Chapter 7 The Legislature

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

The Functions of the Legislature and Legislators 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

The Functions of the Legislature and Legislators Texas House V. Senate House Senate Responsibilities Casework Position Taking Trustee Delegates Credit Claiming

The Texas Legislature in Context The Legislative Session Regular Session 140 days Special Session 30 days Legislative Staff Legislative Boards and Councils Salary $7200/year Incumbency and Turnover Consequences of the Texas Legislative Structure

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 and the Craddick Ds Process and Procedures The Lieutenant Governor

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

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

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

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

Demographic Representation Women Legislators African Americans Hispanics Race, Religion, and Other Factora

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

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

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