Tag: Texas Constitution

Judge Says That Texas Election Law Is Unconstitutional

Michigan Star Staff

A new Texas law that changes voting rules in the populous city of Houston has been called unconstitutional by a state court, according to an injunction issued Monday.

On June 18, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed into law Senate Bill 1750, which abolishes the position of “elections administrator” that had previously overseen elections in Harris County, which includes the City of Houston. The state then was sued by left-wing and Democratic groups, arguing that the bill would adversely affect the city’s mayoral election being held this November, which led to a state judge imposing a temporary injunction Monday evening.

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Texas Supreme Court Rules That Democrats in Legislature Can Be Arrested to Compel Attendance

Michigan Star Staff
Texas Justice Jimmy Blacklock

The Texas Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Texas Constitution authorizes the state’s House of Representatives to arrest members who flee in order to break the quorum required to vote.

The opinion states that “just as” Texas’ Constitution enables “‘quorum-breaking’ by a minority faction of the legislature, it likewise authorizes ‘quorum-forcing’ by the remaining members,” including by “arrest.”

“The legal question before this Court concerns only whether the Texas Constitution gives the House of Representatives the authority to physically compel the attendance of absent members. We conclude that it does, and we therefore direct the district court to withdraw the TRO,” wrote Justice Jimmy Blacklock on behalf of the state’s Supreme Court.

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