User:Glide08/Sandbox/Texas

Edict[edit]

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS, to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting;

WHEREAS the People of Texas are desirous of constituting and establishing a Fourth Texan Republic, and have, by referendum held on the 15th day of June, 1948, through the affirmative vote of a majority of 77.2% of eligible voters, expressed their will to that effect;

AND WHEREAS the People of Texas have, by the same referendum, authorized their repsentatives elected in the same 15th day of June, 1948, to gather, as a Constituent Assembly, to draw up a new Constitution that matches the country's aspirations;

NOW KNOW YE that today, this 27th day of April, 1949, the political foundation for a new Texas has been laid according to the will of the Texan people, expressed through the said Constituent Assembly;

AND FURTHER KNOW YE that the said Constituent Assembly has revoked and determined, and does hereby revoke and determine, the existing Constitution of the Republic of Texas, and every clause, article or thing therein contained, having ordained and established, in lieu of the same, the following:

Preamble[edit]

WE, THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS,

in order to

form a government that matches OUR IDEALS, AIMS, AND ASPIRATIONS,
establish A DEMOCRATIC STATE based on the rule of law,
ensure DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY,
provide for the COMMON DEFENSE,
promote the GENERAL WELFARE,
guarantee our FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS,
and open up a path towards THE INSTITUTION OF A SOCIALIST SOCIETY,

so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured, a just social order attained, the unity of our country maintained, and concord established with other nations,

and having solemnly resolved to constitute Texas into a SOCIALIST REPUBLIC, and to promote among us all, and secure to ourselves and our posterity, the blessings of:

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
and FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the prosperity of the Nation;

IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this 27th day of April, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION, with the hope that this century will witness the establishment of a universal classless society and the downfall of all forms of exploitation of man by man.

Article I: The Texan Nation and Texan State[edit]

Section 1.: The Texan nation hereby affirms its inalienable, indefeasible, and sovereign right to choose its own form of Government, to determine its relations with other nations, and to develop its political, economic and cultural life, in accordance with its own will and traditions, based on its right to self-determination.

Section 2.: Texas is a free and independent State, in transition from Capitalism to Socialism.; The Texan State is a sovereign, indivisible, secular, democratic, federal, social Republic, organized on a decentralized basis.; The maintenance of the Texan State's free institutions depends upon the firm alliance of the workers, farmers, intellectuals, traders, students, craftsmen, petite bourgeoisie, artists, and soldiers, with the working class at its head.

Section 3.: The State shall ensure the equality of all citizens before the law, and the equality of their political rights, irrespective of religion, race or gender.; The State shall promote equal oppurtunities for all Texans, particularly including equitable access to elective posts and to professional and social positions.; The State shall respect all beliefs.

Section 4.: The national principle shall be government by, of and for the working people.; The national flag shall be of the following design: ⅓ of the hoist shall be blue, and contain a single centered white star. The remaining field shall be divided horizontally into two eqal bands - a white one at the top, and a red one at the bottom.; The national coat-of-arms shall consist of a shield, the lower half of which is divided into two parts; on the shield's lower left is a depiction of the cannon of the Battle of Gonzales; on the shield's lower right is a depiction of Vince's Bridge; on the upper half of the shield is a depiction of the Alamo; the shield is circled by live oak and olive branches, and the unfurled flags of the Kingdom of France, the Kingdom of Spain, the United Mexican States, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America; above the shield is emblazoned the motto, "REMEMBER THE ALAMO", and beneath the shield are the words, "TEXAS ONE AND INDIVISIBLE"; over the entire shield, centered between the flags, is a white five-pointed star.; The national anthem shall be "The Yellow Rose of Texas".; The national tree shall be the pecan.; The national flower shall be the bluebonnet.; The national animal shall be the Texas Longhorn.; The national capital shall be the complete and united city of Austin.

Section 5.: The English language, as the national language, is the first official language.; The Spanish language is recognised as a second official language.; Provision may be made by law for the exclusive use of either of the said languages for any one or more official purposes, either throughout Texas or in any part thereof.

Article II: The Powers of Government[edit]

Section 6.: National Sovereignty shall belong to the working people, whose right it is to designate the rulers of the State and, in final appeal, to decide all questions of national policy, according to the requirements of the common good.; No section of the working people, nor any individual, may claim the exercise of National Sovereignty to themselves alone.

Section 7.: All state power — legislative, executive and judicial — derives from the working people.; The working people shall exercise state power indirectly through elected representatives and legislative, executive and judicial state organs, both of which are controlled by them, and accountable to them, and directly by means of initiative, referendum, and recall.; All state organs and all political or quasi-political associations and organizations shall rely in their activity on the initiative and direct participation of the working people.

Section 8.: Suffrage shall be universal, equal, direct and by secret ballot. Every citizen shall have the right to exercise suffrage on reaching the age of 18.; The working people's elected representatives shall maintain constant contact with their constituents, shall heed their suggestions, shall be accountable to them for their activity, and shall report to them on their activity.

Section 9.: In order to participate fully and actively in the life of society and the State, the working people form voluntary associations, particularly including political parties, trade unions, and co-operative, youth, cultural, physical training and other organizations; political parties, in particular, play a role in the exercise of suffrage.; People's associations shall be unrestricted in their activities. They must respect the principles of socialism, national sovereignty, and democracy.

Article III: Directive Principles of State Policy[edit]

Section 10.: The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy, and works for friendly relations with all nations and to ensure lasting peace throughout the world. In its relations with other states, the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination.

Section 11.: Texas, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.

Section 12.: The State shall promote a just and dynamic socialist social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the working people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.

Section 13.: The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development.

Section 14.: The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.

Section 15.: The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution.; It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.; The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the Government.

Section 16.: The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in socialist nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being.; It shall inculcate in the youth socialism, patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.; The State recognizes the role of women in socialist nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men.

Section 17.: The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the working people and instill health consciousness among them.

Section 18.: The State shall protect and advance the right of the working people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

Section 19.: The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster socialism, patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.

Section 20.: The State shall direct its entire policy, and particularly its economic policy, so that the all-round development of production on the basis of the continuous advance of science and technology and increasing labor productivity shall ensure the completion of the transition to Socialism and the development and entrenchment of socialist society in Texas.

Section 21.: The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare.

Section 22.: The economic foundation of Texas shall be a socialist economic system, in which the means of production are socially owned. Its primary aim is to create and sustain a self-reliant and independent national economy effectively controlled by Texans and a continuous rise in the living standard of the working people.

Section 23.: The State recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector, encourages private enterprise, and provides incentives to needed investments.

Section 24.: The State shall promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform.

Section 25.: The State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development.

Section 26.: The State shall encourage non-governmental, community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote the welfare of the nation.

Section 27.: The State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in socialist nation-building.

Section 28.: The State shall ensure the autonomy of local governments.

Section 29.: The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.

Section 30.: The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption.

Section 31.: Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.

Section 32.: All citizens and all state and people's organizations shall direct all their activity according to the legal order of the socialist State, and shall see to the full enforcement of socialist legality in the life of society.; People's organizations shall guide citizens to uphold the law, to maintain working discipline and the rules of socialist conduct, and shall endeavor to forestall and prevent their violation.

