1. Chapter 7 – The Legislature

2. Learning Objectives
7.1 Identify the functions of the legislature and legislators
7.2 Compare the strength of the Texas legislature to other state legislatures
7.3 Describe the organizational structure and leadership of the legislature
7.4 Outline the legislative process
7.5 Assess how legislative tools are used to speed up or slow down legislation
7.6 Explain how legislators represent their constituents demographically

3. The Functions of the Legislature and Legislators
Bicameral legislature: a legislative body with two houses or chambers
Powers of the Legislature
General Law
Potentially affects all Texans
Local Law
Affects units of government at the local level
Special Law
Exempt businesses or individuals from state laws
Resolutions
Joint resolutions
Concurrent resolutions
Simple resolutions

4. The Functions of the Legislature and Legislators
Texas House V. Senate
House
Senate
Responsibilities
Casework
Position Taking
Trustee: legislator who votes in accordance with their interpretation of what district would want
Delegates: legislator who is a mouthpiece for the wishes of constituency
Credit Claiming

5. The Texas Legislature in Context
The Legislative Session
Regular Session
140 days
Begins January of odd numbered years
Special Session
30 days
Called by governor for specific issues
Legislative Staff
Legislative Boards and Councils

6. The Texas Legislature in Context
Salary
$7200/year
Incumbency and Turnover
Incumbent: individual who currently holds a public office
Turnover: when incumbents lose their seats or leave their seats, and new members are voted into office
Institutional memory: collective understanding of the way an organization works held by those who run it
Consequences of the Texas Legislative Structure

7. How the Legislature is Organized
The Committee System
Standing Committees
Permanent
Specific issues or topics
Select Committees
Temporary
Fixed issue
Speaker of the House
Committee Assignments
Process and Procedures
The Lieutenant Governor

8. The Legislative Process
In Committee
First Reading: committee stage
Amend
Markup
Approve a bill or do nothing and let it die
On the Floor
Second Reading: floor stage
Debate and discuss
Third Reading: final stage
Voting stage

9. The Legislative Process
House and Senate Agreement
Both chambers have to agree
If do not agree goes to Conference Committee
In Conference Committee
Five members from each chamber
Discuss only the points of disagreement
The Real Enemy: The Calendar
Rules Rule the Chambers

10. Working Together Slowing It Down Taking A Walk Point of Order
Stuffing the Box
Talk it to Death
Party of Five
Filibuster
Chubbing
Tagging

11. Working Together Speeding It Up Increasing Partisanship
Suspending Twenty-Four-Hour Waiting Period
Discharge Petition
Suspending Normal Business
Increasing Partisanship
Political Polarization
Voters more strictly defined by party identification

12. Demographic Representation
Women Legislators
African Americans
Hispanics
Race, Religion, and Other Factors

13. Texas Takeaways
One hundred and eighty-one members serve in the Texas legislature. One hundred and fifty in the house and thirty-one in the senate
Trustees vote in accordance with their interpretation of what their district would want. Delegates serve as a mouthpiece for the wishes of their constituency.
Short legislative sessions, part-time legislators, low salaries, few staff, and the power of eternal boards all demonstrate the “weak” qualities of the Texas legislature

14. Texas Takeaways
The regular legislative session is 140 days in every odd-numbered year; a special session is called by the governor and is limited to 30 days and specific issues
Committees are a small group of legislators (and staff) that take action on legislation before the full chamber votes
The leader of the Texas house is the speaker of the house and the leader of the Texas senate is the lieutenant governor

15. Texas Takeaways
The first “reading” is the committee stage. The second “reading” is the floor stage. The third “reading” is the final vote of the full chamber
The conference committee’s responsibility is to hammer out differences and agree on a final version; a committee report is produced to summarize the changes
A filibuster is when a senator holds the floor and restrains the chamber from moving forward on legislation

16. Texas Takeaways
Chubbing is a generic term for delay, usually involving a combination of procedural tactics, such as raising technical questions, and lengthy floor speeches all designed to eat up more time
Demographic representation may help government better meet the need of minorities, may foster increased civic engagement among minorities, and can reduce the perception of discrimination
Legislators are more highly educated than the average voter