Adopted by the General Council on May 24, 2003/Presented to the Delegates' Convention
Preamble
We, the people of the Republic of Texas by the grace and beneficence of Creator God, do ordain and reestablish our nation's lawful position among the sovereign nations of the earth in accordance with common law and the Law of Nations, and by these articles do reestablish the government of the Republic of Texas in this its Interim mode. This action formally dissolves the military rule that has existed over Texas since 1865.
Creed
The people of the Republic of Texas shall promote freedom, peace, friendship, and respect for all cultures and religions as private and sacred to all peoples. It is to that end that we and our posterity are now committed.
Article I
Authority
In accordance with the Laws of Nations, common law, by the actions perfected by the political body known as The Davis Mountains Land Commission and culminating into the political body of the delegates in convention held at Bulverde, Texas, December 13, 1995, declaring and reclaiming the sovereign ability and right of the Texian Nationals have brought about the re-constitution of lawful de jure government of this nation. It is to that perfection that this Interim Government is hereby instituted, to serve until a proper constitutional convention is convened and a fully operational government, duly elected by the people of the Republic of Texas, is in place.
Article 2
Foundation
The Interim Government of the Republic of Texas as established by the Texians' Declaration of Independence of March 29, 2003, hereby adopts as the basis of its foundation, the will of the People in their inherent right to alter, abolish, or reform their government as expressed in the Plans and Powers of the Provisional Government of Texas of November 13, 1835; Plans and Powers of the Provisional Government of Texas of December 13, 1995, as amended through 2002, Declaration of Independence of March 2, 1836; the Constitution of the Republic of Texas, done March 17, 1836; the Constitutions of Texas (1845, 1861, 1865, 1869, 1876), the Laws of the Republic of Texas 1836-1845, and the Common Law of Texas.
Purpose
The Interim Government shall exist to accomplish Independence for the Republic of Texas. It will be a government by the people and for the people of the Republic of Texas, setting an example to the world of our intentions, our capability of self-governance, and our fortitude and resolve.
Declaration
The people of the Republic of Texas, through the Interim Government, declare our intent to guard our right to self-determination and hereby recognize the right of self-determination for all nations and peoples. We further declare our adherence to God-given and inherent human rights, adherence to the principles of rejection of totalitarianism and intolerance, and protection of our natural environment. The Republic of Texas shall remain dedicated to freedom and equality for all people in all walks of life.
Article 3
Boundaries of the Nation
By the previous acts of the Republic of Texas, supported by treaties, claims, customs and common law, the Interim Government of the Republic of Texas shall not extend any boundaries past those which are the original Republic of Texas boundaries, as described in treaties and other confirming documents from 1819 through 1844.
Article 4
Creation of Government
The Interim Government of the Republic of Texas created by this action will consist of three political bodies, being an executive branch, a judicial branch, and a legislative branch. The duties and responsibilities of the judicial and executive branches are primarily at Article 6 and the legislative duties are addressed primarily in Article 5 and Article 10.
The Executive Department includes a President and Vice-President. These are to be elected at-large by the people of the Republic of Texas, after a lawfully elected General Assembly is seated and upon completion of two years of session of the newly constituted General Assembly. Following this stipulation the offices are to be open for election every two years.
The Interim Government of Texas shall consist of a Legislative body sitting as the General Assembly of the Interim Government of the Republic of Texas. Members to the General Assembly are to be elected at large by the people of each County after half plus one of the counties of Texas have elected representatives to the General Assembly and the Assembly shall begin its 1st one year session. The assembly members' positions are open for election every two years.
The Interim Government of Texas shall consist of a Judiciary consisting of three Judicial Officers, who are learned in the law, and who may sit as a tribunal in cases of admiralty, maritime, military and treaty law, but shall have no jurisdiction over private affairs of the Citizens of the Republic of Texas. The Secretary of Judicial Affairs shall appoint the three Judicial Officers subject to the approval of the President and the rules of confirmation of the General Assembly.