Article IV: Human And Citizen Rights and Duties[edit]

Section 33.: In a socialist society of the working people, the advancement and interests of each member are in accord with the advancement and interests of the whole community.; The rights, freedoms and duties of citizens shall therefore serve both the free and complete expression of the personality of the individual and the strengthening and growth of socialist society; they shall be broadened and deepened with its development.

Section 34.: In a socialist society of the working people, the individual can fully develop his capabilities and assert his true interests only by active participation in the development of society as a whole, and particularly by undertaking an appropriate share of social work.; Therefore, work in the interests of the community shall be a primary duty and the right to work a primary right of every citizen.

Section 35.: All persons are created free and equal in dignity. They are endowed with inherent inalienable rights, neither abridgable nor deniable by any law, decree, or judgment, which include the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Therefore, all persons shall have equal rights and equal duties.; The equality of all citizens without regard to nationality and race shall be guaranteed.; Men and women shall have equal status in the family, at work and in public activity.; The society of the working people shall ensure the equality of all citizens by creating equal possibilities and equal opportunities in all fields of public life.

Section 36.: All persons shall have the right to develop themselves and their personality as they see fit, insofar as such development does not violate or infringe upon the rights of others.

Section 37.: No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.

Section 38.: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue except upon probable cause to be determined personally by the judge after examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant and the witnesses he may produce, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.; The privacy of communication, correspondence, telephone conversations, and telegrams shall be inviolable except upon lawful order of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise, as prescribed by law.; Any evidence obtained in violation of this section shall be inadmissible for any purpose in any proceeding.

Section 39.: All persons shall have freedom of speech, of expression, of correspondence, of the press, of association, and of assembly, meeting, procession, and demonstration.; All persons shall have the right to speak out freely, to express their opinions, and to air their views fully, through speech, writing, publication, illustration, or any other means.; All persons shall have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms without need of permission.; All persons shall have the right to petition the authorities of government, or the representatives of the people, for redress of grievances.; These rights and freedoms shall be ensured by making publishing houses and printing presses, public buildings, halls, and assembly grounds, as well as broadcasting, television and other facilities available to the working people and their organizations.; No law shall be passed abridging these rights and freedoms.

Section 40.: All persons shall have freedom of religion, that is, the right to profess or not to profess any religion, to practice and propagate a professed religion, and to conduct atheistic propaganda.; No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.; The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed.; No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.

Section 41.: The liberty of abode and of changing the same within the limits prescribed by law shall not be impaired except upon lawful order of the court. Neither shall the right to travel be impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law.

Section 42.: The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.

Section 43.: The right of the people, including those employed in the public and private sectors, to form unions, associations, or societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not be abridged.

Section 44.: Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.

Section 45.: No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed.

Section 46.: Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty.

Section 47.: Any person under investigation for the commission of an offense shall have the right to be informed of his right to remain silent and to have competent and independent counsel preferably of his own choice. If the person cannot afford the services of counsel, he must be provided with one. These rights cannot be waived except in writing and in the presence of counsel.; No torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation, or any other means which vitiate the free will shall be used against him. Secret detention places, solitary, incommunicado, or other similar forms of detention are prohibited.; No person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.; Any confession or admission obtained in violation of this section shall be inadmissible in evidence against him.; The law shall provide for penal and civil sanctions for violations of this section as well as compensation to the rehabilitation of victims of torture or similar practices, and their families.

Section 48.: All persons, except those charged with offenses punishable by life imprisonment when evidence of guilt is strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, or be released on recognizance as may be provided by law. The right to bail shall not be impaired even when the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended. Excessive bail shall not be required.

Section 49.: No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of law.; In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved, and shall enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel, to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against him, to have a speedy, impartial, and public trial, to meet the witnesses face to face, and to have compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence in his behalf.; However, after arraignment, trial may proceed notwithstanding the absence of the accused: Provided, that he has been duly notified and his failure to appear is unjustifiable.

Section 50.: The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in cases of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it.

Section 51.: All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.

Section 52.: No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations.

Section 53.: No slavery or involuntary servitude in any form shall exist except as a punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

Section 54.: No person may be treated in a way which is cruel, degrading, or inhuman.; Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment inflicted.; The employment of physical, psychological, or degrading punishment against any prisoner or detainee or the use of substandard or inadequate penal facilities under subhuman conditions shall be dealt with by law.

Section 55.: No person shall be imprisoned for debt or non-payment of a poll tax.

Section 56.: No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense. If an act is punished by a law and an ordinance, conviction or acquittal under either shall constitute a bar to another prosecution for the same act.

Section 57.: No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted.

Section 58.

All persons shall have the opportunity to earn their living in a freely-chosen occupation.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by the entire socialist economic system, which guarantees a continuous rise in the real value of remuneration and protects the right of the worker to earn his living in a freely-chosen occupation;

2. by free employment services for all workers established or maintained by the State;

3. by appropriate vocational guidance, training and rehabilitation, provided or promoted by the State.

The State shall follow a policy which will allow the achievement and maintenance of as high and stable a level of employment as possible, with a view to the attainment of full employment.

Section 59.

All workers shall have the right to just conditions of work.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by the legal regulation of working hours and paid holidays, particularly including a five-day workweek, an eight-hour workday, paid public holidays, and a minimum of four weeks' annual paid holiday;

2. by the elimination of risks in inherently dangerous or unhealthy occupations, and where it has not yet been possible to sufficiently eliminate or reduce these risks, to provide for either a reduction of working hours or additional paid holidays for workers engaged in such occupations;

3. by informing workers in writing, as soon as possible, and in any event not later than two months after the date of commencing their employment, of the essential aspects of their contract or employment relationship;

4. by giving workers performing night work the benefit of measures which take account of the special nature of their work;

Section 60.: All workers shall have the right to leisure.; This right shall be ensured by the attention paid by the State and people's organizations to ensuring the most fruitful use of the free time of the working people for recreation and for cultural life.

Section 61.

All workers shall have the right to safe and healthy working conditions.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by health and safety regulations enforced by measures of supervision;

2. by the promotion of the progressive development of occupational health services for all workers with essentially preventive and advisory functions.

The State shall formulate, implement and periodically review a policy on occupational safety, occupational health and the working environment. The primary aim of this policy shall be to improve occupational health and safety and to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with or occurring in the course of work, particularly by minimizing the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment.

Section 62.

All workers shall have the right to a fair remuneration sufficient for a decent standard of living for themselves and their families.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by the recognition and progressive implementation of the right of workers to a remuneration such as will give them and their families a decent standard of living;

2. by the recognition and progressive implementation of the right of workers to an increased rate of remuneration for overtime work, subject to exceptions in particular cases;

3. by the recognition and progressive implementation of the right of male and female workers to equal pay for work of equal value;

4. by the recognition and progressive implementation of the right of all workers to a reasonable period of notice for termination of employment;

5. by permitting deductions from wages only under the conditions and to the extent prescribed by laws or regulations or fixed by collective agreements or arbitration awards.

The exercise of these rights shall be achieved by freely concluded collective agreements, by statutory wage-fixing machinery, or by other appropriate means.

