Omar Bennett
The Texas Constitution has been amended 528 times, with the most recent amendments approved by voters on November 7, 2023. The Texas Constitution can only be amended via the Legislature, with a simple majority vote required for voters to approve constitutional amendments. Amendments are proposed by the Legislature, with a two-thirds majority required to place them on the ballot, and the Governor does not need to sign off on them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who has the final approval | Voters |
| How many amendments have been approved by voters | 528 |
| How many amendments were approved on November 7, 2023 | 13 out of 14 |
| How many amendments were approved in 1994 | 353 |
| How many amendments were approved in 1974 | 219 |
| How many amendments were approved in 1950 | 107 |
| Minimum votes required in the Texas House of Representatives for an amendment to be placed on the ballot | 100 |
| Minimum votes required in the Texas State Senate for an amendment to be placed on the ballot | 21 |
| Minimum votes required overall for an amendment to be placed on the ballot | 66.67% |
| Minimum votes required for voters to approve an amendment | 50% plus 1 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Texas Constitution can be amended after gaining a simple majority vote from the public
- Amendments are proposed by the Legislature, and do not require the governor's signature
- A two-thirds majority in the Texas Legislature is required to place an amendment on the ballot
- Amendments must be publicised in officially approved newspapers before an election
- Texas voters have approved amendments 353 times since 1876
The Texas Constitution can be amended after gaining a simple majority vote from the public
The Texas Constitution has been amended numerous times since its inception, and it continues to be a living document that can be modified to reflect the changing needs and values of the state and its citizens. The process of amending the Texas Constitution is outlined in Article 17, which specifies that amendments must be approved by the Legislature and, crucially, by a simple majority vote from the public.
This process of gaining public approval for amendments is a key feature of Texas's constitutional framework. It ensures that any changes to the fundamental laws governing the state are made with the consent and input of the people who will be impacted by them. The Texas Constitution does not provide for amendment by initiative or referendum, constitutional convention, or any other means besides this legislative process with voter approval.
To place a proposed amendment on the ballot for voter consideration, the Texas State Legislature must achieve a two-thirds majority vote during a legislative session. 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. Once an amendment clears this hurdle, it goes before the voters of Texas for their decision.
The Texas Constitution's amendment process is notable for its accessibility and responsiveness to the public. The Legislature is not restricted in the number of amendments it can propose, and voters have the power to approve or reject these amendments directly. This mechanism ensures that the state's constitution remains adaptable and reflective of the will of the people.
In recent years, Texans have continued to exercise their right to shape their constitution through the amendment process. On November 7, 2023, voters approved 13 out of 14 amendments on the ballot, demonstrating their active engagement in the constitutional evolution of their state. The Texas Constitution's amendment process, requiring legislative referral and a simple majority vote from the public, thus serves as a testament to the democratic ideals upon which the state was founded.
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Amendments are proposed by the Legislature, and do not require the governor's signature
The Texas Constitution has been amended 528 times, with voters approving 13 out of 14 amendments on November 7, 2023. Amendments are proposed by the Legislature and do not require the governor's signature. The Constitution does not provide for amendment by initiative or referendum, constitutional convention, or any other means.
Article 17 of the Texas Constitution outlines the process for amending the document, which is through legislatively referred constitutional amendments. A two-thirds vote (66.67%) is required during a 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. Once an amendment is passed by the Legislature, it is placed on the ballot for voter approval.
The Texas Constitution is unique in that it does not provide for amendment by initiative or referendum, constitutional convention, or any other means. The only method of amending the Constitution is through the Legislature, subject to voter approval. This means that any changes to the Constitution must be proposed and passed by the Legislature before being put to a vote by the people of Texas.
The process of proposing and passing amendments to the Texas Constitution has evolved over time. Since the days of the Constitution of the Republic of Texas, publicizing an amendment has been required. Proposed amendments must be published in officially approved newspapers, with the full text posted at each county courthouse at least 50 days before the election date. In 1972, an amendment was passed that allowed for the consideration and adoption of amendments during special sessions, opening the door for more comprehensive revision.