Article 5
Powers of the General Assembly
Section 1. The General Assembly shall devise ways and means to assist the Executive Department in the discharge of duties. The General Assembly shall pass no law having effect on the people except as required in case of national emergency. Section 2. The following positions, in order of emergency succession, temporary or permanent succession, shall comprise the President, Vice-President, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Judicial Affairs, Treasurer, Speaker of the Assembly. The General Assembly shall determine the succession of authority beyond this section, to facilitate any national emergency.
Section 3. The practical formation of the General Assembly of the Interim Government of the Republic of Texas shall be covered in depth at Article 10 of this document.
Article 6
Duties and Responsibilities of Offices
Section 1. The officers of the Republic of Texas shall be governed by this document and subsequent attachments, in accordance with the common law.
Section 2. The President shall be the chief executive and chief spokesman for the Republic of Texas. The President is responsible for all matters which represent the Republic of Texas and its Interim Government before the public, the media and the world. The President is directed to formulate and implement plans which enlists and encompasses each and every Texian on the soils of Texas for the purpose of giving the power of government back to the people of Texas, through the re-establishment of the Republic of Texas, and by whatever methods, media, campaigns, etc. which he deems expedient and necessary. The President is the executive in charge and responsible to see the functions of this document are carried out to the fullest degree possible.
2a. The President shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Assembly, a Secretary of Foreign Affairs who shall be responsible for the issuance of passports. He shall serve as liaison to foreign nations and shall appoint and direct ambassadors and consuls of the Republic, subject to the approval of the President.
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs will also serve in the position of top legal officer involving foreign affairs of the Republic and in protection of the Citizens of the Republic wherever possible in foreign lands and when directed by the President shall consider the State of Texas and the United States unlawful jurisdiction on the land of Texas as foreign affairs. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs will represent the legal affairs of the Republic on international cases for the Republic of Texas and any action deemed necessary involving the Republic of Texas in a foreign court, in actions for protection of the Republic of Texas and Citizens of the Republic.
2b. The President shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Assembly, a Secretary of the Government who shall serve as archivist for the Interim Government. He shall maintain a duplicate repository of information and documentation for the offices of the General Assembly. The Secretary of the Government will serve as the national elections officer, certify winners of all national elections, administer official oaths of office and record and attest to the same.
2c. The President shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Assembly, a Secretary of Defense who shall serve as liaison to all commanders of militias, army, and navy. He shall be responsible for the design and implementation of programs to facilitate the organization and preparation of the defense forces of the Republic of Texas. He shall answer directly to the President and to the General Assembly. During the Interim Government phase only, and only upon the direction of the President, he shall assist, coordinate efforts, and aid in establishing county sheriffs, the Rangers, constables, bailiffs, city marshals and peace officers.
2d. The President shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Assembly, a Secretary of the Judicial Affairs who shall be responsible for formulating and instituting a plan which establishes the admiralty, maritime, military court of the Republic of Texas and shall appoint three members learned in the law to this tribunal as stated previously. This court shall be known and styled as the Government Court of the Republic of Texas. It shall have no jurisdiction for any cause at common law, unless expressly granted elsewhere within this document.
The Secretary shall formulate a plan which establishes a fair, just common law court of appeals for common law civil and common law criminal cases. The plan submitted will be approved by the General Assembly before its implementation.
The Secretary shall formulate plans under common law for the regular call of grand juries within the national scope and the county level. The plan shall be submitted and approved by the General Assembly before implementation.
The Secretary shall appoint, with the approval of the President and the advice and consent of the Assembly, a Counsel General who shall be the advocate general for the Republic of Texas. The Counsel General will represent the legal affairs of the Republic on domestic affairs within the Republic of Texas jurisdiction, in the common law courts and the Government Court and in all actions for protection of all the People and Citizens of the Republic.
The Secretary of Judicial Affairs shall appoint a Secretary of Constitution, subject to approval by the President and confirmation by the Assembly. The Secretary of Constitution will formulate a plan to be approved by the General Assembly for the creation of a constitutional convention for the Republic of Texas.
2e. The President shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Assembly, a Secretary of the Interior who shall be responsible for the formulation of programs and plans to facilitate the privatization of Texas public lands, to assist in restoring local government and educational control to the people of Texas, to encourage the introduction of new products and technologies to advance and expand Texas industries and agriculture, establish post offices, and promulgate plans for emergencies and survivability subject to the approval of the President. The Secretary of the Interior shall also assist in the formation of and and/or education of establishing county and city governments, based upon the will of the people and common law of Texas; and educate county coordinators, all at the direction of the President.
