1. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW TEXAS LEGISLATURE # MEMBERS IN TEXAS HOUSE: ?
# MEMBERS IN TEXAS SENATE: ?

2. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW TEXAS LEGISLATURE
# MEMBERS IN TEXAS HOUSE: 150
# MEMBERS IN TEXAS SENATE: 31

3. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW STEP 1
Only members of the House or Senate can
introduce a BILL
Bill is given a CODE such as HB 253 or
SB 145 (shows order bill is introduced)
Speaker of the House or LT Governor sends
to a COMMITTEE for review

4. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW STEP 2 Bill sent to appropriate committee
How will they decide which committee will study/review the bill? ?

5. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW STEP 2
How will they decide which committee will study/review the bill?
Certain committees deal with certain issues

6. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW STEP 3
Committee holds a hearing (discussion) on
the bill
Can the public speak in regards to the bill during this session? YES

7. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW STEP 4
Committee approves the Bill and selects date
for Bill to reach the “Floor” for debating and
voting
If amendments are needed, what happens?

8. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW STEP 4
If amendments are needed, what happens?
A committee of 5 for each Chamber (remember Bicameral) makes a compromise (give and take to reach agreement) for changed version of the Bill

9. STEP 4 How many must approve the changes?
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
STEP 4
How many must approve the changes?

10. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW STEP 4 How many must approve the changes?
At least 3 from each chamber (House and Senate)

11. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW STEP 5
Compromise version of the Bill returns to
“Floor” – no changes are allowed now
# needed to pass and become a law?
Senate: ? House: ? (>50 percent)

12. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW STEP 5 # needed to pass and become a law?
Senate: House: (>50 percent)

13. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW STEP 6
Bill is signed by LT Governor (President of the
Senate) and Speaker of the House

14. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW STEP 7 Bill moves to the Governor
The governor has 3 choices according to the Texas Constitution. What are they? ?

15. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW STEP 7
The governor has 3 choices according to the Texas Constitution. What are they?
He can sign the Bill
He can NOT sign the Bill
He can veto the Bill

16. What can the governor NOT do? ?
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
What can the governor NOT do? ?

17. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW What can the governor NOT do?
He can’t rewrite the Bill
He can’t sign only part of the Bill and veto another part ……unless it is dealing with the budget

18. What happens if the governor doesn’t sign the Bill? ?
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
What happens if the governor doesn’t sign the Bill? ?

19. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
What happens if the governor doesn’t sign the Bill?
It automatically passes (becomes a law) after
20 days

20. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
If the governor chooses to veto the Bill, the Bill may still become a law if 2/3 of the members from each house (chamber) vote to override the veto. How many votes are needed in each house (chamber) in order for this to happen?
House: ?
Senate: ?

21. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
If the governor chooses to veto the Bill, the Bill may still become a law if 2/3 of the members from each house (chamber) vote to override the veto. How many votes are needed in each house (chamber) in order for this to happen?
House: 100
Senate: 21

22. It is a long process……most bills DO NOT become LAWS!
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
It is a long process……most bills DO NOT become LAWS!