The Price of Political Expediency: Is the LULAC Constitution Still Our Supreme Law?
In the heart of a heated election season, the Texas LULAC landscape has shifted from a battle of ideas to a battle over the rule book. The recent 13–4 vote by the Texas State Executive Board to move the 2026 State Convention from Houston to San Antonio is more than a logistical pivot. It is a stress test for our democracy.
The Shield of Constitutional Mandate
The Constitution is not a "nebulous" suggestion; it is the "Supreme Law of the League." Under this framework, the State Assembly is the "highest authority" within its jurisdiction. When a State Executive Board votes to overturn a site selection made by that Assembly, they are not executing a mandate; they are usurping the democratic will of the membership. The Board is strictly not empowered to "amend or waive" the Constitution or any resolution adopted by the Assembly.
Manufactured Crisis and the $75,000 Gamble
Reports suggest that Texas LULAC state leadership delayed critical decisions and fundraising efforts, creating a situation where the original Houston arrangements were compromised. This "manufactured crisis" carries severe financial consequences: the State Director signed a contract with a Houston hotel but failed to provide the deposit, leaving the organization vulnerable to a $75,000 breach of contract lawsuit.
Despite the Houston District offering a path to negate this massive liability, leadership chose to push forward with a move to San Antonio—a city with 53 councils. To many, this move appears to be a calculated attempt to secure the more than 200 delegate votes necessary for re-election by trading constitutional adherence for a "home field" advantage.
A Departure from Corporate Ethics
Our Annual Council Charter Agreement demands a "corporate ethic of excellence." This ethic is violated when an officer’s "dereliction of duty" or "incompetence" creates a financial and legal emergency used to bypass the Assembly’s supreme authority. The State Executive Board is a "delegated executive branch" meant only to "execute the mandates of the Assembly"; it has no authority to unilaterally change the venue of the most important democratic gathering of the year.
The Danger of "Selective Enforcement"
We are often told by legal counsel that deviations from the rules are permissible because "that is how we have ruled in the past." This philosophy of selective enforcement is a slow-acting poison. Precedent should never be used to repeal the written word. When we allow "past rulings" to justify unconstitutional actions, we abandon the "protection, counsel, and guidance" that LULAC owes its members.
A Call to Philosophical Consistency
We cannot defend democracy by breaking the law. The solution to a leadership team seeking an unfair advantage through manufactured delays and legal liability is to hold the line at the original mandate.
Our LULAC Code charges us to "learn how to discharge your duties before you learn how to assert your rights." The duty of the Board today is to respect the Assembly’s choice and the constitutional framework that binds us. Anything less is a retreat from the "all for one—one for all" spirit that has guided us since 1929.
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