1

 Legislative Functions  Enact bills and adopt resolutions  Propose constitutional amendments  Adopt a budget for state government  Levy taxes  Redistrict for election of Texas’ state legislators and U.S. representatives  Impeaching and removing executive and judicial officials 2Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Election and Terms of Office  Texas House of Representatives  Election held every 2 years (even-numbered)  Two-year terms  Texas Senate  Election of approximately half the Texas Senate held every 2 years;  Four-year terms except following redistricting 3Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Election and Terms of Office  Sessions  Regular Session  Special Sessions 4Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Election and Terms of Office  Districting  State legislative districts  Legislature apportions the state into approximately equal number of inhabitants after the decennial U.S. Census  Legislative Redistricting Board  Influences  Gerrymandering  Single-member districts  Multimember districts 5Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

6

7

 Qualifications and Characteristics  U.S. citizen  Qualified Texas voter  Resident of the district for one year preceding the election  Candidates for the House must reside in Texas for two years and be 21 years of age.  Candidates for the Senate must reside in Texas for five years and be 26 years of age. 8Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Qualifications and Characteristics  Anglo men still dominate, but women and minorities are gaining ground.  Political party affiliation  January 2003, Republicans controlled both the Senate and the House  Voting becoming more partisan  Education and occupation  Most have college degrees, most are business professionals or lawyers  Lawyer-legislators may receive payments from corporations and special-interest groups, opening the door to abuse. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning9

 Qualifications and Characteristics  Religious Affiliation  Texas supports the separation of church and state  Not separation of religious beliefs and public policies  Catholic senators are most numerous  Legislative Turnover  Turnover greater after redistricting 10Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Compensation  Salary set by voters through constitutional amendment.  At $7,200/year, it has not changed since  Per diem expenses  Set by Texas Ethics Commission  $21,000 for 140-day regular session in Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Compensation  Expense allowances  Legislatures receive monthly credits to their accounts for travel, postage, officer operations, and staff salaries  May also spend campaign contributions  Monthly travel allowance  Retirement pension  May retire at age fifty with twelve years experience or at age sixty with eight years experience  Includes health-care benefits 12Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Presiding Officers  President of Senate - lieutenant governor  Appoints all Senate committee chairs and vice chairs as well as committee members  Determines to which committees bills are sent  Recognizes senators to speak on Senate floor or to make motions and votes to break ties in Senate  Joint chairs the Legislative Council, Legislative Budget Board, and the Legislative Audit Board 13Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Presiding Officers  Speaker of the House  Appoints all substantive and procedural committee chairs and vice chairs in the House as well as committee members  Determines to which committees bills and resolutions are sent  Recognizes members to speak on House floor or to make motions  Joint-chairs the Legislative Council, Legislative Budget Board, and the Legislative Audit Board 14Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Committee System  House Committees  Substantive  Seniority must be considered  Procedural  Senate Committees  Standing  Select  Special Interim 15Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Legislative Caucus System  Group of like-minded legislators seeking to increase their influence on certain public policies  Interest groups of legislature ■ Types of caucuses  Party  Racial/Ethnic  Ideological 16Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Powers and Immunities  Making Public Policy  Simple Resolution  Concurrent Resolution  Joint Resolution  Bills – special, general, local 17Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Powers and Immunities  Constitutional Amendment Power  Requires joint resolution in the Texas Legislature  Proposal made with a two-thirds vote in both chambers 18Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Powers and Immunities  Administrative and Investigative Powers  Legislative Oversight  Legislative Audit Committee  Sunset Advisory Commission  Administrative Power  Appointment approval  Senatorial Courtesy  Legislature can subpoena witnesses to testify, administer oaths, and compel submission of records and documents 19Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Powers and Immunities  Impeachment and Removal Powers  First charges are brought by simple majority vote of House members present  Then Texas Senate holds a trial that requires a two-thirds vote  A convicted official is removed from office and disqualified from holding any other public office.  Immunities  May not be sued for slander, may not be arrested while traveling to or attending a legislative session 20Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Procedure  Rules  Each chamber adopts its own set of rules.  The lieutenant governor and the Speaker decide questions about rules in their respective chambers.  A bill becomes a law  Legislative session lasts 140 days unless a special session, called by the governor  First 30 days dedicated to bill introduction  Second 30 days dedicated to Committee meetings  Last 80 days dedicated to debate and bill movement 21Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Procedure  A bill becomes a law  Step 1: Introduction  Bills can be introduced as early as the Monday after the general election in November  Bills can be introduced in either the House, the Senate, or both (with a companion bill)  Step 2: First reading (House) and referral to committee 22Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Procedure  A bill becomes a law  Step 3 : House Committee consideration and report  Usually a committee hearing is held for lobbyists and interested persons to express views.  Bill may go to a subcommittee.  Public hearings  Bill placed on calendar 23Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Procedure  A bill becomes a law  Step 4: Second reading (House)  Brief statement of the bill and debate  Approval requires simple majority vote  Division vote  Step 5: Third reading (House)  Passage requires a simple majority vote of members present 24Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Procedure  A bill becomes a law  Step 6: First reading (Senate)  Step 7: Senate Committee consideration and report  Tagging a bill  Blocker bills  Step 8: Second reading (Senate)  Debate and consideration of amendments  Filibustering  Roll call voting 25Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Procedure  A bill becomes a law  Step 9: Third reading (Senate)  A simple majority vote is required for passage.  Step 10: Return to House (original chamber)  House votes on amended bill.  Step 11: Conference Committee  If differences exist between the two chamber bills  Step 12: Conference Committee report  Step 13: Enrollment 26Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Procedure  A bill becomes a law  Step 14: Signatures of chief clerk and Speaker  Step 15: Signatures of the secretary of the Senate and the lieutenant governor  Step 16: Action by the governor  Sign the bill  Don’t sign the bill and let it become law 30 days  Veto 27Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 The Governor ■ Veto power, gubernatorial policies  Judges, the Attorney General, and the Comptroller of Public Accounts ■ Laws cannot conflict with the Texas or U.S. constitutions ■ Comptroller estimates cost 28Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Lobbyists  Research Organizations ■ The Texas Legislative Council ■ The House Research Organization ■ The Senate Research Center ■ The Center for Public Policy Priorities ■ The Texas Public Policy Foundation  The Media 29Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

1. Analyze conflicts involved in districting. 2. Identify similarities and differences in the formal qualifications for a state representative and for a state senator. 3. Compare and contrast the powers of the president of the Texas Senate and the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. 30Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

4. Outline the steps by which a bill becomes a law according to House and Senate rules of procedure. 5. Explain the influences on voting decisions made by elected legislators. 31Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

1. How many years make a full term for a member of the Texas House of Representatives? 2. True or False: Usually, gerrymandered districts are compact in shape. 32Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

1. What is the minimum age for a state senator as specified in the Texas Constitution? 2. True or False. Salary increases for legislators must be submitted to the state’s voters for approval or disapproval. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning33

1. True or False: The Speaker of the House of Representatives presides over that body but cannot vote on a bill or resolution. 2. True or False: The president of the Senate determines the Senate committee to which a bill will be sent after introduction. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning34

1. What legislative measure is abbreviated as H.J.R.? 2. True or False: The reading clerk reads aloud the full text of a House bill before it is referred to a committee. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning35

1. True or False: Under Texas law, lobbyists are encouraged, but not required, to register with the Texas Ethics Commission 2. True or False: The House Research Organization influences the House through the Daily Floor Report that presents arguments for and against each bill. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning36