Texas Legislature Ch. 7

recognition

The power to control floor debate by recognizing who can speak before the House and the Senate.

bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

recognition

The power to control floor debate by recognizing who can speak before the House and the Senate.

bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

regular session

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

biennial

Occurring every two years.

special session

A legislative session called by the governor that addresses an agenda set by the governor and lasts no longer than 30 days.

per diem

Daily payment to a public official engaged in state business.

single-member district

A district in which one official is elected rather than multiple officials.

constituent

A person who was represented by an electoral official

constituent service

nonlegislative activities legislators perform to assist people living in their districts, including writing letters of recommendation, giving speeches to civic groups, or working to solve a problem for someone in their community

Redistricting

the process of redrawing election districts and redistributing legislative representatives; this happens every 10 years to reflect shifts in population or in response to legal challenges to existing districts

One person, one vote principal

the principle that all districts should have roughly equal populations

Bill

a proposed law

Local bill

a bill affecting only units of local government, such as a city, county, or special district

Special bill

a bill that gives an individual or corporation a special exemption from state law

General bill

a bill that applies to all people and/or property in the state

Resolution

An expression of opinion on an issue by a legislative body

concurrent resolution

resolution that interest both House and Senate and must pass both and be signed by the governor

Join resolution

A resolution, commonly 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.

A resolution that concerns only the Texas House or Senate, such as the adoption of a rule or the appointment of an employee and that does not require the governor's signature

electoral power

the legislature's mandated role in counting returns in the elections for governor and lieutenant governor

Investigative power

the power, exercised by the House, the Senate, or both chambers jointly, to investigate problems facing the state

Directive and supervisory power

the legislature's power over the executive branch; for example, the legislature determines the size of appropriations for state agencies

Judicial power

the power to interpret laws and judge whether a law has been broken; The power of the House to impeach and of the Senate to convict members of the executive and judicial branches.

Impeachment

A charge by the House of Representatives against a state official of committing "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." that leads to trial in the Senate and possible removal.

Introduction

The first step in the legislative process, during which a member of the legislature drafts a bill and files a copy of it with the clerk of the House or secretary of the Senate.

Referral

The second step in the legislative process, during which a bill is assigned to the appropriate standing committee by the Speaker (for House bills) or the lieutenant governor (for Senate bills).

Consideration by standing committee

the third step in the legislative process, during which a bill is killed, amended, or heard by a standing committee

Floor action

the fourth step in the legislative process, during which a bill referred by a standing committee is scheduled for floor debate by the Calendars Committee

Conference committee

special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

Standing committee

A permanent committee with the power to propose and write legislation

Pigeonholing

The ability of a committee to kill a bill by setting it aside and not acting on it.

Filibuster

a tactic used by members the Senate; continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down

veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature; can be overridden by 2/3 vote of House and Senate

post-adjournment veto

a veto of a bill that occurs after the legislature adjourns, thus preventing the legislature from overriding it

line-item veto

an executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives

Lieutenant Governor

an elected official serving as deputy to the governor of a state of the United States; has control over legislation in the state Senate