The Texas Legislature Chapter 29 Section 1 Joe Straus Speaker of House David Dewhurst Head of Senate

The Function of the Legislative Branch House of Representatives Responsibilities –Agriculture and Livestock –Economic Development –Environmental regulation –Higher Education –Natural Resources –Public Health –Taxes (↑ or ↓) Senate Responsibilities –Education –Criminal Justice –Health and Human Services –Taxes (↑ or ↓) Bicameral – two rooms (chambers)

Texas Representative Districts

Qualifications House of Representatives 150 members Based on population 2 year term 21 years of age U.S. citizen Resident of Texas – 2 years Live in represented area one year prior to election Senate 31 members Based on equality (1 Senator per district) 4 year term 26 years of age U.S. citizen Resident of Texas – 5 years Live in represented area one year prior to election

Texas Senate Districts

Texas Senator Tommy Williams District 4

U.S. Senators representing Texas Kay Bailey Hutchison John Cornyn

Texas Representative Rob Eissler District 15

U.S. Representative representing Texas Kevin Brady 8 th District

Duties Main responsibility – make the laws Approve/reject governor appointments Oversight – power to review activities of other 2 branches Spending of state monies –Prison overcrowding –Education –Taxes –Environment Represent the people – listen to voters’ concerns over current issues

Running the State Government Lt. Governor – Senate president – elected by voters Speaker of the House – head of House – elected by members Committees research and draft (create) bills –Bills can “die” in committee Redistricting – redrawing legislative and congressional districts as the population changes –After a census –Changes political power

How a Bill Becomes a Law 2 types of proposals –Resolution – opinion of legislature Honor individuals Special groups (school wins state championship) –Bill – proposed law

Texas State Governments The Executive Branch Chapter 29 Section 2 Governor Rick Perry Lt. Governor David Dewhurst

The Function of the Executive Branch Main purpose – carries out (enforces) the laws passed by Congress Conducts the business of the state 99% of the state’s budget

The Governor of Texas Head of the executive branch Qualifications –U.S. citizen –Texas resident 5 years prior to election –30 years of age 4 year term (but no limit of terms) 2 women governors (Miriam Ferguson and Ann Richards)

Executive Powers of the Governor Make appointments to boards and commissions –Approved by 2/3 of the Senate Remove officials (i.e. misconduct of official) –Approval of Senate for board or commissions

Legislative Powers of the Governor Send messages to Congress (recommendations) Speaks to Congress at beginning of session (state address) Veto power (reject) or signs bills –Line-item veto (reject a certain part or item of bill) Call special sessions of Congress for emergency business (i.e., educational budget)

Other Powers of the Governor Appoints members to –Board of Pardons and Paroles –Board of Criminal Justice –Texas Youth Commission Delay executions or grant pardons (get out of jail card) Appoint judges to fill vacancies Commander in Chief of Texas Guard (Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas State Guard) Represents Texas (meetings, celebrations, ceremonies)

Other Elected Members David Dewhurst Lt. Governor –Chief executive in governor’s absence –Carries out governor’s requests –Serves as Senate president

Attorney General Greg Abbott –State lawyer –Represents Texas in court –Advises Congress –Explains rules to govt. groups

Commissioner of General Land Office Jerry Patterson –Manages land/mineral rights owned by Texas

Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs –Chief tax collector –Provides budget estimates to Congress –Makes state expenditures

Commissioner of Agriculture Todd Staples –Enforces agricultural laws –Provides education/research to farmers/ranchers and consumers –Promotes Texas products –Protects the environment

Secretary of State Hope Andrade Appointed by Governor In charge of state elections –Operation –Education Texas/Mexico relations International representative

Boards and Commissions Board of Insurance Texas Transportation Commission Business and Economic Development Council Railroad Commission State Board of Education –Invests and manages $20 billion in Permanent School Fund for Texas public schools

Railroad Commissioners Elizabeth Jones Michael Williams David Porter

Texas State Governments Financing State Governments Chapter 29 Section 3

Setting the State Budget Requires careful planning and budgeting Sets economic and social priorities Estimates how much revenue ($ received) and expenditures ($ paid out) state gets Determines which programs grow, shrink, or eliminated

The Budget Process Budget – plan for how much one expects to earn & how one proposes to spend the earnings Starts 12 months before Congress meets –Legislative Budget Board and Governor’s Office of Budget and Planning Committees send budget through bill process in Congress

How the State Spends Money Fiscal Year

Where the State Gets Its Money General Sales Tax – varies with the price of item or service sold Motor Fuels Tax – gasoline and diesel Sale of Motor Vehicles and manufactured housing Franchise Tax – tax on businesses based on value of machinery and equipment used to produce $ Tax on utility services, alcohol beverages, tobacco products Texas Lottery – education Sale, rental, and leasing of land/mineral rights Fees and state permits for state services Windfall – unexpected source (unreliable)

Influences on the Process People –Special interest groups –legislators Federal (U.S.) decisions Court decisions at federal and state levels