• Cartoon: "In Search of the Texas Constitution" by Vern Herschberger (32)
  
  
• The American Federal Structure (33)
  • The Distribution of Powers (33)
    • Delegated and implied powers (34)
    • Limitations on the states (34)
    • Guarantees to the states (34)
  • Interstate Relations (35)
  • State powers (35)
  • An Evolving Process (36)
  
  
• The Texas Constitution: Politics of Policymaking (37)
  • Table 2.1 Comparative Data for Selected State Constitutions (37)
  • Historical Developments (38)
    • The first six constitutions (38)
    • Drafting the Constitution of 1876 (40)
  • Today: After More than a Century of Usage (41)
    • Distrust of government (41)
    • Need for amendments (41)
  
  
• Constitutional Revision and Amendments (42)
  • Major Reform Efforts (42)
    • Constitutional Revision Commission (43)
    • Legislative constitutional convention (43)
    • A legislative proposal (43)
    • The people decide (44)
    • Piecemeal revision (44)
  • The Amendment Process (45)
  
  
• The Texas Constitution: A Summary (46)
  • The Bill of Rights (47)
  • The Powers of Government (48)
  • Suffrage (48)
  • Local Governments (49)
  • Other Articles (49)
  
  
• Looking Ahead (50)
  
  
• Notes (50)
  
  
• Key Terms and Concepts (51)
  
  
• Selected Reading: "The Texas Constitution: A Patchwork Quilt?" by Joe E. Ericson
  • Frequency of Amendment (52)
  • Consequence of Frequent Amendment (53)
    • Excessive verbiage (53)
    • Needless detail (53)
    • Rigorous restraints (54)
    • Widespread disorganization (54)
  • The Final Result (55)