**OFFICE OF**  **THE ATTORNEY**  **GENERAL OF**  **TEXAS**
**AUSTIN** April f27,1999

Honorable F. Lee O9fmlel oorernor .orTezar Awtfn, Texas Dear &amorr

W4 ax-4in r4c trammltting lattsr tro man of the Joint Lagis Legislature, inwhfoh t

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### Saotion ?!of t&r l'ey~ Conrtitution ?3Hon. Vi.Lee O'Daniel, April 27, lQ39, Page 2

"All political power is inhsrent in the people, and all

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## r0and4d on ,&heirauthority, and inetitutad for their baxq4rit. The laith 0r tha people Of Texas 8ta$is plaUge& to thepreservation o? a republioaq?orm o? government, **and,** subject to this limitation only, they have at all tines the inal$enable right to altar, reiorm or abolish thelr'government In suchmanner as theymay think expedient." Article 1, Section 8 a? the Texas Constitution reads:

YWery pereon shall be at liberty to speak, write or.publish hia opinions on any subject, being responsible for theabuse o? that privilege; and no law shall 4v4r be passed curtailing the liberty o? spaeoh or o? the press. In prosecutions ?or tha publications or papers, Investigating the conduct of officere, or'men inpublic oapaclty, orwhen thematter published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may be given in evidence. And in all indictments for libels, the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other ca84a.W .- Article 1, Section 19 o? the Texas Constitution reads: .

90 citizen of this State shall bedeprived or life, liberty, property, privileges or timunitiee,'or in anymannar disrranohlwb, mf04s. by the do4 ooursa ai ths law o? th4 land.* .Artlol4 1, Metion e&pi the Texa6 Conmtltution raabe: "Treason against the Btat4:ahal.loonatit o&y% lavying mar **agaln8t** it, 4iradhering to its enamiea, giving them aidmb oom?ort~;anU no person nhal* be convicted o? treason except onthe testtiny o? twowltnesaes'to t&e same overt act, ,ron con?asaion in opan court.- Artiale 1, Saction 27 o? the Texae Constitution reads:Hon. YJ.Lee O'Daniel, April 27, 1939, Page 3

"The citizens shall hava the right, in a p4acabla manner, toass4mblr together for thair oommon good; and apply to those Investad wi%h fhe powers of government ?or ~~UIWSS of grlavanaas or other pxmpo848.-:hy patltion, adtlrass+r r4monstan04.~ *tic14 1, Section a9 ofthe Tsxas Constitution raads: "To guard against transgressions of the high pours herein delegated, ws Qeclare that sverything~in this *Billa? Wghts' is sxcepted out of the general powers of government, and shall forever remaln lnvlolata, andall laws contrary thereto, or to the following provisions, shall be void." There is no statute in Texas undertaking to define crimes against the Constitution, snd w4, tharafdre,J answer that tha Constitution and statute laws of the State
- of Texas have no provisions with respect to Wcrimes against the Constitution.w Yours very truly ATTQRNEYGENEXALOFTEXAS e_ By (Signed)A, S.Rollins

A. S.Rollins **Assistant**

~Signed~~~iierald

c. Mann ATTORNEY%J!!NXRALOFTXAS