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 Tex

See Full Page