Per the preface since 1876, the legislature has proposed 656 constitutional amendments, and 653 have gone before texas voters. The current document was adopted on february 15, 1876, and is the seventh constitution in texas history including the mexican constitution. Feb 11, 2020 text of the constitutions and foundational documents of the state of texas, with original document scans. Printed at the news steam book and job establishment. Describe the evolution of texass previous constitutions and the historical events that. Framed by the constitutional convention of 1875, it was adopted february 15, 1876 by a vote of 6,606 to 56,652. Report summarizing amendments to the texas constitution from 1876 through the november 20 constitutional amendment election, prepared by the research division of the texas legislative council.
Texas is a free and independent state, subject only to the constitution of the united states, and the maintenance of our free institutions and the perpetuity of the union depend upon the preservation of the right of local selfgovernment, unimpaired to all the states. Constitution of 1876 remains the current charter for the state. Their current constitution is based upon the 1876 constitution and had been amended 483 times since then. Texas constitution texas legislative council texas. Consequently, the state has been forced to amend the document continually on a piecemeal basis. Weaknesses and criticisms of the constitution of 1876 l excessive details l restricts state and local governments l has obsolete and contradictory language l 474 amendments due to changing needs l the amendment process l texas ranks fourth with 474 amendments through 2011. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. The 1876 texas constitution, the fifth since statehood, had 289 sections organized into 17 articles.
This legislature showed no more understanding than the creators of the 1876 constitution did with regards to the success of the federal constitution. Fully 409 amendments were approved by texas voters between 1876 and 2002, while 172 were rejected. The 1876 constitution created three branches of government, with separa. Constitution of the state of texas, library of congress. The preamble of the texas constitution of 1876 is a oneliner appealing for gods support to texans in establishing the constitution jamail center for legal research. It was framed by the constitutional convention of 1875 and adopted on february 15, 1876, by a vote of 6,606 to 56,652, and it remains the basic organic law of texas. Combined as a single state, texas and coahuila established a constitution in 1827. The structure of the current constitution of texas constitution of 1876 is a preamble, 17 articles, and 491 amendments since 2015 2. Because of its tight restrictions, it has had to be amended hundreds of times and is now considered to be one of the most disorganized and confusing of all state constitutions. Manual labor poor house and farm, for taking care of, managing, employing.
Constitutional change in texas during the reconstruction. Handbook of texas article on the 1876 constitution. The texas constitution preamble humbly invoking the blessings. The constitution is the foundational governing document of the state of texas. Constitution, therefore making it the second longest state constitution in america 2nd only to alabamas. C iti i f t c tit ti f 1876criticisms of texas constitution of 1876 yremains a 19th century constitution that does provide adequate fifd 1 2 ihifoundation for stgoverning in the 21st century. The current texas constitution of 1876 was the result of great debate and contention. Efforts to overhaul the texas constitution have failed. Amendments to the texas constitution since 1876, current.
Seventyfive of the members of the convention were democrats, fifteen, including six black men, were republicans. Published by the texas legislative council, this publication seeks to clarify the lengthy amendatory history of the state constitution. Describe how the constitution of 1876 addressed certain. It originally had 289 sections organized into 17 articles. The web site for the legislative reference library lrl has a constitutional amendment search and the texas legislative council offers a table of constitutional amendments since 1876 pdf, arranged numerically by article and section. Texas constitution researchers, then and now, find this publication an invaluable resource. Ray, director of the texas advisory commission on intergovernmental relations, states that the principal reason for the publication was to make the information available to the public. After a wild session, the delegates adjourned without completing their work. The house of representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several. Ericson, the delegates to the convention of 1875, southwestern historical quarterly 67 july 1963. The original version of this 1876 constitution is viewable online on the university of texas school of law tarlton law library website at.
In the decade following the civil war the texas political scene was dominated by revisionist activity with regard to the states constitution. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a congress of the united states, which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives. Although the document did contain an amendment process, it was so complex that. The new constitution of 1876, which was adopted by a vote of fiftythree to eleven, was submitted to the people in an election on february 15, 1876. Amendments to the texas constitution since 1876 pdf. This is findlaws hosted version of the constitution of the state of texas 1876.
The federal government later created the interstate commerce commission to regulate railroads, and eight of the nine sections all but section 2. Constitution of 1876 the handbook of texas online texas. The legislature shall have power to create counties for the convenience of the people, subject to the following provisions. The federal government later created the interstate commerce commission to regulate railroads, and eight of the nine sections all but section 2 of article x were repealed in 1969 as deadwood. The texas state legislature met as a committee of the whole in 1974 to create a replacement for the constitution of 1876. Several factors distinguished the period in texas politics from the adoption of a new constitution in 1876 to the final passage of sweeping changes in election laws in 1905. Constitutions of texas 18241876 constitutions of texas. Weaknesses and criticisms of the constitution of 1876 l. The constitution of 1866 did not go far enough for the radical republicans in washington who were in charge of reconstruction in the south. Amendments to the texas constitution since 1876 the portal. In that period the organic law of the state was altered three times, twice because of the exigencies of national reconstruction and a third time to satisfy the retrenchment impulses partially stimulated by the reconstruction experiment.
