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Statement of Principles
Article I - Statement of Principles
The Texas Democratic Party hereby adopts the following statement of Principles as the foundation for Party activities at all levels:
A. Beliefs
We believe that the Democratic Party, with its great diversity, its flexibility of organization, its historic adaptability to fruitful change, and its instinctive responsiveness to human needs and aspirations, can provide the leadership required in these challenging times. We further believe:
1. That we must join together with a renewed faith in our country, in our state, and in our Party to provide our people with responsive, responsible government;
2. That government functions best when it is closest to the people;
3. That our government is and should be of laws and not of favoritism or of arbitrary caprice, and therefore we condemn any resolution of conflicts, save through legal processes;
4. That the Texas Democratic Party stands for law and order, for total and unceasing war against crime, for strengthening law enforcement agencies, and for justice under law;
5. That all citizens, no matter what their religion or race or how humble or exalted their origin or station, have the duty to participate fully at every level of government and are entitled to an equal voice and to equal treatment at its hands;
6. That all Democrats are bound to defend, to protect, and to honor our nation, our state, and our Party, and that when they are right, it is our privilege to sustain them, but when they err, it is our duty to correct them; and
7. That, as Democrats, we are proud and upright citizens of the United States, that we are determined not only to serve our country, but also to stand shoulder to shoulder with citizens of other states in providing meaningful, responsible, and constructive leadership for our great nation.
B. Declarations
To achieve these principles, we hereby make these declarations and adopt the following Rules to govern Party activities at all levels:
1. No test of membership in, nor oaths of loyalty to, the Texas Democratic Party shall be required or used if it has the effect of requiring prospective or current members of the Democratic Party to acquiesce in, condone, or support discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, sexual orientation, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, economic status or disability.
2. The Democratic Party at all levels shall support the broadest possible voter registration and participation without discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, economic status or disability.
3. It shall be the duty of the State Chair and Party Officers at all levels to take affirmative steps to encourage young people, women and minorities to seek selection as Delegates to Party Conventions and as members of Party Committees so that they shall be represented in reasonable relationship to their presence in the state.
4. Every person who accepts a Party office at any level (including the position of Convention Delegate and Alternate) must agree to support all of the Party's nominees or shall be removed.
5. Public meetings at all levels of the Texas Democratic Party shall be open to all members of the Party, regardless of race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, economic status, philosophical persuasion or disability.
6. The time and place of all meetings of the Texas Democratic Party at all levels shall be publicized fully and in such manner as to assure timely notice to all interested persons. Such meetings shall be held in places accessible to all Party members and large enough to accommodate all interested persons.
7. The Texas Democratic Party shall publicize fully and in such manner as to assure notice to all interested parties a complete description of the legal and practical qualifications and procedures for selecting Democratic Party Officers and Representatives at all levels. Publication of these procedures shall be timely and in such a fashion that all prospective and current members of the Democratic Party and all prospective candidates or applicants will be fully and adequately informed of the pertinent procedures in time to participate in each selection procedure at each level of the Democratic Party organization and to compete for any elected or appointed position.
