INTRODUCTION
The Texas State Republican Party Platform enumerates the issues important to Texas Republicans, the principles upon which the platform is constructed, and the legislative priorities for the subsequent General Election.
The grassroots planks of the platform are proposed by registered Republican voters who submit propositions at their Precinct Conventions, County Conventions, Senate District Conventions, and at the State Convention. The State GOP Convention Platform Committee homogenizes and approves the plank. The Platform is further amended by the delegates to the convention. The final platform is approved by the delegates to the convention.
LOCAL IMPACT/WHY IT MATTERS
The Platform’s planks address the lives of all Texans at the local level, directly and indirectly. Legislation affects your taxes and your freedoms. Legislation affects the philosophy of your local school district. An examination of the 2024 Texas State Republican Party Platform reveals the areas of your life that are affected.
This lists the areas of our society targeted by our platform:
- Constitutional Issues
- Business, Commerce, and Transportation
- Finance
- Education
- Health and Human Services
- Criminal and Civil Justice
- State Affairs
- Government and Election Integrity
- National Defense and Foreign Affairs
The State Republican Executive Committee establishes the priorities of the party and the platform. Priorities are proposed at the county and senate district conventions. The state convention delegates vote on the priorities. The Party Rules, rule number 44, gives ‘teeth’ to the platform.
Reference: Rules of the Republican Party of Texas, Rule No. 44 – Censure Process and Penalties (page 37)
The platform serves as a ‘yardstick’ to inform voters of the faithfulness of elected office holders to the platform.
REPUBLICAN PERSPECTIVE
The word ‘republic’ derives from a Latin phrase: res publica. The Latin word res means ‘thing’ and publica means ‘public’— The People’s Thing. You find this idea in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution: We the people.
The mission of the party is to promote conservative principles and provide the infrastructure through which those who share our conservative principles can get involved in the political process, run for and be elected to public office, and govern according to our principles when elected.
Not all Republican voters are cognizant of all issues. The Platform serves to evaluate the performance of Republican legislators in the House and in the Senate.
ACTION & CLOSING
Is your voter registration up to date? If you moved to Texas or from within Texas, you will need to update your voter registration through your County Elections Administrator or your County Clerk.
Become a trained Volunteer Deputy Registrar (VDR) so you can register newcomers to your city or county. Check with your County Republican Party Chair or your Precinct Chair for direction.
There are three elections for state and federal elections: the Primary, the Runoff, and the General elections. A Precinct Convention follows shortly after the Primary Election. A County Convention follows the General Election. In the larger metropolitan areas (Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, etc.), instead of a County Convention, there will be a Senate District Convention.
Finally, there will be a Texas State Convention where the platform is finalized. All delegates to the convention can challenge planks, priorities, and principles. The final configuration of the platform is approved by the delegates.
Confused? The Rockwall County Republican Party welcomes your questions and comments.
As soon as possible, contact your County Republican Party office. Learn who your Precinct Chairperson is and how to contact him/her. Ask to be put on the County mail list to keep you apprised of important actions and your opportunities to contribute to the success of the party and the candidates.
The platform is a creation of We the People. You are important to the process.
