Case Information
*1 OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS
AUSTIN
Eon. Talter C. Pierson
Head, F'xeoutlre Dltialon
Department of Ctatr
offloe of Secretary o? Sat0
Austin, Texas
Dear sir:
ntloned oonstitutfonsl prc- ?a te Guard is not mentioned by ers be e:ltitled tc, tke exemytlofi, it, would in the general descriptloc quoted above Tte forces end reserve described ln the above mentioned provIsion are limited to those “of the Tjnltsd -tates.* Mllltery forces and organizations .&lch do not meet this requirement are included. So the question turns on whether the Texas rtate la an instrument of the United States Guard, as a military force, Government or zerelp a @tate organization; in other words, whether lt8 members, BE such, are enraged in the service of the federal governpent or solely in the service cf the 3ste of Texts.
56: Rc,. , alter C. Pleraon, pope 2
The rt8tutr8 rpr888ly protlda that the Taraa Ctato state or ‘I’orsr Our4 I part or the milltory rororr or a -- 8t3d th8 88tiv8 8dliti8 Of th8 Sht8 Of =X88. ~oOt8r?nO~ Or T8XO8 18 authorized to =giiSn zI= the %I88 Stat8 th8 98rIOd thrt the T8x88 m8tiOn81 OU8rd Or my Ouard during in OtIV, kTtB. 5765 aad 98Tt th.NOf, i8 tOdOra 8On10..
589lr, Vbrnoa’8 AM. Cit. StrtUt88. th8 URIt& State8
Thr Coa8tltutioa (COO. 8 oi Art.11 rhrll ham 9owrr proridos that Congo88
*To provldr ror rorth Yilltla to ialllng l X8OUtr the kW8 Or th8 udOa, 8Ii99rO88 zIX8W88tiOM 8a6 npal xBvrrIoM~
*To provldr r0r orgaaltdng mlng, 8nd lIroigl1a- in&the Militia, ruch Part d thorn s 8lid iOr @WI&6 may k l m91Oyed in thr fhkrriO0 ai th. mft.6 8t8te8, r.- rerrlng tothc Ftat88 rerpeotlrrly, the Appointmat of Offloerr, and thr Authority of tralnlng the b?llItia rocordlng to the dlrolpllnr pre8orlbL by congres8.* (Qo. of Art. I) that8
It further provider COll88Ilt Of COa@O88,. “NO 8tatO 8h811, Without , . in time Poso8, keep tiOO98, .,.., . . . ..a Army of the United Otate8, 88 defined in 10 U.?.C.A., Peo. 2, Inoluder 'WtlOnal Guard of the ilnltad %ata8*, and *Netion Guard while in the aervloe of tha 'Jnlted %etea,* whlo are derlned in 32 iJ.‘.::.A., Sec. 4b, aa follows:
"In this tit:e, mlese the ssntart or aubjeot matter otherwise rerulrcs--
"(a) 'National Guerd' or 'Nations: Guard of the several etctes, ‘?crrltzlee, an; the Dlstriot of Columbia' me%cs that portlcr tht Crganlzrd Xllltia States, i)i8triot of the severs1 Terrltorlab, 6m.i the Columbia, reoognlzed eotlre and lnaotlre, redorally as provldad in thlr Aot and organlzrd, srmd, and at Podoral sxponae and in whole or equipped in part paregraph section officered erd triified 6, ertiole I of the Ccnstitutlsn.