Ideally, a constitution should be a brief, flexible document that broadly defines. The headings to the individual sections of the texas constitution are, with a few exceptions. The current document was adopted on february 15, 1876, and is the seventh. However, the constitution of 1876 also created numerous independentlyelected county officers. Bill of rights that the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare. Like other state constitutions, the texas constitution of 1876 was much more detailed than the u. Because it was enacted mainly as a reaction to the real and perceived misuse of powers by the radical republican government, the original document placed tight restrictions on the powers of the government. The first legislature assembled after the adoption of this constitution shall provide a mode of procedure by the attorney general and district or county attorneys, in the name and behalf of the state, to prevent and punish the demanding and receiving. Original intent of the texas constitution texas public policy. Choose from 500 different sets of texas constitution of 1876 flashcards on quizlet. Seth shepard mckay, making the texas constitution of 1876 philadelphia. How, specifically, does the constitution of 1876 limit the power of government in each of the three branches.
Their current constitution is based upon the 1876 constitution and had been. Constitutions historical texas statutes and constitutions. Texas is a free and independent state, subject only to the constitution of the united states, and. The texas constitution preamble humbly invoking the. Part of the tarlton law libraryjamail center for legal researchs texas constitutions 1824 1876 digital collection. In 1868, another constitutional convention had to be called. Those which are legislative to one, those which are executive to another, and those which are judicial to another. The permanent university fund puf university of texas system. Amendments to the texas constitution since 1876, current through the november 3, 2015 constitutional amendment election one of 1,545 documents in the series. Texas constitution of 1876 flashcards and study sets quizlet. Constitutional convention of 1875 the handbook of texas.
Texas is a free and independent state, subject only to the constitution of the united states. Constitution of the state of texas 1876 const findlaw. Learn texas constitution of 1876 with free interactive flashcards. Democratic domination and a steady shift in interest away from the passions and issues of reconstruction set it. The texas constitution of 1876 is the fifth since statehood.
Constitution of the state of texas 1876 const tx const art. The constitution of 1876 is the sixth constitution by which texas has been governed since independence from mexico was achieved in 1836. Any railroad corporation or association, organized under the law for the purpose, shall have the right to construct and operate a railroad between any points within this state, and to connect at the state line with railroads of other states. The texas constitution preamble humbly invoking the blessings of almighty god, the people of the state of texas, do ordain and establish this constitution. Text of the constitutions and foundational documents of the state of texas, with original document scans. Since that time, they have had four newer state constitutions, 1861, 1866, 1869 and 1876.
The current texas constitution took effect on february 15, 1876. Use this page to navigate to all sections within the constitution of the state of texas. The permanent university fund puf is a sovereign wealth fund created by the state of texas to fund public higher education within the state. In fact, there was more debate over the education issue than any other. The permanent university fund puf is one of our states most unique, important, and enduring competitive advantages. Part of the tarlton law libraryjamail center for legal researchs texas constitutions 18241876 digital collection. Constitution of the state of texas, adopted by the constitutional convention, begun and held at the city of austin, on the sixth day of september, 1875. Council offers a table of constitutional amendments since 1876 pdf. Their first state constitution was enacted in 1845. Texas constitution 1876 texas still operates under the 1876 constitution today. Constitution of the state of texas 1876 leave a comment. Article x of the texas constitution of 1876 covers railroad companies and the creation of the railroad commission of texas. The texas constitution does not contain a necessary and proper clause like the u. Download the pdf version of the text click the image to view full size.
The powers of the government of the state of texas shall be divided into three distinct departments, each of which shall be confided to a separate body of magistracy. Because the document had not been prepared by a convention and. The texas legislative council publishes a comprehensive pdf list of all proposed. The present constitution adopted in 1876 required that each county have a commissioners court composed of the four precinct commissioners and the county judge. This established the commissioners court as the administrative body of the county. Moreover, the constitution is a lengthy document, drawing a word count of over 100,000 dye. The constitution of 1876 is the sixth constitution by which texas has. The constitution of the state of texas is the document that establishes the structure and function of the government of the u. Article 1 bill of rights that the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare. In the territory of the state exterior to all counties now existing, no new counties shall be created with a less area than nine hundred square miles, in a square form, unless prevented by preexisting boundary lines. The current texas constitution is the seventh constitution in texas history.
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