Chapter 8: The Legislative Branch (Texas)

A set of practice flashcards covering key concepts from Chapter 8: The Legislative Branch in Texas government.

What are the two chambers of the Texas Legislature and their typical sizes?

The House of Representatives (150 members) and the Senate (31 members); the Legislature is bicameral.

How long are terms for Texas state representatives and senators, and when do terms begin?

Representatives serve two-year terms; Senators serve four-year terms; terms begin in January of odd-numbered years.

What is the length and frequency of regular Texas legislative sessions?

Regular sessions are biennial and last 140 days.

What is a special session and how long can it last?

A session called by the governor, limited to no more than 30 days.

What is redistricting and how often is it done in Texas?

Redistricting is drawing new district lines after the federal decennial census to reflect population changes; it occurs every ten years.

What is the Legislative Redistricting Board (LRB) and who serves on it?

A five-member board composed of the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the House, the attorney general, the comptroller of public accounts, and the commissioner of the General Land Office; it redraws districts if the legislature fails to do so within specified time limits.

What principle did Reynolds v. Sims (1964) establish for state legislative districts?

The principle of 'one person, one vote'—districts must be apportioned on a population basis.

What did Evenwel v. Abbott (2016) decide about population bases for redistricting?

The Court reaffirmed using total population but left open whether total population is the only permissible basis for all states.

What is gerrymandering and what are its common tactics?

Drawing district lines to favor a political party or group; common tactics include packing, cracking, and hijacking (or pairing).

What is a single-member district, and when did Texas shift to it?

An area that elects one representative; Texas moved to single-member districts starting in 1971 for Harris, Dallas, and Bexar counties, with broader adoption by 1975.

What is the ideal population for a Texas House district after the 2020 census, and for a Senate district?

House: 194,555; Senate: 941,396 (31 senatorial districts).

Who presides over the Texas Senate and the Texas House, and what are their key powers?

Lieutenant Governor presides over the Senate; Speaker presides over the House; both appoint committees and chairs, schedule floor action, interpret rules, and manage presiding procedures.

What is senatorial courtesy in Texas politics?

Before making an appointment, the governor should obtain approval from the state senator representing the appointee’s district; failure to do so can lead to the appointee being 'busted'.

What are the formal qualifications required to serve in the Texas Legislature, and what are common informal qualifications?

Formal: U.S. and Texas citizenship, qualified Texas voter, residence in the district for one year; House age 21, Senate age 26; Informal: often White Protestant male, native Texan, college graduate, etc.

What are the compensation components for Texas legislators, and what were the 87th Legislature figures for per diem and salary?

Salary: $7,200 per year; Per diem for regular sessions generally around $221 per day (87th session); monthly expense allowances can be substantial (House/ Senate).

What is the governor’s line-item veto?

The governor can veto specific items within an appropriation bill while allowing the rest to become law.

What is impeachment in Texas, and what are the trial requirements?

The House can impeach with a simple majority; the Senate tries the impeached official; conviction requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate; removal and possible prosecution follow.

What is the difference between simple, concurrent, and joint resolutions in Texas lawmaking?

Simple resolutions affect only one chamber and do not go to the governor; Concurrent resolutions affect both chambers and require governor’s approval; Joint resolutions require approval by both houses and may involve constitutional amendments or other actions.

What is the role of a conference committee in Texas?

A joint committee of five members from each chamber that negotiates differences between House and Senate versions of a bill; its report must be accepted by both chambers.

What is a bill's enrollment?

The enrolled bill is the final, corrected version prepared after conference committee action, signed by the chief clerk and the speaker before transmission to the other chamber.

What are the main duties of the Governor after a bill passes both chambers?

To sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without signature after a specified period if not vetoed.

What is a 'blocker' in the Texas Senate and what change did it undergo in 2015–2021?

A blocker is a senator who can delay floor action; Senate leadership historically used it to slow passage; the threshold to bypass (five-ninths) was reduced from two-thirds to three-fifths, and then to five-ninths by 2021.

What is a 'parliamentarian' and how are they distributed across chambers?

A non-legislator rule expert who assists presiding officers with procedural questions; the Senate has one parliamentarian and an assistant, while the House has two parliamentarians.

What is a 'ghost voting' in the Texas House, and is it allowed?

Ghost voting is when a member presses another member’s voting button; it is prohibited unless the absent member has granted permission.

What is the Sunset Advisory Commission?

A body that reviews most state agencies every 12 years and makes recommendations on continuation, merger, division, or abolition of agencies.

What are legislative caucuses and why are they significant in Texas?

Organized groups based on party, ideology, race/ethnicity, or special interests; there were about 37 registered caucuses in 2021; they influence policy and party cohesion but receive no public funding.

What role do legislative research and staff play in Texas lawmaking?

Legislative staff and bodies like the Texas Legislative Council (TLC), House Research Organization (HRO), and Senate Research Center provide bill drafting, research, and analysis to inform lawmakers.

What is descriptive representation vs. substantive representation?

Descriptive representation refers to lawmakers having the same characteristics as their constituents; substantive representation means lawmakers advocate for the interests of groups regardless of demographic similarity.