Political Updates
Chapter Two: Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Today: After More than a Century Usage, pg. 53

The 77th legislative session considered several constitutional amendment proposals that included reforming the judicial selection process, lowering the voting age, placing a moratorium on the execution of persons convicted of capital offenses, giving Texans a right to privacy, and providing a constitutional right to hunt and fish. The Legislature ultimately proposed 20 constitutional amendments, 19 for submission to voters in November 2001. The majority of these proposals addressed detailed policy, such as providing exemptions from ad valorem taxation, issuing general obligation bonds for certain projects and/or state agencies, and extending to four years the term for the firefighters' pension commissioner.