Section 63.: All workers and employers shall have the right to freedom of association in national or international organizations for the protection of their economic and social interests.; No law shall be passed abridging this right.

Section 64.

All workers and employers shall have the right to bargain collectively.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by the promotion and progressive implementation of joint consultations between workers and employers;

2. by the promotion and progressive implementation, where necessary and appropriate, of machinery for voluntary negotiations between employers or employers' organisations and workers' organizations, with a view to the regulation of terms and conditions of employment by means of collective agreements;

3. by the promotion and progressive implementation of the establishment and use of appropriate machinery for conciliation and voluntary arbitration for the settlement of labor disputes;

4. by the promotion and progressive implementation of the right of workers and employers to collective action in cases of conflicts of interest, including the right to strike, subject to obligations that might arise out of collective agreements previously entered into.

Section 65.

Children and young persons shall have the right to a special protection against the physical and moral hazards to which they are exposed.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by the prohibition of employment of persons under 14 years of age, other than children employed in prescribed light work without harm to their health, morals or education;

2. by the prohibition of employment of persons under 18 years of age in prescribed occupations regarded as dangerous or unhealthy;

3. by the prohibition of employment of persons under 18 years of age in night work, with the exception of certain occupations provided for by laws or regulations;

4. by the prohibition of employment of persons who are still subject to compulsory education in such work as would deprive them of the full benefit of their education;

5. by limiting the employment of persons under 18 years of age in accordance with the needs of their development, and particularly with their need for vocational training;

6. by the recognition and progressive implementation of the right of young workers and apprentices to a fair wage or other appropriate allowances;

7. by providing that the time spent by young persons in vocational training during the normal working hours with the consent of the employer shall be treated as forming part of the working day;

8. by providing that employed persons of under 18 years of age shall be entitled to a minimum of four weeks' annual holiday with pay;

9. by providing that persons under 18 years of age employed in occupations prescribed by national laws or regulations shall be subject to regular medical control;

10. by the promotion and progressive implementation of protective measures against physical and moral dangers to which children and young persons are exposed, and particularly against those resulting directly or indirectly from their work.

Section 66.

Employed women, in case of maternity, shall have the right to a special protection.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by paid leave, by adequate social security benefits or by benefits from public funds, given for employed women to take leave before and after childbirth up to a total of at least fourteen weeks;

2. by prohibiting employers from giving a woman under their employment a notice of dismissal during the period from the time she notifies her employer that she is pregnant until the end of her maternity leave, from giving her a notice of dismissal at such a time that the notice would expire during such a period;

3. by providing that mothers who are nursing their infants shall be entitled to sufficient time off for this purpose;

4. by the legal regulation of the employment in night work of pregnant women, women who have recently given birth and women nursing their infants;

5. by the prohibition of employment of pregnant women, women who have recently given birth or who are nursing their infants in underground mining and all other work which is unsuitable by reason of its dangerous, unhealthy or arduous nature, and the taking of appropriate measures to protect the employment rights of these women.

Section 67.: All persons shall have the right to appropriate facilities for vocational guidance with a view to helping him choose an occupation suited to his personal aptitude and interests.; This right shall be ensured by a service which will assist all persons, including the handicapped, to solve problems related to occupational choice and progress with due regard to the individual's characteristics and their relation to occupational opportunity, provided or promoted by the state and made available, free of charge, both to young persons, including schoolchildren, and to adults.

Section 68.

All persons shall have the right to appropriate facilities for vocational training.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by technical and vocational training of all persons, including the handicapped, in consultation with employers' and workers' organisations, provided or promoted by the state;

2. by the recognition and progressive implementation of apprenticeship and other systematic arrangements for training young boys and girls in their various employments;

3. by adequate and readily available training facilities for adult workers, particularly including special facilities for the retraining of adult workers needed as a result of technological development or new trends in employment, provided or promoted by the state;

4. by the promotion and progressive implementation of special measures for the retraining and reintegration of the long-term unemployed.

The State shall formulate, implement and periodically review a policy aimed to grant facilities for access to higher technical and university education based solely on individual aptitude.

The State shall encourage the full utilization of the facilities provided by appropriate measures, such as:

1. reducing or abolishing any fees or charges;

2. granting financial assistance in appropriate cases;

3. including in the normal working hours time spent on supplementary training taken by the worker, at the request of his employer, during employment;

4. ensuring, through adequate supervision, in consultation with the employers' and workers' organisations, the efficiency of apprenticeship and other training arrangements for young workers, and the adequate protection of young workers generally.

Section 69.

All persons shall have the right to benefit from any measures enabling them to enjoy the highest possible standard of health attainable.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by the promotion, progressive implementation and all-round expansion of medical services, health insurance and pension security;

2. by the provisions of advisory and educational facilities for the promotion of health and the encouragement of individual responsibility in matters of health;

3. by removing, as far as possible, the causes of ill-health;

4. by preventing, as far as possible, epidemic, endemic and other diseases, as well as accidents.

Section 70.

All workers and their dependents shall have the right to social security.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by the establishment of a social security system and its continued maintenance at a satisfactory level;

2. by the progressive raising of the social security system to higher levels.

Section 71.

Anyone without adequate resources has the right to social and medical assistance.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by benefits under a social security scheme which grant adequate assistance, and, in case of sickness, the care necessitated by the condition, to any person who is without adequate resources and who is unable to secure such resources either by his own efforts or from other sources;

2. by the provisions of advice and personal help as may be required to prevent, to remove, or to alleviate personal or family want.

Section 72.

All persons shall have the right to benefit from social welfare services.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by the promotion, progressive implementation and provision of services which, by using methods of social work, contribute to the welfare and development of both individuals and groups in the community, and to their adjustment to the social environment;

2. by the participation of individuals and voluntary or other organisations in the establishment and maintenance of such services.

Section 73.

Disabled persons shall have the right to independence, social integration and participation in the life of the community.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by measures necessary to provide persons with disabilities with guidance, education and vocational training in the framework of general schemes wherever possible or, where this is not possible, through specialized bodies, public or private;

2. by the promotion and progressive implementation of access to employment by disabled persons through all measures tending to encourage employers to hire and keep in employment persons with disabilities in the ordinary working environment and to adjust the working conditions to the needs of the disabled or, where this is not possible by reason of the disability, by arranging for or creating sheltered employment according to the level of disability. In certain cases, such measures may require recourse to specialized placement and support services;

3. by the promotion and progressive implementation among disabled persons of full social integration and participation in the life of the community, particularly through measures, including technical aids, aiming to overcome barriers to communication and mobility and enabling access to transport, housing, cultural activities and leisure.

Section 74.: The family as a fundamental unit of society has the right to appropriate social, legal and economic protection to ensure its full development.; This right shall be ensured by social and family benefits, fiscal arrangements, provision of family housing, benefits for the newly married and other appropriate means.

Section 75.

Children and young persons shall have the right to appropriate social, legal and economic protection.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by the promotion, progressive implementation and all-round expansion of care, assistance, education and training needed by children and young persons, taking account of the rights and duties of their parents, particularly by providing for the establishment or maintenance of institutions and services sufficient and adequate for this purpose;

2. by protection of children and young persons against negligence, violence or exploitation;

3. by protection and special aid from the state for children and young persons temporarily or definitively deprived of their family's support;

4. by providing children and young persons a free primary and secondary education as well as encouraging regular attendance at schools.

