LibGuides: Texas State Government: Getting Started

Our buildings are closed, but we are here for you

UTSA Libraries are here to help during online instruction by providing access to a vast collection of digital resources and quality reference services via chat, email, and telephone. Librarians are also offering virtual consultations and instruction.

Read more here

Government Documents Librarian

Texas Quick Facts

Texas Quick Facts
From the U.S. Census Bureau, quick access to Texas Population, Housing, Demographic, Economic, and Business data from the Census, American Community Survey, and business and economic surveys.
Texas Fact Book
Legislative Reference Board
Location (print): JPL & Downtown Library HJ11 .T474
2014 / 2012 / 2010 / 2008 / 2006 / 2004 (.pdf)
Handbook of Texas Online
An online version of the Handbook of Texas. This encyclopedia gives information on the history, geography, and culture of Texas. Look up individual county names for a history of that county. Includes an article on defunct counties.
Also in print: JPL 2nd Floor Info Desk F384 .N48 (The New Handbook of Texas) (6 volumes)

Web Portals and Catalogs for Texas Information

Texas.gov: Official Web Portal of the State of Texas
Links to Texas Government resources on the web.
TRAIL: Texas Records and Information Locator
TRAIL searches and links to information from over 180 Texas state agency web servers. It also provides basic information about state agencies including contact, legal, budgetary and background resources on the alphabetical Texas State Agencies page.
Library Catalog of Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Searchable online catalog of the holdings of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) and five partner agencies. Useful for identifying Texas government publications. Not all items owned by TSLAC prior to 1976 are listed. Check UTSA catalogs for holdings.
State Agency Databases Project
Annotated list of databases from each state government listed by agency. Compiled by Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association (GODORT).

Texas Reference Center
Provides access to over 80 full-text journals and over 200 ebooks about Texas history, ethnic and cultural diversity, gender studies, literature, public health, and business. Includes biographies portraying famous historical and contemporary Texans.
Also includes Texas Almanac

Texas Town Database
Search Texas towns that previously or still exist for basic population and name data. From Texas Almanac.
Cracker Barrel Chronicles: A Bibliography of Texas Town and County Histories
Arranged alphabetically, this source provides a listing of periodical articles and books on the history of Texas counties.
F386 .J436 1965
TRAIL: List of Texas State Agencies
Links for each state agency for contact information, addresses, phone numbers and links to enabling legislation for that agency.
TARO: Texas Archival Resources Online
Contains collection descriptions or "finding aids" for the rich archival, manuscript, library and museum collections in repositories across the state available to the public.

TxDOT One-Stop: Demographic Data Analysis Tool
Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research

Texas State Flag

Flags & Other Symbols of Texas - Texas Almanac
Texas State Flag: General Provisions
Texas Government Code from Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Design of the Lone Star Flag
From Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Flag Status
Find out from the Office of the Governor if the flag is full staff or half staff, and why.

Texas Constitution

Texas Constitution (Texas Legislature Online)
An online version of the current constitution. It can be downloaded in its entirety, viewed by article, or searched.
Also see database of constitutional amendments (proposed & accepted) to the Texas Constitution.
Texas Legislative Council Online Publications
Texas Constitution, Amendments since 1876, proposed amendments, process and procedures, more
Vernon's Annotated Constitution of the State of Texas
Location: JPL 3rd Floor KFT1230 .A2 1876a (v.1-3)

Nexis Uni
For Texas Constitution go to
Menu > All Sources > search Texas Constitution
or select Texas Constitution in "A Publication" box

Texas Constitution Digitization Project
Twelve versions of Texas Constitutions dating from 1824-1876. Includes search engine.
Journal of the Constitutional Convention of the State of Texas
1875 (from LLMC Digital)