The Texas Legislature has been active in proposing amendments, with a record of 25 amendments proposed in a single election year in 1987. While some amendments have been successfully adopted, others have been rejected by voters. For instance, in 1975, the Legislature proposed eight amendments that were overwhelmingly rejected in 250 out of 254 counties. On the other hand, in 1995, voters approved an amendment that abolished the office of State Treasurer, transferring its duties to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts office.
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A two-thirds majority in the Texas Legislature is required to place an amendment on the ballot
The Texas Constitution can be amended with a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval. The Texas Constitution provides one mechanism for amending the state's constitution, and a two-thirds majority in the Texas Legislature is required to place an 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.
Article 17 of the Texas Constitution prescribes the only method of amending the Constitution: via the Legislature, subject to voter approval. The Constitution does not provide for amendment by initiative or referendum, constitutional convention, or any other means. 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 of the amendments has been included among the session's purposes for convening.
The Texas Legislature has proposed hundreds of amendments since 1876, and over half have been approved by Texas voters. For example, in 1995, voters approved an amendment abolishing the office of State Treasurer and moving its duties to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts office. In 1979, the Legislature placed four amendments on the ballot, three of which were approved by voters. One amendment created a single property tax "appraisal district" in each county to provide a uniform appraised value for all property in a county applicable to all taxing authorities.
On November 7, 2023, voters approved 13 of the 14 amendments on the ballot. Texans had the opportunity to approve the amendments with a majority vote. The two proposed amendments that appeared on the ballot for the May 7, 2022, election were required to be approved by at least two-thirds of the members of both the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives.
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Amendments must be publicised in officially approved newspapers before an election
The Texas Constitution, since its inception, has had a large number of amendments and proposed amendments. The only method of amending the Constitution, as prescribed by Article 17, is via the Legislature, subject to voter approval. The Constitution does not provide for amendment by initiative or referendum, constitutional convention, or any other means.
Amendments to the Texas Constitution must be publicised in officially approved newspapers before an election. Article XVII, Section 1, of the Constitution of 1876, states that the proposed amendment must be published in all officially approved newspapers. The first publication can appear no sooner than sixty and no later than fifty days before an election, and the second is published on the same day of the following week. The secretary of state's office is responsible for preparing explanatory statements and arranging for newspaper publication. These explanatory statements require approval by the attorney general.
The Texas Constitution requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments. A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Texas State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That 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 Texas Constitution has been amended 528 times, with voters last approving amendments on November 7, 2023, when 13 of the 14 amendments on the ballot were approved. The process of amending the Texas Constitution has been in place since the Constitution of the Republic of Texas, which required the publicizing of amendments.
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Texas voters have approved amendments 353 times since 1876
The Texas Constitution can be amended through a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval. The Texas Constitution does not provide for amendment by initiative or referendum, constitutional convention, or any other means.
Texas voters have a history of approving and rejecting amendments. For example, in 1975, voters rejected all eight amendments proposed by the Legislature, except in Duval and Webb counties. In 1995, voters approved an amendment that abolished the office of State Treasurer and transferred its duties to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts office. In 1998, a bipartisan effort produced a rewritten constitution, but it failed to gain support in committee. On November 7, 2023, Texas voters approved 13 out of 14 amendments on the ballot.
The process of amending the Texas Constitution involves publicizing proposed amendments. According to Article 17, the Legislature must publish a notice in officially approved newspapers, summarising each amendment and how it will be described on the ballot. The full text of each amendment must also be posted at each county courthouse at least 50 days before the election date. Additionally, the secretary of state's office is responsible for preparing explanatory statements for newspaper publication, which require approval by the attorney general.
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Frequently asked questions
Texas voters have the final approval of amendments to the Texas Constitution.
The Texas Constitution can be amended with a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval. Amendments can be proposed by two-thirds of all members of each house of the Texas Legislature at any regular biennial session.
There has been no limitation on the number of amendments proposed to the Texas Constitution. By the end of 1994, 521 amendments had been proposed, and 353 had been approved by Texas voters. The current Texas Constitution has been amended 528 times.
Voters approved 13 of the 14 amendments on the ballot on November 7, 2023.
