CHAPTER 3 The Texas Legislature.

CHAPTER 3 The Texas Legislature

Texas Learning Outcomes
Describe the legislative branch of Texas government

Chapter Learning Objectives
Describe the structure, size, and general characteristics of the Texas legislature Explain legislators’ qualifications and member demographics Describe reapportionment and redistricting issues in Texas Explain how legislators are elected, including the single-member district method of election Discuss various leadership positions in the Texas legislature Describe the Texas legislature’s functions and procedures

The Structure and Size of the Texas Legislature
The Texas legislature is bicameral, consisting of the senate and the house of representatives Senate: 31 members elected to four-year overlapping terms House: 150 members elected to two-year terms Both are small relative to the state’s population, with about 811,147 constituents per senate district and 167,637 per house district in 2010 The size of a legislative body can have negative and positive effects Texas’s relatively small senate, compared with the house, is considered more genteel and free of individual domination

Communicating Effectively …
CORE OBJECTIVE Communicating Effectively … It has been argued that smaller constituencies might allow a wider array of people to participate in state politics, rather than just the “rich” or “well born.” How would you argue in favor of or against this statement?

General Characteristics: Sessions and Session Length
The legislature meets in biennial sessions—every two years in odd-numbered years A session is 140 days Sine die: the legislature must adjourn at the end of regular session and, unlike a majority of state legislatures, cannot call an extraordinary session or otherwise extend a session This strengthens the governor’s veto powers The governor may call special sessions of no more than 30 days each Biennial sessions help the legislature avoid reacting rashly to particular situations

TABLE 3.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of Annual and Biennial Legislative Sessions
Arguments in Favor of Annual Sessions Arguments in Favor of Biennial Sessions The biennial format is unsuitable for dealing with the complex and continuing problems which confront today’s legislatures. The responsibilities of a legislature have become so burdensome that they can no longer be discharged on an alternate-year basis. More frequent meetings may serve to raise the status of the legislature, thereby helping to check the flow of power to the executive branch. Continuing legislative oversight of the administration becomes more feasible with annual sessions, and that administrative accountability for the execution of legislative policies is more easily enforced. States may respond more rapidly to new federal laws which require state participation. The legislature cannot operate effectively in fits and starts. Annual sessions may help make the policy-making process more timely and orderly. Annual sessions would serve to diminish the need for special sessions. There are enough laws. Biennial sessions constitute a safeguard against precipitate and unseemly legislative action. Yearly meetings of the legislature will contribute to legislative harassment of the administration and its agencies. The interval between sessions may be put to good advantage by individual legislators and interim study commissions, since there is never sufficient time during a session to study proposed legislation. The biennial system affords legislators more time to renew relations with constituents, to mend political fences, and to campaign for reelection. Annual sessions inevitably lead to a spiraling of legislative costs, for the legislators and other assembly personnel are brought together twice as often. Source: Table reproduced from National Conference of State Legislatures. See ( Credit: William Keefe and Morris Ogul.

General Characteristics: Salary
Members of the legislature are paid $7,200 a year, plus $150 per diem while in session The least of legislators in the 10 most populous states Many legislators are attorneys or other successful business people with other significant sources of income—elites, in keeping with the traditionalistic political culture It is difficult to serve unless independently wealthy, employed with a flexible schedule, or otherwise financially supported Legislators who retire at 50 with 12 years of service, or 60 with 8 years of service, gain a pension The amount is linked to the salary of state district judges

TABLE 3.2 Legislative Salaries in the 10 Most Populous States
Base Salary, 2014 California $90,526 Texas $7,200 Florida $29,697 New York $79,500 Illinois $67,836 Pennsylvania $84,012 Ohio $60,584 Georgia $17,342 North Carolina $13,951 Michigan $71,685 Source: National Conference of State Legislatures. See

