Constitutional Amendments

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Texas has one of the longest state constitutions in the country — and a big reason why; it's easy to amend. Since 1876, lawmakers have proposed more than 700 amendments, and voters have approved more than 500. In elections held in November of odd-numbered years, Texans get a rare opportunity to effect policy directly by voting "yes" or "no" on constitutional amendments. These changes can cover: Billions of dollars in state investment, major tax breaks for businesses and individuals, and even banning certain kinds of taxes altogether in the future. In the audio above, Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political science professor and co-host of Houston Public Media's Party Politics, breaks down the amendment process and discusses the importance of these amendments to Texas. Featured Guest: Alicia Pierce, Assistant Secretary of State for Communications at the Texas Secretary of State's office. You can find more Texperts at texperts.org and houstonpublicmedia.org