Under his office he will appoint, subject to the approval of the President and then subject to the confirmation rules of the General Assembly, these Secretaries to assist him in his duties: Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Science and Technology, Secretary of Land Centers, Secretary of Privatization, Secretary of Survivability, Secretary of Education, and a Postmaster General.
2f. The President shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Assembly, a Treasurer who shall be responsible for the holding of assets and their disbursements in accordance with common law and this document and will be responsible, for entering into an agreement with any agent for the process of international currency exchange in maintenance of the Lawful Money of the Republic of Texas or any other exchange of foreign nature such as barter. He will be responsible for setting just weights and measures for industry, banking, and monetary uses. He shall be responsible for coordination of private banking in view of facilitating a method of acceptance of private money and guarantee for the safety of lawful money and the faith and credit of the People of the Republic of Texas.
Under the Treasury Department, appointed by the General Assembly shall be the Auditor; who shall be the comptroller of public accounting; and shall provide the Treasurer, the President and the president of the General Assembly with a quarterly accounting of the Treasury, showing all receipts and disbursements.
2g. The President shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Assembly, a Secretary of Commerce and Trade who shall be responsible for developing and expanding Texas industries and services both domestically and internationally with new programs based upon fair trade practices aimed at making Texas a self-sufficient nation for the benefit of the Republic and its people, all under the lawful money of the Republic of Texas. He shall institute a plan for facilitating trade among the Citizens of the Republic of Texas in lawful money.
Section 3. The Vice-President shall be responsible for setting an agenda, moderating, and coordinating all meetings of the General Assembly. He shall perform the official duties of the President in case of absence or inability of the President. He shall assist, whenever possible, the President in accomplishing the same goals at the direction of the President. The Vice President shall appoint a Secretary of the Assembly, who shall be responsible for maintaining accurate records of the Assembly and upon final passage of any resolution shall present the final document to the Secretary of the Government for archiving and certifying. The Secretary of the Assembly is responsible for delivering resolutions to the President for his approval.
The Speaker of the Assembly shall be the moderator for the Assembly upon request by the Vice President or in the absence of the Vice President.
3a. The Vice President shall appoint a Parliamentarian who shall maintain a set of the rules of the Assembly, which are enacted by the Assembly and shall notify the Vice President or the Speaker of the Assembly by point of order when an infraction occurs.
3b. The Vice President shall appoint a Sergeant of Arms, who upon the order of the Speaker of the Assembly shall act under the Rules of the Assembly to enforce the rules.
3c. The Vice President shall appoint a Secretary of the Assembly, who shall be responsible for the official record keeping of the Assembly.
Article 7
Transition
For the purpose of a smooth transition between the provisional government council to this Interim Government (phase known as ad-interim) the officers of the provisional council shall automatically be assigned to their respective positions in the Interim Government, except that the Council Secretary of Privatization shall be the Secretary of the Interior, the Consul General shall be the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State shall be the Secretary of the Government. Appointments made before the Assembly has begun its 1st session shall be subject to the approval methods described without confirmation by the Assembly. The President has the authority to suspend or remove officers, appointees, employees, etc. not elected under this document for cause, subject to review by the Government Court which shall determine whether the suspension or removal was for just cause under common law, by the dictates of this document, by plenary powers, in view of justice and the goals of this Interim Government. The court may rule only upon the suspension or removal and no other issue. Suspension and removal is immediate until the review. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment as soon as possible by the proper officer, subject to the approval methods described, without confirmation by the Assembly, prior to its 1st session. The president may suspend an elected official, pending review by the Government Court. The Government Court ceases this duty regarding elected officials when the General Assembly is seated and takes the responsibility for review of elected officials.
After one half plus one of the counties have elected assembly-persons to the General Assembly, the vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the proper officer, subject to approval method, as an 'Acting' officer, until confirmation by the Assembly.
