Article 17 of the texas constitution of 1876 pdf

From 1876 through january 2015, the texas state legislature proposed 666 amendments to the state. Download the pdf version of the text click the image to view full size. Texas constitution of 1876 flashcards and study sets quizlet. After a wild session, the delegates adjourned without completing their work. The texas constitution is the basic governing document of the state of texas. Section 1 gave companies the right to build railroads in texas and. The constitution of the republic of texas 1836, the first angloamerican constitution to govern texas, was drafted by a convention. Article 1 bill of rights that the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare. Death, resignation, refusal to serve, removal, inability to serve, impeachment or absence.

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. The opening of the handwritten texas constitution of 1876. Like other state constitutions, the texas constitution of 1876 was much more detailed than the u. The current texas constitution is the seventh constitution in texas history. Article x of the texas constitution of 1876 covers railroad companies and the creation of the railroad commission of texas. Image available on the internet and included in accordance with title 17 u. 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. 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. Constitution of the state of texas, 1866 from gammels laws of texas, vol. The 1876 constitution created three branches of government, with separa. The legislature was to be composed of two houses, a. Start studying constitution of the state of texas 1876.

Oct 19, 2017 amendments are proposed by our elected officials and voting for or against their policies holds them accountable for their actions. The texas constitution preamble humbly invoking the blessings of almighty god, the people of the state of texas, do ordain and establish this constitution. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Article 1 is the texas constitutions bill of rights. 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. Constitution, therefore making it the second longest state constitution in america 2nd only to alabamas.

Texas state historical society, constitution of 1876 additional reading. General laws shall be enacted providing for the creation of private corporations, and shall therein provide fully for the adequate protection of the public and of the individual stockholders. Bill of rights, constitution of the state of texas 1876. Debt limit welfare spending limit payasyougo limit limit on the growth of certain appropriations a. Article i bill of rights that the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare. Texas is a free and independent state, subject only to the constitution of the. The current texas state constitution took effect in 1876. Constitution of the republic of texas the handbook of. Consequently, the state has been forced to amend the document continually on a piecemeal basis. Bill of rights that the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare. 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. 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.

In 1868, another constitutional convention had to be called. From 1876 through january 2015, the texas state legislature proposed 666. The structure of the current constitution of texas constitution of 1876 is a preamble, 17 articles, and 491 amendments since 2015 2. The texas constitution includes four limitations on state spending. Article 1 bill of rights article 2 the powers of government. For similar provisions in constitution of 1868, see const 1868, art 1, 18, 23. If this act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this act takes effect september 1, 2019. The 1876 texas constitution, the fifth since statehood, had 289 sections organized into 17 articles. Constitution of the state of texas 1876 adopted february 15, 1876. Impeachment of the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer, commissioner of the general land office, comptroller, and the judges of the supreme court, court of appeals and district court shall be tried by the senate. Use this page to navigate to all sections within the constitution of the state of texas. The texas constitution preamble humbly invoking the blessings. The constitution of the state of texas is the document that establishes the structure and.

Handbook of texas article on the 1876 constitution. Texas constitution is one of the largest state constitutions in the u. Those which are legislative to one, those which are executive to another, and those which are judicial to another. This is the texas constitution but i have deleted a lot of many of the articles because they are really boring.

Amendments to the texas constitution since 1876 the. Constitution of the state of texas 1876 tarlton law library. The permanent university fund was established by the 1876 constitution of the state of texas. The constitution of the state of texas is the document that establishes the structure and function of the government of the u. The constitution of 1876 is texas sixth constitution and by far, represents the central rule that governs texas handbook of texas online. So, i have read the entire thing, and all though there are many good points to the annotated 1876 texas constitution, as of recent times, the texas government has butchered this wonderful document. The legislative article defined the powers and limitations of the legislature in great detail. A strong separationofpowers tradition is a prominent feature of this law. Women were excluded along with persons under 21 years of age, paupers, idiots and lunatics, felons, and u. Bruff the constitutional law of texas, mirroring the states history, is rich, unique, and sometimes perplexing.

