Texas Constitutional Convention Updates

Convention News Release - 15 July 1998

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 15, 1998

The Texas Constitution 2000 has been tentatively adopted by the Texas Constitutional Convention following action by delegates meeting on July 11. A transition plan was also approved at the 12th session, which was held at the Texas Tech University Center near Junction.

More than 50 "fine-tuning" motions were acted upon during the Saturday morning session, and the transition committee's plan was debated vigorously through the afternoon. "We are very pleased with the productivity of this 12th session," chairman Don Henson of El Paso commented. "We believe Texans will embrace this new constitution with enthusiasm."

The cornerstone of the Texas Constitution 2000 is the Declaration of Rights (Article 1), which defines individual rights in clear, unequivocal ordinary English. "We have from the beginning worked toward a concise document which leaves no doubts about our intentions," Henson added. Delegates to the convention have insisted that no part of the constitution could be in conflict with the Declaration of Rights. "We have drafted a constitution which binds the power of government, and places most political power at the county level," Henson explained.

Delegates plan to meet at least once more for a formal adoption ceremony, with a ratification committee now working toward a "Constitution 2000 Jubilee" in Austin within the next few months. The ratification process (Article 9) calls for the appointment of 12 Texans to lead the ratification effort. Ratification follows the model of the U.S. Constitution (Article VII), by establishing county ratification conventions.

The Texas Constitutional Convention was convened on July 4, 1997 at the historic Old Irion County Courthouse in Sherwood, and delegates have been meeting monthly and semi-monthly since then.

The full document and related information is available on the following Internet web site: <http://colossus.net/wepinsto/txconv/update.html> or at <rtmag.com> for a link.

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