Aon. altrr C. lier.ao;l, ‘National Guard o” the United %rtrr’ mean8
“(b) a reaervo oomponent of the Army of the Unltrd stater oompoaod of those isdorallg rooognized units and or- ganlzatlone and parsone duly appointed and ooxnleslonad Guard OS rareral in tha aotlro and lnrotltr Netlonsl Ftatoa, Terrltorler, of Columbia, who and the Dlstrlot have takon and aubsorlbad to the oath of offloo pre- rorlbed in motion 112 of this title, who have bamn duly appointed by tho President in the National Guard of thr Waited Ttatar, aa provided in thla tltlr, and of those orfloerr end warrEnt ofilcere appointed a8 pre- eorlbod in reotlonr 81 and 113 or this title, and of thoma porrona duly or&listed in the Natloaal hard oi thr United Staten and of thr 8rroral Strtor, Terrltor- lea, and tha Dlstriot (d Columbia rho hero taken and to the oath of nllstmont rubeorlbed prrsoribed in thin title. 84otion 3, 1916, O. (JUO B 71, a8 addad Juno 1933, o. 87, # 9, 48 ?tat. 157jw r0ii0mg provfslons of 32 Cl.“.C.!,., -eo, 194, eu- thorlze establishment of Ptate guardr: . ahall maintain troop0 in time
“(a) No Etata . . of paaor other than as authorized in accordanor wlth title. . . . organization prororlbrd under this
“(b) Under auoh regulations as the “eoratary of :‘Jar may presorlbe iOr organization, standard8 of training, lnatruotlon, and dlsolpline, the orgenlza- tlon by acd calctecence ‘:w ‘tete. . . . of witkin such nllltsry fcrces other than a ‘Iatlcxai GusrC BE mey be provided each rtete. . . . is bg the Iax hereby authorized wi~lle any :,art of the N~tlonel Guerd of the Yste . . ccr:orrse? Is 12 active Federal -rcvideC ful-t,;?er, TLyt ?;ct iorce8 service skell not be cs_:leC, orZcred, DT 1:. zE.r:.!nn+r drafted, lntr, the r.llitbry services o,P t2e ‘.‘nited ^tstes; RS such. however, no perssn ~5611, by r’LE?% ci ~1s n,enbcrshlp service in any euoh unit. exemvted rro:; r,llltfiry under any Fedora1 law.‘. .“’
.
AOIl. ‘.alter C. Pleraon, The Constitution of Taxor (coo. 46 or Art. Xvr c
prorldrat
Vho Laglal6tura shall provide law ior or- the militia 6aniain6 rnd dirOiplinin6 of the %&a, in rush maanar as thay rball deem l xpadl6nt, inooapatlblr with, tha Constitution and Lana of thr United Stataa .o
It fiuthar prarldaa (in SOO. 7 oi Art IV) t (the Ootarnor)
*a shall ba Commandor-in Chief of the mllltary forors oi the ?tato, exoapt when thay are oallod into otual artloe of tha Unitid Ptatra. He ah811 hare ponr to oall forth thr lawa or statr, upprara Yilltlr areauta lnaurrrotlo66, rap61 lat6alo66, and protoot tha from host116 lnouralona by fndla66 or other frontlar bands.” prabatory apparent from an examination the Texas atatutos It authorizing end governing the Texas -ata hard thet it waa in- 6nd not a part tendad to be purely a State mllltla, organizrtlon, or the mllltary foroaaxhs United Ftat.8. The r0110whg pro- ilalona 8r* llluatr4tlra: this Ftate 5765. Th6 ailltlr shall b6 “Art. into two (2) olessrs, aotlre end raaervo
dlrldad mllltl6. aotirr militia ahall oonslat oi organized rod unlrormad military ioroea d Ptate whlah ahall thlo be kn6wn aa the Texas Natlonal Guard the Texas “tate Guard ae the ceae may be; the re6erve militia shall In the Al.ltie, oonslst of 1~11 those llablo to eervloe but not serving In the Texas Ketlonal Guard or the Texas ‘tata guard. As a!zended Aota 1943, 48th Leg., p. 464, oh. 311, 8 1.
*h-t. 5891a.
