Texas Constitutional Convention Updates
Texas
Constitutional Convention Updates
Section 1. National and county governments are authorized to retain title to publicly owned rights of way which exist at the time of ratification of this constitution.
Section 2. The national government is authorized to retain title to those lands and buildings constituting the Capitol grounds in Austin, Texas at the time of the ratification of this constitution.
Section 3. County governments are authorized to retain title to the lands and buildings constituting the county courthouse grounds at the time of the ratification of this constitution.
Section 4. Title to other lands and buildings may be held by county governments upon the approval of two thirds of the voters of any county.
Section 5. A Texas citizen is:
a. an individual born on the soil of Texas or one whose parents were both born on the soil of Texas, and who voluntarily declares citizenship; or
b. one who has physically domiciled on the soil of Texas for not less than six consecutive months prior to affirming adherence to this constitution through voluntary affidavit.
Section 6. Individuals may retain citizenship in any nation of their choice.
Section 7. Texas boundaries shall be as herein defined. Beginning eastmost at the geographic center of the Sabine River northerly following the geographic center through Sabine Lake and Sabine Pass to 32° Latitude. All islands existing prior to April 8, 1812 belong to Louisiana. All islands formed after April 8, 1812 on the west side belong to Texas and on the east side belong to Louisiana. Continue due north to the Red River. Follow the geographic center of the Red River westerly to the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. Continue westerly along the Prairie Dog Town Fork to 100° Longitude, proceed due north to 30° 36' Latitude, due west to 2 miles west of 103° Longitude, due south to 32° Latitude, and then due west to the Rio Grande River otherwise known as the Rio Bravo del Norte. Follow the Rio Grande along its deepest channel to the Gulf of Mexico. Follow the Gulf of Mexico easterly to the geographic center of the Sabine River. All islands along the coastline of Texas belong to Texas.
Section 8. New territory may be annexed to existing Texas boundaries by treaty when approved by three fourths of all members of the National Assembly.
Section 9. The national government is authorized to retain title to real property known as military installations.
Section 10. All officers elected or appointed or any agent of government shall take the following oath of office:
"I, (name), being fully aware of the consequences of exceeding the authority of my office, do solemnly affirm that I will adhere to the Texas constitution in its entirety, and will perform the functions of the office of (office) to the best of my abilities."
Section 11. Words used in this constitution are defined in Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, based on the Second Edition of The Random House Dictionary of the English Language, the Unabridged Edition, copyright 1993, 1987; copyright 1996 by Random House Value Publishing, Inc.; published 1996 by Barnes & Noble Books, ISBN 0-7607-0288-8.
Copyright at Common Law, West El Paso Information Network, 1998
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