By Turner of Coleman H.J.R. No. 18
77R104 JSA-D
A JOINT RESOLUTION
1-1 proposing a constitutional amendment providing for four-year terms
1-2 of office for members 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 [Members] of the House of
1-7 Representatives shall be chosen by the qualified voters for the
1-8 term of four years, but a new House of Representatives shall be
1-9 chosen after every apportionment, and the members elected after
1-10 each 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.
1-20 (c) If a member of the House of Representatives announces
1-21 the member's candidacy or in fact becomes a candidate in any
1-22 general, special, or primary election for the office of state
1-23 Senator at any time before the end of the last Regular Session of
1-24 the Legislature scheduled to be held during the term of office to
2-1 which the member was elected, the announcement or candidacy
2-2 constitutes an automatic resignation of the office of
2-3 Representative, and the resulting vacancy shall be filled in the
2-4 manner provided by this constitution. This subsection does not
2-5 apply to an announcement or candidacy that occurs after the
2-6 beginning of the period provided by law for a person to file as a
2-7 candidate in the general or primary election for the next regular
2-8 term for members of the House of Representatives for which a new
2-9 House of Representatives is to be elected as required by Subsection
2-10 (a) of this section following an apportionment of the members of
2-11 the House of Representatives.
2-12 (d) Members of the House of Representatives shall be elected
2-13 to terms as provided by Subsection (a) of this section beginning
2-14 with the election of members of the 78th Legislature, to convene in
2-15 2003. Members of the House of Representatives elected to the 78th
2-16 Legislature shall draw lots for two-year and four-year terms.
2-17 Members of the House of Representatives of the 77th Legislature
2-18 serve two-year terms as provided by the law in effect when those
2-19 members were elected. Subsection (c) of this section takes effect
2-20 January 1, 2003. This subsection expires January 1, 2005.
2-21 SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-22 submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2001.
2-23 The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
2-24 proposition: "The constitutional amendment to provide for
2-25 four-year terms for members of the Texas House of Representatives."