General Characteristics: Staff and Facilities
The Texas legislature provides generous support for staff assistance Most members keep offices open on a full-time basis in their district; many also in the state capital Senate allowance, in 2015, for staff and travel: $40,000 per month House allowance: $13,250 per month while in session; $12,500 per month while out of session Standing committees also have staff salary support The Texas Legislative Council and the House Research Organization provide professional assistance

Qualifications for Legislators and Member Demographics
Formal qualifications: For the Texas House, U.S. citizen, at least 21, and resident of the state for 2 years and the district for 12 months For the Texas Senate, U.S. citizen, at least 26, and resident of the state for 5 years and the district for 12 months Candidates for office must be “qualified voters”—they cannot have been convicted of a felony Informal qualifications can have greater importance Legislators tend to be older, male, well educated, and professionals Cultural changes have led to greater diversity

TABLE 3.3 Background of Members of the Texas Legislature, 2015
Demographics House Senate Male 120 23 Female 28 8 Age: under 30 Age: 30–39 Age: 40–49 46 3 Age: 50–59 35 12 Age: 60–69 31 14 Age: 70+ 2 Incumbents (and previously elected) 124 Freshmen 24 Democrat 51 11 Republican 97 20 Statistics reflect membership as of January 13, 2015, the first day of the regular session. House membership numbered 148 on that date due to vacant seats in Districts 13 and 123, where special elections were pending. Source: Adapted from Legislative Reference Library of Texas. See: (

MAP 3.1 Percentage of Women Legislators by State
In Texas, the number of women legislators has increased from one woman in each chamber in 1971 to a total of 36 in This constitutes 20 percent of all seats in the state legislature. SOURCE: Adapted from Center for American Women and Politics, Women in State Legislatures

The First Hispanic Woman in the Texas Legislature
FOCUS ON The First Hispanic Woman in the Texas Legislature Hispanic men have long served in leadership roles in Texas The first Hispanic woman in the Texas legislature, elected in 1976, was Democrat Irma Rangel Educational opportunity was her focus during her 26 years in the House of Representatives In 1997, she co-authored HB 588, the “Top Ten Percent Plan,” which guarantees college admission for high school students who graduate in the top ten percent © Texas House of Representatives

Single-Member Versus Multimember Districts
Members of the Texas legislature are elected from single-member districts—districts represented by one elected member to the legislature A party or candidate need win only a plurality of the vote to win one seat, and districts can be drawn to the advantage of minorities Unlike multimember districts, which promote majority representation or domination, single-member districts promote geographical representation Ten states use multimember districts for some legislative elections

MAP 3.2 Texas State House Districts, 2016
In Texas there are 31 senatorial districts and 150 house districts. The voters living in these districts elect one senator and one congressperson. SOURCE: Based on Texas Legislative Council,

MAP 3.3 Texas State Senate Districts, 2016
In Texas there are 31 senatorial districts and 150 house districts. The voters living in these districts elect one senator and one congressperson. SOURCE: Based on Texas Legislative Council,

TABLE 3.4 Multimember State Legislative Districts
Legislative Body Number of Multimember Districts Largest Number of Seats in a District Arizona House 30 of 30 2 Idaho 35 of 35 Maryland 43 of 67 3 New Hampshire 99 of 204 11 New Jersey 40 of 40 North Dakota 47 of 47 South Dakota 33 of 35 Vermont Senate 10 of 13 6 46 of 150 Washington 49 of 49 West Virginia 17 of 17 20 of 67 5 Source: Adapted from National Conference of State Legislatures, See (

Reapportionment and Redistricting Issues
How the 31 senate districts and 150 house districts are determined has been highly controversial The Texas Constitution requires the legislature to reapportion legislative seats following each federal census Reapportionment: the process of allocating representatives to districts Redistricting: the drawing of district boundary lines Each interest group tries to gain as much as possible; existing powers try to protect their advantages; and incumbent legislators try to ensure reelection Primary issues are equity of representation, minority representation, and gerrymandering

