Texas Constitutional Convention Updates

Convention News Release - 15 May 1998

Texas Constitutional Convention
Wesley W. Burnett, Publicity and Advertising Chairman - (806) 495-4135 or FAX (806) 495-2059

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 15, 1998

Fine-tuning the new Texas constitution and establishing procedures for ratifying the document kept delegates busy at the Texas Constitutional Convention's 11th session May 9-10 in San Antonio.

Action was taken on 52 motions for "fine-tuning" during Saturday's session. Among the decisions was the establishment of the Texas Constitution Ratification Fund, a pure contract trust organization designed to support the ratification effort.

"We will be recruiting 12 Texas citizens to serve on the ratification committee," chairman Don Henson explains. "Those 12 Texans will be paid for their services and will report to the convention." Henson also said that although there is still much work to be done on the new constitution, "we hope to have it completed by late summer or early fall."

The keystone of the new Texas constitution is its "Jeffersonian" principles outlined in the Declaration of Rights (Article 1). "The entire constitution is structured to support our individual rights," Henson added, "and we intend to mount a vigorous campaign to inform Texans about this historic opportunity to limit government in their private and economic lives."

The 12th Session, to be convened July 11-12 in Junction at the Texas Tech University Center, will focus on the transition plan. "We believe it is important to offer Texans a lawful, peaceful and orderly transition after the new constitution has been ratified," Henson said.

The draft constitution is available on the Internet at http://colossus.net/wepinsto/txconv/update.html

All Texas Constitutional Convention sessions are always open to the public, and interested Texans are encouraged and cordially invited to either participate as a delegate, as a proxy or to observe the proceedings. The convention was convened July 4, 1997 and delegates have been meeting the second weekend monthly to construct a new constitution to be presented to Texans for approval or rejection in a lawful and peaceful attempt to secure individual rights for all people in Texas.

The purpose of the Texas Constitutional Convention is to write a new Texas constitution, develop a plan for lawful ratification and a transition plan for the peaceful and orderly change of government. The convention is the first since 1836 convened by citizens through the right guaranteed by the 1876 Texas Constitution's Article 1, Section 2:

"All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit. The faith of the people of Texas stands pledged to the preservation of a republican form of government, and subject to this limitation only, they have at all times the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think expedient." Constitution of Texas, February, 1876.

Other contacts for additional information:
Wesley W. Burnett (806) 495-4135 or (806) 495-2816
Don Henson (915) 587-4616
Convention Updates at: <http://colossus.net/wepinsto/txconv/update.html>

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Copyright at Common Law, West El Paso Information Network, 1998