Section 76.

All workers shall have the right to equal opportunities and equal treatment in matters of employment and occupation without discrimination on the grounds of sex.

This right shall be ensured by measures to ensure or promote its application in the following fields:

1. access to employment, protection against dismissal and occupational reintegration;

2. vocational guidance, training, retraining and rehabilitation;

3. terms of employment and working conditions, including remuneration;

4. career development, including promotion.

Section 77.

Workers shall have the right to be informed and to be consulted within the undertaking.

This right shall be ensured by measures to enable workers or their representatives:

1. to be informed regularly or at the appropriate time and in a comprehensible way about the economic and financial situation of the undertaking employing them, on the understanding that the disclosure of certain information which could be prejudicial to the undertaking may be refused or subject to confidentiality; and

2. to be consulted in good time on proposed decisions which could substantially affect the interests of workers, particularly on those decisions which could have an important impact on the employment situation in the undertaking.

Section 78.

Workers shall have the right to take part in the determination and improvement of the working conditions and working environment in the undertaking.

This right shall be ensured by measures to enable workers or their representatives to contribute:

1. to the determination and the improvement of the working conditions, work organisation and working environment;

2. to the protection of health and safety within the undertaking;

3. to the organization of social and socio-cultural services and facilities within the undertaking;

4. to the supervision of the observance of regulations on these matters.

Section 79.

Every elderly person shall have the right to social protection, particularly including the rights:

1. to remain a full member of society for as long as possible;

2. to choose his life-style freely and to lead an independent life in his familiar surroundings for as long as he wishes and is able.

These rights shall be ensured:

1. by the provision of adequate resources enabling the elderly to lead a decent life and play an active part in public, social and cultural life;

2. by the provision of information about services and facilities available for elderly persons and their opportunities to make use of them;

3. by the provision of housing suited to the needs and state of health of the elderly or of adequate support for adapting their existing housing to be so suited;

4. by the provision of health care and other services necessitated by old age;

5. by appropriate support given to elderly persons living in institutions, while respecting their privacy, and by ensuring their participation in decisions concerning living conditions in the institution.

Section 80.

All workers shall have the right to protection in cases of termination of employment.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by providing that workers may not have their employment terminated without valid reasons for such termination connected with their capacity or conduct or based on the operational requirements of the undertaking, establishment or service;

2. by the provision of compensation or other appropriate relief to workers whose employment is terminated without a valid reason;

3. by the recognition and progressive implementation of the right of workers who considers that their employment has been terminated without a valid reason to appeal the termination to an impartial body.

Section 81.: All workers shall have the right to protection of their claims in the event of the insolvency of their employer.; This right shall be ensured by the establishment a guarantee institution or by any other effective form of protection of workers' claims arising from contracts of employment or employment relationships.

Section 82.

All workers shall have the right to dignity at work.

This right shall be ensured by measures to promote awareness, information and prevention of, and to protect workers from:

1. sexual harassment in the workplace or in relation to work and to take all appropriate measures to protect workers from such conduct;

2. recurrent reprehensible or distinctly negative and offensive actions directed against individual workers in the workplace or in relation to work.

Section 83.

All persons with family responsibilities and who are engaged or wish to engage in employment have a right to do so without being subject to discrimination and as far as possible without conflict between their employment and family responsibilities.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by measures to enable workers with family responsibilities to enter and remain in employment, as well as to reenter employment after an absence due to those responsibilities, including measures in the field of vocational guidance and training;

2. by the attention paid by the State and people's organizations to the needs of workers with family responsibilities in terms of conditions of employment and social security;

3. by the promotion of services, public or private, in particular child daycare services and other childcare arrangements;

4. by the provision of parental leave to take care of a child, which may be obtained by either parent in accordance with the terms and conditions determined by law;

5. by the prohibition of termination of employment on the grounds of family responsibilities as such.

Section 84.

Workers' representatives in undertakings shall have the right to protection against acts prejudicial to them and should be afforded appropriate facilities to carry out their functions.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by the provision of effective protection against acts prejudicial to workers' representatives, including dismissal, based on their status or activities as workers' representatives within the undertaking;

2. by ensuring workers' representatives are afforded such facilities as may be appropriate in order to enable them to carry out their functions promptly and efficiently, account being taken of the industrial relations system of the country and the needs, size and capabilities of the undertaking concerned.

Section 85.: All workers shall have the right to be informed and consulted in collective redundancy procedures.; This right shall be ensured by shall information provided by employers and consultation between employers and workers' representatives, in good time prior to such collective redundancies, on ways and means of avoiding collective redundancies or limiting their occurrence and mitigating their consequences, for example by recourse to accompanying social measures aimed, in particular, at aid for the redeployment or retraining of the workers concerned.

Section 86.: All persons shall have the right to protection against poverty and social exclusion.; This right shall be ensured by the promotion of effective access of persons who live or risk living in a situation of social exclusion or poverty, as well as their families, to, in particular, employment, housing, training, education, culture and social and medical assistance.

Section 87.

All persons shall have the right to housing.

This right shall be ensured:

1. by the promotion of access to housing of an adequate standard;

2. by the prevention and reduction of homelessness with a view to its gradual elimination;

3. by measures to make the price of housing accessible to those without adequate resources.

Article V: Social Organization of the Nation[edit]

Labor[edit]

Section 88.: Labor is the participation of man in production through the voluntary exercise of his intellectual and manual faculties, according to his particular vocation, in keeping with the decorum and comfort of his life, and for the better development of both the national economy and of socialist society.; Labor in a socialist society is always labor for the benefit of the community, and at the same time for the benefit of the worker himself.; By virtue of its essentially personal and human nature, labor cannot be reduced to a material concept of merchandise, nor be the object of any transaction incompatible with the personal dignity of he who provides it.

Section 89.: The State values and exalts labor, the fruitful expression of the creative spirit of man, and in this sense, shall give it the highest consideration and make it compatible with the fulfillment of the individual, family, and social ends of life.

Section 90.: The State shall afford full protection to labor of all kinds, recognizing the right of the working people to their just share in the fruits of production.; The State shall, particularly, recognize and promote Handicraft and other Artisan crafts as a distinct form of labor, embodying the living heritage of the people's traditions.

Natural Resources[edit]

Section 91.: The State shall ensure that the ecological balance is maintained and take measures to conserve nature and preserve the natural beauties of the country.

Section 92.: Natural resources, particularly including mineral deposits, waters and forests, are the property of the State.; The development and utilization of natural resources, and the conditions under which the rights for their use may be transferred, shall be determined by law.

Land and Housing[edit]

Section 93.: No organization or individual may appropriate, buy, sell or otherwise engage in the transfer of land owned by the State, with the exception of such types of lands and such types of transactions as are determined by law.; In all cases, the right to the use of land may be transferred according to law.

Section 94.: All organizations and individuals using land must ensure its rational use.

Section 95.: Urban or rural dwellers shall not be evicted, nor their dwelling demolished, except in accordance with law and in a just and humane manner.; No resettlement of urban or rural dwellers shall be undertaken without adequate consultation with them and the communities where they are to be relocated.