TABLE 3.5 Constituents per Legislative District
State 2010 Population House Senate California 37,253,956 465,674 931,349 Texas 25,145,561 167,637 811,147 New York 19,378,102 129,187 307,589 Florida 18,801,310 156,678 470,033 Illinois 12,830,632 108,734 217,468

Equity of Representation
Equity of representation is not a new issue By 1948, most urban counties in Texas were vastly underrepresented, leading to creation of the Legislative Redistricting Board (LRB) with the authority to redistrict seats if the legislature failed to do so Representation shifted somewhat, but disparities continued Two cases brought to the U.S. Supreme Court forced all states to redistrict based on population Baker v. Carr (1962) and Reynolds v. Sims (1964) General rule: the maximum population deviation between the largest and smallest district must be less than 10%

Minority Representation
Legislative districts should not only be approximately equal in population; by law they should also allow for representation of ethnic minorities A 1981 battle over redistricting in Texas ended with federal courts imposing a redistricting plan that created “majority-minority” districts—containing a majority of ethnic minorities Similar battles took place in the 1990s and into the 2000s Minority voters have become better represented in Texas, and minority candidates have gained many seats in the state legislature

Political and Racial Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering is the drawing of district boundary lines for political advantage Political gerrymandering: to the advantage of one political party over another Racial gerrymandering: creating minority districts In the 1980s, Republicans supported racially gerrymandered majority-minority districts In 1996, the U.S. Supreme Court found against using race as the predominant factor in drawing districts In 1999, in Hunt v. Cromartie, the Court found political gerrymandering was permissible

The original Gerrymander in Massachusetts, 1812
© Gilbert Stuart/Bettmann/Corbis

Being Socially Responsible …
CORE OBJECTIVE Being Socially Responsible … To what extent should legislators use race when redistricting? Do you think redistricting is an appropriate tool to increase intercultural competency? Why or why not?

Redistricting in 2001 Reapportionment after the 2000 census had given Texas two additional seats in the U.S. Congress Both parties criticized the redistricting plans of the House and Senate Redistricting Committees Ethnic minorities also felt they should gain more seats The 2001 session adjourned without new redistricting plans The LRB drew districts that favored Republicans The U.S. Congressional districts were drawn by a special federal court; and in 2002 five districts that favored Republicans were instead won by Democrats

2003 and the Texas Eleven In the 2003 session, Republicans worked to redistrict the 32 U.S. Congressional districts The battle led to pressure to drop the Senate’s two-thirds rule requiring 21 members to agree to consider a bill; and 11 Senate Democrats fled to New Mexico Fighting over districts continued after the house and senate had passed different bills The new map finally accepted by both houses in October still faced scrutiny because of how it split minority voters In the end, the prevailing logic allowed for minority voters to be split into many districts as long as the intent was to divide Democrats, not minority voters

Redistricting in 2011 and Beyond
Texas gained four seats in the U.S. Congress from the 2010 census Three maps would have to be redrawn Maps drawn by the legislature had to gain federal approval, or “preclearance”; and the maps were found to be potentially discriminatory in nature, launching a series of legal battles In the landmark case Shelby County v. Holder (2013), the U.S. Supreme Court found preclearance unconstitutional The redrawn maps now in place have had significant impact on partisan and minority voting and on districts once considered “safe” for incumbents

Getting Elected Running for office can be costly, even with no opposition PACs: spin-offs of interest groups that collect money for campaign contributions and other activity In 2014, 319 candidates for the House raised $65.6 million; and 68 candidates for the Senate raised $29 million Members are prohibited from accepting contributions during the legislative session Most money comes from outside the district, some from outside the state

Competition for House and Senate Seats
Most incumbents survive election challenges Many seats are in relatively safe districts Competition has increased in recent years Most legislative seats in Texas are either noncompetitive Republican Anglo districts or noncompetitive Democratic minority districts Noncompetitive districts: any in which either party receives 55% or more of the votes Safe Democratic districts exist primarily in South Texas and East Texas; and in the inner cities

