Article VI - Adoption, Status, Amendment, Publicizing of Rules and Parliamentary Procedure
A. Adoption and Status
1. These Rules shall continue in force until rescinded or permanently changed by action of the State Convention, or as temporarily amended by the SDEC as provided herein, and are enforceable by mandamus proceedings as provided under Texas law.
2. Notwithstanding anything in these Rules to the contrary, the laws of the State of Texas take precedence over these Rules in the event of a conflict, so long as application of those laws does not infringe on the Party's rights of self-government under the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Texas.
3. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any statute that burdens the Delegate selection process in such a way as to create a conflict with National Party Rules relating to Delegate selection or instruction shall not be given effect if, in the opinion of the SDEC, such statute would imperil the participation of the Texas Democratic Party in National Party affairs. Such determination shall be made by the SDEC after 30 days notice and by a two-thirds vote of the membership.
B. Amendment
1. These Rules may be permanently amended, altered, or repealed only by a majority vote of the State Convention.
2. Between State Conventions, they may be temporarily changed for good cause by three fourths vote of the SDEC; provided, however, that the vote to amend shall constitute three fourths of the entire Committee membership and also provided that each member of the SDEC receive written notice including the full text of any proposed amendments at least one month in advance of a meeting held for this purpose. All such amendments shall be presented to the next State Convention for approval, although they shall be in effect and binding until such Convention is held.
3. If any amendment attached by the SDEC be rejected by the State Convention, it may not be proposed again until the following State Convention.
C. Publicizing of Rules
1. Publicizing of these Rules shall be made by mailing a copy to all County Chairs and members of the SDEC and to interested persons who request copies from the State Headquarters. The State Chair, County Chairs and members of the SDEC shall make every effort to publicize the Rules well in advance of each Convention and to explain them summarily at the opening of each Convention.
2. A copy of any amendment to these Rules shall be filed promptly with the Secretary of State and shall be included in all sets of Rules distributed from the State Headquarters.
D. Parliamentary Authority
The parliamentary authority for the Texas Democratic Party, its clubs and affiliated organizations shall be the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised. The parliamentary authority shall govern all meetings, committees and conventions except where superseded by federal and state laws.
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