The Texas Constitution establishes the structure and purpose of the Texas government. It is the governing document for the state.

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.

Our current constitution took effect on February 15, 1876. It has been amended many times since then.

Where can I read the official version of the Texas Constitution?

You can read the official text on the Texas Constitution and Statutes website.

The official publisher of the Texas Constitution is the Texas Legislative Council.

Can I get a certified copy of the Texas Constitution?

Certified copies of the Texas Constitution can be downloaded directly from the Texas Constitution and Statutes website.

On the Downloads page, download the Full Code PDF version. You should see a banner indicating the certification. Reach out directly to the Texas Legislative Council for assistance.

The Texas Legislature can propose amendments to the Constitution. Texas voters later decide whether to adopt the proposed amendments. Since 1876, the legislature has proposed hundreds of amendments, the majority of which have been adopted by voters.

Researchers can search for amendments, view analyses of proposed amendments, and see a list of amendment elections dates on the Legislative Reference Library's Constitutional Amendments page.

The Texas Legislative Council offers a table of constitutional amendments since 1876.

In 1972, Texas voters approved a revision of the Texas Constitution. The vote was called after the Texas Legislature passed a joint resolution. Prior to this revision, Professor George D. Braden and others began research in order to "provide information to aid the constitutional revision process."

The authors discuss the origins, historical development, and contemporary meaning of each section of the Texas Constitution and add interpretive commentary.

The library expresses its gratitude to the estate of George Braden and to the authors for allowing us to digitize and provide access to this book. Digitization was made possible thanks to a grant from the Appellate Section of the State Bar of Texas and with the authors' permission.

Books & E-Books

Present-day Texas has been part of Spain, Mexico, the Confederacy, and the United States of America. It was also at one point an independent republic. Between 1824 and 1876, these nations drafted founding documents that established the entity of Texas and defined the rights of its citizens and the powers of government.

The current Constitution took effect on February 15, 1876. A chronology of Texas Constitutions is listed below. Digital images of these versions 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.

Available Online