The Family[edit]

Section 96.: The State recognizes the Family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society.; It endeavors to protect the Family, as the necessary basis of social order indispensable to the welfare of the State and socialist society, in its constitution and authority.

Section 97.: Marriage is the voluntarily-established union between a man and a woman of legal age, freely consented to by both, constituted by them in order to live together.; It shall be contracted and may be dissolved in such manner as shall be provided by law.; It is based on the equality of the spouses in their family relations, rights, and duties.; The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Marriage and to protect it against attack.

Section 98.: All adults shall have the right to form a family.; Adult members of a family shall undertake their responsibilities in the maintaineance of the home and the rearing of its minor members, and their duties both in and out of the home, jointly.

Section 99.: The State recognizes that by their undertaking of family responsibilities, members of families give to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.; It shall, therefore, endeavor to ensure that they shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labor to the neglect of any of their family responsibilities.

Section 100.: All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall have equal rights and equal status.; The rights of any person shall not be denied or abridged on account of the nature of their filiation.

Section 101.: The primary right and duty of parents or other legal guardians of children shall be to provide for their children's care, nourishment, and upbringing, to rear them for civic efficiency and the development of moral character, and to ensure they are well-prepared for life in a socialist society.; The primary right and duty of children, in turn, shall be to respect, care for, and help their parents or legal guardians.

Health[edit]

Section 102.: The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost.; There shall be priority for the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children.; The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.

Section 103.: The State shall establish and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system and undertake appropriate health, manpower development, and research, responsive to the country's health needs and problems.

Section 104.: The State shall establish a special agency for disabled person for their rehabilitation, self-development, and self-reliance, and their integration into the mainstream of society.

Education[edit]

Section 105.: The education to be administered in schools operated by the State shall be socialist in character.; The standard which shall guide such education shall be of high quality.; The aim of such education shall be to imbue in the youth a rational and exact concept of the universe and of social life, free of ignorance, fanaticism, and prejudices, taking into account the latest development in science and technology.

Section 106.: All educational institutions shall include the study of civics, particularly including the Constitution, as part of the curricula.; Every student shall at the end of his obligatory schooling receive a copy of this Constitution.

Section 107.: All educational institutions shall, through their teachings, promote socialism, patriotism and nationalism, foster love of humanity, respect for human rights, appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the country, teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop moral character and personal discipline, encourage critical and creative thinking, broaden scientific and technological knowledge, and promote vocational efficiency.

Language[edit]

Section 108.: The state shall ensure all citizens have comprehensive fluency in both the English and Spanish languages.; The Anglophone and Hispanophone linguistic communities shall have equal status, rights and privileges, including the right to distinct educational and cultural institutions necessary for the preservation and promotion of those communities.

Section 109.: Both English and Spanish may be used in the debates and other proceedings of Parliament or of a Provincial Legislature, as well in any pleading in or process issued from the Courts of Texas.; Where in the proceedings of any court a person does not speak the language in which the proceedings are conducted, he shall have the right to the services of an interpreter.

Section 110.: A person may communicate with and recieve services from govenrment authorities of any level in both English and Spanish.

Section 111.: All official enactments shall be promulgated in English and Spanish.; In case of conflict between the texts of an official enactments in both the official languages, the English text shall prevail.

Section 112.: The State shall take measures to protect Caddo, Comache, and other aboriginal languages, as well as Texasdeutsch, Silesian, and other heritage languages.; Aboriginal and heritage languages are auxiliary official languages, and shall serve as media of instruction, in their respective communities of origin.

Section 113.: Nothing in this Sub-Article may prejudice any existing linguistic right in Texas.

Science and Technology[edit]

Section.: In conformity with the scientific world outlook, the results of scientific research shall be fully applied in the direction of the society of the working people and in planning its further development.

Arts and Culture[edit]

Sports[edit]

Article VI: Suffrage and Elections[edit]

Article VII: Legislative Department[edit]

Section.: The legislative power shall be vested in a Senate and House of Representatives, which together shall be styled "The Parliament of the Republic of Texas."

Section.: The House of Representatives shall consist of not less than ninety nor more than one hundred and fifty members.; The Senate shall consist of members in such number as, as nearly as practicable, is half the number of representatives.

Section.: The senators shall be chosen by the qualified electors for the term of four years, but a new Senate shall be chosen after every apportionment, and the senators elected after each apportionment shall be divided by lot into two classes. The seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the first two years, and those of the second class at the expiration of four years, so that one-half of the senators shall be chosen biennially thereafter.

Section.: The members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen by the qualified electors, and their term of office shall be two years from the day of their election.

SEC. 5. The Legislature shall meet every two years, at such time as may be provided by law, and at other times when convened by the governor.

SEC. 6. No person shall be a senator, unless he be a citizen of the United States, and, at the time of his election a qualified elector of this State, and shall have been a resident of this State five years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof a resident of the district for which he shall be chosen, and shall have attained the age of twenty-six years.

SEC. 7. No person shall be a representative, unless he be a citizen of the United States, and, at the time of his election a qualified elector of this State, and shall have been a resident of this State two years next preceding his election, the last year thereof a resident of the district for which he shall be chosen, and shall have attained the age of twenty-one years.

SEC. 8. Each house shall be the judge of the qualifications and election of its own members; but contested elections shall be determined in such manner as shall be provided by law.

SEC. 9. The Senate shall, at the beginning and close of each session, and at such other times as may be necessary, elect one of its members President, pro tempore, who shall perform the duties of the lieutenant governor in any case of absence or disability of that officer, and whenever the said office of lieutenant governor shall be vacant. The House of Representatives shall, when it first assembles, organize temporarily, and thereupon proceed to the election of a speaker from its own members; and each house shall choose its other officers.

SEC. 10. Two-thirds of each house shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide.

SEC. 11. Each house may determine the rules of its own proceedings, punish members for disorderly conduct, and, with the consent of two-thirds, expel a member, but not a second time for the same offense.

SEC. 12. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and publish the same; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house on any question shall, at the desire of any three members present, be entered on the journals.

SEC. 13. When vacancies occur in either house, the governor, or the person exercising the power of the governor, shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies; and should the governor fail to issue a writ of election to fill such vacancies; and should the governor fail to issue a writ of election to fill any such vacancy within twenty days after it occurs, the returning officer of the district in which such vacancy may have happened shall be authorized to order an election for that purpose.

SEC. 14. Senators and representatives shall, except in cases of treason, felony or breach of peace, be privileged from arrest during the session of the Legislature, and in going to and returning from the same, allowing one day for every twenty miles such member may reside from the place at which the Legislature is convened.

SEC. 15. Each house may punish, by imprisonment, during its sessions, any person not a member, for disrespectful or disorderly conduct in its presence, or for obstructing any of its proceedings; provided, such imprisonment shall not, at any one time, exceed forty-eight hours.

SEC. 16. The sessions of each house shall be open, except the Senate when in executive session.

SEC. 17. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that where the Legislature may be sitting.

