H.R. No. 169
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The year 2023 marks the bicentennial of the
establishment of the office of constable in Texas, and this
milestone anniversary provides a welcome opportunity to recognize
the outstanding contributions that have been made by these law
enforcement professionals through the decades; and
WHEREAS, The office of constable dates back at least to the
11th century in England and was later established in the British
colonies in North America; constables remained an integral
component of local law enforcement following the American
Revolution, and though their duties varied over time, constables
were often responsible for serving warrants, arresting offenders,
and generally upholding law and order; and
WHEREAS, The distinguished legacy of constables in Texas
began in 1823, when the area was still part of Mexico; on March 5 of
that year, John Tumlinson, the alcalde of the Colorado District in
Stephen F. Austin's first colony, appointed Thomas V. Alley as
constable, with Tumlinson stating that Alley's duties were "to
summon witnesses and bring offenders to justice"; when independence
was won in 1836, the Constitution of the Republic of Texas provided
for the election in each county of a sheriff and "a sufficient
number of constables," and 38 constables were eventually elected in
12 counties; and
WHEREAS, After Texas became a state in 1845, legislation
passed by state lawmakers declared that the constable should be
"the conservator of the peace throughout the county"; among their
other duties, constables were required to quell "riots, routs,
affrays, fighting, and unlawful assemblies" and to make arrests;
during the early statehood of Texas, constables were the most
active law enforcement officials in many counties; and
WHEREAS, Following the Civil War, the election of county
officials virtually ceased, but a major change came with the Texas
Constitution of 1876, which reinstated the election of constables
at the precinct level; today, constables are elected from precincts
in most Texas counties, and these licensed peace officers carry out
a range of essential functions, including serving warrants and
civil papers, such as subpoenas and temporary restraining orders,
issuing traffic citations, and serving as bailiffs for justice of
the peace courts; and
WHEREAS, Continuing to build on a proud and storied
tradition, Texas constables play an important role in enforcing the
rule of law, and it is a pleasure to join in celebrating this
significant anniversary; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the bicentennial of the
establishment of the office of constable in Texas and extend
sincere appreciation to all constables in the state for their
exceptional work.
Harris of Williamson
Phelan Guerra Murr Phelan Guerra Murr
Phelan Guerra Murr
Allen Guillen Neave Criado Allen Guillen Neave Criado
Allen Guillen Neave Criado
Allison Harless Noble Allison Harless Noble
Allison Harless Noble
Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
Ashby Harrison Orr Ashby Harrison Orr
Ashby Harrison Orr
Bailes Hayes Ortega Bailes Hayes Ortega
Bailes Hayes Ortega
Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
Bernal Herrero Perez Bernal Herrero Perez
Bernal Herrero Perez
Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
Bonnen Holland Price Bonnen Holland Price
Bonnen Holland Price
Bowers Howard Ramos Bowers Howard Ramos
Bowers Howard Ramos
Bryant Hull Raney Bryant Hull Raney
Bryant Hull Raney
Buckley Hunter Raymond Buckley Hunter Raymond
Buckley Hunter Raymond
Bucy Isaac Reynolds Bucy Isaac Reynolds
Bucy Isaac Reynolds
Bumgarner Jetton Rogers Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
Canales Kacal Schofield Canales Kacal Schofield
Canales Kacal Schofield
Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr. Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
Cole Kitzman Shine Cole Kitzman Shine
Cole Kitzman Shine
Collier Klick Slaton Collier Klick Slaton
Collier Klick Slaton
Cook Kuempel Slawson Cook Kuempel Slawson
Cook Kuempel Slawson
Cortez Lalani Smith Cortez Lalani Smith
Cortez Lalani Smith
Craddick Lambert Smithee Craddick Lambert Smithee
Craddick Lambert Smithee
Cunningham Landgraf Spiller Cunningham Landgraf Spiller
Cunningham Landgraf Spiller
Darby Leach Stucky Darby Leach Stucky
Darby Leach Stucky
Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson
Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson
Dean Longoria Talarico Dean Longoria Talarico
Dean Longoria Talarico
DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper
DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper
Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry
Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry
Dutton Lozano Thimesch Dutton Lozano Thimesch
Dutton Lozano Thimesch
Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria
Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria
Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris
Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris
Frazier Martinez Tinderholt Frazier Martinez Tinderholt
Frazier Martinez Tinderholt
Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth
Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth
Garcia Metcalf Troxclair Garcia Metcalf Troxclair
Garcia Metcalf Troxclair
Gates Meyer Turner Gates Meyer Turner
Gates Meyer Turner
Gerdes Meza VanDeaver Gerdes Meza VanDeaver
Gerdes Meza VanDeaver
Geren Moody Vasut Geren Moody Vasut
Geren Moody Vasut
Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo
Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo
Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle
Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle
González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson
González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson
González of El Paso Morrison Wu González of El Paso Morrison Wu
González of El Paso Morrison Wu
Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener
Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 169 was adopted by the House on March 7,
2023, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Phelan Guerra Murr
Allen Guillen Neave Criado
Allison Harless Noble
Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
Ashby Harrison Orr
Bailes Hayes Ortega
Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
Bernal Herrero Perez
Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
Bonnen Holland Price
Bowers Howard Ramos
Bryant Hull Raney
Buckley Hunter Raymond
Bucy Isaac Reynolds
Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
Canales Kacal Schofield
Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
Cole Kitzman Shine
Collier Klick Slaton
Cook Kuempel Slawson
Cortez Lalani Smith
Craddick Lambert Smithee
Cunningham Landgraf Spiller
Darby Leach Stucky
Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson
Dean Longoria Talarico
DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper
Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry
Dutton Lozano Thimesch
Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria
Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris
Frazier Martinez Tinderholt
Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth
Garcia Metcalf Troxclair
Gates Meyer Turner
Gerdes Meza VanDeaver
Geren Moody Vasut
Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo
Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle
González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson
González of El Paso Morrison Wu
Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener