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Legislative FunctionsLegislative Functions Enact bills and adopt resolutionsEnact bills and adopt resolutions Propose constitutional amendmentsPropose constitutional amendments Adopt a budget for state governmentAdopt a budget for state government Levy taxesLevy taxes Redistrict for election of TexasRedistrict for election of Texas’’ state state
legislators and U.S. representativeslegislators and U.S. representatives Impeaching and removing executive and Impeaching and removing executive and
judicial officialsjudicial officials
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Election and Terms of OfficeElection and Terms of Office Texas House of RepresentativesTexas House of Representatives
Election held every 2 years (even-numbered)Election held every 2 years (even-numbered) Two-year termsTwo-year terms
Texas SenateTexas Senate Election of approximately half the Texas Senate Election of approximately half the Texas Senate
held every 2 years; held every 2 years; Four-year terms except following redistrictingFour-year terms except following redistricting
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Election and Terms of OfficeElection and Terms of Office SessionsSessions
Regular SessionRegular Session Special SessionsSpecial Sessions
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Election and Terms of OfficeElection and Terms of Office Districting Districting
State legislative districtsState legislative districts Legislature apportions the state into approximately equal Legislature apportions the state into approximately equal
number of inhabitants after the decennial U.S. Censusnumber of inhabitants after the decennial U.S. Census
Legislative Redistricting Board Legislative Redistricting Board InfluencesInfluences
GerrymanderingGerrymandering Single-member districtsSingle-member districts Multimember districtsMultimember districts
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Qualifications and CharacteristicsQualifications and Characteristics U.S. citizenU.S. citizen Qualified Texas voterQualified Texas voter Resident of the district for one year Resident of the district for one year
preceding the electionpreceding the election Candidates for the House must reside in Texas Candidates for the House must reside in Texas
for two years and be 21 years of age.for two years and be 21 years of age. Candidates for the Senate must reside in Texas Candidates for the Senate must reside in Texas
for five years and be 26 years of age.for five years and be 26 years of age.
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Qualifications and CharacteristicsQualifications and Characteristics Anglo men still dominate, but women and minorities are Anglo men still dominate, but women and minorities are
gaining ground.gaining ground. Political party affiliationPolitical party affiliation
January 2003, Republicans controlled both the Senate January 2003, Republicans controlled both the Senate and the Houseand the House
Voting becoming more partisanVoting becoming more partisan
Education and occupationEducation and occupation Most have college degrees, most are business Most have college degrees, most are business
professionals or lawyersprofessionals or lawyers Lawyer-legislators may receive payments from Lawyer-legislators may receive payments from
corporations and special-interest groups, opening the corporations and special-interest groups, opening the door to abuse.door to abuse.
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Qualifications and CharacteristicsQualifications and Characteristics Religious AffiliationReligious Affiliation
Texas supports the separation of church and stateTexas supports the separation of church and state Not separation of religious beliefs and public policiesNot separation of religious beliefs and public policies
Catholic senators are most numerousCatholic senators are most numerous Legislative TurnoverLegislative Turnover
Turnover greater after redistrictingTurnover greater after redistricting
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Compensation Compensation Salary set by voters through constitutional Salary set by voters through constitutional
amendment. amendment. At $7,200/year, it has not changed since 1975.At $7,200/year, it has not changed since 1975.
Per diem expensesPer diem expenses Set by Texas Ethics CommissionSet by Texas Ethics Commission $21,000 for 140-day regular session in 2011$21,000 for 140-day regular session in 2011
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Compensation Compensation Expense allowancesExpense allowances
Legislatures receive monthly credits to their Legislatures receive monthly credits to their accounts for travel, postage, officer operations, accounts for travel, postage, officer operations, and staff salariesand staff salaries
May also spend campaign contributionsMay also spend campaign contributions Monthly travel allowanceMonthly travel allowance
Retirement pensionRetirement pension May retire at age fifty with twelve years May retire at age fifty with twelve years
experience or at age sixty with eight years experience or at age sixty with eight years experienceexperience
Includes health-care benefitsIncludes health-care benefits12Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning
Presiding OfficersPresiding Officers President of Senate - lieutenant governor President of Senate - lieutenant governor
Appoints all Senate committee chairs and vice Appoints all Senate committee chairs and vice chairs as well as committee memberschairs as well as committee members
Determines to which committees bills are sentDetermines to which committees bills are sent Recognizes senators to speak on Senate floor or Recognizes senators to speak on Senate floor or
