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TEXAS GOVERNMENT 2306

TEXAS GOVERNMENT 2306. UNIT 7 THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. TEXAS SENATE Size 31 Senators Terms 4 years, staggered Presiding Officers Lieutenant Governor Elected statewide for a 4 year term. TEXAS HOUSE Size 150 Representatives Terms 2 years Presiding Officers Speaker

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TEXAS GOVERNMENT 2306

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  1. TEXAS GOVERNMENT 2306 • UNIT 7 • THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE

  2. TEXAS SENATE Size 31 Senators Terms 4 years, staggered Presiding Officers Lieutenant Governor Elected statewide for a 4 year term TEXAS HOUSE Size 150 Representatives Terms 2 years Presiding Officers Speaker Elected to the House from a district & then by entire membership of the House (2 year term) TEXAS LEGISLATURE

  3. Formal Qualifications for Texas Legislature

  4. Informal Qualifications for Texas Legislature

  5. THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE & THE THREE “S’S” • SALARY • SESSION • STAFF

  6. SALARY • ·$7,200/year ($600/mo.) • ·+ $125 per diem while in session • ·Effects: • o high turnover—30% average • o many Texans cannot afford to serve • olegislators more easily “corrupted”

  7. SESSION • ·Biennial sessions/140 days • · Texas is one of only 6 states whose legislature does NOT meet annually(the other states are Ark., Mont., Nev., N.D., & Oregon) • ·Effects: • oLack of adequate time • oRushed, chaotic session • oBills poorly researched, not read before vote • oReliance on lobbyists for research, info, & bill writing

  8. STAFF • ·Inadequate Staff expense account • oSenate - $22,000/month • oHouse - $7,500/month • ·Effects: • oOverworked, underpaid, too small • oHigh staff turnover • oGreater reliance on lobbyists & their staffs

  9. POWERS OF PRESIDING OFFICERS • 1.Appoint committee chairs & vice-chairs  • 2.Appoint majority of comm. members  • 3.Refer all bills to committee  • 4.Schedule legislation for floor action  • 5.Recognize members on the floor  • 6.Interpret procedural rules • 7.Appoint conference committees  • 8.Appoint members to: • ·Legislative Budget Board (LBB) • ·Legislative Audit Board • ·Legislative Council • ·Sunset Advisory Commission (SAC)

  10. TEXAS LEGISLATURE & THE CONSTITUTIONAL RULES • Every bill must be read 3 times on 3 different calendar days • Every bill must pass 4 floor votes—2 in the Senate and 2 in the House of Rep. • Most floor action (floor debate & vote on bills) is limited to the final 80 days of the regular session

  11. LEGISLATIVE SESSION • FIRST 30 DAYS: • ·Introduce bills • ·Emergency appropriations • ·Approve governor’s recess appointments • SECOND 30 DAYS: • ·Consideration of bills by committees & subcommittees • LAST 80 DAYS: • ·Act on bills & resolutions on the House & Senate floors • ·Very rushed, chaotic • ·Legislature frequently runs out of time to consider all bills • ·Ave.: about 30% of all bills pass

  12. How a Bill Becomes a Law

  13. State Legislative Sessions & Salary

  14. Rankings of State Legislatures

  15. Initiative, Referendum & Recall

  16. Texas House of Representative Districts

  17. Texas Senate Districts

  18. Texas Congressional Districts

  19. THREE TYPES OF GERRYMANDERING • 1.Racial • 2.Unequal Population • 3.Partisan/Political • 4. Protecting Incumbent

  20. Rules of Redistricting • 1964-US Supreme Court • One man-one vote rule (one person-one vote) • 1965-Voting Rights Act • No racial gerrymandering • Political/Partisan Gerrymandering • Cannot be too extreme (US Supreme Court)

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