1. Chapter 23 The Texas Legislature

2. The Texas Legislature Structure Sessions of the legislature
How a bill becomes law
Other players in the legislative process
Power in the legislature

3. Box 23.2 top

4. Box 23.2 bottom

5. Structure How is the Texas state legislature organized?
What are the constitutional requirements for becoming a member?
What is the current membership like?

7. Legislative Structure
Bicameral
150 members in the Texas House
31 members in the Texas Legislature
Legislative session
140 days, every odd-numbered year
$7,200 annual salary

8. Constitutional Requirements
Senate
U.S. citizen
Qualified voter
Five-year state residency and one-year district residency
Twenty-six years of age
House
U.S citizen
Two-year state residency and one-year district residency
Twenty-one years of age

9. Legislative Sessions
What are the different types of sessions in the Texas legislature?

10. Sessions of the Legislature
Regular sessions
140 days in odd-numbered years
Several thousand bills and the budget must be considered in a relatively short time frame
Special sessions
Called by the governor
Thirty days on agenda set by the governor

11. Powers of the Legislature
What are the powers of the Texas legislature?
To what end does it use these powers?

12. Powers of the Legislature
Legislative powers
Bills
Resolutions
Nonlegislative powers
Constituent powers
Electoral powers
Investigative powers
Directive and supervisory powers
Judicial powers

13. How a Bill Becomes Law
What are the steps in the legislative process?

14. How a Bill Becomes Law Introduction Referral Committee action
Floor action
Conference committee
Governor

17. Other Players in the Legislative Process
In addition to legislators, who else is involved in the legislative process?

18. Other Players in the Legislative Process
The governor
Message power
Special sessions
Signing and vetoing legislation
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Media
Courts
Lobbyists
Public

19. Power in the Legislature
Who are the most important leaders in the Texas legislature?
What are their powers?
How does the battle over redistricting illustrate the party politics within the legislature?

20. The Presiding Officers True Political Power
Speaker of the House
Elected from legislative district
Chosen by all legislators
Presides over the House
Lieutenant governor
Elected in statewide election
Presides over the Senate

21. Box 23.4