TLG

Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 3-a and Texas Constitution:Article I: Difference between pages

Constitution Discussion
(Difference between pages)

Texas Constitution:Article I (view source)

Revision as of 16:18, June 12, 2025

2,684 bytes added ,  June 12
m
no edit summary
mNo edit summary
 
mNo edit summary
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Article I, Section 3-a of the Texas Constitution (''<small>"Equal Rights Amendment"</small>'')}}{{Texas Constitution|text=Added November 7, 1972:
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Article I of the Texas Constitution}}[[File:Texas_Constitution_of_1876_Article_1.jpg|125px|border|right|Texas Bill of Rights]]The official title of Article I is "Bill of Rights." It is commonly referred to by both the courts and commentators as the Texas Bill of Rights.


'''Equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of sex, race, color, creed, or national origin. This amendment is self-operative.'''
It begins: "That the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare."


|editor=
For a historical perspective on the article, review the following paper that was published in 1958: [https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101173/m1/554/ ''Origins of the Texas Bill of Rights''].


Under the federal equal protection clause, classifications based upon sex are subject only to "intermediate scrutiny." See, e.g., ''United States v. Virginia'', 518 U.S. 515, [https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1428365285620704265#p533 533] (1996) ("The heightened review standard our precedent establishes does not make sex a proscribed classification.").
Article I originally had twenty-nine sections. Fifteen sections have been added. None of the original or added sections have been repealed.


The effect of this section of the state constitution, known as the Texas Equal Rights Amendment, is to subject classifications based upon sex to "strict scrutiny." For information regarding the fifteen-year campaign to secure passage of the amendment, see [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/mlt02 ''Texas Equal Rights Amendment''].
The article's original sections do not have official titles. Of the added sections, only Section 30 (''"Rights of Crime Victims"'') has an official title.


|recent=
Therefore, in general, the section titles that appear in various publications have been assigned over the years by the different publishers.


* ''State v. Zurawski'', 690 S.W.3d 644, [https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=7571856369762417682#p--- 670-71] (Tex. 2024) ("The Center argues that the State's interest in prenatal life fades when 'the health risks to the pregnant patient and the fetus are so severe that the pregnancy will never result in a child with sustained life.' But in situations where the mother has such a risk . . . current law permits an abortion to address the mother's risk of death or serious physical impairment. We conclude that the temporary-injunction record does not demonstrate that the Act lacks a rational relationship to a legitimate governmental purpose such that the Act violates Texas's equal protection clauses.")
On TLG, each section of the state constitution has its own page:


* ''In re Dean'', 393 S.W.3d 741, [https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=12142732650188771717#p749 749] (Tex. 2012) (citations omitted) ("We have applied a three-step evaluation to determine whether the [Texas Equal Rights] Amendment has been violated. First, we consider whether equality under the law has been denied. If it has, we must determine whether equality was denied '''because of'' a person's membership in a protected class.' If so, 'the challenged action cannot stand unless it is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling governmental interest.' Richard has not shown that he is denied equality under the law. Section 152.201(a) is a procedural mechanism for determining jurisdiction.")
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 1|<span title="Freedom and Sovereignty of State">Article I, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 2|<span title="Inherent Political Power; Republican Form of Government">Article I, Section 2 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 3|<span title="Equal Rights Provision">Article I, Section 3 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 3-a|<span title="Equal Rights Amendment">Article I, Section 3-a of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 4|<span title="Religious Tests">Article I, Section 4 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 5|<span title="Witnesses Not Disqualified by Religious Beliefs; Oaths and Affirmations">Article I, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 6|<span title="Freedom of Worship">Article I, Section 6 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 6-a|<span title="Religious Service Protections">Article I, Section 6-a of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 7|<span title="Appropriations for Sectarian Purposes">Article I, Section 7 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 8|<span title="Freedom of Speech">Article I, Section 8 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 9|<span title="Searches and Seizures">Article I, Section 9 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 10|<span title="Rights of Accused in Criminal Prosecutions">Article I, Section 10 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 11|<span title="Right to Bail">Article I, Section 11 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 11-a|<span title="Denial of Bail after Multiple Felonies">Article I, Section 11-a of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 11-b|<span title="Denial of Bail for Violation of Condition of Release">Article I, Section 11-b of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 11-c|<span title="Denial of Bail for Violation of Protective Order Involving Family Violence">Article I, Section 11-c of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 11-d|<span title="....">Article I, Section 11-d of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 12|<span title="Habeas Corpus">Article I, Section 12 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 13|<span title="Excessive Bail or Fines; Cruel or Unusual Punishment; Open Courts">Article I, Section 13 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 14|<span title="Double Jeopardy">Article I, Section 14 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 15|<span title="Right of Trial by Jury">Article I, Section 15 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 15-a|<span title="Commitment of Persons of Unsound Mind">Article I, Section 15-a of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 16|<span title="Bills of Attainder; Ex Post Facto or Retroactive Laws; Impairing Obligation of Contracts">Article I, Section 16 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 17|<span title="Taking Property for Public Use; Grant of Special Privileges">Article I, Section 17 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 18|<span title="Imprisonment for Debt">Article I, Section 18 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 19|<span title="Deprivation of Life, Liberty, Property, etc. by Due Course of Law">Article I, Section 19 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 20|<span title="Outlawry or Transportation Out of State for Offense">Article I, Section 20 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 21|<span title="Corruption of Blood; Forfeiture of Estate; Suicides">Article I, Section 21 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 22|<span title="Treason Against State">Article I, Section 22 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 23|<span title="Right to Keep and Bear Arms">Article I, Section 23 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 24|<span title="Military Subordinate to Civil Authority">Article I, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 25|<span title="Quartering Soldiers in Houses">Article I, Section 25 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 26|<span title="Perpetuities and Monopolies; Primogeniture or Entailments">Article I, Section 26 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 27|<span title="Right of Assembly; Right of Petition">Article I, Section 27 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 28|<span title="Suspension of Laws">Article I, Section 28 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 29|<span title="Bill of Rights Excepted from Powers of Government">Article I, Section 29 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 30|<span title="Rights of Crime Victims">Article I, Section 30 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 31|<span title="Use of Crime Victims' Funds">Article I, Section 31 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 32|<span title="Marriage">Article I, Section 32 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 33|<span title="Public Access to and Use of Public Beaches">Article I, Section 33 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 34|<span title="Right to Hunt, Fish, and Harvest Wildlife">Article I, Section 34 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 35|<span title="Right of Certain Facility Residents to Designate Essential Caregiver">Article I, Section 35 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 36|<span title="Right to Engage in Certain Agricultural Practices">Article I, Section 36 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]
*[[Texas Constitution:Article I, Section 37|<span title="....">Article I, Section 37 of the Texas Constitution</span>]]


