Texas Bill of Rights
Excerpts relating to Religious Liberty and Church/State Separation
Section 4 - Religious Tests
No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State;
nor shall anyone be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided
he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.
Section 5 - Witnesses not disqualified by religious beliefs: oaths and affirmations
No person shall be disqualified to give evidence in any of the Courts of this State on account of
his religious opinions, or for the want of any religious belief, but all oaths or affirmations shall be
administered in the mode most binding upon the conscience, and shall be taken subject to the
pains and penalties of perjury.
SECTION 6 - FREEDOM OF WORSHIP
All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of
their own consciences. No man shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of
worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent. No human authority ought, in any case
whatsoever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, and no
preference shall ever be given by law to any religious society or mode of worship. But it shall be
the duty of the Legislature to pass such laws as may be necessary to protect equally every
religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship.
SECTION 7 - APPROPRIATIONS FOR SECTARIAN PURPOSES
No money shall be appropriated, or drawn from the Treasury for the benefit of any sect, or
religious society, theological or religious seminary; nor shall property belonging to the State be
appropriated for any such purposes.
Excerpts relating to Religious Liberty and Church/State Separation
Section 4 - Religious Tests
No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State;
nor shall anyone be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided
he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.
Section 5 - Witnesses not disqualified by religious beliefs: oaths and affirmations
No person shall be disqualified to give evidence in any of the Courts of this State on account of
his religious opinions, or for the want of any religious belief, but all oaths or affirmations shall be
administered in the mode most binding upon the conscience, and shall be taken subject to the
pains and penalties of perjury.
SECTION 6 - FREEDOM OF WORSHIP
All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of
their own consciences. No man shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of
worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent. No human authority ought, in any case
whatsoever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, and no
preference shall ever be given by law to any religious society or mode of worship. But it shall be
the duty of the Legislature to pass such laws as may be necessary to protect equally every
religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship.
SECTION 7 - APPROPRIATIONS FOR SECTARIAN PURPOSES
No money shall be appropriated, or drawn from the Treasury for the benefit of any sect, or
religious society, theological or religious seminary; nor shall property belonging to the State be
appropriated for any such purposes.
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