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The stream will not permanently rise higher than the main source; and the main source of national power and national greatness is found in the average citizenship of the nation. Theodore Roosevelt
Once every four years, as we go to the polls to vote in the presidential primaries, Texans have the rare opportunity to participate in representative democracy in its simplest formthe precinct resolution. This guide explains how the precinct resolution process works, why its important, and how you can pass resolutions on issues that are important to you.
January 2012
Youve heard the term, think globally: act locally. Precinct-level participation is the most basic way to act locally, with potentially global outcomes. It is the building block needed to carry out democracy in our existing party-based structure of representation. The precinct convention meeting takes place in your neighborhood, at your polling place or right near by. The other people who attend are your fellow partymembers from your immediate communityyour neighbors. The purpose of these meetings is to nd delegates for the county convention, and to discover the policy priorities of the most invested party members on the ground, presumably those who attend precinct convention meetings. Precinct resolutions are statements of policy priorities submitted and voted on by party delegates at their local precinct convention meetings. Any precinct caucus participant can propose a resolution. A precinct resolution might reect the strong feelings of an individual, or it may be part of a package of resolutions promulgated by an interest group. The voters present at the precinct convention can discuss, amend, table or adopt passage of any resolutions offered by the delegates. Once passed at the precinct level, resolutions advance to the county convention where they are voted upon again and begin their climb up the party food chain. All it takes is for one precinct to pass a resolution for it to be considered at the county level. Ultimately, a solid and well-supported resolution may be adopted by the state and national party platforms where it may in turn inspire legislation and new laws.
issues of the day. Counties where the entire county is in the same Senate District have County conventions instead of Senate District conventions. In places where the Senate District covers more than one county, the next level up is referred to as the County Convention.
Ive Never Done Something Like This What Happens At The Precinct Convention?
The main business is to elect and become a delegate to your Senate District or County Convention, where delegates to the State Convention are elected and resolutions passed on
Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy: Passing Your Precinct Resolution 2012
appointed. If there is a precinct chair, nd their contact information, contact them and volunteer to help organize. If your precinct chair and/or county party chair is non-responsive, le to run for chair. Candidates for precinct chair can le between October and January.
A party platform is the list of the principles which a political party supports. In the United States, the Democratic Party has adopted a platform every four years since 1840, and the Republican Party has adopted a platform every four years since 1856. Find the historic platforms of the Democratic and Republican parties as well as the platforms of other current and former parties at the American Presidency Project at the University of California at Santa Barbara. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/platforms.php
Party Platforms
The ultimate goal for a precinct resolution is inclusion in the party platform of the precinct caucus that adopted it. The process of developing a state or national party platform is complex and generally closed to public participation, but delivering a precinct resolution is one way to make your voice heard.
Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy: Passing Your Precinct Resolution 2012
The Texas Interfaith Center on Public Policy is a faith-based, 501(c)(3) non-prot organization that provides public policy analysis from a mainstream theological perspective to people of faith and other Texans. The Center is the research and education arm of Texas Impact, the state s oldest and largest interfaith legislative network. Texas Impact was established by Texas religious leaders in 1973 to be a voice in the Texas legislative process for the shared religious social concerns of Texas faith communities. Texas Impact is supported by more than two dozen Christian, Jewish and Muslim denominational bodies, as well as hundreds of local congregations, ministerial alliances and interfaith networks, and thousands of people of faith throughout Texas.
Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy 221 East 9th Street, Suite 403, Austin, Texas 78701 www.texasinterfaithcenter.org 512.472.3903