TABLE 3.6 Competitive and Noncompetitive Seats in the Texas House and Senate, 2016 Election
Body Safe Democratic Safe Republican Competitive Unopposed House 20 (13%) 39 (26%) 9 (6%) 82 (55%) Senate 4 (25%) 5 (31%) 0 (0%) 7 (44%) Source: Adapted from Texas Secretary of State 2016 General Election, Election Night Returns ( and The New York Times (

CORE OBJECTIVE Thinking Critically … Both demographics and voting patterns have changed in Texas, and some districts have become more competitive, especially for Democrats in South Texas and in inner-city districts. Discuss what these shifts mean for future elections and the composition of the Texas House and Senate. Reference Table 3.6 (on the previous slide) in your answer.

Term Limits and Turnover
The Texas legislature does not have term limits: formal limitations on the number of times a person can be elected to the same office Turnover—the number of new members each session—is very high in the Texas legislature Normally, higher for the house than for the senate Turnover is mainly due to voluntary retirement, prompted by multiple factors—such as generous retirement benefits, relatively low pay, and the rigors of seeking reelection High turnover may contribute to the amateurish nature of state legislatures

TABLE 3.7 Years of Service of Members of the 84th Legislature
Number of Years House Members Senate Members 20+ 14 (9%) 6 (19%) 14–19 2 (6%) 8–13 29 (20%) 7 (23%) 1–7 67 (45%) 8 (26%) 1st 24 (16%) Source: Adapted from Texas House of Representatives. See: ( and Legislative Reference Library of Texas. See: (

Leadership Positions in the Texas Legislature
Formal leadership positions possess considerable power to decide the outcome of legislation In Texas, power is concentrated in the hands of two individuals: the speaker of the house and the lieutenant governor In addition to their regular legislative duties, both have other extra legislative powers: Appoint members to or serve as members of state boards, such as the Legislative Budget Board Serve as members of the Legislative Redistricting Board

Speaker of the House The members of the house elect the speaker of the house, who serves as presiding officer and generally controls the passage of legislation Incumbent speakers are almost always reelected The house agenda is controlled through formal rules that allow the speaker to: Appoint committee chairs, members of standing committees, and members of other committees Preside over all sessions Refer bills to committees

Lieutenant Governor The lieutenant governor is elected by voters for a four-year term Not a senator and cannot vote in the senate except in cases of a tie Appoints the chairs of senate committees, selects all senate committee members, and appoints members of conference committees Serves as presiding officer and interpret senate rules Refers bills to committees The lieutenant governor must ally with key senators to effective utilize the powers of the office

Committees in the House and Senate
Standing committees established by house and senate rules consider legislation during sessions Conference committees work out differences in bills passed by the two houses Temporary committees study special problems Interim committees study issues between sessions The chairs of standing committees have powers similar to those of the speaker and lieutenant governor They decide the amount of time devoted to bills and which bills get the attention of the committee

TABLE 3.8a Standing Committees of the Texas Senate, 84th Legislature
Administration Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs Business & Commerce Criminal Justice Education Finance Health & Human Services Higher Education Intergovernmental Relations Natural Resources & Economic Development Nominations State Affairs Transportation Veteran Affairs & Military Installations Source: Adapted from Texas Senate. See: (

TABLE 3.8b Standing Committees of the Texas House, 84th Legislature
Agriculture & Livestock Appropriations Business & Industry Calendars Corrections County Affairs Criminal Jurisprudence Culture, Recreation & Tourism Defense & Veterans’ Affairs Economic & Small Business Development Elections Energy Resources Environmental Regulation General Investigating & Ethics Government Transparency & Operation Higher Education Homeland Security & Public Safety House Administration Human Services Insurance International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs Investments & Financial Services Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Land & Resource Management Licensing & Administrative Procedures Local & Consent Calendars Natural Resources Pensions Public Education Public Health Redistricting Rules & Regulations Special Purpose Districts State Affairs Transportation Urban Affairs Ways & Means Source: Adapted from Texas House of Representatives. See: (

Taking Personal Responsibility …
CORE OBJECTIVE Taking Personal Responsibility … It has been stated that the success of legislation depends largely on a relative few individuals who make up the leadership in the Texas House and Senate. Do you think the speaker of the house and the lieutenant governor have too much control over the passage of bills? How can you influence legislation? What can individuals do to affect legislation?