SEC. 18. No senator or representative shall, during the term for which he may be elected, be eligible to any civil office of profit under this State which shall have been created or the emoluments of which may have been increased during such term; no member of either house shall, during the term for which he is elected, be eligible to any office or place, the appointment to which may be made, in whole or in part, by either branch of the Legislature; and no member of either house shall vote for any other member for any office whatever, which may be filled by a vote of the Legislature, except in such cases as are in this Constitution provided. Nor shall any member of the Legislature be interested, either directly or indirectly, in any contract with the State, or any county thereof, authorized by any law passed during the term for which he shall have been elected.

SEC. 19. No judge of any court, secretary of state, attorney general, clerk of any court of record, or any person holding a lucrative office under the United States, or this State, or any foreign government shall, during the term for which he is elected or appointed, be eligible to the Legislature.

SEC. 20. No person who at any time may have been a collector of taxes, or who may have been otherwise entrusted with public money, shall be eligible to the Legislature, or to any office of profit or trust under the State government, until he shall have obtained a discharge for the amount of such collections, or for all public moneys with which he may have been entrusted.

SEC. 21. No member shall be questioned in any other place for words spoken in debate in either house.

SEC. 22. A member who has a personal or private interest in any measure or bill, proposed, or pending before the Legislature, shall disclose the fact to the house, of which he is a member, and shall not vote thereon.

SEC. 23. If any senator or representative remove his residence from the district or county for which he was elected, his office shall thereby become vacant, and the vacancy shall be filled as provided in section 13 of this article.

SEC. 24. The members of the Legislature shall receive from the public treasury such compensation for their services, as may, from time to time, be provided by law, not exceeding five dollars per day for the first sixty days of each session; and after that not exceeding two dollars per day for the remainder of the session; except the first session held under this Constitution, when they may receive not exceeding five dollars per day for the first ninety days, and after that not exceeding two dollars per day for the remainder of the session. In addition to the per diem the members of each house shall be entitled to mileage in going to and returning from the seat of government, which mileage shall not exceed five dollars for every twenty-five miles, the distance to be computed by the nearest and most direct route of travel by land regardless of railways or water routes; and the comptroller of the State shall prepare and preserve a table of distances to each county seat now or hereafter to be established, and by such table the mileage of each member shall be paid; but no member shall be entitled to mileage for any extra session that may be called within one day after the adjournment of a regular or called session.

SEC. 25. The State shall be divided into senatorial districts of contiguous territory according to the number of qualified electors, as nearly as may be, and each district shall be entitled to elect one senator, and no single county shall be entitled to more than one senator.

SEC. 26. The members of the House of Representatives shall be apportioned among the several counties, according to the number of population in each, as nearly as may be, on a ratio obtained by dividing the population of the State, as ascertained by the most recent United States census, by the number of members of which the house is composed; provided, that, whenever a single county has sufficient population to be entitled to a representative, such county shall be formed into a separate representative district, and when two or more counties are required to make up the ration of representation such counties shall be contiguous to each other; and when any one county has more than sufficient population to be entitled to one or more representatives, such representative or representatives shall be apportioned to such county, and for any surplus of population it may be joined in a representative district with any other contiguous county or counties.

SEC. 27. Elections for senators and representatives shall be general throughout the State, and shall be regulated by law.

SEC. 28. The Legislature shall, at its first session after the publication of each United States decennial census, apportion the State into senatorial and representative districts, agreeably to the provisions of sections 25 and 26 of this Article; and until the next decennial census, when the first apportionment shall be made by the Legislature, the State shall be, and it is hereby divided into senatorial and representative districts as provided by an ordinance of the Convention on that subject.

PROCEEDINGS. SEC. 29. The enacting clause of all laws shall be, "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas."

SEC. 30. No law shall be passed except by bill, and no bill shall be so amended in its passage through either house as to change its original purpose.

SEC. 31. Bills may originate in either house, and when passed by such house may be amended, altered or rejected by the other.

SEC. 32. No bill shall have the force of a law until it has been read on three several days in each house, and free discussion allowed thereon; but in cases of imperative public necessity (which necessity shall be stated in a preamble, or in the body of the bill), four-fifths of the house in which the bill may be pending may suspend this rule, the yeas and nays being taken on the question of suspension, and entered upon the journals.

SEC. 33. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may amend or reject them as other bills.

SEC. 34. After a bill has been considered and defeated by either house of the Legislature no bill containing the same substance shall be passed into a law during the same session. After a resolution has been acted on and defeated no resolution containing the same substance shall be considered at the same session.

SEC. 35. No bill (except general appropriation bills, which may embrace the various subjects and accounts for and on account of which moneys are appropriated) shall contain more than one subject, which shall be expressed in its title. But if any subject shall be embraced in an act which shall not be expressed in the title, such act shall be void only as to so much thereof as shall not be so expressed.

SEC. 36. No law shall be revived or amended by reference to its title; but in such case the act revived or the section or sections amended shall be re-enacted and published at length.

SEC. 37. No bill shall be considered, unless it has been first referred to a committee and reported thereon, and no bill shall be passed which has not been presented and referred to and reported from a committee at least three days before the final adjournment of the Legislature.

SEC. 38. The presiding officer of each house shall, in the presence of the house over which he presides, sign all bills and joint resolutions passed by the Legislature, after their titles have been publicly read before signing; and the fact of signing shall be entered on the journals.

SEC. 39. No laws passed by the Legislature, except the general appropriation act, shall take effect or go into force until ninety days after the adjournment of the session at which it was enacted, unless in case of an emergency which emergency must be expressed in a preamble or in the body of the act, the Legislature shall, by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, otherwise direct; said vote to be taken by yeas and nays, and entered upon the journals.

SEC. 40. When the Legislature shall be convened in special session, there shall be no legislation upon subjects other than those designated in the proclamation of the governor calling such session, or presented to them by the governor; and no such session shall be of longer duration than thirty days.

SEC. 41. In all elections by the Senate and House of Representatives, jointly or separately, the vote shall be given viva voce, except in the election of their officers.

REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS. SEC. 42. The Legislature shall pass such laws as may be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Constitution.

SEC. 43. The first session of the Legislature under this Constitution shall provide for revising, digesting and publishing the laws, civil and criminal; and a like revision, digest and publication may be made every ten years thereafter; provided, that in the adoption of and giving effect to any such digest or revision, the Legislature shall not be limited by sections 35 and 36 of this Article.

SEC. 44. The Legislature shall provide by law for the compensation of all officers, servants, agents and public contractors not provided for in this Constitution, but shall not grant extra compensation to any officer, agent, servant, or public contractors, after such public service shall have been performed or contract entered into for the performance of the same; nor grant, by appropriation or otherwise, any amount of money out of the treasury of the State, to any individual, on a claim, real or pretended, when the same shall not have been provided for by pre-existing law; nor employ any one in the name of the State unless authorized by pre-existing law.

SEC. 45. The power to change the venue in civil and criminal cases shall be vested in the courts, to be exercised in such manner as shall be provided by law; and the Legislature shall pass laws for that purpose.

SEC. 46. The Legislature shall, at its first session after the adoption of this Constitution, enact effective vagrant laws.

SEC. 47. The Legislature shall pass laws prohibiting the establishment of lotteries and gift enterprises in this State, as well as the sale of tickets in lotteries, gift enterprises or other evasions involving the lottery principle, established or existing in other States.