to make motions and votes to break ties in Senateto make motions and votes to break ties in Senate Joint chairs the Legislative Council, Legislative Joint chairs the Legislative Council, Legislative
Budget Board, and the Legislative Audit BoardBudget Board, and the Legislative Audit Board
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Presiding OfficersPresiding Officers Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House
Appoints all substantive and procedural Appoints all substantive and procedural committee chairs and vice chairs in the House as committee chairs and vice chairs in the House as well as committee memberswell as committee members
Determines to which committees bills and Determines to which committees bills and resolutions are sentresolutions are sent
Recognizes members to speak on House floor or Recognizes members to speak on House floor or to make motionsto make motions
Joint-chairs the Legislative Council, Legislative Joint-chairs the Legislative Council, Legislative Budget Board, and the Legislative Audit BoardBudget Board, and the Legislative Audit Board
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Committee SystemCommittee System House Committees House Committees
Substantive Substantive Seniority must be considered Seniority must be considered
ProceduralProcedural Senate CommitteesSenate Committees
StandingStanding SelectSelect Special InterimSpecial Interim
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Legislative Caucus SystemLegislative Caucus System Group of like-minded legislators seeking to Group of like-minded legislators seeking to
increase their influence on certain public increase their influence on certain public policiespolicies
Interest groups of legislatureInterest groups of legislature
■ Types of caucusesTypes of caucuses PartyParty Racial/EthnicRacial/Ethnic IdeologicalIdeological
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Powers and ImmunitiesPowers and Immunities Making Public PolicyMaking Public Policy
Simple ResolutionSimple Resolution Concurrent ResolutionConcurrent Resolution Joint ResolutionJoint Resolution Bills – special, general, localBills – special, general, local
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Powers and ImmunitiesPowers and Immunities Constitutional Amendment PowerConstitutional Amendment Power
Requires joint resolution in the Texas LegislatureRequires joint resolution in the Texas Legislature Proposal made with a two-thirds vote in both Proposal made with a two-thirds vote in both
chamberschambers
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Powers and ImmunitiesPowers and Immunities Administrative and Investigative PowersAdministrative and Investigative Powers
Legislative OversightLegislative Oversight Legislative Audit CommitteeLegislative Audit Committee Sunset Advisory CommissionSunset Advisory Commission
Administrative PowerAdministrative Power Appointment approvalAppointment approval Senatorial CourtesySenatorial Courtesy Legislature can subpoena witnesses to testify, administer Legislature can subpoena witnesses to testify, administer
oaths, and compel submission of records and documentsoaths, and compel submission of records and documents
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Powers and ImmunitiesPowers and Immunities Impeachment and Removal PowersImpeachment and Removal Powers
First charges are brought by simple majority vote First charges are brought by simple majority vote of House members present of House members present
Then Texas Senate holds a trial that requires a Then Texas Senate holds a trial that requires a two-thirds votetwo-thirds vote
A convicted official is removed from office and A convicted official is removed from office and disqualified from holding any other public office. disqualified from holding any other public office.
ImmunitiesImmunities May not be sued for slander, may not be arrested May not be sued for slander, may not be arrested
while traveling to or attending a legislative sessionwhile traveling to or attending a legislative session
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ProcedureProcedure RulesRules
Each chamber adopts its own set of rules.Each chamber adopts its own set of rules. The lieutenant governor and the Speaker decide The lieutenant governor and the Speaker decide
questions about rules in their respective questions about rules in their respective chambers.chambers.
A bill becomes a lawA bill becomes a law Legislative session lasts 140 days unless a Legislative session lasts 140 days unless a
special session, called by the governorspecial session, called by the governor First 30 days dedicated to bill introductionFirst 30 days dedicated to bill introduction Second 30 days dedicated to Committee meetingsSecond 30 days dedicated to Committee meetings Last 80 days dedicated to debate and bill movement Last 80 days dedicated to debate and bill movement
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ProcedureProcedure A bill becomes a lawA bill becomes a law
Step 1: IntroductionStep 1: Introduction Bills can be introduced as early as the Monday after the Bills can be introduced as early as the Monday after the
general election in Novembergeneral election in November Bills can be introduced in either the House, the Senate, Bills can be introduced in either the House, the Senate,
or both (with a companion bill)or both (with a companion bill)
Step 2: First reading (House) and referral to Step 2: First reading (House) and referral to committeecommittee
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ProcedureProcedure A bill becomes a lawA bill becomes a law
Step 3 : House Committee consideration and Step 3 : House Committee consideration and reportreport Usually a committee hearing is held for lobbyists and Usually a committee hearing is held for lobbyists and
interested persons to express views.interested persons to express views.
Bill may go to a subcommittee.Bill may go to a subcommittee.
