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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Members of the Texas State Association of |
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Parliamentarians are visiting the Capitol on May 4 and 5, 2007, in |
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conjunction with their annual convention in Austin, and the |
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occasion provides a fitting opportunity to honor this commendable |
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organization; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1955, the Texas State Association of |
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Parliamentarians has served the people of Texas through the study, |
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teaching, and dissemination of parliamentary law, while its members |
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have served a multitude of public and private organizations in the |
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practice of fair and expedient procedure; and |
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WHEREAS, Passed to the American colonies from the British |
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House of Commons, parliamentary law was nurtured in the colonial |
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legislature and developed in the U.S. Congress and state |
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legislatures, and it remains the hallmark of integrity in American |
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government; and |
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WHEREAS, In February 1876, General Henry M. Robert, a former |
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chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, published Pocket Manual |
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of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies, better known as |
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Robert's Rules of Order; interestingly, the author of the most |
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widely used manual of parliamentary procedure also played a role in |
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the design and construction of the Galveston Seawall and the |
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Houston Ship Channel near the turn of the 20th century; and |
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WHEREAS, The Lone Star State is home to many notable |
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parliamentarians, including the late Robert E. Johnson, Sr., who |
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was honored for his longtime service to the Texas Legislature with |
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the dedication of the Robert E. Johnson, Sr., State Legislative |
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Office Building; renowned Texas and U.S. legislator Barbara Jordan |
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emphasized the importance of parliamentary procedure when she |
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stated, "If you're going to play the game properly, you'd better |
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know every rule"; and |
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WHEREAS, The members of the Texas Legislature, as well as the |
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citizens of the State of Texas, owe a debt of gratitude to the |
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parliamentarians, secretaries, and clerks of the Texas Senate and |
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House of Representatives, for their skillful, equitable, and |
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efficient execution of session business is integral to ensuring the |
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integrity and consistency of the legislative process in the Lone |
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Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby recognize May 5, 2007, as Parliamentary Law Day at the State |
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Capitol and extend to the members of the Texas State Association of |
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Parliamentarians sincere best wishes for a memorable and rewarding |
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convention in Austin. |