The Texas Constitution of 1876 remains the foundation of state government. This constitution has enjoyed remarkable staying power, despite having been written as an extreme reaction to the deficiencies of the Constitution of 1869 and to the real and perceived abuses of brief but deeply despised Radical Republican rule. It has also endured despite subsequent strong and widespread dissatisfaction with the document, as the several attempts to rewrite it testify.

This is the cover of the original Texas constitution of 1876 housed at the Texas State Library. Scans of the original constitution are available at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/constitution/1875-cover.html.

In their strong rejection of the Radical Republicans, the delegates to the Convention of 1875 produced a plan of government that created a weak, decentralized, uncoordinated, and under-funded set of public institutions. As the state has grown in population and economic power, the limitations and inadequacies of these state institutions in carrying out the tasks of governing have become more apparent. As the following section illustrates, Texas is not alone in confronting a seemingly perpetual need to modify its constitution.