SEC. 48. The Legislature shall not have the right to levy taxes or impose burdens upon the people, except to raise revenue sufficient for the economical administration of the government, in which may be included the following purposes:

The payment of all interest upon the bonded debt of the State;

The erection and repairs of public buildings;

The benefit of the sinking fund, which shall not be more than two per centum of the public debt; and for the payment of the present floating debt of the State, including matured bonds for the payment of which the sinking fund is inadequate;

The support of public schools, in which shall be included colleges and universities established by the State; and the maintenance and support of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.

The payment of the cost of assessing and collecting the revenue; and the payment of all officers, agents and employes of the State government, and all incidental expenses connected therewith;

The enforcement of quarantine regulations on the coast of Texas;

The protection of the frontier.

SEC. 49. No debt shall be created by or on behalf of the State, except to supply casual deficiencies of revenue, repel invasion, suppress insurrection, defend the State in war, or pay existing debt and the debt created to supply deficiencies in the revenue, shall never exceed in the aggregate at any one time two hundred thousand dollars.

SEC. 50. The Legislature shall have no power to give or to lend, or to authorize the giving or lending of the credit of the State in aid of, or to any person, association or corporation, whether municipal or other; or to pledge the credit of the State in any manner whatsoever, for the payment of the liabilities, present or prospective, of any individual, association of individuals, municipal or other corporation whatsoever.

SEC. 51. The Legislature shall have no power to make any grant, or authorize the making of any grant, of public money to any individual, association of individuals, municipal or other corporation whatsoever; provided, that this shall not be so construed as to prevent the grant of aid in case of public calamity.

SEC. 52. The Legislature shall have no power to authorize any county, city, town, or other political corporation, or sub-division of the State, to lend its credit or to grant public money or thing of value, in aid of any individual, association, or corporation whatsoever; or to become a stock-holder in such corporation, association or company.

SEC. 53. The Legislature shall have no power to grant, or to authorize any county or municipal authority to grant, any extra compensation, fee or allowance to a public officer, agent, servant or contractor, after service has been rendered, or a contract has been entered into, and performed in whole or in part, nor pay, or authorize the payment of, any claim created against any county or municipality of the State, under any agreement or contract, made without authority of law.

SEC. 54. The Legislatue shall have no power to release or alienate any lien held by the State upon any railroad, or in any wise change the tenor or meaning, or pass any act explanatory thereof; but the same shall be enforced in accordance with the original terms upon which it was acquired.

SEC. 55. The Legislature shall have no power to release or extinguish, or to authorize the releasing or extinguishing, in whole or in part, the indebtedness, liability or obligation of any incorporation or individual to this State, or to any county, or other municipal corporation therein.

SEC. 56. The Legislature shall not, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, pass any local or special law authorizing:

The creation, extension or impairing of liens;

Regulating the affairs of counties, cities, towns, wards or school districts;

Changing the names of persons or places; changing the venue in civil or criminal cases;

Authorizing the laying out, opening, altering or maintaining of roads, high ways, streets or alleys;

Relating to ferries or bridges, or incorporating ferry or bridge companies, except for the erection of bridges crossing streams which form boundaries between this and any other State;

Vacating roads, town plats, streets or alleys;

Relating to cemeteries, graveyards or public grounds not of the State;

Authorizing the adoption or legitimation of children;

Locating or changing county seats;

Incorporating cities, towns or villages, or changing their charters;

For the opening and conducting of elections, or fixing or changing the places of voting;

Granting divorces;

Creating offices, or prescribing the powers and duties of officers, in counties, cities, towns, election or school districts;

Changing the law of descent or succession;

Regulating the practice or jurisdiction of, or changing the rules of evidence in any judicial proceeding or inquiry before courts, justices of the peace, sheriffs, commissioners, arbitrators or other tribunals, or providing or changing methods for the collection of debts, or the enforcing of judgments, or prescribing the effect of judicial sales of real estate;

Regulating the fees, or extending the powers and duties of aldermen, justices of the peace, magistrates or constables;

Regulating the management of public schools, the building or repairing of school houses, and the raising of money for such purposes;

Fixing the rate of interest;

Affecting the estates of minors, or persons under disability;

Remitting fines, penalties and forfeitures, and refunding moneys legally paid into the treasury;

Exempting property from taxation;

Regulating labor, trade, mining and manufacturing;

Declaring any named person of age;

Extending the time for the assessment or collection of taxes, or otherwise relieving any assessor or collector of taxes from the due performance of his official duties, or his securities from liability;

Giving effect to informal or invalid wills or deeds;

Summoning or impounding grand or petit juries;

For limitation of civil or criminal actions;

For incorporating railroads or other works of internal improvements.

And in all other cases where a general law can be made applicable, no local or special law shall be enacted; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit the Legislature from passing special laws for the preservation of the game and fish of this State in certain localities.

SEC. 57. No local or special law shall be passed, unless notice of the intention to apply therefor shall have been published in the locality where the matter or thing to be affected may be situated, which notice shall state the substance of the contemplated law, and shall be published at least thirty days prior to the introduction into the Legislature of such bill and in the manner to be provided by law. The evidence of such notice having been published shall be exhibited in the Legislature before such act shall be passed.

SEC. 58. The Legislature shall hold its sessions at the city of Austin, which is hereby declared to be the Seat of Government.

Article VIII: Executive Department[edit]

Section.

The executive department shall consist of:

1. a President;

2. a Council of Ministers;

3. a Secretary of State;

4. a Comptroller of Public Accounts;

5. a Treasurer;

6. an Attorney-General.

The Cabinet shall consist of the officers whose offices are established by this Article.

The President[edit]

Section.: The President of the Republic of Texas shall be the Head of State and chief executive officer of the Republic.

Section.: The President shall serve for a term of five years.; A person serving as President in the second of two consecutive five-year terms as President is not eligible for a third consecutive term. For purposes of this subsection, a person is considered to have served a five-year term as President if the person in fact serves at least two and a half years of the term.

Section.: To be eligible to be a candidate for, or to serve as, President, a person must have been a citizen of Texas for twelve years, and a resident of Texas for five years, preceding his nomination, and at least 30 years of age on the date his term of office begins.

Section.

The President shall be elected by direct universal suffrage. If there is only one candidate, the election takes place by way of referendum on his candidacy.

Ordinary presidential elections shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the year immediately preceding the expiry of the incumbent's term of office.

In case of the death, resignation, removal from office, or permanent disability of the President, a special presidential election shall be held, on the last Tuesday within the 60-day period following the cause for their holding, provided that a special presidential election shall not be held if that day would have fallen within the last 6 months of the original term of office.

Where there are two or more candidates, the candidate who obtains the greatest number of valid votes shall be considered elected, provided, that he obtains at least 50 per cent of such votes.

Where no candidate obtains 50 per cent of the valid votes, or where two candidates each obtain 50 per cent, a second ballot shall be held fourteen days after election day for the election of one of the candidates who at the first ballot obtained the two greatest numbers of valid votes. The candidate who obtains the greatest number of votes at the second ballot shall be considered elected.

In deciding the candidates to stand for election in the second ballot, a candidate who withdrew or died between the two ballots and no replacement has been nominated for him shall be disregarded, and a replacement for any candidate who withdrew or died between the two ballots shall be deemed to have run in the first ballot.

