1. legislative functions enact bills and adopt resolutions propose constitutional amendments ...

Legislative FunctionsLegislative Functions Enact bills and adopt resolutionsEnact bills and adopt resolutions Propose constitutional amendmentsPropose constitutional amendments Adopt a budget for state governmentAdopt a budget for state government Levy taxesLevy taxes Redistrict for election of TexasRedistrict for election of Texas’’ state state

legislators and U.S. representativeslegislators and U.S. representatives Impeaching and removing executive and Impeaching and removing executive and

judicial officialsjudicial officials

2Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

Election and Terms of OfficeElection and Terms of Office Texas House of RepresentativesTexas House of Representatives

Election held every 2 years (even-numbered)Election held every 2 years (even-numbered) Two-year termsTwo-year terms

Texas SenateTexas Senate Election of approximately half the Texas Senate Election of approximately half the Texas Senate

held every 2 years; held every 2 years; Four-year terms except following redistrictingFour-year terms except following redistricting


Election and Terms of OfficeElection and Terms of Office SessionsSessions

Regular SessionRegular Session Special SessionsSpecial Sessions


Election and Terms of OfficeElection and Terms of Office Districting Districting

State legislative districtsState legislative districts Legislature apportions the state into approximately equal Legislature apportions the state into approximately equal

number of inhabitants after the decennial U.S. Censusnumber of inhabitants after the decennial U.S. Census

Legislative Redistricting Board Legislative Redistricting Board InfluencesInfluences

GerrymanderingGerrymandering Single-member districtsSingle-member districts Multimember districtsMultimember districts


Qualifications and CharacteristicsQualifications and Characteristics U.S. citizenU.S. citizen Qualified Texas voterQualified Texas voter Resident of the district for one year Resident of the district for one year

preceding the electionpreceding the election Candidates for the House must reside in Texas Candidates for the House must reside in Texas

for two years and be 21 years of age.for two years and be 21 years of age. Candidates for the Senate must reside in Texas Candidates for the Senate must reside in Texas

for five years and be 26 years of age.for five years and be 26 years of age.


Qualifications and CharacteristicsQualifications and Characteristics Anglo men still dominate, but women and minorities are Anglo men still dominate, but women and minorities are

gaining ground.gaining ground. Political party affiliationPolitical party affiliation

January 2003, Republicans controlled both the Senate January 2003, Republicans controlled both the Senate and the Houseand the House

Voting becoming more partisanVoting becoming more partisan

Education and occupationEducation and occupation Most have college degrees, most are business Most have college degrees, most are business

professionals or lawyersprofessionals or lawyers Lawyer-legislators may receive payments from Lawyer-legislators may receive payments from

corporations and special-interest groups, opening the corporations and special-interest groups, opening the door to abuse.door to abuse.

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 9

Qualifications and CharacteristicsQualifications and Characteristics Religious AffiliationReligious Affiliation

Texas supports the separation of church and stateTexas supports the separation of church and state Not separation of religious beliefs and public policiesNot separation of religious beliefs and public policies

Catholic senators are most numerousCatholic senators are most numerous Legislative TurnoverLegislative Turnover

Turnover greater after redistrictingTurnover greater after redistricting


Compensation Compensation Salary set by voters through constitutional Salary set by voters through constitutional

amendment. amendment. At $7,200/year, it has not changed since 1975.At $7,200/year, it has not changed since 1975.

Per diem expensesPer diem expenses Set by Texas Ethics CommissionSet by Texas Ethics Commission $21,000 for 140-day regular session in 2011$21,000 for 140-day regular session in 2011


Compensation Compensation Expense allowancesExpense allowances

Legislatures receive monthly credits to their Legislatures receive monthly credits to their accounts for travel, postage, officer operations, accounts for travel, postage, officer operations, and staff salariesand staff salaries

May also spend campaign contributionsMay also spend campaign contributions Monthly travel allowanceMonthly travel allowance

Retirement pensionRetirement pension May retire at age fifty with twelve years May retire at age fifty with twelve years

experience or at age sixty with eight years experience or at age sixty with eight years experienceexperience

Includes health-care benefitsIncludes health-care benefits12Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

Presiding OfficersPresiding Officers President of Senate - lieutenant governor President of Senate - lieutenant governor

Appoints all Senate committee chairs and vice Appoints all Senate committee chairs and vice chairs as well as committee memberschairs as well as committee members

Determines to which committees bills are sentDetermines to which committees bills are sent Recognizes senators to speak on Senate floor or Recognizes senators to speak on Senate floor or

to make motions and votes to break ties in Senateto make motions and votes to break ties in Senate Joint chairs the Legislative Council, Legislative Joint chairs the Legislative Council, Legislative

Budget Board, and the Legislative Audit BoardBudget Board, and the Legislative Audit Board


