By Hardcastle                                         H.J.R. No. 65
         77R7055 PAM-D                           
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing Archer County to
 1-2     combine justice of the peace and constable precincts.
 1-3           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Section 18(a), Article V, Texas Constitution, is
 1-5     amended to read as follows:
 1-6           (a)  Each county in the State with a population of 50,000 or
 1-7     more, according to the most recent federal census, from time to
 1-8     time, for the convenience of the people, shall be divided into not
 1-9     less than four and not more than eight precincts.  Each county in
1-10     the State with a population of 18,000 or more but less than 50,000,
1-11     according to the most recent federal census, from time to time, for
1-12     the convenience of the people, shall be divided into not less than
1-13     two and not more than eight precincts.  Each county in the State
1-14     with a population of less than 18,000, according to the most recent
1-15     federal census, from time to time, for the convenience of the
1-16     people, shall be designated as a single precinct or, if the
1-17     Commissioners Court determines that the county needs more than one
1-18     precinct, shall be divided into not more than four precincts.
1-19     Notwithstanding the population requirements of this subsection,
1-20     Chambers County and Randall County, from time to time, for the
1-21     convenience of the people, shall be divided into not less than two
1-22     and not more than six precincts.  A division or designation under
1-23     this subsection shall be made by the Commissioners Court provided
1-24     for by this Constitution.    Except as provided by this section, in
 2-1     each such precinct there shall be elected one Justice of the Peace
 2-2     and one Constable, each of whom shall hold his office for four
 2-3     years and until his successor shall be elected and qualified;
 2-4     provided that in a county with a population of less than 150,000,
 2-5     according to the most recent federal census, in any precinct in
 2-6     which there may be a city of 18,000 or more inhabitants, there
 2-7     shall be elected two Justices of the Peace, and in a county with a
 2-8     population of 150,000 or more, according to the most recent federal
 2-9     census, each precinct may contain more than one Justice of the
2-10     Peace Court.    Notwithstanding the population requirements of this
2-11     subsection, any county other than Archer County that is divided
2-12     into four or more precincts on November 2, 1999, shall continue to
2-13     be divided into not less than four precincts.
2-14           SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-15     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2001.
2-16     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
2-17     proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing Archer
2-18     County to combine justice of the peace and constable precincts."