Chapter 7: The Legislature

TX Government Key Terms

Standing Committee

committee with the power to propose and write legislation that covers a particular subject

ex:

Regular Session

the 140-day period, occurring only in odd-numbered years, during which the Texas legislature meets to consider and pass bills

ex: currently, the 89th regular session of the Texas Legislature is in session, which began on January 14, 2025, and will adjourn on June 2, 2025

relev: these sessions allow legislators to propose, debate, & pass bills that affect the state; thousands of bills are proposed, while only about 20 become laws

Biennial

occurring every two years

ex: regular sessions of the Texas Legislature occur ever 2 years

relev: it prevents the overexpansion of the government because the legislature has a limited time period to consider and pass bills to make laws

Special Session

a 30-day long meeting where the governor will call the legislature back to Austin and give them topic/s to make legislation for

ex: Governor Greg Abbott wanted school vouchers, so he would call special sessions to pass the bill but legislators were voting against it. So, he waited for the next electoral cycle to take place and endorsed candidates who were in favor of the school vouchers, allowing these vouchers to be passed most likely

relev: this session allows concerns to be addressed and bills that could not be passed in the regular session. With the governor calling the special session, he/she can influence what topic/s are discussed in the special session

Per Diem

daily payment to legislators

ex: legislators receive an amount of money when they are in Austin to pay for food and living costs

relev: being a legislator does not pay a stable salary because of the limited time in which they must perform their duties, so they receive a per diem that covers their daily expenses during the session

Constituent

someone who lives in the representative's district

ex: Texas residents are constituents of Governor Greg Abbott

relev: constituents influence and aid what the elected officials they are represented work toward

Constituent Service

non-legislative responsibilities elected officials perform for the people they represent

ex: elected officials can write letters of recommendation, which is something that is required for people entering the navy

relev: legislative officials are required to do this service as an act of their responsibility and dedication to the people they represent; this way they likely to get re-elected

One-Person, One-Vote Principle

all districts should have roughly equal populations

ex: redistricting because the geographic lines are redrawn to have equal populations

relev: this ensures that all citizens are represented equally; everyone's voice is heard and it maintains a fair democratic government

Bill

a proposed law by a legislator

ex:

Local Bill

a bill that affects units of government

Special Bill

to exempt an individual or corporation from the state law

General Bill

bill that applies to all people

Resolution

an expression of opinion on an issue by a legislative body

Concurrent Resolution

a resolution that is of interest to both chambers of the legislature and must pass both the House and Senate and generally be signed by the governor

Joint Resolution

a proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution or ratification of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, that must pass both the House and Senate but that does not require the governor's signature

Simple Resolution

concerns only the House or the Senate and does not require the governor's signature

Electoral Power

power to count returns in elections for governor & lieutenant governor

Investigative Power

power for both chambers to investigate problems facing the state

Directive and Supervisory Power

the legislature's power over the executive branch

Judicial Power

the power to impeach a state official by the House & convict by the Senate

Introduction

1st step in a bill becoming law; individual lawmakers will introduce bills they are proposing

Referral

2nd step in a bill becoming law; assigning to a particular committee

Consideration by Standing Committee

3rd step in a bill becoming law; hold hearings and can be voted out of the committee

Floor Action

4th step in the bill becoming law; moved to the floor for general debate

Conference Committee

a committee that works out a compromise on House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation

Pigeonholing

when a bill is killed by the chair of the standing committee to which it was referred

Filibuster

a legislative technique used by the minority parties to delay the passage of legislation

Post-Adjournment Veto

governor's power to turn down a bill that occurs after the legislature adjourns

Line-Item Veto

governors' power to delete line-by-line spending bills

Speaker

chief presiding officer of the House of Representatives

Lieutenant Governor

president of the state Senate

Recognition

speaker's power to control floor debate by recognizing who can speak before the House and the Senate