Article III, Section 4 of the Texas Constitution ("Election and Term of Office of Representatives")

As amended November 2, 1999:

The members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen by the qualified voters for the term of two years. Representatives shall take office following their election, on the day set by law for the convening of the regular session of the Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years to which elected.

Editor Comments

As adopted in 1876, this section read: "The members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen by the qualified electors, and their term of office shall be two years from the day of their election."

Attorney Steve Smith

Recent Decisions

None.

Historic Decisions

  • Kirk v. Gordon, 376 S.W.2d 560, 562 (Tex. 1964) ("The Constitution plainly says that the term of office of members of the House of Representatives shall be two years from the date of their election. We are not at liberty to say that that means two years from the date the Legislature, to which the member is elected, convenes. The fact that the district attorney has filed with us a copy of his resignation to become effective next November 1, which is before the general election, does not alter the situation. It is the fact that the term of office of district attorney to which he was elected conflicts with the term of office of members of the House of Representatives which controls.")

Library Resources

Online Resources