Functions: Lawmaking; Budget and Taxation
The legislature’s two branches have, as one of their main functions, the responsibility to create, alter, and enact laws for the state One of the most essential laws is the biennial budget The Legislative Budget Board’s recommended budget and the governor’s executive budget are consulted The Senate Finance Committee and House Appropriations Committee create the budget bill, which passes to the comptroller before being sent to the governor The Texas legislature establishes the state sales tax and can establish additional taxes

Functions: Oversight Another key responsibility is to keep track of what state agencies are doing, assess their performance, and determine whether they provide necessary functions A committee may call representatives of agencies to testify at a hearing Financial mechanisms may be used The Sunset Advisory Commission reviews about 130 state agencies on a rotating basis to determine whether there is a continued need for the agency under review

FIGURE 3.1 Sunset Advisory Commission Review Process
Jump to long image description

Procedures All legislatures have formal rules of procedure
Prescribe how bills are passed into law and ensure the process is orderly and fair Make it difficult to pass laws, ensuring careful review but also preserving the status quo In Texas, legislative rules protect the ruling elite and enable them to control the legislative process

Formal Rules: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Each bill, to become law, must clear a number of hurdles; and the vast majority fail to pass As of the 84th Legislature, bills on any subject can be introduced to the senate in the first 60 days of the session and will be referred to a committee After the sixtieth day of the session, three-fifths of the senate must support consideration The legislature may attach riders to appropriations bills, which are provisions that may not be of the same subject matter as the main bill Closed riders are attached without the knowledge of the public or the media until the bill has gone to conference committee

FIGURE 3.2 Basic Steps in the Texas Legislative Process
This diagram displays the sequential flow of a bill from the time it is introduced in the Texas House of Representatives to final passage and transmittal to the governor. A bill introduced in the senate follows the same procedure, flowing from senate to house. Jump to long image description

Major and Minor Calendars and Bills
Calendars are procedures in the house used to consider different kinds of bills Major bills are those expected to generate conflict; minor bills are not expected to be opposed The Committee on Local and Consent Calendars may determine a bill is not appropriate for the Local, Consent, and Resolutions Calendar, in which case it may be sent to the Committee on Calendars for assignment The Committee on Calendars determines which measures will be scheduled for deliberation on the house floor, exerting considerably influence over what will be passed

TABLE 3.9 Bill Survival Rate in the Texas Legislature
Bill Status 77th (2001) 78th (2003) 79th (2005) 80th (2007) 81st (2009) 82nd (2011) Total Bills 100% Deliberated by committee in originating chamber 70% 64% 68% Passed by committee in originating chamber 50% 46% 47% 48% Floor consideration in originating chamber 41% 37% 35% 40% 34% 36% Pass originating chamber 33% Deliberated in second chamber 30% 27% 31% 26% 28% Passed by committee in second chamber 29% Floor consideration in second chamber 25% 20% 24% Pass second chamber 19% Pass both chambers Passed into law 23% Vetoed 1% <1% Source: Adapted from Harvey J. Tucker, “Legislation Deliberation in the Texas House and Senate.” Paper presented at Annual Meeting of Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois, April 15-18, Data in this table updated by Harvey Tucker.

