1. Pearson Longman PoliticalScienceInteractive Shea, Green, and Smith Living Democracy, Second Texas Edition Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature

2. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Legislative Functions and Composition Enacting laws Budgets and taxes Overseeing state agencies Educating the public Representing the public Functions

3. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Legislative Functions and Composition Organization Legislative Sessions Terms of Office and Qualifications Pay and Compensation Physical Facilities Legislative Turnover Membership, Careers Structure and Composition

4. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Legislative Functions and Composition Structure and Composition

5. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Founding member of Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Member of legislature from 1985 to 1992. Pathways Profile: Gregory Luna and Irma Rangel 1976, became first Hispanic woman in Texas house. Established Moreno/ Rangel Legislative Leadership Program. Served as legislator from 1976 to 1003.

6. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Representation and Redistricting Single-member districts Constitution requires redistricting every 10 years –Legislative Redistricting Board Debates over gerrymandering, reverse discrimination Redrawing Districts

7. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Representation and Redistricting New map drawn after 2001 Republican sweep Tom DeLay, U.S. House Majority Leader (R-TX) pushes for redrawing districts Redistricting passed after lengthy battle – Texas Republicans gained six seats The 2003 Redistricting Battle

8. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Legislative Leadership Speaker—elected by fellow members –Until the 50s, the position was held by a small group of members –The position has become a full- time job Speaker pro tem stands in when Speaker is absent House Leadership

9. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Legislative Leadership Elected by voters Powerful position Selects members of standing committees Senate Leadership: Lieutenant Governor Former Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock

10. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Legislative Leadership Speaker and lieutenant governor –Apply rules –Formal powers also extensive Leadership teams Control of the Legislature

11. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature The Committee System Committee functions –Shape bills, make compromises Standing Committees –Calendars Committees –Ways and Means –Appropriations Conference Committees Special Committees

12. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Rules and Procedures How a Bill Becomes a Law

13. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Rules and Procedures Calendar Committee Tag Filibuster Shortcuts, Obfuscation and Confusion Tag Rule that allows an individual senator to postpone a committee hearing on any bill for at least 48 hours, a delay that can be fatal to a bill during the closing days of a legislative session.

14. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Rules and Procedures Calendar –Allows for quick passage of uncontroversial bills Record votes Decisions votes Confusion over large numbers of bills Shortcuts, Obfuscation and Confusion

15. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Legislative Caucuses Texas legislature is not organized along party lines Growth of partisanship in the 1980s –Partisan caucuses in both houses by 1990 Republicans gained control of both houses early in the decade Hispanic and African American caucuses have also emerged The Growth of Partisan Caucuses

16. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Constituents and Legislative Decision Making Little attention paid to the actions of the legislature Newsletters keep representatives and constituents in touch Rules and norms direct the legislative process Staff members Governor

17. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature Pathways of Action: Legislative Reputations, Power, and Influence Reputation may be based on efforts to produce good legislation, grandstanding, loyalty Some do little more than watch the action

18. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature The Development of Legislative Staff, Ethics and Reform Staff functions –Research –Formulate arguments for and against legislation Increasingly professional House Research Organization

19. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 22: The Texas Legislature The Development of Legislative Staff, Ethics and Reform Sharpstown stock scandal led to reform in 1973 Scandals continue, with reports of vote-buying Ethics Commission created Ethics and the Legislature Speaker Gus Mutscher, Governor Preston Smith, former President Lyndon Johnson, and Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes at “Gus Mutscher Day” in Brenham, August 17, 1970.