TEXAS GOVERNMENT 2306  UNIT 7  THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE

TEXAS LEGISLATURE  TEXAS SENATE  Size  31 Senators  Terms  4 years, staggered  Presiding Officers  Lieutenant Governor  Elected statewide for a 4 year term  TEXAS HOUSE  Size  150 Representatives  Terms  2 years  Presiding Officers  Speaker  Elected to the House from a district & then by entire membership of the House (2 year term)

Formal Qualifications for Texas Legislature

Informal Qualifications for Texas Legislature

THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE & THE THREE “S’S”  SALARY  SESSION  STAFF

SALARY   $7,200/year ($600/mo.)   + $125 per diem while in session   Effects:  o high turnover—30% average  o many Texans cannot afford to serve  o legislators more easily “corrupted”

SESSION   Biennial sessions/140 days   Texas is one of only 6 states whose legislature does NOT meet annually (the other states are Ark., Mont., Nev., N.D., & Oregon)   Effects:  o Lack of adequate time  o Rushed, chaotic session  o Bills poorly researched, not read before vote  o Reliance on lobbyists for research, info, & bill writing

STAFF   Inadequate Staff expense account  o Senate - $22,000/month  o House - $7,500/month   Effects:  o Overworked, underpaid, too small  o High staff turnover  o Greater reliance on lobbyists & their staffs

POWERS OF PRESIDING OFFICERS  1. Appoint committee chairs & vice-chairs  2. Appoint majority of comm. members  3. Refer all bills to committee  4. Schedule legislation for floor action  5. Recognize members on the floor  6. Interpret procedural rules  7. Appoint conference committees  8. Appoint members to:  Legislative Budget Board (LBB)  Legislative Audit Board  Legislative Council  Sunset Advisory Commission (SAC)

TEXAS LEGISLATURE & THE CONSTITUTIONAL RULES EEvery bill must be read 3 times on 3 different calendar days EEvery bill must pass 4 floor votes—2 in the Senate and 2 in the House of Rep. MMost floor action (floor debate & vote on bills) is limited to the final 80 days of the regular session

LEGISLATIVE SESSION  FIRST 30 DAYS:   Introduce bills   Emergency appropriations   Approve governor’s recess appointments  SECOND 30 DAYS:   Consideration of bills by committees & subcommittees  LAST 80 DAYS:   Act on bills & resolutions on the House & Senate floors   Very rushed, chaotic   Legislature frequently runs out of time to consider all bills   Ave.: about 30% of all bills pass

How a Bill Becomes a Law

State Legislative Sessions & Salary

Rankings of State Legislatures

Initiative, Referendum & Recall

Texas House of Representative Districts

Texas Senate Districts

Texas Congressional Districts

THREE TYPES OF GERRYMANDERING  1. Racial  2. Unequal Population  3. Partisan/Political  4. Protecting Incumbent

Rules of Redistricting  1964-US Supreme Court  One man-one vote rule (one person-one vote)  1965-Voting Rights Act  No racial gerrymandering  Political/Partisan Gerrymandering  Cannot be too extreme (US Supreme Court)