Major and Minor Calendars and Bills 2
Major and minor bills are treated differently: Major bills are introduced earlier in the session than minor bills Companion bills are introduced in the other chamber more frequently for major bills than for minor bills Major bills are more evenly distributed across committees Major bills are amended more frequently Major bills are more likely to be killed; minor bills are more likely to be passed Final actions to kill major bills occur later in the session than final actions to kill minor bills

Legislative Workload and Logjams
In Texas, about 80% of all bills are passed in the final two weeks of the session For the first 60 days, the agendas are being set; and then the legislature begins to clear those agendas Most bills die in committees, leaving only about a third of all bills for further consideration The legislative rules in Texas have tended to protect the status quo of the traditionalistic/individualistic political culture

Informal Rules Informal rules are legislative norms legislators must learn to be successful Bernick and Wiggins identified eleven generally accepted norms of state legislatures, all of which are concerned with what a legislator should not do Examples: dealing in personalities during floor debate; giving first priority to reelection; talking to the press or others about decisions reached in private Certain of these are not among the informal rules of the Texas legislature, such as dealing in personalities during debate, which is generally viewed as acceptable

Legislative Roles Great differences exist in the leadership styles of speakers of the house and lieutenant governors Examples: Billy Clayton and Gib Lewis; Bill Hobby and Bob Bullock In addition to formal leadership roles, some members of the legislature develop serve as experts in particular areas of legislation

Representational Roles
Legislators may play both delegate and trustee roles, depending on the issue before them Delegates aim to reflect or mirror the interests and wishes of the voters Trustees make decisions about what’s best for voters based on their own best judgment Which role representatives play is largely dependent on how the issues affect their district Local issues can take the forefront as a result, leading long-term statewide or larger public interests to be neglected

Partisan Roles Party has traditionally not been a strong factor in the Texas legislature; but partisan factors have played a much larger role in recent years The sessions from 2003 to 2007 were marked by deep partisanship by Speaker Tom Craddick Joe Straus came to power through a coalition of Republicans who joined Democrats to oust Craddick Key Democrats were given decent committee assignments, but some felt it was not enough; and conservative Republicans have been unhappy with Straus and have maintained criticism of him throughout his tenure

Legislative Professionalism versus Citizen Legislatures: Where Does Texas Stand?
Political scientist Peverill Squire compares state legislators in terms of their level of legislative professionalism, assessed with data on pay, session length, and staff resources States with higher legislative pay, longer sessions, and more staff support are deemed more professional States with part-time legislators, lower pay, shorter or biennial sessions, and fewer staff resources are less professional, or “citizen legislatures” Texas ranks the fifteenth most professional in the latest Squire Legislative Professionalism Index

Conclusion State legislatures are greatly influenced by the social and economic conditions in the state State legislatures wait for other agencies, groups, and individuals to bring issues to them for resolution State legislatures tend to represent local legislative interests and not statewide interests

Summary Describe the structure, size, and general characteristics of the Texas legislature The legislature is bicameral and meets biennially. The Senate has 31 members and the House of Representatives has 150 —both are quite small relative to the state’s population. Explain legislators’ qualifications and member demographics Legislators tend to be older, male, professionals; and all must be U.S. citizens. A member of the House must be at least 21 and have lived in the state for 2 years and district for 12 months; a senator must be at least 26 and have lived in the state for 5 years and the district for 12 months.

Summary 2 Describe reapportionment and redistricting in Texas
Reapportionment is the process of allocating representatives to districts, whereas redistricting is the drawing of district boundary lines. Both have generated a great deal of controversy. Explain how legislators are elected, including the single-member district method of election With the single-member district method, each district elects one member to the legislative body. Each of Texas’s 31 senatorial districts and 150 house districts elect one senator and one congressperson.

Summary 3 Discuss various leadership positions in the Texas legislature Power is concentrated in the hands of the speaker of the house, who generally controls the passage of legislation, and the lieutenant governor, who is presiding officer of the Senate. Committee chairs can also have a great deal of influence. Describe the Texas legislature’s functions and procedures Its function is to create, alter, and enact laws for the state. It is also responsible for the state budget and oversight of agencies. Rules tend to prevent bills from becoming law without careful review.