The texas legislative council publishes a comprehensive pdf list of all proposed. Electronic texts of the various texas constitutions, including the original, unamended text of the 1876 constitution. There shall be one general land office in the state, which shall be at the seat of government, where all land titles which have emanated or may hereafter emanate from the state shall be registered, except those titles the registration of which may be prohibited by this constitution. The current document was adopted on february 15, 1876, and is the seventh constitution in texas history including the mexican constitution. 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 constitution of 1866 did not go far enough for the radical republicans in washington who were in charge of reconstruction in the south.

Article 17 of the texas constitution is entitled mode of amending the. Mode of amending the constitution of this state notwithstanding the large number of amendments and proposed amendments that the texas constitution has had since its inception, the only method of amending the constitution prescribed by article 17 is via the legislature, subject to voter approval. We, the people of texas, in order to form a government, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence and general welfare. Texas constitution texas legislative council texas. Article vi of the texas constitution of 1876 covered suffrage. As a result, the state of texas has a constitution still in force that was originally written in 1876 that does not have the broad language and elasticity of the federal constitution frantz 125. This is findlaws hosted version of the constitution of the state of texas 1876. Constitution of the state of texas, 1876 article vi. If you wish to see a specific article, just click on it. No persons property shall be taken, damaged or destroyed for or applied to. 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. The original version of this 1876 constitution is viewable online on the university of texas school of law tarlton law library website at. The constitution underpinned texas relationship with the spanish and the mexican handbook of texas online.

Amendments are proposed by our elected officials and voting for or against their policies holds them accountable for their actions. The constitution of 1876 is the sixth constitution by which texas has been governed since independence from mexico was achieved in 1836. 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. 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. The texas constitution preamble humbly invoking the. 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. A strong separation of powers tradition is a prominent feature of this law. An amendment proposed in 1887 that would have allowed the legislature to provide for voter registration in cities of over 10,000 population and in such counties as it deemed advisable was rejected by the voters. Constitution of the state of texas 1876 const findlaw.

Amendments to the texas constitution from 1876present. To understand the texas constitution of 1876 is to first understand its historical context. Amendments to the texas constitution since 1876 pdf. Efforts to overhaul the texas constitution have failed. The current constitution runs 189 pages in 17 articles, with approximately 99,000 words texas legislative council 1. It originally had 289 sections organized into 17 articles.

Describe the evolution of texass previous constitutions and the historical. 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 sections. Read this complete constitution of the state of texas 1876 art. Constitution of 1876 the handbook of texas online texas. Initially, its assets included onetenth of university of texas at austin lands bordering the railroads ut austin was granted 1 million acres 4,000 km 2 in west texas as compensation as well as 1 million acres 4,000 km 2 additional. For more about the constitution of 1876, visit our texas treasures exhibit. 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. Fully 409 amendments were approved by texas voters between 1876 and 2002, while 172 were rejected. The constitution of the state of texas is the document that describes the structure and function of the government of the u.

Bill of rights constitution of the state of texas 1876. The power of impeachment shall be vested in the house of representatives. Choose from 500 different sets of texas constitution of 1876 flashcards on quizlet. Learn texas constitution of 1876 with free interactive flashcards. The texas constitution does not contain a necessary and proper clause like the u. It is the seventh constitution in the states history and the fifth constitution since texas achieved statehood. Seventyfive of the members of the convention were democrats, fifteen, including six black men, were republicans. Texas constitution 1876 texas still operates under the 1876 constitution today.

Framed by the constitutional convention of 1875, it was adopted february 15, 1876 by a vote of 6,606 to 56,652. Canadas constitution of 1867 with amendments through 2011. 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. Printed at the news steam book and job establishment. The present provisions of this section are similar to former 17 of article i as it existed prior to the 1971 revision. Texas is a free and independent state, subject only to the constitution of the united states, and.