Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Texas Judicial Restraint in Religious Doctrine Interpretation Amendment (2015)
| Not on Ballot |
|---|
 |
| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The Texas Judicial Restraint in Religious Doctrine Interpretation Amendment was not on the November 3, 2015 ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. The measure, upon voter approval, would have required judiciaries to refrain from involvement in religious doctrinal interpretation or application. The amendment would have ordered state courts to uphold and apply the United States Constitution, the Texas Constitution, federal laws and states laws. The amendment's language would have emphasized the importance of the "church autonomy doctrine" found in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.[1]
The measure was introduced into the Texas Legislature by Rep. Dan Flynn (R-2) as House Joint Resolution 32.[2]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The proposed ballot title was:[1]
| “ | The constitutional amendment requiring a court of this state to uphold and apply certain laws, including the doctrine grounded in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution requiring courts to refrain from involvement in religious doctrinal interpretation or application.[3] | ” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article 5, Texas Constitution
The proposed amendment would have added a Section 32 to Article 5 of the Texas Constitution. The following text would have been added by the proposed measure's approval:[1]
A court of this state shall uphold and apply the laws of the Constitution of the United States, this Constitution, federal laws, and the laws of this state, including the doctrine grounded in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and known as the church autonomy doctrine, which in part requires courts to refrain from involvement in religious doctrinal interpretation or application.[3]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Texas Constitution
The proposed constitutional amendment was filed by Rep. Dan Flynn (R-2) as House Joint Resolution 32 on November 10, 2014.[2] A two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Texas State Legislature was required to refer this amendment to the ballot. Texas is one of 16 states that require a two-thirds supermajority vote in both chambers. The measure was not approved by both chambers of the legislature.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Texas Legislature, "HJR No. 32," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Texas Legislature, "HJR No. 32 History," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content
 |
State of Texas Austin (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