Long image descriptions
Appendix A

FIGURE 3.1 Sunset Advisory Commission Review Process Appendix
In the first stage, Sunset Staff Evaluation, Sunset staff performs extensive research and analysis to evaluate the need for, performance of, and improvements to the agency under review. Sunset Commission staff: Reviews agency’s Self-Evaluation Report Receives input from interested parties Evaluates agency and identifies problems Develops recommendations Publishes staff report Continued next slide… Jump back to slide containing original image

FIGURE 3.1 Sunset Advisory Commission Review Process Appendix 2
In the second stage, Sunset Commission Deliberation, the Sunset Commission conducts a public hearing to take testimony on the staff report and the agency overall. Later, the Commission meets again to vote on which changes to recommend to the full Legislature. Activities: Sunset staff presents its report and recommendations Agency presents its response Sunset Commission hears public testimony Staff compiles all testimony for Commission consideration Sunset Commission meets again to consider and vote on recommendations Continued next slide… Jump back to slide containing original image

FIGURE 3.1 Sunset Advisory Commission Review Process Appendix 3
In the third stage, Sunset Commission Recommends Action, legislative action takes place: The full Legislature considers Sunset recommendations and makes final determinations. In the Texas legislature: Sunset bill on an agency is drafted and filed Sunset bills go through normal bill processes The Senate and the House conduct committee hearings and debate the bill Bill passes or fails adoption Governor signs, vetoes, or allows bill to become law without signature The agency then continues with improvements or is abolished but may continue business for up to one year. Jump back to slide containing original image

FIGURE 3.2 Basic Steps in the Texas Legislative Process Appendix
In the House, bill introduced, numbered, read 1st time, and referred to committee by Speaker Committee studies bill, posts notice of hearing, holds public hearing or acts in formal meeting, resulting in a favorable or unfavorable report If favorable, with a substitute or amendment or with no amendment, bill is printed on committee report and distributed (1st printing) If unfavorable, bill may yet be revived by minority report on motion adopted by majority vote of House and go to 1st printing Bill then goes to Calendars Committee for assignment to a calendar Second reading, debate, amendment by majority vote and passage to third reading Third reading, debate, amendment by 2/3 vote and final passage by House Amendments are engrossed into text of bill; and it goes to the Senate Continued on next slide… Jump back to slide containing original image

FIGURE 3.2 Basic Steps in the Texas Legislative Process Appendix 2
In the Senate, engrossed bill received, read 1st time, and referred to committee by Lt. Governor Committee studies bill, posts notice of public hearing, holds public hearing, resulting in a favorable or unfavorable report If unfavorable, bill may be revived by minority report on motion adopted by 3/5 vote of the members present If favorable, with substitute or amendment or with no amendment, bill is printed and distributed Bill is then brought up for consideration on floor by 3/5 vote of Senate to suspend rules Second reading, debate, amendment by majority vote and passage to third reading Third reading, amendment by 2/3 vote and final passage by Senate If amended, bill is returned to House as amended; if not, bill enrolled Continued on next slide… Jump back to slide containing original image

If amended bill returned to House, House engrossed text with Senate amendments printed and distributed (2nd printing); House may concur or refuse to concur If House concurs, Senate amendment on motion adopted by majority vote, bill enrolled If House refuses to concur, requests appointment of Conference Committee Senate grants request for Conference Committee (committee consists of 5 members from each house) Conference Committee report filed and adopted without change by each house (report limited to matters in disagreement between the two houses), and bill enrolled Continued on next slide… Jump back to slide containing original image

Once bill enrolled: Signed by Speaker in presence of House; and by Lt. Governor in presence of Senate Sent to Governor, who may sign, refuse to sign, or veto Signed or unsigned, bill becomes law Vetoed, bill does not become law; or if veto overridden by 2/3 vote of House and Senate, bill becomes law Jump back to slide containing original image

CHAPTER 3 The Texas Legislature.

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "CHAPTER 3 The Texas Legislature."— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback

Log in

Auth with social network:

CHAPTER 3 The Texas Legislature.

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "CHAPTER 3 The Texas Legislature."— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback