H.R. No. 169

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The year 2023 marks the bicentennial of the
	establishment of the office of constable in Texas, and this
	milestone anniversary provides a welcome opportunity to recognize
	the outstanding contributions that have been made by these law
	enforcement professionals through the decades; and
	WHEREAS, The office of constable dates back at least to the
	11th century in England and was later established in the British
	colonies in North America; constables remained an integral
	component of local law enforcement following the American
	Revolution, and though their duties varied over time, constables
	were often responsible for serving warrants, arresting offenders,
	and generally upholding law and order; and
	WHEREAS, The distinguished legacy of constables in Texas
	began in 1823, when the area was still part of Mexico; on March 5 of
	that year, John Tumlinson, the alcalde of the Colorado District in
	Stephen F. Austin's first colony, appointed Thomas V. Alley as
	constable, with Tumlinson stating that Alley's duties were "to
	summon witnesses and bring offenders to justice"; when independence
	was won in 1836, the Constitution of the Republic of Texas provided
	for the election in each county of a sheriff and "a sufficient
	number of constables," and 38 constables were eventually elected in
	12 counties; and
	WHEREAS, After Texas became a state in 1845, legislation
	passed by state lawmakers declared that the constable should be
	"the conservator of the peace throughout the county"; among their
	other duties, constables were required to quell "riots, routs,
	affrays, fighting, and unlawful assemblies" and to make arrests;
	during the early statehood of Texas, constables were the most
	active law enforcement officials in many counties; and
	WHEREAS, Following the Civil War, the election of county
	officials virtually ceased, but a major change came with the Texas
	Constitution of 1876, which reinstated the election of constables
	at the precinct level; today, constables are elected from precincts
	in most Texas counties, and these licensed peace officers carry out
	a range of essential functions, including serving warrants and
	civil papers, such as subpoenas and temporary restraining orders,
	issuing traffic citations, and serving as bailiffs for justice of
	the peace courts; and
	WHEREAS, Continuing to build on a proud and storied
	tradition, Texas constables play an important role in enforcing the
	rule of law, and it is a pleasure to join in celebrating this
	significant anniversary; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
	Legislature hereby commemorate the bicentennial of the
	establishment of the office of constable in Texas and extend
	sincere appreciation to all constables in the state for their
	exceptional work.
	Harris of Williamson
	Phelan Guerra Murr
	Allen Guillen Neave Criado
	Allison Harless Noble
	Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
	Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
	Ashby Harrison Orr
	Bailes Hayes Ortega
	Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
	Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
	Bernal Herrero Perez
	Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
	Bonnen Holland Price
	Bowers Howard Ramos
	Bryant Hull Raney
	Buckley Hunter Raymond
	Bucy Isaac Reynolds
	Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
	Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
	Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
	Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
	Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
	Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
	Canales Kacal Schofield
	Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
	Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
	Cole Kitzman Shine
	Collier Klick Slaton
	Cook Kuempel Slawson
	Cortez Lalani Smith
	Craddick Lambert Smithee
	Cunningham Landgraf Spiller
	Darby Leach Stucky
	Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson
	Dean Longoria Talarico
	DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper
	Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry
	Dutton Lozano Thimesch
	Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria
	Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris
	Frazier Martinez Tinderholt
	Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth
	Garcia Metcalf Troxclair
	Gates Meyer Turner
	Gerdes Meza VanDeaver
	Geren Moody Vasut
	Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo
	Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle
	González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson
	González of El Paso Morrison Wu
	Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 169 was adopted by the House on March 7,
	2023, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House