““40. Yhenever any part of the National l(8). Guard of thla rtate la in otivo Fedora1 aenlaa,t.~a Governor la heroby authorized to organize and maln- auoh this State during euoh period, taln within ragulrtlona a8 the .Ceoretary or ‘Par of the United Ftetes may prescribe for their orqsnlz?tim, standards *5 Hon. U'alter c. Pierloll,
o? trrlai~, lnrtruotlon rnd A1801911n~, ruoh (~a the Oorornor may doom aeooa- mllitmrf toroor 88~~ 80 dO~OnA thl8 S88tO. Suoh foroor rhrll br 0omp080A of oftlo o r8 l ppolntod mid oQmlrrloaod 8nd @@rim86 th8 @OV8TnOr Or UlLdo? hi8 8U- thorlty, t0 hold Off108 nd 888i@l88Ilt dU?iJl
th8 91888Ur8 Of th8 0018?nOr, 8ad 8uoh rblo- OA18A t Of th8 8t8tO 8ii4 ruoh rbh-bOdiOd m810 OitftOn8
r88ld8nt8 Oi tho st8tO who rhrll hrl. dOO18F.d tholr intOatiOa t0 b800Ili8 8iti88n8 Of tho unit8d st8t88, 88 8h8ll TOiUdBOr iOr 88mlOo tbOr8ln, br B8n Of th8 TO8OrV8 8U9 18lWnt8d, if IUO8888?‘l, d&i8 WOllOd b r &8it m othOrWi80 9?0- Tided br . .
“(b) 6u8h tOrO.8 8h811 l 8rt Of .tho 8OtiV8 tiliti8 8KId 8 OmOnOnt Of tihr fi P it8rl ?OrOO# Of hX8r 8Jld 8hBll b8 8ddltlOn8l t0 Wbd diBtiJl#t irol tho m8tiOn81 @U8rd ond 8hrll b0 kIkOWlI 88 T8188 %8t8 &8rd: bOVid8d, hOWrV8?, thrt m8mb8r8 O? T’rX88 N8tiOMl [lUeTd who 8r8 8t thm tir8 llOt
in ?OdO?81 88mlO8 nal b0 U8ed, thr ruthority Und8r tr8in ol th8 Adjutrnt tilhOr81, to 808llBIIId, in8trUOt, 8lld 8ddIli8t8T 811 Or 8nr 8OIQOii8flt Of th8 Ikilit8rr fO?OO8 Of thlr %8tO, 8uoh 8t8t8 0U8l'd. inOhldin6 AOt8 19k3, 48th Log., 9. oh. 311, ;82rmOJid8d, . . .
"COO. i?(8) Th8 ~VO?nO? 18 h8roby 8UthOrl88A lnoonal8tent to prsscrlbe rules end regulations With th8 prOTi810~ Of tidl AOt gOT8rning 8n- li8tm8nt, Orgd%8tiOn, 8ddId8tretiOn, diOrn;8, OoINpand, tr8ining 8nd die- rqUiplD8Llt, msinten8nor, 0r ruoh rorcoa; 8nd oiplln8 euoh rulaa provided in 80 fur es he deems practloeblr regulatlon8, End ds#ir8bl., shell OOnfOrm to 8Xlsting low gOVerIlir,g and pertaining to the National Ouerd and the rules th8rrUfid8?. r8gUlatiOIl8 9rCawleatad . in thlr Aot 8ha11 be oonrtru8A
*!3oo. 7. lothing th8r8Of, t0 88 8uthOrizln( ruoh fOrO88, Or Uy 98rt b8 8118A, CUd8Xd, O? 15 aw lUEtUl8~ &8ftOd, 88 8UOh, but into thr military 8emlOO Of the Unlt8d ?tatrs, rio prrson ~h.511 by reazon Of ?ifl ecliStI?ent or OOIP- ~issi::n in any 6uch foroee be exempted from ellitary eerrior under any law of the United "tator.
