The Lubbock Avalanche Journal reminds us that the Texas Constitution bars atheists from holding public office. It’s never really been used to keep someone out of office, nor is it likely that any court would uphold it.
But the reason that the law professors give for why it’s still on the books — that the legislature doesn’t want to waste any time on it — doesn’t seem much of an excuse. We’re not talking about the U.S. Constitution, which has been amended only 27 times in 220 years. The Texas Constitution has been amended more than 450 times in just 133 years. It’s not some sacred text that we only rarely change.
Which, come to think it, again raises the question, if our constitution is so narrowly written that it requires our government to constantly make amendments, maybe we need a wholesale rewrite?