Public hearingsPublic hearings
Bill placed on calendarBill placed on calendar
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ProcedureProcedure A bill becomes a lawA bill becomes a law
Step 4: Second reading (House) Step 4: Second reading (House) Brief statement of the bill and debate Brief statement of the bill and debate
Approval requires simple majority voteApproval requires simple majority vote
Division voteDivision vote
Step 5: Third reading (House)Step 5: Third reading (House) Passage requires a simple majority vote of members Passage requires a simple majority vote of members
presentpresent
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ProcedureProcedureA bill becomes a lawA bill becomes a law
Step 6: First reading (Senate)Step 6: First reading (Senate) Step 7: Senate Committee consideration and Step 7: Senate Committee consideration and
report report Tagging a billTagging a bill Blocker billsBlocker bills
Step 8: Second reading (Senate)Step 8: Second reading (Senate) Debate and consideration of amendmentsDebate and consideration of amendments Filibustering Filibustering Roll call votingRoll call voting
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ProcedureProcedure A bill becomes a lawA bill becomes a law
Step 9: Third reading (Senate)Step 9: Third reading (Senate) A simple majority vote is required for passage.A simple majority vote is required for passage.
Step 10: Return to House (original chamber) Step 10: Return to House (original chamber) House votes on amended bill.House votes on amended bill.
Step 11: Conference Committee Step 11: Conference Committee If differences exist between the two chamber billsIf differences exist between the two chamber bills
Step 12: Conference Committee reportStep 12: Conference Committee report Step 13: EnrollmentStep 13: Enrollment
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ProcedureProcedure A bill becomes a lawA bill becomes a law
Step 14: Signatures of chief clerk and Speaker Step 14: Signatures of chief clerk and Speaker Step 15: Signatures of the secretary of the Senate Step 15: Signatures of the secretary of the Senate
and the lieutenant governor and the lieutenant governor Step 16: Action by the governor Step 16: Action by the governor
Sign the billSign the bill DonDon’’t sign the bill and let it become law 30 dayst sign the bill and let it become law 30 days VetoVeto
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The GovernorThe Governor■ Veto power, gubernatorial policiesVeto power, gubernatorial policies
Judges, the Attorney General, and the Judges, the Attorney General, and the Comptroller of Public AccountsComptroller of Public Accounts■ Laws cannot conflict with the Texas or U.S. Laws cannot conflict with the Texas or U.S.
constitutionsconstitutions■ Comptroller estimates cost Comptroller estimates cost
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LobbyistsLobbyists Research OrganizationsResearch Organizations
■ The Texas Legislative CouncilThe Texas Legislative Council■ The House Research OrganizationThe House Research Organization■ The Senate Research CenterThe Senate Research Center■ The Center for Public Policy PrioritiesThe Center for Public Policy Priorities■ The Texas Public Policy FoundationThe Texas Public Policy Foundation
The MediaThe Media
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1.1. Analyze conflicts involved in districting.Analyze conflicts involved in districting.
2.2. Identify similarities and differences in the Identify similarities and differences in the formal qualifications for a state formal qualifications for a state representative and for a state senator.representative and for a state senator.
3.3. Compare and contrast the powers of the Compare and contrast the powers of the president of the Texas Senate and the president of the Texas Senate and the Speaker of the Texas House of Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.Representatives.
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4.4. Outline the steps by which a bill Outline the steps by which a bill becomes a law according to House and becomes a law according to House and Senate rules of procedure.Senate rules of procedure.
5.5. Explain the influences on voting Explain the influences on voting decisions made by elected legislators.decisions made by elected legislators.
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1.1. How many years make a full term for a How many years make a full term for a member of the Texas House of member of the Texas House of Representatives?Representatives?
2.2. True or False: Usually, gerrymandered True or False: Usually, gerrymandered districts are compact in shape.districts are compact in shape.
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1.1. What is the minimum age for a state What is the minimum age for a state senator as specified in the Texas senator as specified in the Texas Constitution?Constitution?
2.2. True or False. Salary increases for True or False. Salary increases for legislators must be submitted to the statlegislators must be submitted to the statee’’s voters for approval or disapproval.s voters for approval or disapproval.
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1.1. True or False: The Speaker of the House True or False: The Speaker of the House of Representatives presides over that of Representatives presides over that body but cannot vote on a bill or body but cannot vote on a bill or resolution.resolution.
2.2. True or False: The president of the True or False: The president of the Senate determines the Senate Senate determines the Senate committee to which a bill will be sent committee to which a bill will be sent after introduction.after introduction.
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1.1. What legislative measure is abbreviated What legislative measure is abbreviated as H.J.R.?as H.J.R.?
2.2. True or False: The reading clerk reads True or False: The reading clerk reads aloud the full text of a House bill before it aloud the full text of a House bill before it is referred to a committee.is referred to a committee.
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1.1. True or False: Under Texas law, True or False: Under Texas law, lobbyists are encouraged, but not lobbyists are encouraged, but not required, to register with the Texas required, to register with the Texas Ethics CommissionEthics Commission
2.2. True or False: The House Research True or False: The House Research Organization influences the House Organization influences the House through the through the Daily Floor ReportDaily Floor Report that that presents arguments for and against each presents arguments for and against each bill.bill.
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