Existing department plans shall be incorporated into the same or similar offices which are deemed necessary or complimentary for the accomplishment of goals, though not expressly set forth. Pre-existing plans should be filed with the President for documentation.
Every detail concerning the establishment of government, sitting in interim, is not intended to be covered within this document. The rule of law falls under plenary powers to accomplish the goals and responsibilities set forth within. The exercise of plenary powers is subject to the rule of common law.
Since many issues cannot be covered within an interim establishing document, the President shall have the power to create new jobs, offices, and appointments, or delegate that authority to other officers, appointments subject to the President's approval and confirmation by the Assembly. Other issues or responsibilities not included above may be added to existing offices by the President, keeping the duty related as closely as possible to the office's description.
It is to be a goal of the Interim Government to establish a seat of government for the daily affairs of the Republic of Texas. It is also a goal to establish a seat for the General Assembly to meet. These goals may be accomplished by contract for rental of facilities but should be quasi-permanent for use by the government.
During the transition from provisional into Interim Government, called ad-interim, the 12 positions of the General Council will meet once every two months, at minimum, to evaluate the progress of the achievements of the offices in the Interim Government. This phase will be self-eliminating upon the 1st certified and lawful session of the Assembly.
Appropriations may be adopted and approved by the General Council on a simple majority vote, but such appropriations may only be used to carry out the functions of the duties of any of the offices covered by this document, the goals of Texas Independence, or the necessary and normal expenses of government. The Treasurer shall advise upon such measures as to the availability of funds.
The transition to Interim Government begins immediately upon adoption, but is not complete until the 1st session begins of the General Assembly upon the certification and election of members from one half plus one of the counties of the Republic of Texas. The Secretary of the Council will continue in this capacity and immediately be appointed the 1st Secretary of the General Assembly.
No officer of the Interim Government will be due any payment for service until the General Assembly, with the advice of the Treasurer, determines that funding is available, sets the pay rates, and appropriates funds for salaries. All officers at this adoption are expected to be self supporting until the time funding is achieved.
It is the goal of this document, the Interim Government, and the People of Texas to achieve full independence for the Republic of Texas. It is historical that somewhat loose interpretation is required at times to facilitate any and all methods employed to achieve independence. THIS DOCUMENT is intended solely to enable the government and the People to expedite, facilitate, and accomplish independence and no clause should be interpreted so strictly as to interfere with the objective.
All elected and appointed offices are to take and subscribe to the 'Oath of Office' and other affirmations as required by this document, in front of the Secretary of the Government, President, or Secretary of Judicial Affairs.
Article 8
Operations of Meetings
Section 1. All meetings conducted by this Interim Government shall operate according to common law, common courtesy and common decency, and guarantee all inherent and common law rights to all participants. Common law rules for departmental governmental meetings shall be established by the Secretary of Judicial Affairs.
Section 2. At all meetings of the General Assembly, the Great Seal of the Republic of Texas shall be affixed in endorsement of all actions enacted and attested as done by the Interim Government of the Republic of Texas, with the endorsements of the President and all concurring General Assembly members.
Article 9
This document shall not be amended for two years after the 1st session of the General Assembly has been seated and begins its lawful role, except in the case of an emergency upon 5/6 quorum and 3/4ths vote of the members of the Assembly, subject to same approval method by the president, and override by the General Assembly by 4/5ths vote.
Article 10
Powers and Responsibilities of the
General Assembly of the Interim Government for the
Republic of Texas and other Sundry Issues
I. The Interim General Assembly
A. Organizational Structure
The interim legislative power of the Republic of Texas Interim Government shall be vested in an assembly to be styled as the General Assembly of the Interim Government of the Republic of Texas.
The General Assembly shall consist of one elected representative from each county in Texas and who shall not hold any other elected or appointed office under this national government or local government.
The Vice President of the Republic shall be president of the General Assembly, but shall not vote on any question, unless the General Assembly is equally divided.
The General Assembly shall choose all other officers of their body, except where specifically designated by this document, and a Speaker of the General Assembly. The Speaker of the Assembly will perform the duties of the President of the Assembly (Vice President), in the absence of the Vice President, or whenever the Vice President shall exercise the office of President, or if active in performing other duties directed by the President or upon request of the Vice President. The Vice President may have a standing proxy to vote in the event of a tie on any issue in his behalf, but the proxy will serve no other functions in session, unless assigned by the Assembly.