Presiding OfficersPresiding Officers Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House

Appoints all substantive and procedural Appoints all substantive and procedural committee chairs and vice chairs in the House as committee chairs and vice chairs in the House as well as committee memberswell as committee members

Determines to which committees bills and Determines to which committees bills and resolutions are sentresolutions are sent

Recognizes members to speak on House floor or Recognizes members to speak on House floor or to make motionsto make motions

Joint-chairs the Legislative Council, Legislative Joint-chairs the Legislative Council, Legislative Budget Board, and the Legislative Audit BoardBudget Board, and the Legislative Audit Board


Committee SystemCommittee System House Committees House Committees

Substantive Substantive Seniority must be considered Seniority must be considered

ProceduralProcedural Senate CommitteesSenate Committees

StandingStanding SelectSelect Special InterimSpecial Interim


Legislative Caucus SystemLegislative Caucus System Group of like-minded legislators seeking to Group of like-minded legislators seeking to

increase their influence on certain public increase their influence on certain public policiespolicies

Interest groups of legislatureInterest groups of legislature

■ Types of caucusesTypes of caucuses PartyParty Racial/EthnicRacial/Ethnic IdeologicalIdeological


Powers and ImmunitiesPowers and Immunities Making Public PolicyMaking Public Policy

Simple ResolutionSimple Resolution Concurrent ResolutionConcurrent Resolution Joint ResolutionJoint Resolution Bills – special, general, localBills – special, general, local


Powers and ImmunitiesPowers and Immunities Constitutional Amendment PowerConstitutional Amendment Power

Requires joint resolution in the Texas LegislatureRequires joint resolution in the Texas Legislature Proposal made with a two-thirds vote in both Proposal made with a two-thirds vote in both

chamberschambers


Powers and ImmunitiesPowers and Immunities Administrative and Investigative PowersAdministrative and Investigative Powers

Legislative OversightLegislative Oversight Legislative Audit CommitteeLegislative Audit Committee Sunset Advisory CommissionSunset Advisory Commission

Administrative PowerAdministrative Power Appointment approvalAppointment approval Senatorial CourtesySenatorial Courtesy Legislature can subpoena witnesses to testify, administer Legislature can subpoena witnesses to testify, administer

oaths, and compel submission of records and documentsoaths, and compel submission of records and documents


Powers and ImmunitiesPowers and Immunities Impeachment and Removal PowersImpeachment and Removal Powers

First charges are brought by simple majority vote First charges are brought by simple majority vote of House members present of House members present

Then Texas Senate holds a trial that requires a Then Texas Senate holds a trial that requires a two-thirds votetwo-thirds vote

A convicted official is removed from office and A convicted official is removed from office and disqualified from holding any other public office. disqualified from holding any other public office.

ImmunitiesImmunities May not be sued for slander, may not be arrested May not be sued for slander, may not be arrested

while traveling to or attending a legislative sessionwhile traveling to or attending a legislative session


ProcedureProcedure RulesRules

Each chamber adopts its own set of rules.Each chamber adopts its own set of rules. The lieutenant governor and the Speaker decide The lieutenant governor and the Speaker decide

questions about rules in their respective questions about rules in their respective chambers.chambers.

A bill becomes a lawA bill becomes a law Legislative session lasts 140 days unless a Legislative session lasts 140 days unless a

special session, called by the governorspecial session, called by the governor First 30 days dedicated to bill introductionFirst 30 days dedicated to bill introduction Second 30 days dedicated to Committee meetingsSecond 30 days dedicated to Committee meetings Last 80 days dedicated to debate and bill movement Last 80 days dedicated to debate and bill movement


ProcedureProcedure A bill becomes a lawA bill becomes a law

Step 1: IntroductionStep 1: Introduction Bills can be introduced as early as the Monday after the Bills can be introduced as early as the Monday after the

general election in Novembergeneral election in November Bills can be introduced in either the House, the Senate, Bills can be introduced in either the House, the Senate,

or both (with a companion bill)or both (with a companion bill)

Step 2: First reading (House) and referral to Step 2: First reading (House) and referral to committeecommittee



Step 3 : House Committee consideration and Step 3 : House Committee consideration and reportreport Usually a committee hearing is held for lobbyists and Usually a committee hearing is held for lobbyists and

interested persons to express views.interested persons to express views.

Bill may go to a subcommittee.Bill may go to a subcommittee.

