By: Anderson of McLennan H.C.R. No. 178
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The current Texas Constitution is this state's fifth
charter document since statehood, having been formed on the basis
of previous documents dating back to the days when Texas was an
independent republic; and,
WHEREAS, The proud independence of Texas has carried forth
inimitably through each of its constitutions, in both the Republic
of Texas and State of Texas constitutions, granting the government
limited powers and giving broad control to voters, thereby
embodying the principle of "consent of the governed"; and,
WHEREAS, First enacted in 1876, the Texas Constitution was
organized into 289 sections contained within 17 articles outlining
the scope, role, and limitations of governance in this state; and,
WHEREAS, Through proposed changes sent to Texas voters by the
legislature, sections within those same 17 articles have been added
and deleted, bringing our current document to 383 sections; and,
WHEREAS, The Texas Constitution of 1876 has expanded through
the ratification of proposed amendments, with 467 amendments being
approved, while 176 have been defeated; and,
WHEREAS, By far, the Texas Constitution is the nation's
lengthiest document; sections have been placed in the constitution
with apparent disregard for the appropriate article with which it
belongs; outdated bonding authority and other archaic references
remain bound in the document, despite previous attempts to address
non-substantive revisions to the Texas Constitution, the most
recent of which occurred in 1999; and
WHEREAS, The Texas Constitution of 1876 remains the Supreme
Law of the State of Texas, and a strong, independent statement
asserting the right of Texans to shape their government to their
view and their capacity to support it; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house
of representatives to create a joint interim committee to study a
non-substantive reorganization of the Texas Constitution; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That the committee submit a full report, including
findings and recommendations, to the 83rd Texas Legislature in
January 2013.