Texas Governor and Legislature

Texas Legislature

150 Reps (2 years), 31 Senators (4 years), Paid $7,260 annually

Biennial Sessions

Every two years for 140 days, 60 day unlimited bill introduction

Special Sessions

30 days, convened by governor, agenda determined by governor

Delegates

Legislators who primarily see their role as voting according to their constituents beliefs as they understand them

Trustees

Legislatures who believe they were elected to exercise their own judgement and to approach issues accordingly

Professionalization

The process of providing legislators with the resources to make politics their main career, such as making their positions full time or providing them with a full-time staff

Filibusters

the act or process of deliberately hindering the passage of a bill in a legislature by long speeches or other means of delay- may only be used in the Senate

World Record Filibuster

43 hours, held by Texas senator

Conference Commitee

Joint committee, to create unified legislature after bill goes through both houses

Committee Reports

Deciding factor for how you're going to vote

Governor of Texas Qualifications

30+ years old, U.S. Citizen, Tx Resident for 5+ years before election

Political Capital

Overall public approval that governor has and is at the highest; usually first period after election

Governor of Texas Informal Qualifications

WASP, Male, Law or buisness, Rich, Protestant

Jim "Pa" Ferguson

Only Tx governor to be impeached and removed from office

Judicial Powers of Governor

Grant pardons, remit fines, revoke conditional pardons

Administrative Powers of Governor

Issue writ election to fill vacancies, appoint state officials, serve as commander in chief

Legislature Powers of Governor

Convene Special Sessions

Governor Election Facts

Not subject to recall elections or term limits

Dan Patrick

Current Lieutenant Governor of Texas

Lieutenant Governor

Most influential position in all of Tx government, directs legislature buisness in Senate, Chair Legislative Budge Board

Plural Executive System

State wide elected offices with major administrative duties

Jobs in Plural Executive System

Governor, Lt Governor, Attorney General, Land Office Commissioner, Agricultural Commissioner, Three Railroad Commissioners, Comptroller

Dan Heiffmans?

Comptroller; probably don't need to know, but still good to study

Female Governors

Ma Ferguson and Anne Richards (most recent)

Appointments

Allows the governor to place allies in strategic locations in state government

Informal Advantage of Texas Governor

Access to media coverage, can set the tone for the entire state government