The General Assembly shall have the sole power to try impeachments of nationally elected officers and members of the Assembly; on charges and specifications being made against an officer or Assembly member for malfeasance, misconduct in office, treason, or dereliction of office, and said charges shall be presented in writing to the President, the General Assembly and the officer charged. A fair and impartial trial shall be granted, to be conducted before the General Assembly; if, in the opinion of two-thirds of the members, sufficient cause is shown, the impeached officer shall be dismissed from office. No officer or appointee shall be held responsible for any lack of progress in responsibilities where the Assembly has failed to fund and appropriate for such duties in question.
Judgment in cases of impeachment shall only extend to removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust or profit under this government; but the party shall be liable to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment according to the common law.
The General Assembly has the power of review in the event the President has suspended an elected official of the national government for cause.
The Secretary of Interior will certify to the executive department, the people and the General Assembly which counties are to be considered Texas counties whose dispositions were disfranchised in 1850 and other dates, as soon as possible. Upon that certification, one half plus one of that number shall be the number of counties required to furnish a member to the assembly and this shall constitute a lawful, seated assembly.
The 1st official session of the General Assembly begins upon one member being elected from one half plus one of the counties, and a quorum of 2/3rds of those elected is present for business. Each county must have a minimum of 25 Citizens of the Republic actively voting in an election of a member of the General Assembly.
The General Assembly will be in session for a period of one year from the first meeting and will hold session, at minimum, on a semi-annual basis. The General Assembly shall meet to conduct business during the session beginning with one month from the certification of the results of the first election. The General Assembly will conduct business for a minimum of two days for each scheduled business meeting. The Assembly is elected for two sessions i.e. two years.
The General Assembly may punish, during the session, any person not a member, who shall be guilty of any disrespect to the General Assembly, by any disorderly conduct in their presence.
The General Assembly shall determine the rules of its own proceedings at its 1st session meeting, which has a quorum, and is represented by certified elections of one half plus 1 of the counties. The Assembly may punish its members for disorderly behavior and with the concurrence of two-thirds and may eject a member from the current meeting, but not a second time for the same offence.
To conduct business a quorum must be present. A quorum shall be declared when 2/3 of elected representatives of the certified and participating counties are present and the quorum is announced to Assembly by the Secretary of the Assembly.
The General Assembly may compel the attendance of absent members upon a majority vote of those present for emergencies, deemed necessary to the goal of Independence.
The General Assembly is empowered to pass resolutions which are not contrary to any other clause of this document. Resolutions may not be passed which call for any expenditure which is not funded and appropriated by a clause of the resolution itself.
A resolution shall be deemed as adopted with a majority vote in the affirmative for said resolution.
Resolutions shall apply only to the national government and never directly to the people.
The General Assembly shall meet at a place directed by the President of the Assembly or in his absence the, Speaker of the Assembly, until such time a permanent seat for the General Assembly is established to conduct business. When a national emergency exists as declared by the President or by two-thirds majority vote of the General Assembly the meeting place may be by the direction of the President of the General Assembly, or the President of the Republic, or the Speaker of the Assembly.
The General Assembly shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and publish the same, as soon as practicable, for open review by the People. All votes shall be entered on the journals. The Secretary of the Council shall automatically become the Secretary of the Assembly until the 1st session of the Assembly has been seated for one year.
No resolution shall be considered unless it has been read at the previous meeting of the General Assembly, unless, in cases of emergency, two thirds of the members of the General Assembly shall deem it expedient to dispense with the rule.
After a resolution has been rejected, no resolution containing the same substance shall be introduced during the same session, unless, in cases of emergency, two thirds of the members of the General Assembly shall deem it expedient to dispense with the rule.
The style of the resolutions of the republic shall be, "Be it adopted by the General Assembly of the Interim Government of the Republic of Texas."
No person holding an office of honor, trust, or profit under this government or local government shall be eligible to a seat in the General Assembly, nor shall any member of the General Assembly be eligible for any office which may be created, or the profits of which shall be increased during the term of service.
