Government 2306 Chapter 7: The Texas Legislature

A series of flashcards covering vocabulary and key concepts related to the Texas Legislature.

Lieutenant Governor

Leader of the Senate, elected in a statewide election.

Constituent Work

Work done on behalf of individuals living in an elected official's district.

Investigative Power

The ability of chambers to form committees to investigate matters affecting the state.

Speaker of the House

Leader and member of the House of Representatives, chosen by other members.

Directory and Supervisory Powers

Powers that give the Legislature control over the executive branch.

Judicial Powers

Powers that allow for the impeachment of executive and judicial branch members.

Bill

A proposed law considered by the Texas Legislature.

Local Bills

Bills that affect only local governmental units, such as cities.

Special Bills

Bills that grant exemptions to individuals or corporations from state law.

General Bills

Bills that apply to all people or property in the state.

Biennial Legislature

A legislature that meets once every two years for three months.

Regular Session

The constitutionally required meeting of the legislature for 140 days in odd years.

Special Session

A meeting called by the governor to deal with specific issues outside of the regular session.

31 Members

Refers to the number of members in the Texas Senate.

Standing Committee

Permanent committees established to deal with legislation in specific fields.

Markup Session

A session where members revise, amend, or rewrite the bill.

Term Limits

There are no term limits for officials in the Texas Legislature.

Conference Committee

A committee to negotiate differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill.

Select Committee

A temporary committee established to address a specific problem.

Interim Committee

A temporary committee established to study an issue between legislative sessions.

Floor Action

The process of a bill moving back to the full House and Senate.

Resolution

An expression of opinion on an issue by a legislature, carrying no force of law.

Simple Resolution

Concerns only one chamber (House or Senate) and does not need the Governor's signature.

Concurrent Resolution

Must pass both chambers and requires the Governor's signature; reflects Texas' view on a matter.

Joint Resolution

Requires passage in both chambers but does not need the Governor's signature, often for amendments.

Introduction

The process where a member introduces a bill in their chamber.

Referral

The assignment of a bill to a standing committee.

Post-adjournment Veto

A veto occurring after the Legislature has adjourned.

Calendars Committee

The committee responsible for prioritizing bills before they reach the House floor.

Filibuster

An effort to kill a bill through unlimited debate in the Senate.

Committee Action

Most bills die in committee, often through 'pigeonholing'.

Action by the Governor

The Governor's options: sign the bill, veto it, or do nothing.

Line Item Veto

Allows the Governor to veto specific parts of a bill.

Fiscal Note

A projection of a bill's cost to the state, important for financial considerations.

Salary for House and Senate Members

$7,200 per year plus $150/day while in session.

House Terms in Office

House members serve 2-year terms.

Senate Terms in Office

Senate members serve 4-year overlapping terms.

Oversight

Supervising the state bureaucracy to ensure laws are effectively executed.