By Jones of Lubbock H.J.R. No. 123
75R11647 JSA-D
A JOINT RESOLUTION
1-1 proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the length of the
1-2 term of office of a member of the house of representatives.
1-3 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 4, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
1-5 amended to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 4. (a) The Members of the House of Representatives
1-7 shall be chosen by the qualified electors for the term of four
1-8 years, but a new House of Representatives shall be chosen after
1-9 every apportionment, and the Members elected after each
1-10 apportionment shall be divided by lot into two classes. The
1-11 Members of the first class shall vacate their seats two years after
1-12 the date on which their term of office begins, and the Members of
1-13 the second class shall vacate their seats four years after the date
1-14 on which their term of office begins, so that half of the Members
1-15 will be elected biennially [two years].
1-16 (b) Representatives shall take office following their
1-17 election, on the day set by law for the convening of the Regular
1-18 Session of the Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full
1-19 term of years to which elected and until their successors shall
1-20 have been elected and qualified.
1-21 (c) Members of the House of Representatives shall be elected
1-22 to terms as provided by Subsection (a) of this section beginning
1-23 with the election of Members of the 76th Legislature, to convene in
1-24 1999. Members of the House elected to the 76th Legislature shall
2-1 draw lots for two-year and four-year terms as if elected after an
2-2 apportionment. Members of the House of Representatives of the 75th
2-3 Legislature serve two-year terms as provided by the law in effect
2-4 when those Members were elected. This subsection expires January
2-5 1, 2003.
2-6 SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-7 submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.
2-8 The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
2-9 following proposition: "The constitutional amendment to provide
2-10 for four-year terms for members of the Texas House of
2-11 Representatives."