The Seven Texas Constitutions

1
The Seven Texas Constitutions

• 1827 - Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas
• 1836 - Constitution of the Republic
• 1845 - Constitution of 1845
• 1861 - Civil War Constitution
• 1866 - Constitution of 1866
• 1869 - Reconstruction Constitution
• 1876 - Texas Constitution

2
The Constitution of 1876

• Written at Constitutional Convention convened in
  Austin on September 6, 1875
• Reaction to Corruption
• Strong Influence of Agricultural Interests.
• Attempt to restore government to the people.
• Attempt to reestablish economic stability
• Antigovernment
• Local Control
• Limits on Taxation
• Increased limits on legislature, courts, and
  governor
• Agriculture protected from intrusion and
  taxation.

3
General Principles of the Texas Constitution

• Popular Sovereignty
• Limited Government
• Separation of Powers
• Three Branches of Government
• Checks and Balances
• Elected Judiciary

4
Amending the Texas Constitution

• Proposed Constitutional Amendments can only be
  submitted by the legislature.
• Texas Citizens Cannot Place Amendments on the
  Ballot
• Requires a 2/3 vote in both houses of the
  Legislature.
• Adoption requires passage by a majority of
  voters.
• 390 Amendments were Approved by 1999

5
Texas Recent Attempts at Constitutional Reform

• 1971 Leadership in legislature backs a
  full-scale constitutional revision.
• 1972 Voters approve a constitutional amendment
  that specifies that a constitutional convention
  would comprise House and Senate members elected
  the same year.
• 1973 Legislature creates a 37 member
  Constitutional Revision Commission to hold
  hearings and make recommendations to the
  Convention.
• January 8, 1974 State Constitutional Convention
  convenes.
• July 30, 1974 State Constitutional Convention
  ends in failure.
• 1971-1999 171 amendments approved by Texas
  voters.

6
Texas Constitution Prospects for Future Change

• Texas Has History of Suspicion of Government
• Most laypersons fear governmental abuses and
  excesses more than they worry about the
  governments inability to respond quickly and
  efficiently.
• Groups and Interests Benefit from Existing
  Constitution
• Have demonstrated collective resolve to minimize
  change.
• Extremely Complex Document
• The complexity of the document makes it difficult
  for the average voter to understand.
• As a result -- Citizens have not Exerted
  Large-Scale Pressure for Constitutional Revision.