt for a purpose not stated, amendments to this section have been added and voted on by the people.
Additionally, Article 17 of the Texas Constitution outlines the procedure for amending the constitution. Two-thirds of all members of each house of the Texas Legislature may propose amendments and specify the date on which they will be submitted to the voters. The proposed amendment must be published in all newspapers that print official notices, with the first printing appearing between sixty and fifty days before an election, and the second printing the following week. A copy of the complete text of each amendment is also posted in every county courthouse at least thirty days before the election.
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Amendments can be proposed at biennial sessions
The Texas Constitution is one of 11 state constitutions with no clear mechanism for calling a constitutional convention. It is the third-most amended state constitution, with 528 amendments as of 2023. Amendments to the Texas Constitution can be proposed by the state legislature at biennial sessions, as per Article XVII, Section 1, of the Constitution of 1876. A simple majority (50% plus 1) of voters is required to approve these constitutional amendments.
The Texas Legislature has proposed 714 constitutional amendments since 1876, with 530 approved by voters, 181 defeated, and three that never made it to the ballot. The high number of proposed amendments is due to the document's restrictive nature, which limits the state of Texas to only the powers explicitly granted to it.
Proposed amendments cover a range of issues, from politically strategic matters like preventing a wealth tax to guaranteeing Texans' right to farm. Many are also budgetary workarounds to avoid hitting the state's spending cap.
The Texas Constitution's archaic nature, written as a reaction to previous iterations that gave more power to a state legislature viewed as corrupt, is a key reason why voters are frequently asked to approve amendments. The restrictive nature of the constitution means that even legislative actions require voter approval, leading to a high number of proposed amendments.
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Amendments are published in newspapers
The Texas Constitution is the third-most amended state constitution in the US. It has been amended 528 times since its adoption on February 15, 1876, with voters most recently approving amendments on November 7, 2023.
Amendments to the Texas Constitution are proposed by the state legislature, which can refer them to the ballot for voters to decide. A legislatively referred constitutional amendment requires voter approval, with a simple majority (50% plus 1) needed for an amendment to be approved.
The Texas Constitution was designed to limit the legislature's centralized power and give a voice to citizens, requiring voter approval for many legislative actions. This has resulted in a high number of proposed amendments being put to voters, with 714 proposed from 1876 to 2024, of which 530 were approved, 181 were defeated, and three never made it to the ballot.
In addition to publication in newspapers, a copy of the complete text of each amendment is posted in every county courthouse at least 30 days before the election.
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Frequently asked questions
The Texas Legislature can propose amendments to the Texas Constitution, which then require voter approval.
A simple majority (50% plus one vote) is required for an amendment to be approved.
Voters are frequently asked to approve amendments to the Texas Constitution. From 1876 to 2024, 714 constitutional amendments were proposed.
The Texas Constitution is archaic and highly restrictive. As a result, it needs to be amended frequently to give power to the legislature or citizens.
Copies of the proposed amendments are posted in every county courthouse at least 30 days before the election. They are also published twice in newspapers that print official notices, with the first printing appearing between 60 and 50 days before an election.
