Judiciary of the Republic of Texas (1836–1845)
History of the structure and traditions of the judiciary during the years that Texas was an independent nation.
editorJune 10, 2025
The 10th Amendment in Texas Politics and Federal Jurisprudence
The Tenth Amendment is a foundational principle of American government that shapes how power is distributed between the national and state levels.
Constitution of 1845: Foundations of Statehood
The 1845 Constitution gave Texas its first stable framework of government as a U.S. state—melding republican principles, fiscal restraint, and frontier legal pragmatism into a durable institutional design.
editorMay 22, 2025
Constitution of Texas
Summary of key provisions of the state constitution of Texas
editorApril 18, 2025
Constitutional Spending Limits in Texas
Constitutional spending limits in Texas reflect a strong preference for fiscal restraint and limited growth of state government.
editorMay 12, 2025
The Confederate Constitution of Texas (1861)
Drafted in a wartime climate, the 1861 constitution enshrined slavery as permanent and untouchable law.
editorMay 22, 2025
The 1869 Texas Constitution and Reconstruction Rule
History of the 1869 constitution and the fierce resistance that followed it.
editorMay 4, 2025
The 1974 Texas Constitutional Convention That Failed
Large-scale structural reform effort for 100-year anniversary of Texas' constitution.
editorMay 4, 2025
The Failed 1999 School Finance Constitutional Amendment
In 1999, Texas lawmakers proposed a sweeping constitutional amendment to fix the state’s deeply flawed school finance system.
editorMay 4, 2025
How to Amend the Texas Constitution
Understanding the two-step process for changing the state constitution
editorApril 17, 2025
Checks and Balances in Texas Government
Texas’s system mirrors the checks and balances found at the federal level. However, Texas often goes further, dispersing power even more broadly.
editorMay 26, 2025
Texas Bill of Rights: An Overview
Summary of the state Bill of Rights and comparison to the U.S. Bill of Rights
editorJanuary 24, 2025
Constitutional Amendment Elections in Texas
Brief overview of constitutional amendment elections in Texas, including how they are called and how they work
editorApril 9, 2023