Texas Constitution
The Texas Constitution establishes the structure and purpose of the Texas government.
It is organized by articles. The first article sets 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:
- suffrage;
- public education;
- taxation;
- counties and municipalities;
- public lands;
- impeachment; and
- other general provisions, including modes of amending the constitution.
History
The current constitution took effect on February 15, 1876. This current constitution is the seventh in Texas history. The previous six were the:
- 1827 Constitution of the State of Coahuila and Tejas;
- 1836 Constitution of the Republic of Texas; and
- different versions of the constitution of Texas for the years 1845, 1861, 1866, and 1869.
Digital images of past constitutions are available through Texas Constitutions 1824-1876, a project of the Tarlton Law Library and the University of Texas at Austin's School of Law.
Amendments
The legislature can propose amendments to the state constitution. Texas voters later decide whether to adopt the proposed amendments.
Since 1876, the legislature has proposed hundreds of amendments. The majority have been adopted by voters.
The Legislative Reference Library has a constitutional amendment search. The Texas Legislative Council offers a table of constitutional amendments since 1876.