No holder of public monies or collector thereof, shall be eligible to a seat in the General Assembly, until he shall have fully acquitted himself of all responsibility, and shall produce the proper officer's receipt thereof.
Members of the General Assembly may protest against any act or resolution, and may have such protest entered on the journals of the General Assembly.
No money shall be drawn from the public treasury but in strict accordance with appropriations made by resolution; and no appropriations shall be made for private or local purposes. No resolution shall be passed requiring monies and expenditures without funding and an appropriation clause included.
Every resolution of the General Assembly shall be approved and signed by the President before its adoption. If the President will not approve and sign such resolution, he shall return it to the General Assembly, with his reasons for not approving the same, which will be recorded and published in the journals of the General Assembly. The resolution shall then be reconsidered, and shall not be adopted unless it passes by a vote of two thirds of the General Assembly. If any resolution shall be disapproved by the President, the vote on the reconsideration shall be recorded by ayes and nays. If the President shall fail to return a resolution within ten days to the General Assembly after it has been presented for his approval and signature, it shall be adopted.
B. How Members are Selected/Elected
Election of representatives for the General Assembly shall be by petition in the county in which the representative shall serve.
No person shall be eligible to a seat in the General Assembly until that person shall have attained the age of majority at common law, shall be a Citizen of the Republic of Texas as defined in the General Provisions of this document, and shall have domiciled in the county six (6) months preceding their election.
In order that no vacancy shall happen in the General Assembly, if any member, from death or other casualty, shall be incapacitated to act, the President shall immediately, on information thereof, appoint a qualified replacement from the same county, which will hold office until a new representative is elected in the next county election and seated.
C. The Powers
The General Assembly shall have power to issue bonds to borrow monies from the Texian people.
The General Assembly shall have power to levy and collect imposts, excise, export and tonnage duties, and to pay the debts of the Interim Government.
The General Assembly will establish a funding mechanism necessary to secure Texas independence, which may be changed from time-to-time.
The General Assembly shall have power to approve the process by which the government may record patents on inventions and copyrights, and secure to the authors and inventors the exclusive use thereof for a limited time, and shall direct the Secretary of Science and Technologies to fulfill the duties of any act adopted.
The General Assembly shall have power to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and to regulate captures.
The General Assembly shall have power to provide and maintain armed forces necessary for the defense of the nation, and to make all regulations necessary for their government.
The General Assembly shall have power to call out the militia to execute the common law, to suppress insurrections, and repel invasion.
The General Assembly shall have power to make all resolutions which shall be deemed necessary and proper to carry into effect the foregoing express grants of power and when needed to assist in the securing of Texas Independence, subject to the limitations included herein.
The General Assembly is responsible for the formation, conduct, and structure of its own committees and any committee may call upon an elected or appointed member of the Interim Government for counsel, advice, education, research, information, etc.
II. Election By Petition
An election committee, headed by the Secretary of Constitution, and consisting of five members not presently holding government office, nominated by the President and confirmed by a two-thirds majority vote of the General Assembly, shall judge the elections, qualifications, and returns of all elected government officials. The elected officers of the executive branch shall perform this function until the 1st General Assembly is seated.
At the beginning of each session of the General Assembly, the Head of the Election Committee shall publicly announce any vacancies of any elected office and begin the process of election by petition to fill the vacant position.
Election by petition shall be conducted in the following four, thirty (30) day, stages.
Stage 1: Election Committee shall publish, as directed by the President, a “Notice of General Election by Petition”.
Stage 2: All candidates for the General Assembly shall publish their “Declaration of Candidacy” in the paper of record in their respective county and/or an official website designated by the President, and shall file a copy of said declaration with the Election Committee.
Stage 3: Candidates shall gather qualified signatures on a petition form approved by the Election Committee. A qualified signator shall have attained the age of majority under common law and shall be a citizen as defined in the General Provisions of this document. The approved petition form shall include the signatory's declaration of citizenship and the candidate shall collect an election expense fee of 1 Texas Silver or equivalent in silver from each elector.
