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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the prohibition of |
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government interference with certain speech by religious leaders |
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and students. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 6, Article I, Texas Constitution, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 6. (a) All men have a natural and indefeasible right |
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to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own |
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consciences. No man shall be compelled to attend, erect or support |
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any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his |
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consent. No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control |
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or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, |
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and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious |
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society or mode of worship. |
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(b) The government of this state or a political subdivision |
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of this state may not control or interfere with: |
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(1) any political speech expressed by a religious |
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leader in a house of worship; or |
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(2) a student's voluntary expression of a religious |
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viewpoint at a school event or graduation ceremony. |
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(c) But it shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass such |
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laws as may be necessary to protect equally every religious |
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denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public |
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worship. |
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SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015. |
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The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment relating to the |
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prohibition of government interference with certain political |
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speech by religious leaders and certain religious expression by |
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students." |