56 Hon. *alton C. l.ltrsion, page 6
Although u8 hare found no 088e8 OOn8trUing th8 Texes i8dOT81 OOWt8 h8Vt h8ld that OffiO8r8 Of oth8r th8 Bt8tUt8, St8te 0U8rd8 8F8 Dot bl8mbO?8 Ot 8DY Of tho WriOU8 aaIlDOD8Dt8 oi th8 vnit8d .et8td8 milit8ry fOrOi8. vnitcd %8tR8 V-. H8rtlnq, 4,8 ?. Cupp. 607 (Di8t. Ct., 1943); Oeston 1. bit84 %8te8, A. (26) 353, (Yun. Ct. of App. Da Ki943I f 1 a1 19441, 08rtiOr8ri !?!'ct': (2d) 10 (Ct. App., D. c., i8:1:d;& 1286. thrroforo, meePber8 Of th8 T8x88 L?t8te
‘In OUI Opinion, rote without p8)mRGIt ot 8 poll tnx, Ward 82‘8 not rntltled under thr prorltlons 0r 90. 28, Art. VI, or the Con8tItUtlOn T8xB8. fWther ark8 for 84~100 88 80 "Wh8th8r mU rOqU88t uDd8r thr COn8titUtion Of th8 'P8X88 %8te OUtlrd the Et8te O? Tsxss memb8r8 lrrs Of 8tC t0 8nl 8It8Ilt 818EQt irg p8m8llt 8nd t8lX8 Of 8uOh of th8 9011 88X’ sad, 'the 8StOnt if 88, 8s8mptlon.' ooplca of our Opinions Roe. Ye are enoloslng herewith thrt a8mbrr8 T8rss r?trtr O-5045 and O-5808, whloh hold Ouard, being memb8rs of the 8otiVs Eil1ltI8 of Texas, Ire entitled t0 8 pOrti '8X8mptlOn and t0 8 ml1lt8ry t8X r808ipt under 5840 and 5841, ReIlecd Civil 3t8tute8 Arts. upon oom- Of B-8, snd rhloh dl8ou88 rnd pli8aOO with the terms of 8ald 8rti8108, Interpret 8eid 8rtlOlOS. In rdditlon, we or11 ta your rttentlon Art8. 5843 end which read a8 fOllOw8:
"Articl8
“To entitle eriy general, field 8thff ofiloer ebld exemptions of the eotire mllltla this State ae set fort: In thin ohtipter, such orrloer ehall dnys of Tcinusrp ar.4 April of etloh betnetn fir&t year, flie ,hltt, tte 8ssfk3sor oi tuxes Tcr his. county hla oertlflcate to the effect that he is ec ofiloer of tte uotlre clllltle of thir Ptate la good standing, end that he hae ielthfully dieoh8rFed till the milltery dutlts required or Nm during the prroedin& year, and, on riiinc OmifiO8tt a8 berein required, auoh ahall not 3sassea r0r ay ~011 t8x wh8t- orrloer ever other than the poll tar of om dollar pwtorlbed by the :TonPtitutioo far tht su>cOrt of pub110 SC!?OOlS for tht ctirr‘trst year;
51 HOll. “alter page c. Pleraon,
"Article *TO antit any non-oct0mi00i0n0d 0t0rr orrioer, mambar th e l z~n(ia8.r or hoapital 80~8, or any other l nllatod man or l 0t11. mI11t1a 0r thlr 8tate mt belonglag to tho ragular or~anIzatloa,to th0 WJUptiOB~ l @ Mu rOrth in tb0 rOtUth prOOObi!~g orri00; or l olaier artlole, auoh non-oommlaaiono6 Ona ii10 l rridOrit0 ahilar to ahaii repera l 0rtir P rrte proride I8 prarrdln8 artI ror . 0r hlr oountr; orriooro, with thr l moaaor, l uoh l iiIda+Ita ahall illatl burl- tho aamo period ror orri- 0nll in tha 00~0 mannor a0 oat rorth atm0 auoh l rridO+itO, aurh 80n-0on8i0~i08ed oor8. Oa ruin orrlau roll or #hall be ontItle t to tha am ox- aqltlono th e l 8. UMar 00 p r o1ld.d fo r l uoh ot- rt0arhw
Summarlslng @bow, wo ho14 that m-bar8 of the htia Etrta Ouar41
(1) Ara not antlt~od rota without paymmnt 0r 0r 500. 20, Art. n, 0r tho Oon- a pan tax t~protlalona 0tituti0n 0r TIIOO~
(2) km, upon ooopllanor lath &tr. Y&l, 584) OT 5844, 0r p0ii trxra , xoopt tho one-dollar r0qt trm pOpm poll tax thr Conatltotlon the aupport of the pub118 prraarlkd for aohoola; an4 a poll tax reaolpt
(3) Are entitled under Artlolea 58l,3 5844, upon oomplisnoe tith the terms quoted and payment of the one-dollar Conatitutlonal tax.
Tour0 very truly,