Public hearingsPublic hearings

Bill placed on calendarBill placed on calendar



Step 4: Second reading (House) Step 4: Second reading (House) Brief statement of the bill and debate Brief statement of the bill and debate

Approval requires simple majority voteApproval requires simple majority vote

Division voteDivision vote

Step 5: Third reading (House)Step 5: Third reading (House) Passage requires a simple majority vote of members Passage requires a simple majority vote of members

presentpresent


ProcedureProcedureA bill becomes a lawA bill becomes a law

Step 6: First reading (Senate)Step 6: First reading (Senate) Step 7: Senate Committee consideration and Step 7: Senate Committee consideration and

report report Tagging a billTagging a bill Blocker billsBlocker bills

Step 8: Second reading (Senate)Step 8: Second reading (Senate) Debate and consideration of amendmentsDebate and consideration of amendments Filibustering Filibustering Roll call votingRoll call voting



Step 9: Third reading (Senate)Step 9: Third reading (Senate) A simple majority vote is required for passage.A simple majority vote is required for passage.

Step 10: Return to House (original chamber) Step 10: Return to House (original chamber) House votes on amended bill.House votes on amended bill.

Step 11: Conference Committee Step 11: Conference Committee If differences exist between the two chamber billsIf differences exist between the two chamber bills

Step 12: Conference Committee reportStep 12: Conference Committee report Step 13: EnrollmentStep 13: Enrollment



Step 14: Signatures of chief clerk and Speaker Step 14: Signatures of chief clerk and Speaker Step 15: Signatures of the secretary of the Senate Step 15: Signatures of the secretary of the Senate

and the lieutenant governor and the lieutenant governor Step 16: Action by the governor Step 16: Action by the governor

Sign the billSign the bill DonDon’’t sign the bill and let it become law 30 dayst sign the bill and let it become law 30 days VetoVeto


The GovernorThe Governor■ Veto power, gubernatorial policiesVeto power, gubernatorial policies

Judges, the Attorney General, and the Judges, the Attorney General, and the Comptroller of Public AccountsComptroller of Public Accounts■ Laws cannot conflict with the Texas or U.S. Laws cannot conflict with the Texas or U.S.

constitutionsconstitutions■ Comptroller estimates cost Comptroller estimates cost


LobbyistsLobbyists Research OrganizationsResearch Organizations

■ The Texas Legislative CouncilThe Texas Legislative Council■ The House Research OrganizationThe House Research Organization■ The Senate Research CenterThe Senate Research Center■ The Center for Public Policy PrioritiesThe Center for Public Policy Priorities■ The Texas Public Policy FoundationThe Texas Public Policy Foundation

The MediaThe Media


1.1. Analyze conflicts involved in districting.Analyze conflicts involved in districting.

2.2. Identify similarities and differences in the Identify similarities and differences in the formal qualifications for a state formal qualifications for a state representative and for a state senator.representative and for a state senator.

3.3. Compare and contrast the powers of the Compare and contrast the powers of the president of the Texas Senate and the president of the Texas Senate and the Speaker of the Texas House of Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.Representatives.


4.4. Outline the steps by which a bill Outline the steps by which a bill becomes a law according to House and becomes a law according to House and Senate rules of procedure.Senate rules of procedure.

5.5. Explain the influences on voting Explain the influences on voting decisions made by elected legislators.decisions made by elected legislators.


1.1. How many years make a full term for a How many years make a full term for a member of the Texas House of member of the Texas House of Representatives?Representatives?

2.2. True or False: Usually, gerrymandered True or False: Usually, gerrymandered districts are compact in shape.districts are compact in shape.


1.1. What is the minimum age for a state What is the minimum age for a state senator as specified in the Texas senator as specified in the Texas Constitution?Constitution?

2.2. True or False. Salary increases for True or False. Salary increases for legislators must be submitted to the statlegislators must be submitted to the statee’’s voters for approval or disapproval.s voters for approval or disapproval.


1.1. True or False: The Speaker of the House True or False: The Speaker of the House of Representatives presides over that of Representatives presides over that body but cannot vote on a bill or body but cannot vote on a bill or resolution.resolution.

2.2. True or False: The president of the True or False: The president of the Senate determines the Senate Senate determines the Senate committee to which a bill will be sent committee to which a bill will be sent after introduction.after introduction.


1.1. What legislative measure is abbreviated What legislative measure is abbreviated as H.J.R.?as H.J.R.?

2.2. True or False: The reading clerk reads True or False: The reading clerk reads aloud the full text of a House bill before it aloud the full text of a House bill before it is referred to a committee.is referred to a committee.


1.1. True or False: Under Texas law, True or False: Under Texas law, lobbyists are encouraged, but not lobbyists are encouraged, but not required, to register with the Texas required, to register with the Texas Ethics CommissionEthics Commission

2.2. True or False: The House Research True or False: The House Research Organization influences the House Organization influences the House through the through the Daily Floor ReportDaily Floor Report that that presents arguments for and against each presents arguments for and against each bill.bill.


1. legislative functions enact bills and adopt resolutions propose constitutional amendments ...

Documents

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texas ethics commission

following redistricting

separation of church