82R13262 TJB-F
By: Rodriguez S.J.R. No. 43
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment to establish certain
principles and procedures for the drawing of congressional
districts.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
adding Section 28-a to read as follows:
Sec. 28-a. (a) The legislature's authority established by
Section 1 of this article includes the authority to enact
congressional redistricting plans for this state following a
federal decennial census. When enacting a congressional plan, the
legislature shall comply with the following principles to the
extent practicable and authorized by law:
(1) districts must keep intact identifiable
communities of interest defined by social, economic, racial,
ethnic, cultural, industrial, commercial, or geographic
commonalities;
(2) districts must respect the integrity of the
state's basic geographical regions;
(3) districts must be geographically compact and
composed of convenient contiguous territory;
(4) districts must be coterminous with the boundaries
of counties and municipalities and not unnecessarily divide
counties or municipalities;
(5) districts must be composed solely of undivided
census tracts;
(6) districts may not be drawn based on partisan
political considerations or with intent to favor or disfavor any
specific person, political party, or other organization;
(7) districts must be as nearly equal in population as
practicable and feasible in accordance with these principles; and
(8) redistricting plans must comply with state and
federal constitutional requirements.
(b) The Supreme Court of Texas has original jurisdiction of
a legal challenge to a congressional redistricting plan enacted by
the legislature.
(c) The legislature may not redistrict this state's
congressional districts more than once following each federal
decennial census except to replace a plan ordered by a court with a
plan enacted by the legislature.
SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2011.
The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment to establish fair
redistricting principles and procedures for the drawing of
congressional districts for the State of Texas."