Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.

Previous Texas Constitutions

Since the 1500's when the Spanish claimed the territory, present-day Texas has been part of Spain, France, Mexico, the Confederacy, and the United States of America. It was also an independent republic.

Between 1824 and 1876, nations drafted founding documents which established the entity of Texas and defined the rights of its citizens and the powers of government.

1824–1876 — Texas Constitutions Digitization Project (Tarlton Law Library)
This digital collection of Texas Constitutions was created by the Tarlton Law Library at the University of Texas. It provides access to all Constitutions from 1824 to 1876 along with convention journals, debates, and ordinances. This resource also offers an extensive annotated bibliography for additional research.
1824, 1827, and 1836 — Gammel's Laws of Texas, V. 1 (Gammel, 1898)
Contains text of the Texas Constitution as of 1824, 1827, and 1836. Available online through the University of North Texas's Portal to Texas History.
1836, 1845 — A Digest of the Laws of Texas (Hartley, 1850)
Includes text of the Texas Constitution as of 1836 (p. 25) and 1845 (p. 50). Available online through HathiTrust.
1836, 1845, 1866 — A Digest of the Laws of Texas (Paschal, 2nd ed., 1870)
Includes text of the Texas Constitution as of 1836 (p. 31), 1845 (p. 47), and 1866 (p. 929). Available online through HathiTrust. Also available in print in the library's archive. The library also has a print copy of the first edition (1866).
1845 — A Digest of the General Statute Laws of the State of Texas (Oldham & White, 1859)
Includes text of the Texas Constitution as of 1845 (p. 13). Available online through HathiTrust.

Books at the Library

1925–current — Vernon’s Texas Statutes Annotated
Annotated editions of the Texas Constitution.

Current Texas Constitution

The current Constitution of the State of Texas was originally approved in 1876 and is regularly amended.

Texas Constitution
This is a browsable version of the constitution. PDF downloads are certified by the Texas Legislative Council as required by law.
Texas Constitution
The Texas Legislative Council publishes a booklet (also available online as a PDF document) containing the current state Constitution. It is published every two years to reflect new amendments.
Constitution of the state of Texas: adopted by the Constitutional Convention convened at Austin, September 6th, 1875
Includes the text of the 1876 state constitution. Also available in the library's archives.
Constitution of the State of Texas: An Annotated and Comparative Analysis
This 1977 work is known as Braden's Annotated Texas Constitution. It covers the origins, historical development, and contemporary meaning of each section of the Texas Constitution. The authors also provides history and interpretive commentary throughout.
Amendments to the Texas Constitution Since 1876
Published by the Texas Legislative Council, this publication seeks to clarify the lengthy amendatory history of the state constitution. Per the preface "Since 1876, the legislature has proposed 656 constitutional amendments, and 653 have gone before Texas voters. Of the amendments on the ballot, 474 have been approved by the electorate and 179 have been defeated. The other three amendments never made it to the ballot for reasons that are historically obscure."
Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments, 2001-present
Before each election that has proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution on the ballot, the Texas Legislative Council produces this publication. Included are the text of the joint resolution, ballot language, background and analysis of the proposal, and arguments for and against passage of the measure. 1983-2009 also available in print at the library.

Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.

Texas State
Law Library

Historical Texas Statutes & Constitutions

Previous Texas Constitutions

Books at the Library

Current Texas Constitution