Texas Constitution

The Texas Constitution is the governing document for the state of Texas.

The current Constitution was adopted by voters in 1876.

The Constitution is highly restrictive: it states that the government has only the powers specifically enumerated therein (it does not have the state equivalent of the United States Constitution's "Necessary and Proper Clause") and also significantly limits the government's ability to take on debt and/or pledge the state's credit for certain obligations. As such, through the end of the 87th Texas Legislature (2022) 700 amendments have been proposed, of which the voters have approved 517, rejected 180, and interestingly three amendments never made it to the ballot. The number of amendments is somewhat unusual given that only the Legislature can propose amendments; the Constitution does not permit initiatives like in other states. Because of the frequent amendments, it is also the second-longest state constitution behind the extremely verbose Alabama Constitution.

Unlike the Alabama or United States Constitutions, amendments (or repeals thereof) are incorporated into the actual text. This has resulted in some odd numbering, because whatever number is assigned in the resolution proposing the amendment is the one used, even if another amendment with the same number is also proposed and approved: for example, Article III (dealing with the Legislature) has two separate sub-sections both numbered "49-n" and two other separate ones each numbered "49-d-14" (and a prior two numbered "49-g", though one of those was later repealed).

Its preamble states, "Humbly invoking the blessings of Almighty God, the people of the State of Texas do ordain and establish this Constitution."