Texas Automatic Resignation from Office Amendment (2015)
| Not on Ballot |
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| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The Texas Automatic Resignation from Office Amendment was not on the November 3, 2015 ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. The measure, upon voter approval, would have provided for the automatic resignation of an elected statewide official when he or she becomes a candidate for a different elective office and still has more than twelve months remaining in his or her term.[1]
The measure was introduced into the Texas Legislature by Rep. Lyle Larson (R-122) as House Joint Resolution 37.[2]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The proposed ballot title was:[1]
| “ | The constitutional amendment providing that a person holding a statewide elective office automatically vacates office on announcing a candidacy or becoming a candidate for another elective office before December 1 of the last full odd-numbered year of the person’s term of office.[3] | ” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article 16, Texas Constitution
The proposed amendment would have added a Section 65-a to Article 16 of the Texas Constitution. The following text would have been added by the proposed measure's approval:[1]
If a person who holds a statewide elective office announces the person’s candidacy, or in fact becomes a candidate, in any general, special, or primary election for any office of profit or trust under the laws of this State or the United States other than the office then held at anytime before December 1 of the last full odd-numbered year before the term of office then held expires, that announcement or candidacy constitutes an automatic resignation from the office then held.[3]
Support
Rep. Lyle Larson (R-122), who introduced the measure into the legislature, also supported a similar bill in 2013. Regarding his 2013 amendment, Rep. Larson referred to Gov. Rick Perry's (R) unsuccessful bid for United States President. He noted that Perry was still receiving his $133,000 salary, but was spending a great deal of time outside Texas and Texas government. Larson also referred to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's (R) unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate. He said, "Essentially those positions were unfilled. You had folks who were out of state at the time, or who were not doing what they were elected to do."[4]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Texas Constitution
The proposed constitutional amendment was filed by Rep. Lyle Larson (D-122) as House Joint Resolution 37 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. 37," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Texas Legislature, "HJR No. 37 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 - ↑ WOAI, "Measure Would Require Texas Office Holders to Resign When Seeking Higher Office," March 4, 2013
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