The "Moral Obligation" of Those Who Run for Office

From the editor:  I was just forwarded this part of the Election Code by Mary Helen Flores of CAVA.  It shows the moral obligation of candidates for office.   Once the candidate files and has a campaign treasurer, he or she receives a copy of this chapter of the election code along with a blank form.  If this code were actually followed, it would eliminate a lot of the negative campaigning and some of the voter fraud.  

TITLE 15. REGULATING POLITICAL FUNDS AND CAMPAIGNS


CHAPTER 258. FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES




Sec. 258.001.  SHORT TITLE.  This chapter may be cited as the Fair Campaign Practices Act.


Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 168, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.





Sec. 258.002.  PURPOSE.  (a)  The purpose of this chapter is to encourage every candidate and political committee to subscribe to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.

(b)  It is the intent of the legislature that every candidate and political committee that subscribes to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices will follow the basic principles of decency, honesty, and fair play to encourage healthy competition and open discussion of issues and candidate qualifications and to discourage practices that cloud the issues or unfairly attack opponents.


Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 168, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.





Sec. 258.003.  DELIVERY OF COPY OF CODE.  (a)  When a candidate or political committee files its campaign treasurer appointment, the authority with whom the appointment is filed shall give the candidate or political committee a blank form of the Code of Fair Campaign Practices and a copy of this chapter.

(b)  The authority shall inform each candidate or political committee that the candidate or committee may subscribe to and file the code with the authority and that subscription to the code is voluntary.


Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 168, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.





Sec. 258.004.  TEXT OF CODE.  The Code of Fair Campaign Practices reads as follows:

CODE OF FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES


There are basic principles of decency, honesty, and fair play that every candidate and political committee in this state has a moral obligation to observe and uphold, in order that, after vigorously contested but fairly conducted campaigns, our citizens may exercise their constitutional rights to a free and untrammeled choice and the will of the people may be fully and clearly expressed on the issues.

THEREFORE:

(1)  I will conduct the campaign openly and publicly and limit attacks on my opponent to legitimate challenges to my opponent's record and stated positions on issues.

(2)  I will not use or permit the use of character defamation, whispering campaigns, libel, slander, or scurrilous attacks on any candidate or the candidate's personal or family life.

(3)  I will not use or permit any appeal to negative prejudice based on race, sex, religion, or national origin.

(4)  I will not use campaign material of any sort that misrepresents, distorts, or otherwise falsifies the facts, nor will I use malicious or unfounded accusations that aim at creating or exploiting doubts, without justification, as to the personal integrity or patriotism of my opponent.

(5)  I will not undertake or condone any dishonest or unethical practice that tends to corrupt or undermine our system of free elections or that hampers or prevents the full and free expression of the will of the voters, including any activity aimed at intimidating voters or discouraging them from voting.

(6)  I will defend and uphold the right of every qualified voter to full and equal participation in the electoral process, and will not engage in any activity aimed at intimidating voters or discouraging them from voting.

(7)  I will immediately and publicly repudiate methods and tactics that may come from others that I have pledged not to use or condone.  I shall take firm action against any subordinate who violates any provision of this code or the laws governing elections.

I, the undersigned, candidate for election to public office in the State of Texas or campaign treasurer of a political committee, hereby voluntarily endorse, subscribe to, and solemnly pledge myself to conduct the campaign in accordance with the above principles and practices.


        ______________
         ____________________
                  Date
                    Signature



Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 168, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.





Sec. 258.005.  FORMS.  The commission shall print copies of the Code of Fair Campaign Practices and shall supply the forms to the authorities with whom copies of the code may be filed in quantities and at times requested by the authorities.


Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 168, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.





Sec. 258.006.  ACCEPTANCE AND PRESERVATION OF COPIES.  (a)  An authority with whom a campaign treasurer appointment is filed shall accept each completed copy of the code submitted to the authority that is properly subscribed to by a candidate or the campaign treasurer of a political committee.

(b)  Each copy of the code accepted under this section shall be preserved by the authority with whom it is filed for the period prescribed for the filer's campaign treasurer appointment.


Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 168, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.





Sec. 258.007.  SUBSCRIPTION TO CODE VOLUNTARY.  The subscription to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices by a candidate or a political committee is voluntary.