WHEREAS, the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified on July 9, 1868; and

WHEREAS, the original intent of the Fourteenth Amendment was to grant recently freed African slaves born in the United States the protection of the privileges and immunity clause of the United States Constitution and to ensure states afforded the former slaves all the rights of citizenship; and

WHEREAS, the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution granted citizenship to freed slaves born on the soil of the country, and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, protected natural rights and national rights such as due process and equal protection under the law for all persons; and

WHEREAS, Republican elected and appointed officials of 1868 ensured the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment; and

WHEREAS, the Fourteenth Amendment established a new birth of Freedom for the United States of America; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on all Republicans to recommit ourselves to the original intent of the Fourteenth Amendment in order to protect the natural rights and national rights of all persons subject to the jurisdiction United States; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas encourages Texans to make every effort to commemorate the original intent of the Fourteenth Amendment to guarantee the privileges and immunities of citizens and persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, due process under the law, and equal protection of the law; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Republican Executive Committee urges Texans to share and celebrate the Republican Party’s history of commitment to the original spirit of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution which is recognized and celebrated by the Republican Party of Texas.

Respectfully submitted,

Resolutions Committee