Where there is only one candidate, he shall be considered elected if there is a majority of YES votes over NO votes cast in the referendum on his candidacy.

In case a candidate withdraws or dies, his nominators shall nominate a replacement within one week.

A presidential election shall be held afresh, on the last Tuesday within the 60-day period following the cause for doing so:

1. In case no candidate has been nominated;

2. In case the only candidate withdraws or dies and no replacement has been nominated for him;

3. In case there is a majority of NO votes over YES votes cast in the referendum on an only candidate's candidacy.

Section.: Parliament shall appropriate money for assistance to a President-elect.; A President-elect is entitled to receive any information or reports that the incumbent President is entitled to receive from officers and state agencies.

Section.: In case of the death, resignation, removal from office, or permanent disability of the President, or of his impeachment or absence from Texas, the President of the Senate or, in case of his inability, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall exercise the powers and authority appertaining to the office of President until a new President be chosen, or until the President impeached, absent or disabled, shall be acquitted, return, or his disability be removed.; The Parliament shall, by law, provide who shall act as President in case of the double inability of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Section.: The President, if elected at an ordinary presidential election, shall be installed on the third Tuesday of January following his election, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and shall hold his office for the term of five years, or until his successor shall be duly installed.; If a President has been elected at a special presidential election, he shall be installed on the first Tuesday following his election, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and shall hold his office for the remainder of the original term.; Before entering upon the duties of his office, he shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation:

"I, (........), do solemnly swear to be loyal and bear true allegiance to the Republic of Texas and to the cause of Socialism."

"I furthermore swear that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform my duties as President of the Republic, according to the best of my skill and ability, and agreeably to the will of the working people; protect, preserve, and defend its Constitution; execute and abide by its laws; do justice to every person without fear or favor, preference or prejudice, affection or ill-will; devote and consecrate myself to the service of the socialist state; and strive for the establishment of a universal classless society and the downfall of all forms of exploitation of man by man. So help me God."

[In case of affirmation, substitute "solemnly pledge" for "solemnly swear" and "furthermore affirm" for "furthermore swear", and omit "So help me God."].

Section.: The President shall, jointly with the Council of Ministers, lay down the general policy of the State.; He shall supervise its implementation in the manner prescribed in the Constitution.

Section.: The President shall

The Council of Ministers[edit]

Section.

The Council of Ministers shall consist of a Prime Minister and other ministers, with or without portfolio, among which there must be:

1. a Minister of Foreign Affairs;

2. a Minister of Home Affairs;

3. a Minister of National Defense;

4. a Minister of Finance;

5. a Minister of Justice;

6. a Minister for Local Government;

7. a Minister of Economic Affairs;

8. a Minister of Agriculture and Lands;

9. a Minister of Public Works.

Section.: The Ministers shall be appointed by the President, after consulting with the Prime Minister. They shall be accountable to and hold office at the pleasure of the President.; The Prime Minister shall be the head of the Council of Ministers. He shall be appointed by the President, after consulting with the leaders of political parties in the House of Representatives.

Section.: The House of Representatives may withdraw its confidence from the Prime Minister or any other Minister by a majority vote of all its Members.; The motion for a vote of no confidence shall be calendared for debate if it is signed by at least one-fifth of the Members of the House of Representatives. No such motion shall be debated and voted upon until after the lapse of seven days after its submission.; An approval of a motion of no confidence shall entail the resignation of the Member of the Council of Ministers from whom confidence is withdrawn.

Section.

The Council of Ministers shall resign en masse in the following circumstances:

1. on the tenth day following the approval of a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister;

2. on the tenth day following the rejection of a motion of confidence in the Prime Minister; and

3. whenever the newly-elected House of Representatives is first convened:

Provided, that a resignation en masse in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not be made if the House of Representatives is dissolved within ten days of the motion being approved or rejected.

A Council of Ministers which has resigned en masse shall continue its functions until the date of appoitment of the new Prime Minister.

Section.: The President may designate from among the Members of the Council of Ministers one or more Deputy Prime Ministers. A Deputy Prime Minister shall perform such functions as may be assigned to him by the Prime Minister.; The President shall also appoint the Deputy Ministers who shall perform such functions as may be assigned to them by law or by the respective Ministers.

The Secretary of State[edit]

Section.: The Secretary of State shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, and shall continue in office during the term of service of the President.; The Secretary of State shall be responsible for arranging the business for, and keeping the minutes of, the Council of Ministers and the Cabinet.; He shall authenticate the publication of laws, and keep a fair register of all official acts and proceedings of the executive department, and shall, when required, lay the same and all papers, minutes and vouchers relative thereto, before the appropriate person or authority, and shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by law.

User:Glide08/Sandbox/Texas

Contents

Edict[edit]

Preamble[edit]

Article I: The Texan Nation and Texan State[edit]

Article II: The Powers of Government[edit]

Article III: Directive Principles of State Policy[edit]

Article IV: Human And Citizen Rights and Duties[edit]

Article V: Social Organization of the Nation[edit]

Labor[edit]

Natural Resources[edit]

Land and Housing[edit]

The Family[edit]

Health[edit]

Education[edit]

Language[edit]

Science and Technology[edit]

Arts and Culture[edit]

Sports[edit]

Article VI: Suffrage and Elections[edit]

Article VII: Legislative Department[edit]

Article VIII: Executive Department[edit]

The President[edit]

The Council of Ministers[edit]

The Secretary of State[edit]

The Comptroller of Public Accounts[edit]

The Treasurer[edit]

The Attorney-General[edit]

Article IX: Judicial Department[edit]

Article X: Taxation and Revenue[edit]

Article XI: The Provinces[edit]

Article XII: Federal-Provincial Relations[edit]

Article XIII: Local Government[edit]

Article XIV: Direct Democracy[edit]

Article XV: Accountability of Public Officers[edit]

Article XVI: General Provisions[edit]

Article XVII: Mode of Amending or Revising this Constitution[edit]

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User:Glide08/Sandbox/Texas

Edict[edit]

Preamble[edit]

Article I: The Texan Nation and Texan State[edit]

Article II: The Powers of Government[edit]

Article III: Directive Principles of State Policy[edit]

Article IV: Human And Citizen Rights and Duties[edit]

Article V: Social Organization of the Nation[edit]

Labor[edit]

Natural Resources[edit]

Land and Housing[edit]

The Family[edit]

Health[edit]

Education[edit]

Language[edit]

Science and Technology[edit]

Arts and Culture[edit]

Sports[edit]

Article VI: Suffrage and Elections[edit]

Article VII: Legislative Department[edit]

Article VIII: Executive Department[edit]

The President[edit]

The Council of Ministers[edit]

The Secretary of State[edit]

The Comptroller of Public Accounts[edit]

The Treasurer[edit]

The Attorney-General[edit]

Article IX: Judicial Department[edit]

Article X: Taxation and Revenue[edit]

Article XI: The Provinces[edit]

Article XII: Federal-Provincial Relations[edit]

Article XIII: Local Government[edit]

Article XIV: Direct Democracy[edit]

Article XV: Accountability of Public Officers[edit]

Article XVI: General Provisions[edit]

Article XVII: Mode of Amending or Revising this Constitution[edit]

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