|historic=
[[Category:Texas Constitution]]
 
[[Category:Texas Bill of Rights| ]]
* ''Richards v. LULAC'', 868 S.W.2d 306, [https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=16846469003599294378#p311 311] n.3 (Tex. 1993) ("Plaintiffs point out that article I, § 3a, the Texas Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), has no federal analogue, and that we have held that it 'is more extensive and provides more specific protection than both the United States and Texas due process and equal protection guarantees.' ''In re Baby McLean'', 725 S.W.2d 696, 698 (Tex. 1987). However, discrimination based upon race or national origin is already subject to strict scrutiny under both federal and state equal protection analysis. Therefore, the Texas ERA would not afford any additional level of scrutiny in such a case.")
[[Category:By Steve Smith]]
 
[[Category:TxCon ArtI]]
* ''In re Baby McLean'', 725 S.W.2d 696, [https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=9443870183670155446#p698 698] (Tex. 1987) ("Our reading of the Equal Rights Amendment elevates sex to a suspect classification. Sex is clearly listed in the amendment along with other classifications afforded maximum constitutional protection. The appropriate standard is thus one which recognizes that the Equal Rights Amendment does not yield except to compelling state interests. Further, it is not enough to say that the state has an important interest furthered by the discriminatory law. Even the loftiest goal does not justify sex-based discrimination in light of the clear constitutional prohibition.")
[[Category:WikiSEO Extension]]{{#seo:|title=Article I of the Texas Constitution ("Bill of Rights")|keywords=Article 1 Texas Constitution, Texas Bill of Rights, equal rights provision|description=The official title of Article I is "Bill of Rights." It is commonly referred to as the Texas Bill of Rights.|locale=en-US|site_name=TLG (texaslegalguide.com)|type=article|section=law|author=Admin|published_time=2020-01-15T12:30:30Z|image=Texas_Constitution_of_1876_Article_1.jpg|image_alt=Texas Bill of Rights}}
 
* ''Mercer v. Board of Trustees'', 538 S.W.2d 201, [https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=6909154934521875030#p206 206] (Tex.Civ.App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 1976, n.r.e.) ("We cannot agree with the Supreme Court of Washington that the ERA admits of no exceptions to its prohibition of sex discrimination. Any classification based upon sex is a suspect classification, and any law . . . . With respect to 'physical characteristics' we are simply recognizing the facts of life. For us to adjudicate that women are men would be as futile as it would be absurd. Neither the ERA nor the rights established by it require us to construe it so as to deny sexual or reproductive differences between the sexes.")
 
* ''Heaton v. Bristol'', 317 S.W.2d 86, [https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=18222848089783696141#p98 98] (Tex.Civ.App.–Waco 1958, ref'd) ("Neither counsel for appellants nor appellees have pointed out any case wherein an appellate court of any jurisdiction has at any time held, or even intimated, that a state cannot, as a part of its over-all educational system, maintain one all-male or one all-female university as the Legislature has done in Texas for our higher educational system. There is certainly not even the remotest suggestion by inference or otherwise in any of the reported cases that the system now maintained by Texas constitutes a violation of any constitutional provisions, State or Federal.")
 
|seo_title=Article I, Section 3-a of the Texas Constitution ("Equal Rights Amendment")
|seo_keywords=Article 1 Section 3-a, Texas Equal Rights Amendment, equality under the law
|seo_description=Equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of sex, race, color, creed, or national origin.
|seo_image_alt=Texas Bill of Rights
 
}}
 
[[Category:Texas Bill of Rights]]
[[Category:Civil Rights Law]]
[[Category:TxCon ArtI Sec]]
Retrieved from "https://texaslegalguide.com/Special:MobileDiff/8662...8703"