Stage 4: Candidates shall submit their petitions to the Election Committee no later than three (3) days following the close of the petitioning period. Candidates shall remit to the national Treasurer one (1) Texas Silver or silver equivalent for every qualified signature on each submitted petition. The Election Committee shall count and review the signatures on every petition. The Election Committee shall conduct random verification of the qualified signatures. If a discrepancy is found then a full verification of the petition shall be conducted. After counting and review, the Election Committee shall declare the results of the election and all candidates shall have seven (7) days to contest the results of the election in which they are a candidate. If, after seven (7) days the results are uncontested, the Election Committee shall forward the uncontested results to the General Assembly and the President for publication. After any contested results are verified to be valid, the Election Committee shall forward the verified results to the General Assembly and the President for publication.
III. General Provisions
All people who domicile in the Republic of Texas, and who shall, after a continual period of six (6) months, make an affirmation before some competent authority that they intend to remain permanently in the same, and shall affirm to support the Republic of Texas, and that they will bear true allegiance to the Republic of Texas, renouncing any and all other allegiances to any foreign government or entity, shall be entitled to citizenship.
Every person who shall be elected or appointed to any office of trust or profit shall, before entering on the duties thereof make a public declaration, to be held on file with the Secretary of the Government to support the Plans and Powers of the Interim Government of the Republic of Texas.
The oath of office shall state: “I, A. B., [the official title], do solemnly and sincerely declare [or affirm, or swear as the case may be] that I will faithfully execute the duties of my office, and to the best of my abilities preserve, protect, and defend the Plans and Powers of the Interim Government of the Republic of Texas, and I declare that I will not be bound to any higher Earthly oath during my tenure and service to the people of the Republic of Texas."
The Transitional Plans of the Provisional Government shall now be plans of the Interim Government.
- IV. Conclusion of Interim Government
The authority and power of this Interim Government and this Assembly ends upon the ratification of the official Constitution for the People of the Republic of Texas and after the period of time designated and affixed for transition between Interim Government to permanent government. The call for delegates to the Constitutional Convention shall be at the direction of the President and must be concurred with or overturned by 2/3rds of this Assembly within 20 days of the call for delegates. Failure to meet the 20 day stipend is construed as tacit approval of the Assembly. A call can be issued by this Assembly with 4/5 vote, subject to 10 day approval by the President, and in the event of his disapproval the Assembly may override his decision by a 5/6 vote of the Assembly meeting quorum requirements.
V. Funding, Expenses
Until full funding is achieved the expenses of the Assembly will be borne by the members of the Assembly.
Where donations are collected for expenses of an authorized meeting for the Republic of Texas, the expenses of that meeting shall be paid 1st and the balance deposited to the Treasury of the Republic. Where donations are collected at a rally, media event, or other public relations events, the expenses of that meeting shall be paid 1st and the balance deposited to the Public Relations account at the Treasury, further these funds shall not be available for appropriation and are held for the sole use for public relations. Where donations are collected at authorized meetings of an appointed Secretary or officer, the same method shall apply to donated funds, being deposited in the Treasury to the account of the office and are held solely for the use by that office. Authorized Republic of Texas meetings by County Coordinators shall collect donations to cover the expenses of the meeting, and any balance shall be equally divided, and one half sent to the Treasurer of the Republic of Texas and one half deposited with the County Treasurer. These apply only to authorized meetings established by the Interim Government officers and not to local citizen meetings. Donations for specific purposes shall not be co-mingled in the Treasury accounts and shall be applied to the purpose as soon as practical or possible.
Conclusion
This document is meant to constitute a working document creating a governing body for the Republic of Texas, which will act with full authority granted above. It is the next, natural, and historic move towards constitutional government. It is meant to be interpreted loosely in construction so that no obstacle is created within that would hinder the continued growth and move towards the independence of Texas from the United States and the State of Texas, in all their forms. It is meant to give to the Citizens of the Republic of Texas a government, which is lacking under the Provisional Council. It is meant to give structure and organization to the government of the Republic to move it further towards independence.
Adoption
This Plans and Powers of the Interim Government of the Republic of Texas shall be deemed as adopted and shall become effective immediately upon a majority of the Councilmen of the Provisional Government attaching their signatures and upon a majority of the elected delegates attaching their signatures.
APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL - MAY 24, 2003
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