Introduction: The Constitutions of Texas
Overview
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
A constitution is a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.
What distinguishes Texas from other states is its unique history as an entity—a state, a republic, a nation—and the documents that created Texas as we know it today.
Between the years of 1824 and 1876, Texas was at times a part of the United States of Mexico, an independent republic, a state within the Confederate States of America, and a state within the United States of America. Beginning in 1824, what we now know as Texas passed through many iterations—each with its own foundational documents. These founding documents legally established the entity of Texas, set forth the rights and responsibilities of its people, and defined the scope and powers of its government.
This chapter discusses those constitutions and introduces the Constitution of 1876–Texas’ current constitution.